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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549



FORM 10-K


ý

 

ANNUAL REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010

Or

o

 

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from   to   .

Commission File Number 001-32141

ASSURED GUARANTY LTD.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Bermuda
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  98-0429991
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

30 Woodbourne Avenue
Hamilton HM 08 Bermuda
(441) 279-5700

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of Registrant's principal executive office)

None

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

          Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class    Name of each exchange on which registered 
Common Shares, $0.01 per share   New York Stock Exchange, Inc.

          Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

          Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ý    No o

          Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.  Yes o    No ý

          Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ý    No o

          Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ý    No o

          Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ý

          Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer ý   Accelerated filer o   Non-accelerated filer o
(Do not check if a
smaller reporting company)
  Smaller reporting company o

          Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No ý

          The aggregate market value of Common Shares held by non-affiliates of the Registrant as of the close of business on June 30, 2010 was $2,207,050,548 (based upon the closing price of the Registrant's shares on the New York Stock Exchange on that date, which was $13.27). For purposes of this information, the outstanding Common Shares which were owned by all directors and executive officers of the Registrant were deemed to be the only shares of Common Stock held by affiliates.

          As of February 23, 2011, 183,982,391 Common Shares, par value $0.01 per share, were outstanding (excludes 50,491 unvested restricted shares).


DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

          Certain portions of Registrant's definitive proxy statement relating to its 2010 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated by reference to Part III of this report.


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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

        This Form 10-K contains information that includes or is based upon forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements give the expectations or forecasts of future events of Assured Guaranty Ltd. ("AGL" and, together with its subsidiaries, "Assured Guaranty" or the "Company"). These statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and relate to future operating or financial performance.

        Any or all of Assured Guaranty's forward-looking statements herein are based on current expectations and the current economic environment and may turn out to be wrong. Assured Guaranty's actual results may vary materially. Among factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are:


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        The foregoing review of important factors should not be construed as exhaustive, and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in this Form 10-K. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or review any forward looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law. Investors are advised, however, to consult any further disclosures the Company makes on related subjects in the Company's periodic reports filed with the SEC.

        If one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or if the Company's underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may vary materially from what the Company projected. Any forward looking statements in this Form 10-K reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and are subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to its operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity.

        For these statements, the Company claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act").


CONVENTION

        Unless otherwise noted, ratings on Assured Guaranty's insured portfolio reflect its internal rating. Although Assured Guaranty's rating scale is similar to that used by the nationally recognized statistical rating organizations, the ratings may not be the same as ratings assigned by any such rating agency. The super senior category, which is not generally used by rating agencies, is used by Assured Guaranty in instances where its AAA-rated exposure has additional credit enhancement due to either (1) the existence of another security rated AAA that is subordinated to Assured Guaranty's exposure or (2) Assured Guaranty's exposure benefitting from a different form of credit enhancement that would pay any claims first in the event that any of the exposures incurs a loss, and such credit enhancement, in management's opinion, causes Assured Guaranty's attachment point to be materially above the AAA attachment point.


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PART I

       

Item 1.

 

Business

  1

 

    Overview

  1

 

    The Company's Operating Segments

  4

 

    Credit Policy and Underwriting Procedure

  8

 

    Risk Management Procedures

  9

 

    Importance of Financial Strength Ratings

  12

 

    Investments

  13

 

    Competition

  14

 

    Regulation

  15

 

    Tax Matters

  28

 

    Description of Share Capital

  35

 

    Other Provisions of AGL's Bye-Laws

  36

 

    Employees

  37

 

    Available Information

  37

Item 1A.

 

Risk Factors

  38

Item 1B.

 

Unresolved Staff Comments

  64

Item 2.

 

Properties

  64

Item 3.

 

Legal Proceedings

  64

Item 4.

 

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

  68

PART II

       

Item 5.

 

Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

  70

Item 6.

 

Selected Financial Data

  72

Item 7.

 

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

  74

 

    Introduction

  74

 

    2010 Executive Summary

  74

 

    AGMH Acquisition

  79

 

    Results of Operations

  83

 

    Non-GAAP Financial Measures

  114

 

    Significant Risk Management Activities

  124

 

    Exposure to Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities

  126

 

    Exposures by Reinsurer

  129

 

    Liquidity and Capital Resources

  132

Item 7A.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

  152

Item 8.

 

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

  156

 

    Management's Responsibility for Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting

  157

 

    Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

  158

 

    Consolidated Financial Statements

  159

 

    Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

  165

 

        1. Business and Basis of Presentation

  165

 

        2. Business Changes, Risks, Uncertainties and Accounting Developments

  167

 

        3. Business Combinations

  170

 

        4. Outstanding Exposure

  174

 

        5. Financial Guaranty Contracts Accounted for as Insurance

  181

 

        6. Fair Value Measurement

  214

 

        7. Financial Guaranty Contracts Accounted for as Credit Derivatives

  227

 

        8. Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities

  235

 

        9. Investments

  239

 

        10. Insurance Company Regulatory Requirements

  247

 

        11. Income Taxes

  249

 

        12. Reinsurance

  255

 
   
  Page

 

        13. Related Party Transactions

  260

 

        14. Commitments and Contingencies

  263

 

        15. Long Term Debt and Credit Facilities

  269

 

        16. Shareholders' Equity

  277

 

        17. Employee Benefit Plans

  279

 

        18. Earnings Per Share

  286

 

        19. Segments

  287

 

        20. Subsidiary Information

  292

 

        21. Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited)

  300

Item 9.

 

Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

  301

Item 9A.

 

Controls and Procedures

  301

Item 9B.

 

Other Information

  301

PART III

       

Item 10.

 

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

  302

 

Code of Conduct

  302

Item 11.

 

Executive Compensation

  302

Item 12.

 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

  302

Item 13.

 

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

  303

Item 14.

 

Principal Accounting Fees and Services

  303

PART IV

       

Item 15.

 

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

  304

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PART I

ITEM 1.    BUSINESS

Overview

        Assured Guaranty Ltd. ("AGL" and, together with its subsidiaries, "Assured Guaranty" or the "Company") is a Bermuda-based holding company incorporated in 2003 that provides, through its subsidiaries, credit protection products to the United States ("U.S.") and international public finance, infrastructure and structured finance markets. The Company has applied its credit underwriting judgment, risk management skills and capital markets experience to develop insurance, reinsurance and credit derivative products that protect holders of debt instruments and other monetary obligations from defaults in scheduled payments, including scheduled interest and principal payments. The securities insured by the Company include taxable and tax-exempt obligations issued by U.S. state or municipal governmental authorities, utility districts or facilities; notes or bonds issued to finance international infrastructure projects; and asset-backed securities issued by special purpose entities. The Company markets its credit protection products directly to issuers and underwriters of public finance, infrastructure and structured finance securities as well as to investors in such debt obligations. The Company guarantees debt obligations issued in many countries, although its principal focus is on the U.S., Europe and Australia.

        On July 1, 2009, the Company acquired Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. (renamed Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings Inc., "AGMH"), and AGMH's subsidiaries, from Dexia Holdings, Inc. ("Dexia Holdings"). AGMH's principal insurance subsidiary is Financial Security Assurance Inc. (renamed Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp., "AGM"). The acquisition is referred to as the AGMH Acquisition.

        The AGMH Acquisition did not include the acquisition of AGMH's former financial products business, which was comprised of its guaranteed investment contracts business, its medium term notes business and the equity payment agreements associated with AGMH's leveraged lease business (collectively, the "Financial Products Business"). The AGMH subsidiaries that conducted AGMH's former Financial Products Business were transferred to Dexia Holdings prior to completion of the AGMH Acquisition. In addition, as further described under "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Liquidity Arrangements with respect to AGMH's former Financial Products Business," the Company has entered into various agreements with Dexia SA (the parent of Dexia Holdings) and certain of its subsidiaries (collectively, "Dexia"), in order to transfer to such Dexia entities the credit and liquidity risks associated with AGMH's former Financial Products Business.

        Since the AGMH Acquisition, the Company has conducted its financial guaranty business on a direct basis from two companies: AGM and Assured Guaranty Corp. ("AGC"). AGM focuses exclusively on the U.S. public finance and global infrastructure business and does not underwrite any new structured finance business. AGC underwrites global structured finance obligations as well as U.S. public finance and global infrastructure obligations. Neither company currently underwrites any new U.S. residential mortgage backed securities transactions. In addition to AGM and AGC, AGL's principal operating subsidiaries include Assured Guaranty Re Ltd. ("AG Re"):

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        Debt obligations guaranteed by the Company's insurance subsidiaries are generally awarded debt or short-term credit ratings that are the same rating as the financial strength rating of the Assured Guaranty subsidiary that has guaranteed that obligation. Investors in products insured by AGM or AGC frequently rely on rating agency ratings. Therefore, low financial strength ratings or uncertainty over AGM's or AGC's abilities to maintain their financial strength ratings would have a negative impact on the demand for their insurance product. As of February 28, 2011, AGM and AGC and their respective insurance company subsidiaries had financial strength ratings of Aa3 (Negative Outlook) by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") and AA+ (Stable) by Standard and Poor's Rating Services ("S&P"). The ratings from S&P reflect a downgrade on October 25, 2010 of the counterparty credit and financial strength ratings of these companies from AAA (Negative Outlook).

        On January 24, 2011, S&P released a publication entitled "Request for Comment: Bond Insurance Criteria," in which it requested comments on proposed changes to its bond insurance ratings criteria. In the Request for Comment, S&P noted that it could lower its financial strength ratings on existing investment-grade bond insurers (which include the Company's insurance subsidiaries) by one or more rating categories if the proposed bond insurance ratings criteria are adopted, unless those bond insurers raise additional capital or reduce risk. The proposed ratings criteria contemplate the imposition of a leverage test which is based solely on the amount of par insured and which does not take into account the bond insurer's unearned premium reserve as a claims-paying resource; changes to S&P's capital adequacy model, including significant increases in capital charges for both U.S. public finance obligations and structured finance obligations; and reductions in the single risk limits for U.S. public finance obligations. This new action by S&P has exacerbated uncertainty in the market over the Company's financial strength ratings. Although the Company will be submitting a comment letter to S&P discussing the modifications that it believes would be necessary to establish a supportable framework for determining the ratings of financial guaranty companies, if S&P were not to accept any of our comments and adopts the ratings criteria as proposed, the new criteria could have an adverse impact on the financial strength rating of the Company's insurance subsidiaries. For example, if the bond insurance ratings criteria are adopted as proposed, but where, for purposes of the proposed leverage test, S&P makes the technical adjustment of considering the non-U.S. public finance

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obligations the Company insures to be within the same risk category as the U.S. public finance obligations it insures, rather than within the structured finance risk category, the Company estimates that up to approximately $1.8 billion of additional statutory capital could be required in order to maintain a financial strength rating at the AA level. If the adjustment for non-U.S. public finance obligations is not made, the Company estimates that the amount of additional statutory capital necessary to maintain a financial strength rating at the AA level would be increased by approximately $500 million. It is uncertain whether the Company would seek to, or be able to, obtain the additional capital or reduce the risk necessary to maintain its financial strength ratings at the AA level. The effect of this change in criteria, if adopted, and of the potential downgrade of the Company's financial strength ratings on the Company's financial condition and prospects is uncertain at this time. A substantial downgrade of the financial strength rating of the Company's insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries would adversely affect its business and prospects and, consequently, its results of operations and financial condition. See "Importance of Financial Strength Ratings" below and "Item 1A. Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Company's Financial Strength and Financial Enhancement Ratings".

        Since 2008, the Company has been the most active provider of financial guaranty credit protection products. The Company's acquisition of AGMH in 2009, its ability to achieve and maintain investment-grade financial strength ratings, and the significant financial distress faced by many of the Company's former competitors since 2007, which has impaired their ability to underwrite new business, have contributed to the Company's position in the market. However, during 2010, the Company faced challenges in maintaining its market penetration. These challenges were primarily due to:

        The Company believes that issuers and investors in securities will continue to need financial guaranty insurance because U.S. municipalities have budgetary requirements that are best met through financings in the fixed income capital markets. In particular, smaller municipal issuers will need

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guaranties in order to access the capital markets with new debt offerings at a lower all-in interest rate than on an unguaranteed basis. In addition, the Company expects long-term debt financings for infrastructure projects will grow throughout the world due to the economic development in emerging countries as well as the financing needs associated with privatization initiatives or refinancing of other infrastructures in developed countries. Over the long term, if AGM and AGC are able to maintain financial strength ratings at the double-A level or higher, the Company expects to be able to originate a diversified portfolio of insured obligations with a broad global geographic distribution that is supported by a wide variety of revenue sources and transaction structures.

The Company's Operating Segments

        The Company's financial results include two principal business segments: financial guaranty direct and financial guaranty reinsurance. The financial guaranty direct segment is reported net of business ceded to external reinsurers. The financial guaranty insurance and reinsurance segments include interest and principal payment default protection provided in both insurance and credit derivative contract form.

        The Company primarily conducts its business through subsidiaries located in the U.S., Europe and Bermuda. The Company generally insures obligations that are issued in the U.S. and Europe, although it has also guaranteed securities issued in South America, Australia and other global markets.

        See Note 19 in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for further information about the Company's operating segments.

Financial Guaranty Direct

        Financial guaranty direct insurance provides an unconditional and irrevocable guaranty that protects the holder of a debt instrument or other monetary obligation against non-payment of scheduled principal and interest payments when due. Upon an obligor's default on scheduled principal or interest payments due on the debt obligation, the Company is required under the financial guaranty or credit derivative contract to pay the investor or swap counterparty the principal or interest shortfall due.

        Financial guaranty insurance may be issued to all of the investors of the guaranteed series or tranche of a municipal bond or structured finance security at the time of issuance of those obligations or it may be issued in the secondary market to only specific individual holders of such obligations who purchase the Company's credit protection.

        Both issuers of and investors in financial instruments may benefit from financial guaranty insurance. Issuers benefit when they purchase financial guaranty insurance for their new issue debt transaction because the insurance may have the effect of lowering an issuer's interest cost over the life of the issued debt transaction to the extent that the insurance premium charged by the Company is less than the net present value of the difference between the yield on the obligation insured by Assured Guaranty (which carries the credit rating of the specific subsidiary that guarantees the debt obligation) and the yield on the debt obligation if sold on the basis of its uninsured credit rating. The principal benefit to investors is that the Company's guaranty provides certainty that scheduled payments will be received when due. The guaranty may also improve the marketability of obligations issued by infrequent or unknown issuers, as well as obligations with complex structures or backed by asset classes new to the market. This benefit, which we call a "liquidity benefit," results from the increase in secondary market trading values for Assured Guaranty-insured obligations as compared to uninsured obligations by the same issuer. In general, the liquidity benefit of financial guaranties is that investors are able to sell insured bonds more quickly and, depending on the financial strength rating of the insurer, at a higher secondary market price than for uninsured debt obligations.

        As an alternative to traditional financial guaranty insurance, the Company has also provided credit protection relating to a particular security or obligor through a credit derivative contract, such as a credit default swap ("CDS"). Under the terms of a CDS, the seller of credit protection agrees to make a specified payment to the buyer of credit protection if one or more specified credit events occurs with respect to a reference obligation or entity. In general, the credit events specified in the Company's CDSs are for interest and principal defaults on the reference obligation. One difference between CDSs

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and traditional primary financial guaranty insurance is that credit default protection is typically provided to a particular buyer rather than to all holders of the reference obligation. As a result, the Company's rights and remedies under a CDS may be different and more limited than on a financial guaranty of an entire issuance. Credit derivatives may be preferred by some investors, however, because they generally offer the investor ease of execution and standardized terms as well as more favorable accounting or capital treatment. The Company has not provided credit protection through a CDS since early 2009, other than in connection with loss mitigation and other remediation efforts relating to its existing book of business.

Financial Guaranty Reinsurance

        Under a reinsurance agreement, the reinsurer receives a premium and, in exchange, agrees to indemnify the primary insurer, called the ceding company, for part or all of the liability of the ceding company under one or more financial guaranty insurance policies that the ceding company has issued. The reinsurer generally agrees to pay the ceding company a ceding commission on the ceded premium as compensation for the reinsurance agreement. The reinsurer may itself purchase reinsurance protection ("retrocessions") from other reinsurers, thereby reducing its own exposure. Reinsurance agreements take two major forms: "treaty" and "facultative." Treaty reinsurance requires the reinsured to cede, and the reinsurer to assume, specific classes of risk underwritten by the ceding company generally over the course of one year. Facultative reinsurance is the reinsurance of part of one or more specified policies, and is subject to separate negotiation for each cession. The Company believes that the opportunities currently available to it in the reinsurance market consist primarily of potentially assuming portfolios of transactions from inactive primary insurers and recapturing portfolios that it has previously ceded to third party reinsurers.

Financial Guaranty Portfolio

        The Company's financial guaranty direct and financial guaranty reinsurance businesses provide credit enhancement, or principal and interest payment default protection, on public finance/infrastructure and structured finance obligations.

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        Because both the financial guaranty insurance and reinsurance businesses involve similar risks, the Company analyzes and monitors the Company's financial guaranty direct portfolio and financial guaranty reinsurance portfolios on a combined basis.

        U.S. Public Finance Obligations    The Company insures and reinsures a number of different types of U.S. public finance obligations, including the following:

        Non-U.S. Public Finance Obligations    The Company insures and reinsures a number of different types of non-U.S. public finance obligations, which consist of both infrastructure projects and other projects essential for municipal function such as regulated utilities. Credit support for the exposures written by the Company may come from a variety of sources, including some combination of subordinated tranches, excess spread, over-collateralization or cash reserves. Additional support also

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may be provided by transaction provisions intended to benefit noteholders or credit enhancers. The types of non-U.S. public finance securities the Company insures and reinsures include the following:

        U.S. and Non-U.S. Structured Finance Obligations    The Company insures and reinsures a number of different types of U.S. and non-U.S. structured finance obligations. Credit support for the exposures written by the Company may come from a variety of sources, including some combination of subordinated tranches, excess spread, over-collateralization or cash reserves. Additional support also may be provided by transaction provisions intended to benefit noteholders or credit enhancers. The types of U.S. and Non-U.S. Structured Finance obligations the Company insures and reinsures include the following:

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Credit Policy and Underwriting Procedure

Credit Policy

        The Company establishes exposure limits and underwriting criteria for sectors, countries, single risks and, in the case of structured finance obligations, servicers. Single risk limits are established in relation to the Company's capital base and are based on the Company's assessment of potential frequency and severity of loss as well as other factors, such as historical and stressed collateral performance. Sector limits are based on the Company's assessment of intra-sector correlation, as well as other factors. Country limits are based on long term foreign currency ratings, history of political stability, size and stability of the economy and other factors.

        Critical risk factors that the Company would analyze for proposed public finance exposures include, for example, the credit quality of the issuer, the type of issue, the repayment source, the security pledged, the presence of restrictive covenants and the issue's maturity date. The Company has also been focusing on the ability of obligors to file for bankruptcy or receivership under applicable statutes (and on related statutes that provide for state oversight or fiscal control over financially troubled obligors); the amount of liquidity available to the obligors for debt payment, including the obligors' exposure to derivative contracts and to debt subject to acceleration; and to the ability of the obligors to increase revenue. Underwriting considerations include (1) the classification of the transaction, reflecting economic and social factors affecting that bond type, including the importance of the proposed project to the community, (2) the financial management of the project and of the issuer, and (3) various legal and administrative factors. In cases where the primary source of repayment is the taxing or rate setting authority of a public entity, such as general obligation bonds, transportation bonds and municipal utility bonds, emphasis is placed on the overall financial strength of the issuer, the economic and demographic characteristics of the taxpayer or ratepayer and the strength of the legal obligation to repay the debt. In cases of not-for-profit institutions, such as healthcare issuers and private higher education issuers, emphasis is placed on the financial stability of the institution, its competitive position and its management experience.

        Structured finance obligations generally present three distinct forms of risk: (1) asset risk, pertaining to the amount and quality of assets underlying an issue; (2) structural risk, pertaining to the extent to which an issue's legal structure provides protection from loss; and (3) execution risk, which is the risk that poor performance by a servicer contributes to a decline in the cash flow available to the transaction. Each risk is addressed in turn through the Company's underwriting process. Generally, the amount and quality of asset coverage required with respect to a structured finance exposure is

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dependent upon the historic performance of the subject asset class, or those assets actually underlying the risk proposed to be insured or assumed through reinsurance. Future performance expectations are developed from this history, taking into account economic, social and political factors affecting that asset class as well as, to the extent feasible, the subject assets themselves. Conclusions are then drawn about the amount of over-collateralization or other credit enhancement necessary in a particular transaction in order to protect investors (and therefore the insurer or reinsurer) against poor asset performance. In addition, structured securities usually are designed to protect investors (and therefore the guarantor) from the bankruptcy or insolvency of the entity which originated the underlying assets, as well as the bankruptcy or insolvency of the servicer of those assets.

        For international transactions, an analysis of the country or countries in which the risk resides is performed. Such analysis includes an assessment of the political risk as well as the economic and demographic characteristics of the country or countries. For each transaction, the Company performs an assessment of the legal jurisdiction governing the transaction and the laws affecting the underlying assets supporting the obligations.

Underwriting Procedure

        Each transaction underwritten by the Company involves persons with different expertise across various departments within the Company. The Company's transaction underwriting teams include both underwriting and legal personnel, who analyze the structure of a potential transaction and the credit and legal issues pertinent to the particular line of business or asset class, and accounting and finance personnel, who review the transaction for compliance with applicable accounting standards and investment guidelines.

        In the public finance portion of the Company's financial guaranty direct segment, underwriters generally analyze the issuer's historical financial statements and, where warranted, develop stress case projections to test the issuers' ability to make timely debt service payments under stressful economic conditions. In the structured finance portion of the Company's financial guaranty direct segment, underwriters generally use computer-based financial models in order to evaluate the ability of the transaction to generate adequate cash flow to service the debt under a variety of scenarios. The models include economically-stressed scenarios that the underwriters use for their assessment of the potential credit risk inherent in a particular transaction. For financial guaranty reinsurance transactions, stress model results may be provided by the primary insurer. Stress models may also be developed internally by the Company's underwriters and reflect both empirical research as well as information gathered from third parties, such as rating agencies, investment banks or servicers. The Company may also perform a due diligence review when the underwriters believe that such a review is necessary to assess properly a particular transaction. A due diligence review may include, among other things, a site visit to the project or facility, meetings with issuer management, review of underwriting and operational procedures, file reviews, and review of financial procedures and computer systems. The Company may also engage advisors such as consultants and external counsel to assist in analyzing a transaction's financial or legal risks.

        Upon completion of the underwriting analysis, the underwriter prepares a formal credit report that is submitted to a credit committee for review. An oral presentation is usually made to the committee, followed by questions from committee members and discussion among the committee members and the underwriters. In some cases, additional information may be presented at the meeting or required to be submitted prior to approval. Signatures of committee members are received and any further requirements, such as specific terms or evidence of due diligence, is noted. The Company currently has four credit committees composed of senior officers of the Company. The committees are organized by asset class, such as for public finance or structured finance, or along regulatory lines, to assess the various potential exposures.

Risk Management Procedures

Organizational Structure

        The Company's policies and procedures relating to risk assessment and risk management are overseen by its Board of Directors. The Board takes an enterprise-wide approach to risk management that is designed to support the Company's business plans at a reasonable level of risk. A fundamental

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part of risk assessment and risk management is not only understanding the risks a company faces and what steps management is taking to manage those risks, but also understanding what level of risk is appropriate for the Company. The Board of Directors annually approves the Company's business plan, factoring risk management into account. The involvement of the Board in setting the Company's business strategy is a key part of its assessment of management's risk tolerance and also a determination of what constitutes an appropriate level of risk for the Company.

        While the Board of Directors has the ultimate oversight responsibility for the risk management process, various committees of the Board also have responsibility for risk assessment and risk management. The Risk Oversight Committee of the Board of Directors oversees the standards, controls, limits, guidelines and policies that the Company establishes and implements in respect of credit underwriting and risk management. It focuses on management's assessment and management of both (i) credit risks and (ii) other risks, including, but not limited to, financial, legal and operational risks, and risks relating to the Company's reputation and ethical standards. In addition, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors is responsible for, among other matters, reviewing policies and processes related to the evaluation of risk assessment and risk management, including the Company's major financial risk exposures and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures. It also reviews compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. Furthermore, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors reviews compensation-related risks to the Company.

        The Company has established a number of management committees to develop underwriting and risk management guidelines, policies and procedures for the Company's insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries that are tailored to their respective businesses, providing multiple levels of credit review and analysis.

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        The Company's surveillance personnel are responsible for monitoring and reporting on all transactions in the insured portfolio, including exposures in both the financial guaranty direct and reinsurance segments. The primary objective of the surveillance process is to monitor trends and changes in transaction credit quality, detect any deterioration in credit quality, and recommend to management such remedial actions as may be necessary or appropriate. All transactions in the insured portfolio are assigned internal credit ratings, and surveillance personnel are responsible for recommending adjustments to those ratings to reflect changes in transaction credit quality.

        The Company's workout personnel are responsible for managing workout and loss mitigation situations. They work together with the Company's surveillance personnel to develop and implement strategies on transactions that are experiencing loss or may be likely to experience loss. They develop strategies designed to enhance the ability of the Company to enforce its contractual rights and remedies (including its rights to require that sellers or originators repurchase loans from residential mortgage-backed securities transactions if the seller or originator has breached its representations and warranties regarding the loans) and mitigate its losses. The Company's workout personnel also engage in negotiation discussions with transaction participants and, when necessary, manage (along with legal personnel) the Company's litigation proceedings. They may also make open market purchases of securities that the Company has insured and work with servicers of residential mortgage-backed securities transactions to enhance their performance. Since the onset of the financial crisis, the Company has shifted personnel to loss mitigation and workout activities and hired new personnel to augment its efforts in this area.

Financial Guaranty Direct Business

        The Company monitors the performance of each risk in its portfolio as well as tracks risk aggregations. The review cycle and scope vary based upon transaction type and credit quality. In general, the review process includes the collection and analysis of information from various sources, including trustee and servicer reports, financial statements and reports, general industry or sector news and analyses, and rating agency reports. For public finance risks, the surveillance process includes monitoring general economic trends, developments with respect to state and municipal finances, and the financial situation of the issuers. For structured finance transactions, the surveillance process can include monitoring transaction performance data and cash flows, compliance with transaction terms and conditions, and evaluation of servicer or collateral manager performance and financial condition. Additionally, the Company uses various quantitative tools and models to assess transaction performance and identify situations where there may have been a change in credit quality. For all transactions, surveillance activities may include discussions with or site visits to issuers, servicers or other parties to a transaction.

Financial Guaranty Reinsurance Business

        For transactions in the Company's financial guaranty reinsurance segment, the ceding insurers are responsible for conducting ongoing surveillance of the exposures that have been ceded to the Company. The Company's surveillance personnel monitor the ceding insurer's surveillance activities on exposures ceded to the Company through a variety of means including, but not limited to, reviews of surveillance reports provided by the ceding insurers, and meetings and discussions with their analysts. The Company's surveillance personnel also monitor general news and information, industry trends and rating agency reports to help focus surveillance activities on sectors or credits of particular concern. For certain exposures, the Company also will undertake an independent analysis and remodeling of the transaction. In the event of credit deterioration of a particular exposure, more frequent reviews of the ceding company's risk mitigation activities are conducted. The Company's surveillance personnel also take steps to ensure that the ceding insurer is managing the risk pursuant to the terms of the applicable reinsurance agreement. To this end, the Company conducts periodic reviews of ceding companies' surveillance activities and capabilities. That process may include the review of the insurer's underwriting, surveillance and claim files for certain transactions.

Ceded Reinsurance

        As part of its risk management strategy, the Company has sought in the past to obtain third party reinsurance or retrocessions and may also periodically enter into other arrangements to reduce its

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exposure to risk concentrations, such as for single risk limits, portfolio credit rating or exposure limits, geographic limits or other factors. At December 31, 2010, the Company had ceded approximately 9.4% of its principal amount outstanding to third party reinsurers.

        The Company historically obtained reinsurance to increase its underwriting capacity, both on an aggregate-risk and a single-risk basis, to meet internal, rating agency and regulatory risk limits, diversify risks, reduce the need for additional capital, and strengthen financial ratios. The Company receives capital credit for ceded reinsurance based on the reinsurer's ratings in the capital models used by the rating agencies to evaluate the Company's capital position for its financial strength ratings. In addition, a number of the Company's reinsurers are required to pledge collateral to secure their reinsurance obligations to the Company. In some cases, the pledged collateral augments the rating agency credit for the reinsurance provided. In recent years, most of the Company's reinsurers have been downgraded by one or more rating agency below the Company's ratings. While ceding commissions or premium allocation adjustments may compensate in part for such downgrades, the effect of such downgrades, in general, is to decrease the financial benefits of using reinsurance under rating agency capital adequacy models. However, to the extent a reinsurer still has the financial wherewithal to pay, the Company could still benefit from the reinsurance provided.

        The Company's ceded reinsurance may be on a quota share, first-loss or excess-of-loss basis. Quota share reinsurance generally provides protection against a fixed specified percentage of all losses incurred by the Company. First-loss reinsurance generally provides protection against a fixed specified percentage of losses incurred up to a specified limit. Excess-of-loss reinsurance generally provides protection against a fixed percentage of losses incurred to the extent that losses incurred exceed a specified limit. Reinsurance arrangements typically require the Company to retain a minimum portion of the risks reinsured.

        The Company has both facultative (transaction-by-transaction) and treaty ceded reinsurance contracts, generally arranged on an annual basis. By annual treaty, the Company employed "automatic facultative" reinsurance that permitted the Company to apply reinsurance to transactions it selected subject to certain limitations. The remainder of the Company's treaty reinsurance provided coverage for a portion, subject in certain cases to adjustment at the Company's election, of the exposure from all qualifying policies issued during the term of the treaty. The reinsurer's participation in a treaty was either cancellable annually upon 90 days' prior notice by either the Company or the reinsurer or had a one-year term. Treaties generally provide coverage for the full term of the policies reinsured during the annual treaty period, except that, upon a financial deterioration of the reinsurer or the occurrence of certain other events, the Company generally has the right to reassume all or a portion of the business reinsured. Reinsurance agreements may be subject to other termination conditions as required by applicable state law.

Importance of Financial Strength Ratings

        Debt obligations guaranteed by AGL's insurance company subsidiaries are generally awarded debt credit ratings that are the same rating as the financial strength rating of the AGL subsidiary that has guaranteed that obligation. Investors in products insured by AGC or AGM frequently rely on rating agency ratings because ratings influence the trading value of securities and form the basis for many institutions' investment guidelines as well as individuals' bond purchase decisions. Low financial strength ratings or uncertainty over the Company's ability to maintain its financial strength ratings would have a negative impact on issuers' and investors' perceptions of the value of the Company's insurance product. Therefore, the Company manages its business with the goal of achieving high financial strength ratings, preferably the highest that an agency will assign. However, the models used by rating agencies differ, presenting conflicting goals that may make it inefficient or impractical to reach the highest rating level. The models are not fully transparent, contain subjective data (such as assumptions about future market demand for the Company's products) and change frequently.

        Historically, insurance financial strength ratings reflect an insurer's ability to pay under its insurance policies and contracts in accordance with their terms. The rating is not specific to any particular policy or contract. Insurance financial strength ratings do not refer to an insurer's ability to meet non-insurance obligations and are not a recommendation to purchase any policy or contract issued by an insurer or to buy, hold, or sell any security insured by an insurer. The ratings also reflect

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qualitative factors with respect to such things as the insurer's business strategy and franchise value, the anticipated future demand for its product, the composition of its portfolio, as well as its capital adequacy, profitability and financial flexibility.

        The rating agencies have developed and published methodologies for rating financial guaranty and mortgage guaranty insurers and reinsurers. The insurance financial strength ratings assigned by the rating agencies are based upon factors relevant to policyholders and are not directed toward the protection of investors in AGL's common shares. The rating criteria used by the rating agencies in establishing these ratings include consideration of the sufficiency of capital resources to meet projected growth (as well as access to such additional capital as may be necessary to continue to meet applicable capital adequacy standards), a company's overall financial strength, and demonstrated management expertise in financial guaranty and traditional reinsurance, credit analysis, systems development, marketing, capital markets and investment operations. Ratings reflect only the views of the respective rating agencies and are subject to continuous review and revision or withdrawal at any time.

        A substantial downgrade of the financial strength ratings of the Company's insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries would adversely affect its business and prospects and, consequently, its results of operations and financial condition. The Company believes that if the financial strength ratings of AGM and/or AGC were downgraded from their current levels, such downgrade could result in downward pressure on the premium it is able to charge for its insurance; however, the Company expects that so long as AGM and AGC are able to maintain financial strength ratings in the double-A category or higher, they are likely to be able to continue writing financial guaranty business with a credit quality similar to that historically written. The Company believes that if the financial strength ratings of AGM and/or AGC were downgraded to the single-A level or below, it could be difficult for the Company to originate the same volume of new business with comparable credit characteristics. See "Item 1A. Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Company's Financial Strength and Financial Enhancement Ratings" and "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Financial Strength Ratings" for more information about the Company's ratings.

Investments

        The Company's principal objectives in managing its investment portfolio are to preserve the highest possible ratings for each operating company; maintain sufficient liquidity to cover unexpected stress in the insurance portfolio; and maximize total after-tax net investment income.

        The Company has a formal review process for all securities in the Company's investment portfolio, including a review for impairment losses. Factors considered when assessing impairment include:

        One component of the Company's risk management strategy is the purchase of obligations that are either insured by the Company or part of the same issuance as obligations insured by the Company. Such purchases enable the Company to exercise rights available to holders of the obligations or to mitigate its losses. As of December 31, 2010, the Company holds securities purchased for loss mitigation purposes with a gross par outstanding of $528.1 million in its investment accounts.

        If the Company believes a decline in the value of a particular investment is temporary, the Company records the decline as an unrealized loss on the Company's consolidated balance sheets in "accumulated other comprehensive income" in shareholders' equity.

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        Prior to April 1, 2009, if the Company believed the decline to be "other than temporary," the Company wrote down the carrying value of the investment and recorded a realized loss in the Company's consolidated statements of operations.

        As of April 1, 2009, a new accounting standard was issued requiring any credit-related impairment on debt securities the Company does not plan to sell and more-likely-than-not will not to be required to sell to be recognized in the consolidated statement of operations, with the non-credit-related impairment recognized in other comprehensive income. For other impaired debt securities, where the Company has the intent to sell the security or more likely than not be required to or where the entire impairment is deemed by the Company to be credit-related, the entire impairment is recognized in the consolidated statement of operations.

        The Company's assessment of the credit portion of a decline in value includes management's current assessment of the factors noted above. If that assessment changes in the future, the Company may ultimately record a loss after having originally concluded that the decline in value was temporary.

        The Company's investment portfolio is managed by BlackRock Financial Management, Inc., Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc., General Re-New England Asset Management, Inc. and Wellington Management Company, LLP. The Company's investment managers have discretionary authority over the Company's investment portfolio within the limits of the Company's investment guidelines approved by the Company's Board of Directors. The Company compensates each of these managers based upon a fixed percentage of the market value of the Company's portfolio. During the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, the Company recorded investment management fee expenses of $8.0 million, $5.4 million, and $2.6 million, respectively, related to these managers.

Competition

        Assured Guaranty's principal competition consists of other forms of credit enhancement, such as letters of credit or credit derivatives provided by foreign and domestic banks and other financial institutions, some of which are governmental enterprises, or direct guaranties of municipal, structured finance or other debt by a federal or state government or government-sponsored or affiliated agency. For example, in 2010, $11.7 billion of municipal bonds relied on letters of credit for credit enhancement, according to the SDC Thomson municipal database. This constitutes a decrease from $20.5 billion of municipal bonds in 2009. In addition, credit or structural enhancement embedded in transactions, such as through overcollateralization, first loss insurance, excess spread or other terms and conditions that provide investors with additional collateral or cash flow also compete with the Company's financial guaranties. Finally, the Company effectively competes with investors' conflicting demands for higher yields on investments versus their desire for higher-rated securities.

        Assured Guaranty is currently the market leader in providing financial guaranty insurance. Other companies who had been active in this market experienced significant financial distress during the financial crisis and currently no longer have financial strength ratings adequate to remain active in new business origination. For example, Ambac Assurance Corporation, whose parent company Ambac Financial Group, Inc. filed for a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in 2010, is not writing new business. MBIA Insurance Corporation, which transferred its U.S. public finance exposures to its affiliate National Public Finance Guarantee Corporation, is not writing new business. National Public Finance Guarantee Corporation, a company that only insures U.S. public finance obligations, currently appears not to have financial strength ratings adequate to issue new financial guaranty policies on public finance obligations. Syncora Guarantee Inc. ("Syncora") and Financial Guaranty Insurance Company were ordered by the New York Insurance Department, their principal regulator, to suspend all claim payments until capital strengthening plans were implemented. Syncora was subsequently permitted to resume paying claims, but is not writing any new business. CIFG Assurance North America, Inc. has been restructured but is not writing new business; it ceded a significant portion of its U.S. public finance portfolio to AGC in January 2009. Berkshire Hathaway Assurance Corporation, the only new entrant into the financial guaranty industry other than National that has written any new business, did not write new business in 2009 or 2010. Municipal and Infrastructure Assurance Corporation ("MIAC"), another entrant into the financial guaranty industry, was unable to raise sufficient capital in 2010 in order to insure any business; Radian Asset

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Assurance Inc. announced in February 2011 that it had signed an agreement to purchase MIAC, subject to regulatory approval.

        In the future, should the market's view about financial guaranty insurance stabilize, new entrants into the financial guaranty industry could reduce the Company's future new business prospects, including by furthering price competition or offering financial guaranty insurance on transactions with structural and security features that are more favorable to the issuers than those required by Assured Guaranty. In addition, the Federal Home Loan Bank has been authorized to participate to a limited extent in the municipal financial guaranty market. There have also been proposals for the U.S. Congress to establish a federally chartered bond insurer and for states, pension funds and the National League of Cities to establish bond insurers.

        Alternative credit enhancement structures, and in particular federal government credit enhancement or other programs, can also affect the Company's new business prospects, particularly if they provide direct governmental-level guaranties, restrict the use of third-party financial guaranties or reduce the amount of transactions that might qualify for financial guaranties. There have been periodic proposals during the past several years for state-level support of financial guaranties through investment in non-profit bond insurers. In addition, state guaranty funds for municipal debt, such as the Texas Permanent School Fund, can also impact the demand for the Company's financial guaranty insurance. Some aspects of the U.S. federal government's bailout of financial institutions also reduced the demand for financial guaranties. For instance, the terms of the Troubled Asset Loan Facility program through the U.S. Treasury, which ceased providing new loans on March 31, 2010, excluded financial guaranty forms of credit enhancement, reducing the amount of structured finance issuance that might come into the public market for insurance. Other factors, which may not directly address credit enhancement, may also affect the demand for the Company's financial guaranties. For instance, the increase in conforming loan limits for residential mortgages and the expansion of the Federal Housing Administration's loan guaranty program have reduced the percentage of U.S. residential mortgage issuance available for private market securitization in the last several years. Other recent examples are the BABs program and the rating agency recalibrations, as discussed in the "Overview" above, both of which diminished the amount of bonds that could have benefitted from the Company's guaranty.

        The Company currently has no competitors in the financial guaranty reinsurance market. Previously, the Company had competed in the financial guaranty reinsurance market with multi-line insurers and with the other primary financial guaranty insurers. Historically, competition in the financial guaranty reinsurance business was based upon many factors including financial strength ratings from the major rating agencies, a financial enhancement rating from S&P, pricing, service, size and underwriting criteria.

        For more information about the competitive environment in which the Company operates, see "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Business Environment and Market Trends."

Regulation

General

        The business of insurance and reinsurance is regulated in most countries, although the degree and type of regulation varies significantly from one jurisdiction to another. Reinsurers are generally subject to less direct regulation than primary insurers. The Company is subject to regulation under applicable statutes in the U.S., the U.K. and Bermuda, as well as applicable statutes in Australia and Japan.

United States

        AGL has four operating insurance subsidiaries domiciled in the U.S., which the Company refers to collectively as the "Assured Guaranty U.S. Subsidiaries."

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        AGL and the Assured Guaranty U.S. Subsidiaries are subject to the insurance holding company laws of their jurisdiction of domicile (Maryland and New York, respectively), as well as other jurisdictions where these insurers are licensed to do insurance business. These laws generally require each of the Assured Guaranty U.S. Subsidiaries to register with its respective domestic state insurance department and annually to furnish financial and other information about the operations of companies within their holding company system. Generally, all transactions among companies in the holding company system to which any of the Assured Guaranty U.S. Subsidiaries is a party (including sales, loans, reinsurance agreements and service agreements) must be fair and, if material or of a specified category, such as reinsurance or service agreements, require prior notice and approval or non-disapproval by the insurance department where the applicable subsidiary is domiciled.

        Before a person can acquire control of a U.S. domestic insurance company, prior written approval must be obtained from the insurance commissioner of the state where the domestic insurer is domiciled. Generally, state statutes provide that control over a domestic insurer is presumed to exist if any person, directly or indirectly, owns, controls, holds with the power to vote, or holds proxies representing, 10% or more of the voting securities of the domestic insurer. Prior to granting approval of an application to acquire control of a domestic insurer, the state insurance commissioner will consider such factors as the financial strength of the applicant, the integrity and management of the applicant's board of directors and executive officers, the acquirer's plans for the management of the applicant's board of directors and executive officers, the acquirer's plans for the future operations of the domestic insurer and any anti-competitive results that may arise from the consummation of the acquisition of control. These laws may discourage potential acquisition proposals and may delay, deter or prevent a change of control involving AGL that some or all of AGL's stockholders might consider to be desirable, including in particular unsolicited transactions.

        State insurance authorities have broad regulatory powers with respect to various aspects of the business of U.S. insurance companies, including licensing these companies to transact business, accreditation of reinsurers, admittance of assets to statutory surplus, regulating unfair trade and claims practices, establishing reserve requirements and solvency standards, regulating investments and dividends and, in certain instances, approving policy forms and related materials and approving premium rates. State insurance laws and regulations require the Assured Guaranty U.S. Subsidiaries to file financial statements with insurance departments everywhere they are licensed, authorized or accredited to conduct insurance business, and their operations are subject to examination by those departments at any time. The Assured Guaranty U.S. Subsidiaries prepare statutory financial statements in accordance with Statutory Accounting Practices, or SAP, and procedures prescribed or

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permitted by these departments. State insurance departments also conduct periodic examinations of the books and records, financial reporting, policy filings and market conduct of insurance companies domiciled in their states, generally once every three to five years. Market conduct examinations by regulators other than the domestic regulator are generally carried out in cooperation with the insurance departments of other states under guidelines promulgated by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

        The Maryland Insurance Administration, the regulatory authority of the domiciliary jurisdiction of AGC, conducts a periodic examination of insurance companies domiciled in Maryland every five years. The Maryland Insurance Administration last issued a Report on Financial Examination with respect to AGC in 2008.

        The New York Insurance Department, the regulatory authority of the domiciliary jurisdiction of AGM, Assured Guaranty Mortgage Insurance Company and Assured Guaranty Municipal Insurance Company, conducts a periodic examination of insurance companies domiciled in New York, also at five-year intervals. During 2008, the New York Insurance Department completed its review of each of AGM and Assured Guaranty Mortgage Insurance Company for the five-year period ended December 31, 2007.

        Adverse developments surrounding the Company's industry peers have led state insurance regulators and federal regulators to question the adequacy of the current regulatory scheme governing financial guaranty insurers. See "Item 1A. Risk Factors—Risks Related to GAAP and Applicable Law—Changes in or inability to comply with applicable law could adversely affect the Company's ability to do business."

        Maryland.    One of the primary sources of cash for the payment of debt service and dividends by the Company is the receipt of dividends from AGC. If a dividend or distribution is an "extraordinary dividend," it must be reported to, and approved by, the Insurance Commissioner prior to payment. An "extraordinary dividend" is defined to be any dividend or distribution to stockholders, such as Assured Guaranty US Holdings Inc. ("AGUS"), the parent holding company of AGC, which, together with dividends paid during the preceding twelve months, exceeds the lesser of 10% of AGC's policyholders' surplus at the preceding December 31 or 100% of AGC's adjusted net investment income during that period. Further, an insurer may not pay any dividend or make any distribution to its shareholders unless the insurer notifies the Insurance Commissioner of the proposed payment within five business days following declaration and at least ten days before payment. The Insurance Commissioner may declare that such dividend not be paid if the Commissioner finds that the insurer's policyholders' surplus would be inadequate after payment of the dividend or could lead the insurer to a hazardous financial condition. AGC declared and paid dividends of $50.0 million, $16.8 million and $16.5 million during 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively, to AGUS. The maximum amount available during 2011 for the payment of dividends by AGC which would not be characterized as "extraordinary dividends" was approximately $85.4 million.

        New York.    Under the New York Insurance Law, AGM may declare or pay any dividend only out of "earned surplus," which is defined as that portion of the company's surplus that represents the net earnings, gains or profits (after deduction of all losses) that have not been distributed to shareholders as dividends or transferred to stated capital or capital surplus, or applied to other purposes permitted by law, but does not include unrealized appreciation of assets. Additionally, no dividend may be declared or distributed by either company in an amount which, together with all dividends declared or distributed by it during the preceding twelve months, exceeds the lesser of:

        Based on AGM's statutory statements for 2010, the maximum amount available for payment of dividends by AGM without regulatory approval over the 12 months following December 31, 2010 is approximately $92.7 million, subject to certain limitations.

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        In addition to statutory constraints, AGM is subject to contractual constraints on its ability to pay dividends. In connection with the AGMH Acquisition, AGM has agreed with Dexia that, until July 1, 2012, it will not repurchase, redeem or pay any dividends unless at such time AGM is rated at least AA- by S&P and Aa3 by Moody's and if the aggregate amount of such dividends in any year does not exceed 125% of AGMH's debt service for that year. For 2010, AGMH paid $46.1 million in debt service. An alternative to satisfying this test is if AGM receives prior rating agency confirmation that payment of the dividend would not cause any rating currently assigned to AGM to be downgraded immediately following such action. AGM did not declare or pay any dividends in 2010 or 2009. For more information regarding this agreement, see "AGMH Acquisition" within "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."

        Maryland.    In accordance with Maryland insurance law and regulations, AGC maintains a statutory contingency reserve for the protection of policyholders against the effect of adverse economic cycles. The contingency reserve is maintained for each obligation and is equal to the greater of 50% of the premiums written or a percentage of principal guaranteed (which percentage varies from 0.55% to 2.5% depending on the nature of the asset). The contingency reserve is put up over a period of either 15 or 20 years, depending on the nature of the obligation, and then taken down over the same period of time. When considering the principal amount guaranteed, the Company is permitted to take into account amounts that it has ceded to reinsurers.

        New York.    Under the New York Insurance Law, each of AGM, Assured Guaranty Mortgage Insurance Company and Assured Guaranty Municipal Insurance Company must establish a contingency reserve to protect policyholders against the effect of adverse economic cycles. The financial guaranty insurer is required to provide a contingency reserve:

        This reserve must be maintained for the periods specified above, except that reductions by the insurer may be permitted under specified circumstances in the event that actual loss experience exceeds certain thresholds or if the reserve accumulated is deemed excessive in relation to the insurer's outstanding insured obligations. AGM has in the past sought and obtained releases of excessive contingency reserves from the New York Insurance Department. Financial guaranty insurers are also required to maintain reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses on a case-by-case basis and reserves against unearned premiums.

        The New York Insurance Law establishes single risk limits for financial guaranty insurers applicable to all obligations issued by a single entity and backed by a single revenue source. For example, under the limit applicable to qualifying asset-backed securities, the lesser of:

        Under the limit applicable to municipal obligations, the insured average annual debt service for a single risk, net of qualifying reinsurance and collateral, may not exceed 10% of the sum of the insurer's

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policyholders' surplus and contingency reserves. In addition, insured principal of municipal obligations attributable to any single risk, net of qualifying reinsurance and collateral, is limited to 75% of the insurer's policyholders' surplus and contingency reserves. Single-risk limits are also specified for other categories of insured obligations, and generally are more restrictive than those listed for asset-backed or municipal obligations. Obligations not qualifying for an enhanced single-risk limit are generally subject to the "corporate" limit (applicable to insurance of unsecured corporate obligations) equal to 10% of the sum of the insurer's policyholders' surplus and contingency reserves. For example, "triple-X" and "future flow" securitizations, as well as unsecured investor-owned utility obligations, are generally subject to these "corporate" single-risk limits.

        The New York Insurance Law also establishes aggregate risk limits on the basis of aggregate net liability insured as compared with statutory capital. "Aggregate net liability" is defined as outstanding principal and interest of guaranteed obligations insured, net of qualifying reinsurance and collateral. Under these limits, policyholders' surplus and contingency reserves must not be less than a percentage of aggregate net liability equal to the sum of various percentages of aggregate net liability for various categories of specified obligations. The percentage varies from 0.33% for certain municipal obligations to 4% for certain non-investment-grade obligations. As of December 31, 2010, the aggregate net liability of each of AGM, AGC and Assured Guaranty Municipal Insurance Company was below the applicable limit.

        The New York Superintendent has broad discretion to order a financial guaranty insurer to cease new business originations if the insurer fails to comply with single or aggregate risk limits. In practice, the New York Superintendent has shown a willingness to work with insurers to address these concerns.

        Under the New York Insurance Law, Assured Guaranty Mortgage Insurance Company's total liability, net of applicable reinsurance, under its aggregate insurance policies may not exceed 25 times its total policyholders' surplus, commonly known as the "risk-to-capital" requirement. As of December 31, 2010, the consolidated risk-to-capital ratio for such company was below the limit.

        The Assured Guaranty U.S. Subsidiaries are subject to laws and regulations that require diversification of their investment portfolio and limit the amount of investments in certain asset categories, such as below investment grade fixed maturity securities, equity real estate, other equity investments, and derivatives. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations would cause investments exceeding regulatory limitations to be treated as non-admitted assets for purposes of measuring surplus, and, in some instances, would require divestiture of such non-qualifying investments. The Company believes that the investments made by the Assured Guaranty U.S. Subsidiaries complied with such regulations as of December 31, 2010. In addition, any investment must be approved by the insurance company's board of directors or a committee thereof that is responsible for supervising or making such investment.

        The insurance laws of each state of the U.S. and of many other countries regulate or prohibit the sale of insurance and reinsurance within their jurisdictions by unlicensed or non-accredited insurers and reinsurers. None of AGUK, AGE, AG Re, AGRO or Assured Guaranty (Bermuda) are admitted to do business in the United States. The Company does not intend that these companies will maintain offices or solicit, advertise, settle claims or conduct other insurance activities in any jurisdiction in the U.S. where the conduct of such activities would require it to be admitted or authorized.

        In addition to the regulatory requirements imposed by the jurisdictions in which they are licensed, reinsurers' business operations are affected by regulatory requirements in various states of the United States governing "credit for reinsurance" which are imposed on their ceding companies. In general, a ceding company which obtains reinsurance from a reinsurer that is licensed, accredited or approved by the ceding company's state of domicile is permitted to reflect in its statutory financial statements a credit in an aggregate amount equal to the ceding company's liability for unearned premiums (which are that portion of premiums written which applies to the unexpired portion of the policy period), loss

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reserves and loss expense reserves ceded to the reinsurer. The great majority of states, however, permit a credit on the statutory financial statement of a ceding insurer for reinsurance obtained from a non-licensed or non-accredited reinsurer to the extent that the reinsurer secures its reinsurance obligations to the ceding insurer by providing a letter of credit, trust fund or other acceptable security arrangement. A few states do not allow credit for reinsurance ceded to non-licensed reinsurers except in certain limited circumstances and others impose additional requirements that make it difficult to become accredited.

Bermuda

        AG Re, AGRO and Assured Guaranty (Bermuda), the Company's "Bermuda Subsidiaries," are each an insurance company currently registered and licensed as a Class 3B insurer, a Class 3A insurer and a Class 3A insurer, respectively, and each of AG Re and AGRO is also currently registered and licensed as a "long term insurer" under the Insurance Act 1978 of Bermuda. In December 2010, AG Re applied to the Bermuda Monetary Authority (the "Authority") to cancel its long-term insurance license. AGC is permitted under a revocable permit granted under the Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda (the "Companies Act") to engage in and carry on trade and business limited to engaging in certain non U.S. financial guaranty insurance and reinsurance outside Bermuda from a principal place of business in Bermuda, subject to compliance with the conditions attached to the permit and relevant provisions of the Companies Act (including having a Bermuda principal representative for the Companies Act purposes, restrictions on activities in Bermuda, publication and filing of prospectuses on public offerings of securities, registration of charges against its assets and certain winding up provisions). AGC is also licensed as a Class 3 insurer in Bermuda.

        The Insurance Act 1978 of Bermuda, amendments thereto and related regulations (collectively, the "Insurance Act") impose on insurance companies certain solvency and liquidity standards; certain restrictions on the declaration and payment of dividends and distributions; certain restrictions on the reduction of statutory capital; certain restrictions on the winding up of long term insurers; and certain auditing and reporting requirements and also the need to have a principal representative and a principal office (as understood under the Insurance Act) in Bermuda. The Insurance Act grants to the Authority the power to cancel insurance licenses, supervise, investigate and intervene in the affairs of insurance companies and in certain circumstances share information with foreign regulators. Class 3, Class 3A and Class 3B insurers are authorized to carry on general insurance business (as understood under the Insurance Act), subject to conditions attached to the license and to compliance with minimum capital and surplus requirements, solvency margin, liquidity ratio and other requirements imposed by the Insurance Act. Long term insurers are permitted to carry on long term business (as understood under the Insurance Act) subject to conditions attached to the license and to similar compliance requirements and the requirement to maintain its long term business fund (a segregated fund). Each of AG Re, AGRO and Assured Guaranty (Bermuda) is required annually to file statutorily mandated financial statements and returns, audited by an auditor approved by the Authority (no approved auditor of an insurer may have an interest in that insurer, other than as an insured, and no officer, servant or agent of an insurer shall be eligible for appointment as an insurer's approved auditor), together with an annual loss reserve opinion of the Authority approved loss reserve specialist and in respect of AGRO, the required actuary's certificate with respect to the long term business. AG Re is also required to file audited GAAP basis annual financial statements, which must be available to the public. In addition, AG Re is required to file a capital and solvency return that includes the company's risk based capital model, a schedule of fixed income investments by rating categories, a schedule of net reserves for losses and loss expense provisions by line of business, a schedule of premiums written by line of business, a schedule of risk management, and a schedule of fixed income securities.

        AGC has an exemption from such filings, subject to certain conditions.

        In addition, pursuant to provisions under the Insurance Act, any person who becomes a holder of at least 10%, 20%, 33% or 50% of the Company's common shares must notify the Authority in writing

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within 45 days of becoming such a holder. The Authority has the power to object to such a person if it appears to the Authority that the person is not fit and proper to be such a holder. In such a case, the Authority may require the holder to reduce their shareholding in the Company and may direct, among other things, that the voting rights attaching to their common shares shall not be exercisable. A person that does not comply with such a notice or direction from the Authority will be guilty of an offence.

        For so long as AGL has as a subsidiary an insurer registered under the Insurance Act, the Authority may at any time, by written notice, object to a person holding 10% or more of its common shares if it appears to the Authority that the person is not or is no longer fit and proper to be such a holder. In such a case, the Authority may require the shareholder to reduce its holding of common shares in AGL and direct, among other things, that such shareholder's voting rights attaching to the common shares shall not be exercisable. A person who does not comply with such a notice or direction from the Authority will be guilty of an offense.

        Under a condition to its permit granted under the Companies Act, AGC must inform the Bermuda Minister of Finance of any change in its beneficial ownership within 14 days of the occurrence of such change.

        The Bermuda Insurance Amendment (No. 3) Act 2010, among other things, creates five new classes of long-term insurers (being Classes A to E), with Class E insurers expected to be subject to the strictest regulation. Prior to September 30, 2011, AGRO will be required to apply to be re-registered as either a Class C, Class D, or Class E insurer, with the Class being determined based upon the total assets of AGRO. It is not expected that AG Re will need to apply to be re-registered as it has recently applied to the Authority to cancel its long-term insurance license. It is anticipated that, in due course, each Class C, Class D and Class E long term insurer, including AGRO, will be required to maintain total statutory capital and surplus equal to or exceeding its target capital level based on enhanced capital requirements calculated using a risk based capital model currently being developed by the Authority for long-term insurers. AGRO will also be subject to a new minimum margin of solvency, based on its re-classification as a Class C, Class D or Class E insurer as described above. The minimum margin of solvency:

        Under the Insurance Act, AG Re, AGRO and Assured Guaranty (Bermuda) must each ensure that the value of its general business assets exceeds the amount of its general business liabilities by an amount greater than the prescribed minimum solvency margin and, in AG Re's case, the enhanced capital requirement.

        The minimum solvency margin for Class 3, Class 3A and Class 3B insurers is the greater of (i) $1 million, or (ii) 20% of the first $6 million of net premiums written; if in excess of $6 million, the figure is $1.2 million plus 15% of net premiums written in excess of $6 million, or (iii) 15% of net discounted aggregate loss and loss expense provisions and other insurance reserves.

        In addition, each of AG Re and AGRO is also required, with respect to its long-term business, to maintain a minimum solvency margin of $250,000. Each of AG Re and AGRO is also required to establish and maintain a long-term business fund.

        As a Class 3B insurer, AG Re is required to maintain available statutory capital and surplus to an amount that is equal to or exceeds the target capital levels based on enhanced capital requirements calculated using the Bermuda Solvency Capital Requirement ("BSCR") model. The BSCR model is a risk based capital model introduced by the Authority that measures risk and determines enhanced

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capital requirements and a target capital level (defined as 120% of the enhanced capital requirement) based on AG Re's statutory financial statements.

        The Insurance Act limits the declaration and payment of dividends and other distributions by AG Re, AGRO and Assured Guaranty (Bermuda).

        Under the Insurance Act:

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        Under the Companies Act, a Bermuda company (such as AGL, AG Re, AGRO and Assured Guaranty (Bermuda)) may only declare and pay a dividend or make a distribution out of contributed surplus (as understood under the Companies Act) if there are reasonable grounds for believing that the company is and after the payment will be able to meet and pay its liabilities as they become due and the realizable value of the company's assets will not be less than the aggregate of its liabilities and its issued share capital and share premium accounts. The Companies Act also regulates and restricts the reduction and return of capital and paid in share premium, including the repurchase of shares and imposes minimum issued and outstanding share capital requirements.

        Each of AG Re, AGRO and Assured Guaranty (Bermuda) will be subject to the Insurance Code of Conduct, which establishes duties and standards which must be complied with by all insurers registered under the Insurance Act, including the procedures and sound principles to be observed by such insurers. The Insurance Code of Conduct is expected to become effective on June 30, 2011. Failure to comply with the requirements under the Insurance Code of Conduct will be a factor taken into account by the Authority in determining whether an insurer is conducting its business in a sound and prudent manner as prescribed by the Insurance Act. Such failure to comply with the requirements of the Insurance Code of Conduct could result in the Authority exercising its powers of intervention and, in the case of AG Re, will be a factor in calculating the operational risk charge applicable in accordance with that insurer's BSCR model.

        Although AGL is incorporated in Bermuda, it is classified as a non-resident of Bermuda for exchange control purposes by the Authority. Pursuant to its non-resident status, AGL may engage in transactions in currencies other than Bermuda dollars and there are no restrictions on its ability to transfer funds (other than funds denominated in Bermuda dollars) in and out of Bermuda or to pay dividends to U.S. residents who are holders of its common shares.

        Under Bermuda law, "exempted" companies are companies formed for the purpose of conducting business outside Bermuda from a principal place of business in Bermuda. As an "exempted" company, AGL (as well as each of AG Re, AGRO and Assured Guaranty (Bermuda)) may not, without the express authorization of the Bermuda legislature or under a license or consent granted by the Minister of Finance, participate in certain business and other transactions, including: (1) the acquisition or holding of land in Bermuda (except that held by way of lease or tenancy agreement which is required for its business and held for a term not exceeding 50 years, or which is used to provide accommodation or recreational facilities for its officers and employees and held with the consent of the Bermuda Minister of Finance, for a term not exceeding 21 years), (2) the taking of mortgages on land in Bermuda to secure a principal amount in excess of $50,000 unless the Minister of Finance consents to a higher amount, and (3) the carrying on of business of any kind or type for which it is not duly licensed in Bermuda, except in certain limited circumstances, such as doing business with another exempted undertaking in furtherance of AGL's business carried on outside Bermuda.

        The Bermuda government actively encourages foreign investment in "exempted" entities like AGL that are based in Bermuda, but which do not operate in competition with local businesses. AGL is not currently subject to taxes computed on profits or income or computed on any capital asset, gain or appreciation. Bermuda companies and permit companies, such as AGC, pay, as applicable, annual government fees, business fees, payroll tax and other taxes and duties. See "—Tax Matters—Taxation of AGL and Subsidiaries—Bermuda."

        Special considerations apply to the Company's Bermuda operations. Under Bermuda law, non-Bermudians, other than spouses of Bermudians and individuals holding permanent resident certificates or working resident certificates, are not permitted to engage in any gainful occupation in Bermuda without a work permit issued by the Bermuda government. A work permit is only granted or extended if the employer can show that, after a proper public advertisement, no Bermudian, spouse of a Bermudian or individual holding a permanent resident certificate or working resident certificate is available who meets the minimum standards for the position. The Bermuda government has a policy that places a six-year term limit on individuals with work permits, subject to specified exemptions for persons deemed to be key employees. Currently, all of the Company's Bermuda based professional employees who require work permits have been granted work permits by the Bermuda government.

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United Kingdom

        Since December 1, 2001, the regulation of the financial services industry in the U.K. has been consolidated under the Financial Services Authority ("FSA U.K."). In addition, the regulatory regime in the U.K. must comply with certain European Union ("EU") directives binding on all EU member states and notably the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive, largely for the purposes of harmonizing the regulatory regime for investment services and activities across the EEA.

        The FSA U.K. is the single statutory regulator responsible for regulating the financial services industry in the U.K., having the authority to oversee the carrying on of "regulated activities" (including deposit taking, insurance and reinsurance, investment management and most other financial services), with the purpose of maintaining confidence in the U.K. financial system, providing public understanding of the system, securing the proper degree of protection for consumers and helping to reduce financial crime. It is a criminal offense for any person to carry on a regulated activity in the U.K. unless that person is authorized by the FSA U.K. and has been granted permission to carry on that regulated activity, or otherwise falls under an exemption to such regulation.

        Insurance business in the U.K. falls into two main categories: long-term insurance (which is primarily investment related) and general insurance. Subject to limited exceptions, it is not possible for a new insurance company to be authorized in both long-term and general insurance business unless the long-term insurance business is restricted to reinsurance business. These two categories are both divided into "classes" (for example: permanent health and pension fund management are two classes of long-term insurance; damage to property and motor vehicle liability are two classes of general insurance). Under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 ("FSMA"), effecting or carrying out contracts of insurance, within a class of general or long-term insurance, by way of business in the U.K., constitutes a "regulated activity" requiring authorization. An authorized insurance company must have permission for each class of insurance business it intends to write.

        AGE is authorized to effect and carry out certain classes of non-life insurance, specifically: classes 14 (credit), 15 (suretyship) and 16 (miscellaneous financial loss). This scope of permission is sufficient to enable AGE to effect and carry out financial guaranty insurance and reinsurance. The insurance and reinsurance businesses of AGE are subject to close supervision by the FSA U.K. AGE also has permission to arrange and advise on deals in financial guarantees which it underwrites.

        The FSA U.K. carries out the prudential supervision of insurance companies through a variety of methods, including the collection of information from statistical returns, review of accountants' reports, visits to insurance companies and regular formal interviews. The FSA U.K. has adopted a risk-based and a principles-based approach to the supervision of insurance companies.

        Under its risk-based approach, the FSA U.K. periodically performs a formal risk assessment of insurance companies or groups carrying on business in the U.K., which varies in scope according to the risk profile of the insurer. The FSA U.K. performs its risk assessment broadly, by analyzing information which it receives during the normal course of its supervision, such as regular prudential returns on the financial position of the insurance company, or which it acquires through a series of meetings with senior management of the insurance company and by making use of its thematic work. After each risk assessment, the FSA U.K. will inform the insurer of its views on the insurer's risk profile. This will include details of any remedial action that the FSA U.K. requires and the likely consequences if this action is not taken. The FSA U.K. also maintains requirements for senior management arrangements and for systems and controls for insurance and reinsurance companies under its jurisdiction

        In addition, the FSA U.K. regards itself as a principles-based regulator and is placing an increased emphasis on risk identification and management in relation to the prudential regulation of insurance and reinsurance business in the U.K. The FSA U.K's rules include those on the sale of general insurance, known as insurance mediation, the General Prudential Sourcebook (GENPRU) and the Prudential Sourcebook for Insurers (INSPRU) (collectively, the "Prudential Sourcebooks"), which include measures such as risk-based capital adequacy rules, including individual capital assessments. These are intended to align capital requirements with the risk profile of each insurance company and ensure adequate diversification of an insurer's or reinsurer's exposures to any credit risks of its

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reinsurers. AGE has calculated its minimum required capital according to the FSA's individual capital adequacy criteria and is in compliance.

        AGUK has also been authorized to effect and carry out insurance classes 14, 15 and 16. Following discussions between the Company's management and the FSA U.K. relating to AGUK's large reinsurance exposures to its parent, AGC, and with respect to certain AGUK guaranteed transactions, AGUK's board of directors determined that it is not necessary to maintain both companies to write new business. Accordingly, Assured Guaranty has elected to place AGUK into run-off and has filed a run-off plan with the FSA U.K. Instead, the Company will utilize AGE as the entity from which to write business in the European Economic Area. Management has agreed with the FSA U.K. that any new business written by AGE will be guaranteed using a co-insurance structure pursuant to which AGE will co-insure municipal and infrastructure transactions with AGM, and structured finance transactions with AGC. AGE's financial guarantee will guarantee a proportionate share (expected to be approximately 5 to 7%) of the total exposure, and AGM or AGC will guarantee the remaining exposure under the transaction (subject to compliance with EEA licensing requirements). AGM or AGC will also issue a second-to-pay guaranty to cover AGE's financial guarantee.

        Assured Guaranty Finance Overseas Ltd. ("AGFOL"), a subsidiary of AGL, is authorized by the FSA U.K. as an "Exempt CAD" firm to carry out designated investment business activities in that it may "advise on investments (except on pension transfers and pension opt outs)" relating to most investment instruments. In addition, it may arrange or bring about transactions in investments and make "arrangements with a view to transactions in investments." It should be noted that AGFOL is not authorized as an insurer and does not itself take risk in the transactions it arranges or places, and may not hold funds on behalf of its customers. AGFOL's permissions also allow it to introduce business to AGC and AGM, so that AGFOL can arrange financial guaranties underwritten by AGC and AGM, even though AGFOL's role will be limited to acting as a pure introducer of business to AGC and AGM.

        The Prudential Sourcebooks require that non-life insurance companies such as AGUK and AGE maintain a margin of solvency at all times in respect of the liabilities of the insurance company, the calculation of which depends on the type and amount of insurance business a company writes. The method of calculation of the solvency margin (known as the minimum capital requirement) is set out in the Prudential Sourcebooks, and for these purposes, the insurer's assets and liabilities are subject to specified valuation rules. The Prudential Sourcebooks also require that AGUK and AGE calculate and share with the FSA U.K. their "enhanced capital requirement" based on risk-weightings applied to assets held and lines of business written. In recent years, the FSA U.K. had replaced the individual capital assessment for financial guaranty insurers with a "Benchmark" capital adequacy model imposed by the FSA U.K. The FSA U.K. currently is in the process of replacing the Benchmark model with an individual capital assessment for AGE. AGE has filed an individual capital adequacy submission; the FSA U.K. is evaluating such submission but has not yet issued its assessment for AGE. Since AGUK will not be writing new business, AGUK will not be filing an individual capital adequacy submission and will instead continue to be subject to the Benchmark model. Failure to maintain capital at least equal to the higher of the minimum capital requirement and the individual capital assessment, in the case of AGE, or the Benchmark model, in the case of AGUK, is one of the grounds on which the wide powers of intervention conferred upon the FSA U.K. may be exercised.

        To the extent that the amount of premiums for such classes exceed certain specified minimum thresholds, each insurance company writing property, credit and other specified categories of insurance or reinsurance business is required by the Prudential Sourcebooks to maintain an equalization reserve calculated in accordance with the provisions of INSPRU.

        These solvency requirements will need to be amended by December 2012 in order to implement the European Union's "Solvency II" directive (Directive 2009/138/EC), which itself is to be amended by the proposed "Omnibus II Directive." Among other things, that directive introduces a revised risk-based prudential regime which includes the following features: (i) assets and liabilities are generally to be valued at their market value; (ii) the amount of required economic capital is intended to ensure,

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with a probability of 99.5%, that regulated firms are able to meet their obligations to policyholders and beneficiaries over the following 12 months; and (iii) reinsurance recoveries will be treated as a separate asset (rather than being netted off the underlying insurance liabilities). AGE has been accepted by the FSA U.K. into the pre-application process and has begun the process to apply for approval from the FSA U.K. for use of the "Partial Internal Model" methodology for calculation of its solvency capital requirement, which combines standard formulas developed by the FSA U.K. for calculation of certain capital requirements with an internally developed model for calculation of other capital requirements.

        In addition, an insurer (which includes a company conducting only reinsurance business) is required to perform and submit to the FSA U.K. a group capital adequacy return in respect of its ultimate insurance parent and, if different, its ultimate European Economic Area insurance parent. The calculation at the level of the ultimate European Economic Area insurance parent is required to show a positive result. There is no such requirement in relation to the report at the level of the ultimate insurance parent, although if the report at that level raises concerns, the FSA U.K. may take regulatory action. Public disclosure of the European Economic Area group calculation is also required. The purpose of this rule is to prevent leveraging of capital arising from involvements in other group insurance firms.

        Further, an insurer is required to report in its annual returns to the FSA U.K. all material related party transactions (e.g., intragroup reinsurance, whose value is more than 5% of the insurer's general insurance business amount).

        U.K. company law prohibits each of AGUK and AGE from declaring a dividend to its shareholders unless it has "profits available for distribution." The determination of whether a company has profits available for distribution is based on its accumulated realized profits less its accumulated realized losses. While the U.K. insurance regulatory laws impose no statutory restrictions on a general insurer's ability to declare a dividend, the FSA U.K's capital requirements may in practice act as a restriction on dividends.

        U.K. insurance companies must prepare their financial statements under the Companies Act 2006, which requires the filing with Companies House of audited financial statements and related reports. In addition, U.K. insurance companies are required to file regulatory returns with the FSA U.K., which include a revenue account, a profit and loss account and a balance sheet in prescribed forms. Under sections of the Prudential Sourcebooks, audited regulatory returns must be filed with the FSA U.K. within two months and 15 days of the financial year end (or three months where the delivery of the return is made electronically).

        The FSA U.K. closely supervises the management of insurance companies through the approved persons regime, by which any appointment of persons to perform certain specified "controlled functions" within a regulated entity must be approved by the FSA U.K.

        FSMA regulates the acquisition of "control" of any U.K. insurance company authorized under FSMA. Any company or individual that (together with its or his associates) directly or indirectly acquires 10% or more of the shares in a U.K. authorized insurance company or its parent company, or is entitled to exercise or control the exercise of 10% or more of the voting power in such authorized insurance company or its parent company, would be considered to have acquired "control" for the purposes of the relevant legislation, as would a person who had significant influence over the management of such authorized insurance company or its parent company by virtue of his shareholding or voting power in either.

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        Under FSMA, any person proposing to acquire "control" of a U.K. authorized insurance company must give prior notification to the FSA U.K. of its intention to do so. The FSA U.K. then has three months to consider that person's application to acquire "control." In considering whether to approve such application, the FSA U.K. must be satisfied that both the acquirer is a "fit and proper" person to have "control" and that the interests of consumers would not be threatened by such acquisition of "control." "Consumers" in this context includes all persons who may use the services of the authorized insurance company. Failure to make the relevant prior application could result in action being taken by the FSA U.K.

        The FSA U.K. has extensive powers to intervene in the affairs of an authorized person, culminating in the ultimate sanction of the removal of authorization to carry on a regulated activity. FSMA imposes on the FSA U.K. statutory obligations to monitor compliance with the requirements imposed by FSMA, and to investigate and enforce the provisions of FSMA related rules made by the FSA U.K. such as the Prudential Sourcebooks and breaches of the Conduct of Business Sourcebook.

        The FSA U.K. also has the power to prosecute criminal offenses arising under FSMA, and to prosecute insider dealing under Part V of the Criminal Justice Act of 1993, and breaches of money laundering regulations. The FSA U.K's stated policy is to pursue criminal prosecution in all appropriate cases.

        EU directives allow AGFOL, AGUK and AGE to conduct business in EU states other than the United Kingdom in compliance with the scope of permission granted these companies by FSA U.K. without the necessity of additional licensing or authorization in other EU jurisdictions. This ability to operate in other jurisdictions of the EU on the basis of home state authorization and supervision is sometimes referred to as "passporting." Insurers may operate outside their home member state either on a "services" basis or on an "establishment" basis. Operating on a "services" basis means that the company conducts permitted businesses in the host state without having a physical presence there, while operating on an establishment basis means the company has a branch or physical presence in the host state. In both cases, a company remains subject to regulation by its home regulator although the company nonetheless may have to comply with certain local rules, such as where the company is operating on an "establishment" basis in which case, the local conduct of business (and other related) rules apply since the host state is regarded as a better place to detect and intervene in respect of suspected breaches relating to the branch within its territory. In such cases, the home state rules apply in respect of "organizational" and "prudential" obligations. In addition to EU member states, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein (members of the broader EEA) are jurisdictions in which this passporting framework applies. Each of AGUK, AGE and AGFOL is permitted to operate on a passport basis in various countries throughout the EEA. However, as previously discussed, Assured Guaranty has elected to place AGUK into run-off.

        Each of AGUK and AGE is subject to FSA U.K. fees and levies based on its gross written premiums. The FSA U.K. also requires authorized insurers to participate in an investors' protection fund, known as the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. The Financial Services Compensation Scheme was established to compensate consumers of financial services, including the buyers of insurance, against failures in the financial services industry. Individual policyholders and small businesses may be compensated by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme when an authorized insurer is unable, or likely to be unable, to satisfy policyholder claims. Neither AGUK or AGE expects to write any insurance business that is protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

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Tax Matters

Taxation of AGL and Subsidiaries

        Under current Bermuda law, there is no Bermuda income, corporate or profits tax or withholding tax, capital gains tax or capital transfer tax payable by AGL or its Bermuda Subsidiaries. AGL, AGC, and the Bermuda Subsidiaries have each obtained from the Minister of Finance under the Exempted Undertakings Tax Protection Act 1966, as amended, an assurance that, in the event that Bermuda enacts legislation imposing tax computed on profits, income, any capital asset, gain or appreciation, or any tax in the nature of estate duty or inheritance, then the imposition of any such tax shall not be applicable to AGL, AGC or the Bermuda Subsidiaries or to any of their operations or their shares, debentures or other obligations, until March 28, 2016. This assurance is subject to the proviso that it is not to be construed so as to prevent the application of any tax or duty to such persons as are ordinarily resident in Bermuda, or to prevent the application of any tax payable in accordance with the provisions of the Land Tax Act 1967 or otherwise payable in relation to any land leased to AGL, AGC or the Bermuda Subsidiaries. AGL, AGC and the Bermuda Subsidiaries each pay annual Bermuda government fees, and the Bermuda Subsidiaries and AGC pay annual insurance license fees. In addition, all entities employing individuals in Bermuda are required to pay a payroll tax and there are other sundry taxes payable, directly or indirectly, to the Bermuda government. The Bermuda Ministry of Finance announced in November 2010 that the standard assurance will be extended to 2035, but the required legislation has not yet been brought before the Bermuda Legislature.

        AGL has conducted and intends to continue to conduct substantially all of its foreign operations outside the U.S. and to limit the U.S. contacts of AGL and its foreign subsidiaries (except AGRO and AGE, which have elected to be taxed as U.S. corporations) so that they should not be engaged in a trade or business in the U.S. A foreign corporation, such as AG Re, that is deemed to be engaged in a trade or business in the United States would be subject to U.S. income tax at regular corporate rates, as well as the branch profits tax, on its income which is treated as effectively connected with the conduct of that trade or business, unless the corporation is entitled to relief under the permanent establishment provision of an applicable tax treaty, as discussed below. Such income tax, if imposed, would be based on effectively connected income computed in a manner generally analogous to that applied to the income of a U.S. corporation, except that a foreign corporation may generally be entitled to deductions and credits only if it timely files a U.S. federal income tax return. AGL, AG Re and certain of the other foreign subsidiaries have and will continue to file protective U.S. federal income tax returns on a timely basis in order to preserve the right to claim income tax deductions and credits if it is ever determined that they are subject to U.S. federal income tax. The highest marginal federal income tax rates currently are 35% for a corporation's effectively connected income and 30% for the "branch profits" tax.

        Under the income tax treaty between Bermuda and the U.S. (the "Bermuda Treaty"), a Bermuda insurance company would not be subject to U.S. income tax on income found to be effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business unless that trade or business is conducted through a permanent establishment in the U.S. AG Re and the other Bermuda Subsidiaries currently intend to conduct their activities so that they do not have a permanent establishment in the U.S.

        An insurance enterprise resident in Bermuda generally will be entitled to the benefits of the Bermuda Treaty if (i) more than 50% of its shares are owned beneficially, directly or indirectly, by individual residents of the U.S. or Bermuda or U.S. citizens and (ii) its income is not used in substantial part, directly or indirectly, to make disproportionate distributions to, or to meet certain liabilities of, persons who are neither residents of either the U.S. or Bermuda nor U.S. citizens.

        Foreign insurance companies carrying on an insurance business within the U.S. have a certain minimum amount of effectively connected net investment income, determined in accordance with a formula that depends, in part, on the amount of U.S. risk insured or reinsured by such companies. If AG Re or another Bermuda Subsidiary is considered to be engaged in the conduct of an insurance

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business in the U.S. and is not entitled to the benefits of the Bermuda Treaty in general (because it fails to satisfy one of the limitations on treaty benefits discussed above), the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), could subject a significant portion of AG Re's or another Bermuda Subsidiary's investment income to U.S. income tax.

        Foreign corporations not engaged in a trade or business in the U.S., and those that are engaged in a U.S. trade or business with respect to their non-effectively connected income are nonetheless subject to U.S. income tax imposed by withholding on certain "fixed or determinable annual or periodic gains, profits and income" derived from sources within the U.S. (such as dividends and certain interest on investments), subject to exemption under the Code or reduction by applicable treaties. The Bermuda Treaty does not reduce the U.S. withholding rate on U.S.-sourced investment income. The standard non-treaty rate of U.S. withholding tax is currently 30%.

        The U.S. also imposes an excise tax on insurance and reinsurance premiums paid to foreign insurers with respect to risk of a U.S. person located wholly or partly within the U.S. or risks of a foreign person engaged in a trade or business in the U.S. which are located within the U.S. The rates of tax applicable to premiums paid are 4% for direct casualty insurance premiums and 1% for reinsurance premiums.

        AGUS, AGC, AG Financial Products Inc., Assured Guaranty Overseas U.S. Holdings Inc. and Assured Guaranty Mortgage Insurance Company are each a U.S. domiciled corporation and AGRO and AGE have elected to be treated as U.S. corporations for all U.S. federal tax purposes. As such, each corporation is subject to taxation in the U.S. at regular corporate rates.

Taxation of Shareholders

        Currently, there is no Bermuda capital gains tax, or withholding or other tax payable on principal, interests or dividends paid to the holders of the AGL common shares.

        This discussion is based upon the Code, the regulations promulgated thereunder and any relevant administrative rulings or pronouncements or judicial decisions, all as in effect on the date hereof and as currently interpreted, and does not take into account possible changes in such tax laws or interpretations thereof, which may apply retroactively. This discussion does not include any description of the tax laws of any state or local governments within the U.S. or any foreign government.

        The following summary sets forth the material U.S. federal income tax considerations related to the purchase, ownership and disposition of AGL's shares. Unless otherwise stated, this summary deals only with holders that are U.S. Persons (as defined below) who purchase their shares and who hold their shares as capital assets within the meaning of section 1221 of the Code. The following discussion is only a discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax matters as described herein and does not purport to address all of the U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to a particular shareholder in light of such shareholder's specific circumstances. For example, special rules apply to certain shareholders, such as partnerships, insurance companies, regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts, financial asset securitization investment trusts, dealers or traders in securities, tax exempt organizations, expatriates, persons that do not hold their securities in the U.S. dollar, persons who are considered with respect to AGL or any of its foreign subsidiaries as "United States shareholders" for purposes of the controlled foreign corporation ("CFC") rules of the Code (generally, a U.S. Person, as defined below, who owns or is deemed to own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of AGL or the stock of any of AGL's foreign subsidiaries entitled to vote (i.e., 10% U.S. Shareholders)), or persons who hold the common shares as part of a hedging or conversion transaction or as part of a short-sale or straddle. Any such shareholder should consult their tax advisor.

        If a partnership holds AGL's shares, the tax treatment of the partners will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Partners of a partnership owning AGL's shares should consult their tax advisers.

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        For purposes of this discussion, the term "U.S. Person" means: (i) a citizen or resident of the U.S., (ii) a partnership or corporation, created or organized in or under the laws of the U.S., or organized under any political subdivision thereof, (iii) an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source, (iv) a trust if either (x) a court within the U.S. is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of such trust and one or more U.S. Persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of such trust or (y) the trust has a valid election in effect to be treated as a U.S. Person for U.S. federal income tax purposes or (v) any other person or entity that is treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as if it were one of the foregoing.

        Taxation of Distributions.    Subject to the discussions below relating to the potential application of the CFC, related person insurance income ("RPII") and passive foreign investment company ("PFIC") rules, cash distributions, if any, made with respect to AGL's shares will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid out of current or accumulated earnings and profits of AGL (as computed using U.S. tax principles). Under current legislation, certain dividends paid to individual and certain other non-corporate shareholders before 2013 are eligible for reduced rates of tax. Dividends paid by AGL to corporate shareholders will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction. To the extent such distributions exceed AGL's earnings and profits, they will be treated first as a return of the shareholder's basis in the common shares to the extent thereof, and then as gain from the sale of a capital asset.

        AGL believes dividends paid by AGL on its common shares before 2013 to non-corporate holders will be eligible for reduced rates of tax up to a maximum of 15% as "qualified dividend income," provided that AGL is not a PFIC and certain other requirements, including stock holding period requirements, are satisfied. Qualified dividend income is currently subject to tax at capital gain rates. Note, however, that legislation has periodically been introduced in the U.S. Congress intending to limit the availability of this preferential dividend tax rate where dividends are paid by corporations resident in foreign jurisdictions deemed to be "tax haven" jurisdictions for this purpose.

        Classification of AGL or its Foreign Subsidiaries as a Controlled Foreign Corporation.    Each 10% U.S. Shareholder (as defined below) of a foreign corporation that is a CFC for an uninterrupted period of 30 days or more during a taxable year, and who owns shares in the foreign corporation, directly or indirectly through foreign entities, on the last day of the foreign corporation's taxable year on which it is CFC, must include in its gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes its pro rata share of the CFC's "subpart F income," even if the subpart F income is not distributed. "Subpart F income" of a foreign insurance corporation typically includes foreign personal holding company income (such as interest, dividends and other types of passive income), as well as insurance and reinsurance income (including underwriting and investment income). A foreign corporation is considered a CFC if 10% U.S. Shareholders own (directly, indirectly through foreign entities or by attribution by application of the constructive ownership rules of section 958(b) of the Code (i.e., "constructively")) more than 50% of the total combined voting power of all classes of voting stock of such foreign corporation, or more than 50% of the total value of all stock of such corporation on any day during the taxable year of such corporation. For purposes of taking into account insurance income, a CFC also includes a foreign insurance company in which more than 25% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock (or more than 25% of the total value of the stock) is owned by 10% U.S. Shareholders, on any day during the taxable year of such corporation. A "10% U.S. Shareholder" is a U.S. Person who owns (directly, indirectly through foreign entities or constructively) at least 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock entitled to vote of the foreign corporation. AGL believes that because of the dispersion of AGL's share ownership, provisions in AGL's organizational documents that limit voting power (these provisions are described in "Description of Share Capital") and other factors, no U.S. Person who owns shares of AGL directly or indirectly through one or more foreign entities should be treated as owning (directly, indirectly through foreign entities, or constructively), 10% or more of the total voting power of all classes of shares of AGL or any of its foreign subsidiaries. It is possible, however, that the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") could challenge the effectiveness of these provisions and that a court could sustain such a challenge. In addition, the direct and indirect subsidiaries of AGUS are characterized as CFCs and any subpart F income generated will be included in the gross income of the applicable domestic subsidiaries in the AGL group.

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        The RPII CFC Provisions.    The following discussion generally is applicable only if the RPII of AG Re or any other foreign insurance subsidiary that has not made an election under section 953(d) of the Code to be treated as a U.S. corporation for all U.S. federal tax purposes or are CFCs owned directly or indirectly by AGUS (each a "Foreign Insurance Subsidiary" or collectively, with AG Re, the "Foreign Insurance Subsidiaries") determined on a gross basis, is 20% or more of the Foreign Insurance Subsidiary's gross insurance income for the taxable year and the 20% Ownership Exception (as defined below) is not met. The following discussion generally would not apply for any taxable year in which the Foreign Insurance Subsidiary's gross RPII falls below the 20% threshold or the 20% Ownership Exception is met. Although the Company cannot be certain, it believes that each Foreign Insurance Subsidiary was in prior years of operations and will for the foreseeable future either be below the 20% threshold or meet the requirements of 20% Ownership Exception for each tax year.

        RPII is any "insurance income" (as defined below) attributable to policies of insurance or reinsurance with respect to which the person (directly or indirectly) insured is a "RPII shareholder" (as defined below) or a "related person" (as defined below) to such RPII shareholder. In general, and subject to certain limitations, "insurance income" is income (including premium and investment income) attributable to the issuing of any insurance or reinsurance contract which would be taxed under the portions of the Code relating to insurance companies if the income were the income of a domestic insurance company. For purposes of inclusion of the RPII of a Foreign Insurance Subsidiary in the income of RPII shareholders, unless an exception applies, the term "RPII shareholder" means any U.S. Person who owns (directly or indirectly through foreign entities) any amount of AGL's common shares. Generally, the term "related person" for this purpose means someone who controls or is controlled by the RPII shareholder or someone who is controlled by the same person or persons which control the RPII shareholder. Control is measured by either more than 50% in value or more than 50% in voting power of stock applying certain constructive ownership principles. A Foreign Insurance Subsidiary will be treated as a CFC under the RPII provisions if RPII shareholders are treated as owning (directly, indirectly through foreign entities or constructively) 25% or more of the shares of AGL by vote or value.

        RPII Exceptions.    The special RPII rules do not apply if (i) at all times during the taxable year less than 20% of the voting power and less than 20% of the value of the stock of AGL (the "20% Ownership Exception") is owned (directly or indirectly through entities) by persons who are (directly or indirectly) insured under any policy of insurance or reinsurance issued by a Foreign Insurance Subsidiary or related persons to any such person, (ii) RPII, determined on a gross basis, is less than 20% of a Foreign Insurance Subsidiary's gross insurance income for the taxable year (the "20% Gross Income Exception), (iii) a Foreign Insurance Subsidiary elects to be taxed on its RPII as if the RPII were effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business, and to waive all treaty benefits with respect to RPII and meet certain other requirements or (iv) a Foreign Insurance Subsidiary elects to be treated as a U.S. corporation and waive all treaty benefits and meet certain other requirements. The Foreign Insurance Subsidiaries do not intend to make either of these elections. Where none of these exceptions applies, each U.S. Person owning or treated as owning any shares in AGL (and therefore, indirectly, in a Foreign Insurance Subsidiary) on the last day of AGL's taxable year will be required to include in its gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes its share of the RPII for the portion of the taxable year during which a Foreign Insurance Subsidiary was a CFC under the RPII provisions, determined as if all such RPII were distributed proportionately only to such U.S. Persons at that date, but limited by each such U.S. Person's share of a Foreign Insurance Subsidiary's current-year earnings and profits as reduced by the U.S. Person's share, if any, of certain prior-year deficits in earnings and profits. The Foreign Insurance Subsidiaries intend to operate in a manner that is intended to ensure that each qualifies for either the 20% Gross Income Exception or 20% Ownership Exception.

        Computation of RPII.    For any year in which a Foreign Insurance Subsidiary does not meet the 20% Ownership Exception or the 20% Gross Income Exception, AGL may also seek information from its shareholders as to whether beneficial owners of shares at the end of the year are U.S. Persons so that the RPII may be determined and apportioned among such persons; to the extent AGL is unable to determine whether a beneficial owner of shares is a U.S. Person, AGL may assume that such owner is not a U.S. Person, thereby increasing the per share RPII amount for all known RPII shareholders. The amount of RPII includable in the income of a RPII shareholder is based upon the net RPII income for

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the year after deducting related expenses such as losses, loss reserves and operating expenses. If a Foreign Insurance Subsidiary meets the 20% Ownership Exception or the 20% Gross Income Exception, RPII shareholders will not be required to include RPII in their taxable income.

        Apportionment of RPII to U.S. Holders.    Every RPII shareholder who owns shares on the last day of any taxable year of AGL in which a Foreign Insurance Subsidiary does not meet the 20% Ownership Exception or the 20% Gross Income Exception should expect that for such year it will be required to include in gross income its share of a Foreign Insurance Subsidiary's RPII for the portion of the taxable year during which the Foreign Insurance Subsidiary was a CFC under the RPII provisions, whether or not distributed, even though it may not have owned the shares throughout such period. A RPII shareholder who owns shares during such taxable year but not on the last day of the taxable year is not required to include in gross income any part of the Foreign Insurance Subsidiary's RPII.

        Basis Adjustments.    An RPII shareholder's tax basis in its common shares will be increased by the amount of any RPII the shareholder includes in income. The RPII shareholder may exclude from income the amount of any distributions by AGL out of previously taxed RPII income. The RPII shareholder's tax basis in its common shares will be reduced by the amount of such distributions that are excluded from income.

        Uncertainty as to Application of RPII.    The RPII provisions are complex, have never been interpreted by the courts or the Treasury Department in final regulations, and regulations interpreting the RPII provisions of the Code exist only in proposed form. It is not certain whether these regulations will be adopted in their proposed form or what changes or clarifications might ultimately be made thereto or whether any such changes, as well as any interpretation or application of RPII by the IRS, the courts or otherwise, might have retroactive effect. These provisions include the grant of authority to the Treasury Department to prescribe "such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purpose of this subsection including regulations preventing the avoidance of this subsection through cross insurance arrangements or otherwise." Accordingly, the meaning of the RPII provisions and the application thereof to the Foreign Insurance Subsidiaries is uncertain. In addition, the Company cannot be certain that the amount of RPII or the amounts of the RPII inclusions for any particular RPII shareholder, if any, will not be subject to adjustment based upon subsequent IRS examination. Any prospective investor which does business with a Foreign Insurance Subsidiary and is considering an investment in common shares should consult his tax advisor as to the effects of these uncertainties.

        Information Reporting.    Under certain circumstances, U.S. Persons owning shares (directly, indirectly or constructively) in a foreign corporation are required to file IRS Form 5471 with their U.S. federal income tax returns. Generally, information reporting on IRS Form 5471 is required by (i) a person who is treated as a RPII shareholder, (ii) a 10% U.S. Shareholder of a foreign corporation that is a CFC for an uninterrupted period of 30 days or more during any tax year of the foreign corporation and who owned the stock on the last day of that year; and (iii) under certain circumstances, a U.S. Person who acquires stock in a foreign corporation and as a result thereof owns 10% or more of the voting power or value of such foreign corporation, whether or not such foreign corporation is a CFC. For any taxable year in which AGL determines that the 20% Gross Income Exception and the 20% Ownership Exception does not apply, AGL will provide to all U.S. Persons registered as shareholders of its shares a completed IRS Form 5471 or the relevant information necessary to complete the form. Failure to file IRS Form 5471 may result in penalties.

        Tax-Exempt Shareholders.    Tax-exempt entities will be required to treat certain subpart F insurance income, including RPII, that is includible in income by the tax-exempt entity as unrelated business taxable income. Prospective investors that are tax exempt entities are urged to consult their tax advisors as to the potential impact of the unrelated business taxable income provisions of the Code. A tax-exempt organization that is treated as a 10% U.S. Shareholder or a RPII Shareholder also must file IRS Form 5471 in certain circumstances.

        Dispositions of AGL's Shares.    Subject to the discussions below relating to the potential application of the Code section 1248 and PFIC rules, holders of shares generally should recognize capital gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes on the sale, exchange or other disposition of shares in the same manner as on the sale, exchange or other disposition of any other shares held as capital assets. If

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the holding period for these shares exceeds one year, any gain will be subject to tax at a current maximum marginal tax rate of 15% for individuals (subject to increase in 2013 without Congressional action) and 35% for corporations. Moreover, gain, if any, generally will be a U.S. source gain and generally will constitute "passive income" for foreign tax credit limitation purposes.

        Code section 1248 provides that if a U.S. Person sells or exchanges stock in a foreign corporation and such person owned, directly, indirectly through foreign entities or constructively, 10% or more of the voting power of the corporation at any time during the five-year period ending on the date of disposition when the corporation was a CFC, any gain from the sale or exchange of the shares will be treated as a dividend to the extent of the CFC's earnings and profits (determined under U.S. federal income tax principles) during the period that the shareholder held the shares and while the corporation was a CFC (with certain adjustments). The Company believes that because of the dispersion of AGL's share ownership, provisions in AGL's organizational documents that limit voting power and other factors that no U.S. shareholder of AGL should be treated as owning (directly, indirectly through foreign entities or constructively) 10% of more of the total voting power of AGL; to the extent this is the case this application of Code Section 1248 under the regular CFC rules should not apply to dispositions of AGL's shares. It is possible, however, that the IRS could challenge the effectiveness of these provisions and that a court could sustain such a challenge. A 10% U.S. Shareholder may in certain circumstances be required to report a disposition of shares of a CFC by attaching IRS Form 5471 to the U.S. federal income tax or information return that it would normally file for the taxable year in which the disposition occurs. In the event this is determined necessary, AGL will provide a completed IRS Form 5471 or the relevant information necessary to complete the Form. Code section 1248 in conjunction with the RPII rules also applies to the sale or exchange of shares in a foreign corporation if the foreign corporation would be treated as a CFC for RPII purposes regardless of whether the shareholder is a 10% U.S. Shareholder or whether the 20% Ownership Exception or 20% Gross Income Exception applies. Existing proposed regulations do not address whether Code section 1248 would apply if a foreign corporation is not a CFC but the foreign corporation has a subsidiary that is a CFC and that would be taxed as an insurance company if it were a domestic corporation. The Company believes, however, that this application of Code section 1248 under the RPII rules should not apply to dispositions of AGL's shares because AGL will not be directly engaged in the insurance business. The Company cannot be certain, however, that the IRS will not interpret the proposed regulations in a contrary manner or that the Treasury Department will not amend the proposed regulations to provide that these rules will apply to dispositions of common shares. Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the effects of these rules on a disposition of common shares.

        Passive Foreign Investment Companies.    In general, a foreign corporation will be a PFIC during a given year if (i) 75% or more of its gross income constitutes "passive income" (the "75% test") or (ii) 50% or more of its assets produce passive income (the "50% test").

        If AGL were characterized as a PFIC during a given year, each U.S. Person holding AGL's shares would be subject to a penalty tax at the time of the sale at a gain of, or receipt of an "excess distribution" with respect to, their shares, unless such person (i) is a 10% U.S. Shareholder and AGL is a CFC or (ii) made a "qualified electing fund election" or "mark-to-market" election. It is uncertain that AGL would be able to provide its shareholders with the information necessary for a U.S. Person to make a qualified electing fund election. In addition, if AGL were considered a PFIC, upon the death of any U.S. individual owning common shares, such individual's heirs or estate would not be entitled to a "step-up" in the basis of the common shares that might otherwise be available under U.S. federal income tax laws. In general, a shareholder receives an "excess distribution" if the amount of the distribution is more than 125% of the average distribution with respect to the common shares during the three preceding taxable years (or shorter period during which the taxpayer held common shares). In general, the penalty tax is equivalent to an interest charge on taxes that are deemed due during the period the shareholder owned the common shares, computed by assuming that the excess distribution or gain (in the case of a sale) with respect to the common shares was taken in equal portion at the highest applicable tax rate on ordinary income throughout the shareholder's period of ownership. The interest charge is equal to the applicable rate imposed on underpayments of U.S. federal income tax for such period. In addition, a distribution paid by AGL to U.S. shareholders that is characterized as a

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dividend and is not characterized as an excess distribution would not be eligible for reduced rates of tax as qualified dividend income with respect to dividends paid before 2013.

        For the above purposes, passive income generally includes interest, dividends, annuities and other investment income. The PFIC rules provide that income "derived in the active conduct of an insurance business by a corporation which is predominantly engaged in an insurance business... is not treated as passive income." The PFIC provisions also contain a look-through rule under which a foreign corporation shall be treated as if it "received directly its proportionate share of the income..." and as if it "held its proportionate share of the assets..." of any other corporation in which it owns at least 25% of the value of the stock.

        The insurance income exception is intended to ensure that income derived by a bona fide insurance company is not treated as passive income, except to the extent such income is attributable to financial reserves in excess of the reasonable needs of the insurance business. The Company expects, for purposes of the PFIC rules, that each of AGL's insurance subsidiaries will be predominantly engaged in an insurance business and is unlikely to have financial reserves in excess of the reasonable needs of its insurance business in each year of operations. Accordingly, none of the income or assets of AGL's insurance subsidiaries should be treated as passive. Additionally, the Company expects that in each year of operations the passive income and assets of AGL's non-insurance subsidiaries will not exceed the 75% test or 50% test amounts in each year of operations with respect to the overall income and assets of AGL and its subsidiaries. Under the look-through rule AGL should be deemed to own its proportionate share of the assets and to have received its proportionate share of the income of its direct and indirect subsidiaries for purposes of the 75% test and the 50% test. As a result, the Company believes that AGL was not and should not be treated as a PFIC. The Company cannot be certain, however, as there are currently no regulations regarding the application of the PFIC provisions to an insurance company and new regulations or pronouncements interpreting or clarifying these rules may be forthcoming, that the IRS will not successfully challenge this position. Prospective investors should consult their tax advisor as to the effects of the PFIC rules.

        Foreign tax credit.    If U.S. Persons own a majority of AGL's common shares, only a portion of the current income inclusions, if any, under the CFC, RPII and PFIC rules and of dividends paid by AGL (including any gain from the sale of common shares that is treated as a dividend under section 1248 of the Code) will be treated as foreign source income for purposes of computing a shareholder's U.S. foreign tax credit limitations. The Company will consider providing shareholders with information regarding the portion of such amounts constituting foreign source income to the extent such information is reasonably available. It is also likely that substantially all of the "subpart F income," RPII and dividends that are foreign source income will constitute either "passive" or "general" income. Thus, it may not be possible for most shareholders to utilize excess foreign tax credits to reduce U.S. tax on such income.

        Information Reporting and Backup Withholding on Distributions and Disposition Proceeds.    Information returns may be filed with the IRS in connection with distributions on AGL's common shares and the proceeds from a sale or other disposition of AGL's common shares unless the holder of AGL's common shares establishes an exemption from the information reporting rules. A holder of common shares that does not establish such an exemption may be subject to U.S. backup withholding tax on these payments if the holder is not a corporation or non-U.S. Person or fails to provide its taxpayer identification number or otherwise comply with the backup withholding rules. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a U.S. Person will be allowed as a credit against the U.S. Person's U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle the U.S. Person to a refund, provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS.

        Changes in U.S. Federal Income Tax Law Could Materially Adversely Affect AGL or AGL's Shareholders.    Legislation has been introduced in the U.S. Congress intended to eliminate certain perceived tax advantages of companies (including insurance companies) that have legal domiciles outside the U.S. but have certain U.S. connections. For example, legislation has been introduced in Congress to limit the deductibility of reinsurance premiums paid by U.S. companies to foreign affiliates. It is possible that this or similar legislation could be introduced in and enacted by the current Congress or future Congresses that could have an adverse impact on AGL or AGL's shareholders.

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        Additionally, tax laws and interpretations regarding whether a company is engaged in a U.S. trade or business or whether a company is a CFC or a PFIC or has RPII are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis. There are currently no regulations regarding the application of the PFIC rules to an insurance company. Additionally, the regulations regarding RPII are still in proposed form. New regulations or pronouncements interpreting or clarifying such rules may be forthcoming. The Company cannot be certain if, when or in what form such regulations or pronouncements may be provided and whether such guidance will have a retroactive effect.

Description of Share Capital

        The following summary of AGL's share capital is qualified in its entirety by the provisions of Bermuda law, AGL's memorandum of association and its Bye-Laws, copies of which are incorporated by reference as exhibits to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

        AGL's authorized share capital of $5,000,000 is divided into 500,000,000 shares, par value U.S. $0.01 per share, of which 183,982,391 common shares were issued and outstanding as of February 23, 2011. Except as described below, AGL's common shares have no pre-emptive rights or other rights to subscribe for additional common shares, no rights of redemption, conversion or exchange and no sinking fund rights. In the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, the holders of AGL's common shares are entitled to share equally, in proportion to the number of common shares held by such holder, in AGL's assets, if any remain after the payment of all AGL's debts and liabilities and the liquidation preference of any outstanding preferred shares. Under certain circumstances, AGL has the right to purchase all or a portion of the shares held by a shareholder. See "—Acquisition of Common Shares by AGL" below.

Voting Rights and Adjustments

        In general, and except as provided below, shareholders have one vote for each common share held by them and are entitled to vote with respect to their fully paid shares at all meetings of shareholders. However, if, and so long as, the common shares (and other of AGL's shares) of a shareholder are treated as "controlled shares" (as determined pursuant to section 958 of the Code) of any U.S. Person and such controlled shares constitute 9.5% or more of the votes conferred by AGL's issued and outstanding shares, the voting rights with respect to the controlled shares owned by such U.S. Person shall be limited, in the aggregate, to a voting power of less than 9.5% of the voting power of all issued and outstanding shares, under a formula specified in AGL's Bye-laws. The formula is applied repeatedly until there is no U.S. Person whose controlled shares constitute 9.5% or more of the voting power of all issued and outstanding shares and who generally would be required to recognize income with respect to AGL under the Code if AGL were a controlled foreign corporation as defined in the Code and if the ownership threshold under the Code were 9.5% (as defined in AGL's Bye-Laws as a "9.5% U.S. Shareholder"). In addition, AGL's Board of Directors may determine that shares held carry different voting rights when it deems it appropriate to do so to (i) avoid the existence of any 9.5% U.S. Shareholder; and (ii) avoid adverse tax, legal or regulatory consequences to AGL or any of its subsidiaries or any direct or indirect holder of shares or its affiliates. "Controlled shares" includes, among other things, all shares of AGL that such U.S. Person is deemed to own directly, indirectly or constructively (within the meaning of section 958 of the Code). The foregoing provision does not apply to ACE because it is not a U.S. Shareholder. Further, these provisions do not apply in the event one shareholder owns greater than 75% of the voting power of all issued and outstanding shares.

        Under these provisions, certain shareholders may have their voting rights limited to less than one vote per share, while other shareholders may have voting rights in excess of one vote per share. Moreover, these provisions could have the effect of reducing the votes of certain shareholders who would not otherwise be subject to the 9.5% limitation by virtue of their direct share ownership. AGL's Bye-laws provide that it will use its best efforts to notify shareholders of their voting interests prior to any vote to be taken by them.

        AGL's Board of Directors is authorized to require any shareholder to provide information for purposes of determining whether any holder's voting rights are to be adjusted, which may be information on beneficial share ownership, the names of persons having beneficial ownership of the

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shareholder's shares, relationships with other shareholders or any other facts AGL's Board of Directors may deem relevant. If any holder fails to respond to this request or submits incomplete or inaccurate information, AGL's Board of Directors may eliminate the shareholder's voting rights. All information provided by the shareholder will be treated by AGL as confidential information and shall be used by AGL solely for the purpose of establishing whether any 9.5% U.S. Shareholder exists and applying the adjustments to voting power (except as otherwise required by applicable law or regulation).

Restrictions on Transfer of Common Shares

        AGL's Board of Directors may decline to register a transfer of any common shares under certain circumstances, including if they have reason to believe that any adverse tax, regulatory or legal consequences to the Company, any of its subsidiaries or any of its shareholders or indirect holders of shares or its Affiliates may occur as a result of such transfer (other than such as AGL's Board of Directors considers de minimis). Transfers must be by instrument unless otherwise permitted by the Companies Act.

        The restrictions on transfer and voting restrictions described above may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of Assured Guaranty.

Acquisition of Common Shares by AGL

        Under AGL's Bye-Laws and subject to Bermuda law, if AGL's Board of Directors determines that any ownership of AGL's shares may result in adverse tax, legal or regulatory consequences to AGL, any of AGL's subsidiaries or any of AGL's shareholders or indirect holders of shares or its Affiliates (other than such as AGL's Board of Directors considers de minimis), AGL has the option, but not the obligation, to require such shareholder to sell to AGL or to a third party to whom AGL assigns the repurchase right the minimum number of common shares necessary to avoid or cure any such adverse consequences at a price determined in the discretion of the Board of Directors to represent the shares' fair market value (as defined in AGL's Bye-Laws).

Other Provisions of AGL's Bye-Laws

AGL's Board of Directors and Corporate Action

        AGL's Bye-Laws provide that AGL's Board of Directors shall consist of not less than three and not more than 21 directors, the exact number as determined by the Board of Directors. AGL's Board of Directors consists of eleven persons, and is divided into three classes. Currently, each elected director generally will serve a three year term, with termination staggered according to class. In February 2011, the Board of Directors unanimously approved a resolution to amend AGL's Bye-Laws to eliminate the classified board structure and provide for the annual election of all directors. At the Company's annual general meeting in May 2011, shareholders of the Company will be asked to vote on the resolution to amend the Bye-Laws.

        Shareholders may only remove a director for cause (as defined in AGL's Bye-Laws) at a general meeting, provided that the notice of any such meeting convened for the purpose of removing a director shall contain a statement of the intention to do so and shall be provided to that director at least two weeks before the meeting. Vacancies on the Board of Directors can be filled by the Board of Directors if the vacancy occurs in those events set out in AGL's Bye-Laws as a result of death, disability, disqualification or resignation of a director, or from an increase in the size of the Board of Directors.

        Generally under AGL's Bye-Laws, the affirmative votes of a majority of the votes cast at any meeting at which a quorum is present is required to authorize a resolution put to vote at a meeting of the Board of Directors. Corporate action may also be taken by a unanimous written resolution of the Board of Directors without a meeting. A quorum shall be at least one-half of directors then in office present in person or represented by a duly authorized representative, provided that at least two directors are present in person.

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Shareholder Action

        At the commencement of any general meeting, two or more persons present in person and representing, in person or by proxy, more than 50% of the issued and outstanding shares entitled to vote at the meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In general, any questions proposed for the consideration of the shareholders at any general meeting shall be decided by the affirmative votes of a majority of the votes cast in accordance with the Bye-Laws.

        The Bye-Laws contain advance notice requirements for shareholder proposals and nominations for directors, including when proposals and nominations must be received and the information to be included.

Amendment

        The Bye-Laws may be amended only by a resolution adopted by the Board of Directors and by resolution of the shareholders.

Voting of Non-U.S. Subsidiary Shares

        If AGL is required or entitled to vote at a general meeting of any of AG Re, AGFOL or any other of its directly held non-U.S. subsidiaries, AGL's Board of Directors shall refer the subject matter of the vote to AGL's shareholders and seek direction from such shareholders as to how they should vote on the resolution proposed by the non-U.S. subsidiary. AGL's Board of Directors in its discretion shall require substantially similar provisions are or will be contained in the bye-laws (or equivalent governing documents) of any direct or indirect non-U.S. subsidiaries other than U.K. and AGRO.

Employees

        As of December 31, 2010, the Company had approximately 350 employees. None of the Company's employees are subject to collective bargaining agreements. The Company believes that employee relations are satisfactory.

Available Information

        The Company maintains an Internet web site at www.assuredguaranty.com. The Company makes available, free of charge, on its web site (under Investor Information/SEC Filings) the Company's annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13 (a) or 15 (d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company files such material with, or furnishes it to, the SEC. The Company also makes available, free of charge, through its web site (under Investor Information/Corporate Governance) links to the Company's Corporate Governance Guidelines, its Code of Conduct and the charters for its Board Committees.

        The Company routinely posts important information for investors on its web site (under Investor Information). The Company uses this web site as a means of disclosing material, non-public information and for complying with its disclosure obligations under SEC Regulation FD (Fair Disclosure). Accordingly, investors should monitor the Investor Information portion of the Company's web site, in addition to following the Company's press releases, SEC filings, public conference calls, presentations and webcasts.

        The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, the Company's web site is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this report.

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ITEM 1A.    RISK FACTORS

        You should carefully consider the following information, together with the information contained in AGL's other filings with the SEC. The risks and uncertainties discussed below are not the only ones the Company faces. However, these are the risks that the Company's management believes are material. The Company may face additional risks or uncertainties that are not presently known to the Company or that management currently deems immaterial, and such risks or uncertainties also may impair its business or results of operations. The risks discussed below could result in a significant or material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition, results of operations, liquidity or business prospects.


Risks Related to the Company's Expected Losses

Recorded estimates of expected losses are subject to uncertainties and such estimates may not be adequate to cover potential paid claims.

        The financial guaranties issued by the Company's insurance subsidiaries insure the credit performance of the guaranteed obligations over an extended period of time, in some cases over 30 years, and in most circumstances, the Company has no right to cancel such financial guaranties. As a result, the Company's estimates of ultimate losses on a policy is subject to significant uncertainty over the life of the insured transaction due to the potential for significant variability in credit performance due to changing economic, fiscal and financial market variability over the long duration of most contracts.

        The determination of expected loss is an inherently subjective process involving numerous estimates, assumptions and judgments by management, using both internal and external data sources with regard to frequency, severity of loss, economic projections and other factors that affect credit performance. The Company does not use traditional actuarial approaches to determine its estimates of expected losses. Instead, the Company recognizes a loss and loss adjustment expense ("LAE") reserve on a financial guaranty contract when management expects that the present value of projected loss will exceed the deferred premium revenue for that contract. Actual losses will ultimately depend on future events or transaction performance. As a result, the Company's current estimates of probable and estimable losses may not reflect the Company's future ultimate incurred losses. If the Company's actual losses exceed its current estimate, this may result in adverse effects on the Company's financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, business prospects, financial strength ratings and ability to raise additional capital.

        The uncertainty of expected losses has substantially increased since mid-2007, especially for RMBS transactions. Current expected losses in such transactions, as well as other mortgage related transactions, far exceed initial expected losses due to the historically high level of mortgage defaults across all U.S. regions. As a result, historical loss data may have limited value in predicting future RMBS losses. The Company's net par outstanding as of December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 for U.S. RMBS was $25.1 billion and $29.2 billion, respectively. For a discussion of the Company's review of its RMBS transactions, see "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Significant Risk Management Activities."

        The Company's estimates of expected RMBS losses takes into account expected recoveries from sellers and originators of the underlying residential mortgages. RMBS transaction documentation generally specifies that the seller or originator must repurchase a loan from the RMBS transaction if the seller or originator has breached its representations and warranties regarding that loan and if that breach materially and adversely affects (a) the interests of the trust, the trustee, the noteholders or the financial guaranty insurer in the mortgage loan or (b) the value of the mortgage loan. In order to enforce the repurchase remedy, the Company has been reviewing mortgage loan files for RMBS transactions that it has insured in order to identify the loans that the Company believes violate the seller's or originator's representations and warranties regarding the characteristics of such loans. The Company then submits or "puts back" such loans to the sellers or originators for repurchase from the RMBS transaction.

        The Company's efforts to put back loans for breaches of representations and warranties are subject to a number of difficulties. First, the review itself is time-consuming and costly and may not necessarily

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result in a greater amount of recoveries than the costs incurred in this process. In addition, the sellers or originators may challenge the Company's ability to complete this process, including without limitation, by refusing to make the loan files available to the Company; asserting that there has been no breach or that any such breach is not material; or delaying or otherwise prolonging the repayment process. The Company may also need to rely on the trustee of the insured transaction to enforce this remedy on its behalf and the trustee may be unable or unwilling to pursue the remedy in a manner that is satisfactory to the Company.

        The amount of recoveries that the Company receives from the sellers or originators is also subject to considerable uncertainty, which may affect the amount of ultimate losses the Company pays on the transaction. For instance, the Company may determine to accept a negotiated settlement with a seller or originator in lieu of a repurchase of mortgage loans, in which case, current estimates of expected recoveries may differ from actual recoveries. Additionally, the Company may be unable to enforce the repurchase remedy because of a deterioration in the financial position of the seller or originator to a point where it does not have the financial wherewithal to pay. Furthermore, a portion of the expected recoveries are derived from the Company's estimates of the number of loans that will both default in the future and be found to have material breaches of representations and warranties. The Company has extrapolated future recoveries based on its experience to date, has discounted the success rate it has been experiencing in recognition of the uncertainties described herein and has also excluded any credit for repurchases by sellers or originators the Company believes do not have the financial wherewithal to pay. Although the Company believes that its methodology for extrapolating estimated recoveries is appropriate for evaluating the amount of potential recoveries, actual recoveries may differ materially from those estimated.

        The methodologies that the Company uses to estimate expected losses in general and for any specific obligation in particular may not be similar to methodologies used by the Company's competitors, counterparties or other market participants. Subsequent to the AGMH Acquisition, the Company harmonized the approaches it and AGMH use to establish loss reserves for RMBS and other transactions. For additional discussion of the Company's reserve methodologies, see Note 5 of "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data."


Risks Related to the Company's Financial Strength and Financial Enhancement Ratings

A downgrade of the financial strength or financial enhancement ratings of any of the Company's insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries would adversely affect its business and prospects and, consequently, its results of operations and financial condition.

        The financial strength and financial enhancement ratings assigned by S&P and Moody's to the Company's insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries provide the rating agencies' opinions of the insurer's financial strength and ability to meet ongoing obligations to policyholders and cedants in accordance with the terms of the financial guaranties it has issued or the reinsurance agreements it has executed. The ratings also reflect qualitative factors, such as the rating agencies' opinion of an insurer's business strategy and franchise value, the anticipated future demand for its product, the composition of its portfolio, and its capital adequacy, profitability and financial flexibility. Issuers, investors, underwriters, credit derivative counterparties, ceding companies and others consider the Company's financial strength or financial enhancement ratings an important factor when deciding whether or not to utilize a financial guaranty or purchase reinsurance from the Company's insurance or reinsurance subsidiaries. A downgrade by a rating agency of the financial strength or financial enhancement ratings of the Company's subsidiaries could impair the Company's financial condition, results of operation, liquidity, business prospects or other aspects of the Company's business.

        The ratings assigned by the rating agencies that publish financial strength or financial enhancement ratings on the Company's insurance subsidiaries are subject to frequent review and may be downgraded by a rating agency as a result of a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the rating agency's revised stress loss estimates for the Company's portfolio, adverse developments in the Company's or the subsidiaries' financial conditions or results of operations due to underwriting or investment losses or other factors, changes in the rating agency's outlook for the financial guaranty industry or in the markets in which the Company operates, or a revision in the rating agency's capital model or ratings methodology. Their reviews occur at any time and without notice to the Company and could result in a

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decision to downgrade, revise or withdraw the financial strength or financial enhancement ratings of AGL's insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries.

        Since 2008, each of S&P and Moody's has reviewed and downgraded the financial strength ratings of AGL's insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries, including AGC, AGM and AG Re. In addition, the rating agencies have from time to time changed the ratings outlook for certain of the Company's subsidiaries to "negative" from "stable."

        The most recent rating action by Moody's on AGL and its subsidiaries took place on December 18, 2009, when Moody's concluded the financial strength rating review of AGC and AG Re that it had initiated on November 12, 2009 (when it downgraded the insurance financial strength ratings of AGC and AGUK from Aa2 to Aa3 and of AG Re, AGRO and Assured Guaranty Mortgage Insurance Company from Aa3 to A1, and placed all of the insurance companies' ratings on review for possible downgrade). In December 2009, Moody's confirmed the Aa3 insurance financial strength rating of AGC and AGUK, and the A1 insurance financial strength rating of AG Re, AGRO and Assured Guaranty Mortgage Insurance Company. At the same time, Moody's affirmed the Aa3 insurance financial strength rating of AGM. Moody's stated that it believed the Company's capital support transactions, including AGL's issuance of common shares in December 2009 that resulted in net proceeds of $573.8 million, $500.0 million of which was downstreamed to AGC, increased AGC's capital to a level consistent with Moody's expectations for a Aa3 rating, while leaving its affiliates with capital structures that Moody's believes are appropriate for their own ratings. However, Moody's ratings outlook for each such rating is negative because Moody's believes there is meaningful remaining uncertainty about the Company's ultimate credit losses and the demand for the Company's financial guaranty insurance and its competitive position once the municipal finance market normalizes. Management cannot assure you that Moody's will not take negative action on the Company's ratings.

        S&P lowered the counterparty credit and financial strength ratings of AGC, AGM and their respective insurance subsidiaries from AAA to AA+ on October 25, 2010. At the same time, S&P changed its outlook on such entities from negative to stable. Subsequently, on January 24, 2011, S&P released a publication entitled "Request for Comment: Bond Insurance Criteria," in which it requested comments on proposed changes to its bond insurance ratings criteria. In the Request for Comment, S&P notes that it could lower its financial strength ratings on existing investment-grade bond insurers (which include the Company's insurance subsidiaries) by one or more rating categories if the proposed bond insurance ratings criteria are adopted, unless those bond insurers raise additional capital or reduce risk. It is uncertain whether the Company would seek to, or be able to, obtain the additional capital or reduce the risk necessary to maintain its financial strength ratings at the AA level.

        The Company believes that these rating agency actions and proposals, including the uncertainty caused by the release of S&P's Request for Comment, have reduced the Company's new business opportunities and have also affected the value of the Company's product to issuers and investors. The insurance subsidiaries' financial strength ratings are an important competitive factor in the financial guaranty insurance and reinsurance markets. If the financial strength or financial enhancement ratings of any of the Company's insurance subsidiaries were reduced below current levels, the Company expects it would have further adverse effect on its future business opportunities as well as the premiums it could charge for its insurance policies and consequently, a downgrade could harm the Company's new business production, results of operations and financial condition.

        In addition, a downgrade may have a negative impact on the Company in respect of the transactions that it has insured or reinsurance that it has assumed. For example, a downgrade of one of the Company's insurance subsidiaries may result in increased claims under financial guaranties such subsidiary has issued. In particular, with respect to variable rate demand obligations for which a bank has agreed to provide a liquidity facility, a downgrade of the insurer may provide the bank with the right to give notice to bondholders that the bank will terminate the liquidity facility, causing the bondholders to tender their bonds to the bank. Bonds held by the bank accrue interest at a "bank bond rate" that is higher than the rate otherwise borne by the bond (typically the prime rate plus 2.00%—3.00%, often with a floor of 7%, and capped at the maximum legal limit). In the event that the bank holds such bonds for longer than a specified period of time, usually 90-180 days, the bank has the right additionally to demand accelerated repayment of bond principal, usually through payment of equal installments over a period of not less than five years. In the event that a municipal obligor is unable to

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pay interest accruing at the bank bond rate or to pay principal during the shortened amortization period, a claim could be submitted to the insurer under its financial guaranty. As of the date of this filing, the Company has insured approximately $1.2 billion of par of variable rate demand obligations issued by municipal obligors rated BBB- or lower pursuant to the Company's internal rating. For a number of such obligations, a downgrade of the insurer below A+, in the case of S&P, or below A1, in the case of Moody's, triggers the ability of the bank to notify bondholders of the termination of the liquidity facility and to demand accelerated repayment of bond principal over a period of five to ten years. The specific terms relating to the rating levels that trigger the bank's termination right, and whether it is triggered by a downgrade by one rating agency or a downgrade by all rating agencies then rating the insurer, vary depending on the transaction. In addition, as discussed in greater detail under "Liquidity and Capital Resources—Commitments and Contingencies—Recourse Credit Facilities—2009 Strip Coverage Facility" within "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," a downgrade of AGM may result in early termination of leases under leveraged lease transactions insured by AGM. Upon early termination of a lease, to the extent the early termination payment owing to the lessor within such a transaction is not paid, a claim could be made to AGM under its financial guaranty. To mitigate this risk, AGM has entered into a $991.9 million (originally $1 billion) strip coverage liquidity facility with Dexia Crédit Local S.A. to finance the potential payment of claims under these policies. See "Risks Related to the AGMH Acquisition—The Company has substantial exposure to credit and liquidity risks from Dexia and the Belgian and French states" within these Risk Factors. Separately, in certain other transactions beneficiaries of financial guaranties issued by the Company's insurance subsidiaries may have the right to cancel the credit protection offered by the Company, which would result in the loss of future premium earnings and the reversal of any fair value gains or losses recorded by the Company.

        If AGC's financial strength or financial enhancement ratings were downgraded, the Company could be required to post collateral under certain of its credit derivative contracts or certain of the Company's counterparties could have a right to terminate such credit derivative contract. See "If AGC's financial strength or financial enhancement ratings were downgraded, the Company could be required to make termination payments or post collateral under certain of its credit derivative contracts, which could impair its liquidity, results of operations and financial condition" below.

        If AGM's financial strength or financial enhancement ratings were downgraded, AGM-insured GICs issued by the former AGMH subsidiaries that conducted AGMH's Financial Products Business (the "Financial Products Companies") may come due or may come due absent the provision of collateral by the GIC issuers. The Company relies on agreements pursuant to which Dexia has agreed to guarantee or lend certain amounts, or to post liquid collateral, in regards to AGMH's former financial products business. See "Risks Related to the AGMH Acquisition—The Company has substantial exposure to credit and liquidity risks from Dexia and the Belgian and French states."

If AGC's financial strength or financial enhancement ratings were downgraded, the Company could be required to make termination payments or post collateral under certain of its credit derivative contracts, which could impair its liquidity, results of operations and financial condition.

        Some of the Company's CDS have rating triggers that allow the CDS counterparty to terminate in the case of a rating downgrade. If the ratings of certain of the Company's insurance subsidiaries were reduced below certain levels and the Company's counterparty elected to terminate the CDS, the Company could be required to make a termination payment on certain of its credit derivative contracts, as determined under the relevant documentation. Under certain documents, the Company may have the right to cure the termination event by posting collateral, assigning its rights and obligations in respect of the transactions to a third party or seeking a third party guaranty of the obligations of the Company. The Company currently has three ISDA master agreements under which the applicable counterparty could elect to terminate transactions upon a rating downgrade of AGC: if AGC's ratings were downgraded to BBB- or Baa3, $90 million in par insured could be terminated by one counterparty; and if AGC's ratings were downgraded to BB+ or Ba1, approximately $2.8 billion in par insured could be terminated by the other two counterparties. None of AG Re, AGRO or AGM has any material CDS exposure subject to termination based on its rating. The Company does not believe that it can accurately estimate the termination payments it could be required to make if, as a result of any

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such downgrade, a CDS counterparty terminated its CDS contracts with the Company. These payments could have a material adverse effect on the Company's liquidity and financial condition.

        Under a limited number of other CDS contracts, the Company may be required to post eligible securities as collateral—generally cash or U.S. government or agency securities. For certain of such contracts, this requirement is based on a mark-to-market valuation, as determined under the relevant documentation, in excess of contractual thresholds that decline or are eliminated if the ratings of certain of the Company's insurance subsidiaries decline. Under other contracts, the Company has negotiated caps such that the posting requirement cannot exceed a certain amount. As of December 31, 2010, and without giving effect to thresholds that apply at current ratings, the amount of par that is subject to collateral posting is approximately $18.8 billion, for which the Company has agreed to post approximately $765.9 million of collateral. The Company may be required to post additional collateral from time to time, depending on its ratings and on the market values of the transactions subject to the collateral posting. Counterparties have agreed that for approximately $18.0 billion of that $18.8 billion, the maximum amount that the Company could be required to post is capped at $635 million at current rating levels (which amount is included in the $765.9 million as to which the Company has agreed to post). Such cap increases by $50 million to $685 million in the event AGC's ratings are downgraded to A+ or A3. The obligation to post collateral could have a negative effect on the Company's liquidity or cause it to convert assets into eligible securities on terms that are not economically attractive.

The downgrade of the financial strength ratings of AG Re or of AGC gives reinsurance counterparties the right to recapture ceded business, which would lead to a reduction in the Company's unearned premium reserve, net income and future net income.

        Upon AG Re's downgrade by Moody's to A1, it became possible for primary insurance companies that had ceded business to AG Re to recapture a significant portion of the Company's in-force financial guaranty reinsurance business. Subject to the terms of each reinsurance agreement, the ceding company has the right to recapture business ceded to AG Re and assets representing substantially all of the statutory unearned premium and loss reserves (if any) associated with that business. As of December 31, 2010, the amount of statutory unearned premiums, which represents deferred revenue to the Company, subject to recapture was approximately $133.3 million. If this entire amount were recaptured, it would result in a corresponding one-time reduction to net income of approximately $13.0 million.

        In the case of AGC, one ceding company can recapture its portfolio at the company's current ratings and, if AGC were downgraded by Moody's to below Aa3 or by S&P below AA-, an additional portion of its in-force financial guaranty reinsurance business could be recaptured. Subject to the terms of each reinsurance agreement, the ceding company has the right to recapture business ceded to AGC and assets representing substantially all of the statutory unearned premium and loss reserves (if any) associated with that business. As of December 31, 2010, the amount of statutory unearned premiums subject to recapture was approximately $162.0 million. If this entire amount were recaptured, it would result in a corresponding one-time reduction to net income of approximately $23.0 million.

Actions taken by the rating agencies with respect to capital models and rating methodology of the Company's business or changes in capital charges or downgrades of transactions within its insured portfolio may adversely affect its ratings, business prospects, results of operations and financial condition.

        The rating agencies from time to time have evaluated the Company's capital adequacy under a variety of scenarios and assumptions. In the case of Moody's, as a result of changes in its stress loss assumptions related primarily to RMBS exposures, Moody's required the Company to raise additional capital in 2009 in order to maintain the rating levels of certain of its subsidiaries. More recently, as discussed in the "Overview" in "Item 1. Business" S&P released a publication entitled "Request for Comment: Bond Insurance Criteria," in which it proposed changes to its capital adequacy model including significant increases to its capital charges for both public finance and structured finance obligations.

        The rating agencies do not always supply clear guidance on their approach to assessing the Company's capital adequacy and the Company may disagree with the rating agencies' approach and assumptions. Changes in the rating agencies' capital models and rating methodology, including loss

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assumptions and capital requirements for the Company's investment and insured portfolios, could require the Company to raise additional capital to maintain its current ratings levels, even if there are no adverse developments with respect to any specific investment or insured risk. The amount of such capital required may be substantial, and may not be available to the Company on favorable terms and conditions or at all. Accordingly, the Company cannot ensure that it will seek to, or be able to, complete the capital raising. The failure to raise additional required capital could result in a downgrade of the Company's ratings, which could be one or more ratings categories, and thus have an adverse impact on its business, results of operations and financial condition. See "Risks Related to the Company's Capital and Liquidity Requirements—The Company may require additional capital from time to time, including from soft capital and liquidity credit facilities, which may not be available or may be available only on unfavorable terms."

        The rating agencies assess each individual credit (including potential new credits) insured by the Company based on a variety of factors, including the nature of the credit, the nature of the support or credit enhancement for the credit, its tenor, and its expected and actual performance. This assessment determines the amount of capital the Company is required to maintain against that credit to maintain its financial strength ratings under the relevant rating agency's capital adequacy model. Factors influencing rating agencies' actions, including their assessments of individual credits, are beyond management's control and not always known to the Company. In the event of an actual or perceived deterioration in creditworthiness, a reduction in the underlying rating or a change in a rating agency's capital model methodology, that rating agency may require the Company to increase the amount of capital allocated to support the affected credits, regardless of whether losses actually occur, or against potential new business. Significant reductions in the rating agencies' assessments of credits in the Company's insured portfolio can produce significant increases in the amount of capital required for the Company to maintain its financial strength ratings under the rating agencies' capital adequacy models, which may require the Company to seek additional capital. We cannot assure you that the Company's capital position will be adequate to meet such increased capital requirements or that the Company will be able to secure additional capital, especially at a time of actual or perceived deterioration in the creditworthiness of new or existing credits. Unless the Company is able to increase the amount of its available capital, an increase in the amount of capital the Company is required to maintain its credit ratings under the rating agencies' capital adequacy models could result in a downgrade of the Company's financial strength ratings and could have an adverse effect on its ability to write new business.

        Since 2008, Moody's and S&P have announced the downgrade of, or other negative ratings actions with respect to, a large number of structured finance transactions, including certain transactions that the Company insures. Additional securities in the Company's insured portfolio may be reviewed and downgraded in the future. Moreover, the Company does not know which securities in its insured portfolio already have been reviewed by the rating agencies and if, or when, the rating agencies might review additional securities in its insured portfolio or review again securities that were previously reviewed and/or downgraded. Downgrades of the Company's insured credits will result in higher capital requirements for the Company under the relevant rating agency capital adequacy model. If the additional amount of capital required to support such exposures is significant, the Company may need to undertake certain actions in order to maintain its ratings, including, but not limited to, raising additional capital (which, if available, may not be available on terms and conditions that are favorable to the Company); curtailing new business; or paying to transfer a portion of its in-force business to generate rating agency capital. If the Company is unable to complete any of these capital initiatives, it could suffer ratings downgrades. These capital actions or ratings downgrades could adversely affect the Company's results of operations, financial condition, ability to write new business or competitive positioning.


Risks Related to the AGMH Acquisition

The Company has exposure through financial guaranty insurance policies to AGMH's former financial products business, which the Company did not acquire.

        AGMH, through its former Financial Products Companies, offered AGM-insured GICs and other investment agreements, including medium term notes ("MTNs"). In connection with the AGMH

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Acquisition, AGMH and its affiliates transferred their ownership interests in the Financial Products Companies to Dexia Holdings. Even though AGMH no longer owns the Financial Products Companies, AGM's guaranties of the GICs and MTNs and other guaranties related to AGM's MTN business and leveraged lease business generally remain in place. While Dexia and AGMH have entered into a number of agreements pursuant to which Dexia has assumed the credit and liquidity risks associated with AGMH's former Financial Products Business, AGM is still subject to risks in the event Dexia fails to perform. If AGM is required to pay any amounts on or post collateral in respect of financial products issued or executed by the Financial Products Companies, AGM is subject to the risk that (a) it will not receive the guaranty payment from Dexia on a timely basis or at all or (b) the GICs will not be paid from funds received from Dexia or the Belgian state and/or the French state on a timely basis or at all, in which case AGM itself will be required to make the payment under its financial guaranty policies. See "—The Company has substantial exposure to credit and liquidity risks from Dexia and the Belgian and French states." For a description of the agreements entered into with Dexia, see "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Liquidity Arrangements with respect to AGMH's former Financial Products Business."

The Company has substantial exposure to credit and liquidity risks from Dexia and the Belgian and French states.

        Dexia and the Company have entered into a number of agreements intended to protect the Company from having to pay claims on AGMH's former Financial Products Business, which the Company did not acquire. Dexia has agreed to guarantee certain amounts, lend certain amounts or post liquid collateral for or in respect of AGMH's former Financial Products Business. Dexia SA and Dexia Crédit Local S.A. ("DCL"), jointly and severally, have also agreed to indemnify the Company for losses associated with AGMH's former Financial Products Business, including the ongoing Department of Justice and SEC investigations of such business. In addition, the majority of the assets supporting the insured GIC liabilities that constitute part of the former Financial Products Business benefits from a guarantee from the Belgian and French states.

        Furthermore, DCL, acting through its New York Branch, is providing a commitment of up to $991.9 million (originally $1 billion) under a strip coverage liquidity facility in order to make loans to AGM to finance the payment of claims under certain financial guaranty insurance policies issued by AGM or its affiliate that relate to the equity strip portion of leveraged lease transactions insured by AGM. The equity strip portion of the leveraged lease transactions is part of AGMH's financial guaranty business, which the Company did acquire. However, in connection with the AGMH Acquisition, DCL agreed to provide AGM with financing so that AGM could fund its payment of claims made under financial guaranty policies issued in respect of this portion of the business, because the amount of such claims could be quite large and are generally payable within a short time after AGM receives them.

        For a description of the agreements entered into with Dexia and a further discussion of the risks that these agreements are intended to protect against, see "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Liquidity Arrangements with respect to AGMH's former Financial Products Business."

        Despite the execution of such documentation, the Company remains subject to the risk that Dexia and even the Belgian state and/or the French state may not make payments or securities available (a) on a timely basis, which is referred to as "liquidity risk," or (b) at all, which is referred to as "credit risk," because of the risk of default. Even if Dexia and/or the Belgian state or the French state have sufficient assets to pay, lend or post as collateral all amounts when due, concerns regarding Dexia's or such states' financial condition or willingness to comply with their obligations could cause one or more rating agencies to view negatively the ability or willingness of Dexia or such states to perform under their various agreements and could negatively affect the Company's ratings.

        Furthermore, any delay in exercising remedies could require AGM to pay claims, and in some cases significant claims, in a relatively short period of time. Any failure of AGM to pay these claims under its guaranties could negatively affect AGM's rating and future business prospects.

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AGMH and its subsidiaries could be subject to non-monetary consequences arising out of litigation associated with AGMH's former financial products business, which the Company did not acquire.

        As noted under "Item 3. Legal Proceedings—Proceedings Related to AGMH's Former Financial Products Business," in February 2008, AGMH received a "Wells Notice" from the staff of the Philadelphia Regional Office of the SEC relating to an ongoing industry-wide investigation concerning the bidding of municipal GICs and other municipal derivatives. The Wells Notice indicates that the SEC staff is considering recommending that the SEC authorize the staff to bring a civil injunctive action and/or institute administrative proceedings against AGMH, alleging violations of Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 thereunder and Section 17(a) of the Securities Act. In addition, in November 2006, AGMH received a subpoena from the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice issued in connection with an ongoing criminal investigation of bid rigging of awards of municipal GICs and other municipal derivatives. While these proceedings relate to AGMH's former Financial Products Business, which the Company did not acquire, they are against entities which the Company did acquire. Furthermore, while Dexia SA and DCL, jointly and severally, have agreed to indemnify the Company against liability arising out of these proceedings, such indemnification might not be sufficient to fully hold the Company harmless against any injunctive relief or criminal sanction that is imposed against AGMH or its subsidiaries.

Restrictions on the conduct of AGM's business subsequent to the AGMH Acquisition place limits on the Company's operating and financial flexibility.

        Under the Purchase Agreement, the Company agreed to conduct AGM's business subject to certain operating and financial constraints. These restrictions will generally continue for three years after the closing of the AGMH Acquisition, or July 1, 2012. Among other items, the Company has agreed that AGM will not repurchase, redeem or pay any dividends on any class of its equity interests unless at that time:

        These agreements limit Assured Guaranty's operating and financial flexibility with respect to the operations of AGM. For further discussion of these restrictions, see "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations——Acquisition of AGMH."


Risks Related to the Financial, Credit and Financial Guaranty Markets

Improvement in the recent difficult conditions in the U.S. and world-wide financial markets has been gradual, and the Company's business, liquidity, financial condition and stock price may continue to be adversely affected.

        The Company's loss reserves, profitability, financial position, investment portfolio, cash flow, statutory capital and stock price could be materially affected by the U.S. and global markets. In the U.S., although the National Bureau of Economic Research has declared the recent financial crisis to be over, and the Federal Reserve has shifted its focus from rescuing the U.S. financial system to economic stimulus, the unemployment rate remains high, housing prices have not yet stabilized and the consumer confidence index remains below the long-term average. Internationally, Greece and Ireland have recently accepted rescue packages from EU funds and the International Monetary Fund, and the budget deficits in Portugal, combined with its low growth rate, lead many economists to believe it may need a bailout as well. The Company and its financial position will continue to be subject to risk of the global financial and economic conditions that could materially and negatively affect its ability to access the capital markets, the cost of the Company's debt, the demand for its products, the amount of losses incurred on transactions it guarantees, the value of its investment portfolio, its financial ratings and its stock price.

        Issuers or borrowers whose securities or loans the Company insures or holds and as well as the Company's counterparties under swaps and other derivative contracts may default on their obligations to the Company due to bankruptcy, insolvency, lack of liquidity, adverse economic conditions, operational failure, fraud or other reasons. Additionally, the underlying assets supporting structured finance securities that the Company's insurance subsidiaries have guaranteed may deteriorate, causing

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these securities to incur losses. These losses could be significantly more than the Company expects and could materially adversely impact its financial strength, ratings and prospects for future business.

        The Company's access to funds under its credit facilities is dependent on the ability of the banks that are parties to the facilities to meet their funding commitments. Those banks may not be able to meet their funding commitments to the Company if they experience shortages of capital and liquidity or if they experience excessive volumes of borrowing requests from the Company and other borrowers within a short period of time. In addition, consolidation of financial institutions could lead to increased credit risk.

        In addition, the Company's ability to raise equity, debt or other forms of capital is subject to market demand and other factors that could be affected by global financial market conditions. If the Company needed to raise capital to maintain its ratings and was unable to do so because of lack of demand for its securities, it could be downgraded by the rating agencies, which would impair the Company's ability to write new business.

Some of the state and local governments and entities that issue obligations the Company insures are experiencing unprecedented budget deficits and revenue shortfalls that could result in increased credit losses or impairments and capital charges on those obligations.

        The economic crisis caused many state and local governments that issue some of the obligations the Company insures to experience significant budget deficits and revenue collection shortfalls that require them to significantly raise taxes and/or cut spending in order to satisfy their obligations. While the U.S. government has provided some financial support to state and local governments, significant budgetary pressures remain. If the issuers of the obligations in the Company's public finance portfolio do not have sufficient funds to cover their expenses and are unable or unwilling to raise taxes, decrease spending or receive federal assistance, the Company may experience increased levels of losses or impairments on its public finance obligations, which would materially and adversely affect its business, financial condition and results of operations.

        The Company's risk of loss on and capital charges for municipal credits could also be exacerbated by rating agency downgrades of municipal credit ratings. A downgraded municipal issuer may be unable to refinance maturing obligations or issue new debt, which could exacerbate the municipality's inability to service its debt. Downgrades could also affect the interest rate that the municipality must pay on its variable rate debt or for new debt issuance. Municipal credit downgrades, as with other downgrades, result in an increase in the capital charges the rating agencies assess when evaluating the Company's capital adequacy in their rating models. Significant municipal downgrades could result in higher capital requirements for the Company in order to maintain its financial strength ratings.

        In addition, obligations supported by specified revenue streams, such as revenue bonds issued by toll road authorities, municipal utilities or airport authorities, may be adversely affected by revenue declines resulting from reduced demand, changing demographics or other factors associated with an economy in which unemployment remains high, housing prices have not yet stabilized and growth is slow. These obligations, which may not necessarily benefit from financial support from other tax revenues or governmental authorities, may also experience increased losses if the revenue streams are insufficient to pay scheduled interest and principal payments.

Adverse developments in the credit and financial guaranty markets have substantially increased uncertainty in the Company's business and may materially and adversely affect its financial condition, results of operations and future business.

        Since mid-2007 there have been several adverse developments in the credit and financial guaranty markets that have affected the Company's business, financial condition, results of operation and future business prospects. In particular, U.S. residential mortgages and RMBS transactions that were issued in the 2005-2007 period have generated losses far higher than originally expected and higher than experienced in the last several decades. This poor performance led to price declines for RMBS securities and the rating agencies downgrading thousands of such transactions. In addition, the material amount of the losses that have been incurred by insurers of these mortgages, such as Fannie Mae or private mortgage insurers, by guarantors of RMBS securities or of securities that contain significant amounts of RMBS, and by purchasers of RMBS securities have resulted in the insolvency or significant financial impairment of many of these companies.

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        As a result of these adverse developments, investors have significant concerns about the financial strength of credit enhancement providers, which has substantially reduced the demand for financial guaranties in many fixed income markets. These concerns as well as the uncertain economic environment may adversely affect the Company in a number of ways, including requiring it to raise and hold more capital, reducing the demand for its direct guaranties or reinsurance, limiting the types of guaranties the Company offers, encouraging new competitors, making losses harder to estimate, making its results more volatile and making it harder to raise new capital. Furthermore, rating agencies and regulators could enhance the financial guaranty insurance company capital requirements, regulations or restrictions on the types or amounts of business conducted by monoline financial guaranty insurers.

Changes in interest rate levels and credit spreads could adversely affect demand for financial guaranty insurance as well as the Company's financial condition.

        Demand for financial guaranty insurance generally fluctuates with changes in market credit spreads. Credit spreads, which are based on the difference between interest rates on high-quality or "risk free" securities versus those on lower-rated or uninsured securities, fluctuate due to a number of factors and are sensitive to the absolute level of interest rates, current credit experience and investors' willingness to purchase lower-rated or higher-rated securities. When interest rates are low or when the market is relatively less risk averse, the credit spread between high-quality or insured obligations versus lower-rated or uninsured obligations typically narrows or is "tight" and, as a result, financial guaranty insurance typically provides lower interest cost savings to issuers than it would during periods of relatively wider credit spreads. As a result, issuers are less likely to use financial guaranties on their new issues when credit spreads are tight, resulting in decreased demand or premiums obtainable for financial guaranty insurance, and thus a reduction in the Company's results of operations.

        Conversely, in a deteriorating credit environment, credit spreads increase and become "wide", which increases the interest cost savings that financial guaranty insurance may provide and can result in increased demand for financial guaranties by issuers. However, if the weakening credit environment is associated with economic deterioration, the Company's insured portfolio could generate claims and loss payments in excess of normal or historical expectations. In addition, increases in market interest rate levels could reduce new capital markets issuances and, correspondingly, a decreased volume of insured transactions.

Competition in the Company's industry may adversely affect its revenues.

        As described in greater detail under "Competition" in "Item 1. Business," the Company can face competition, either in the form of current or new providers of credit enhancement or in terms of alternative structures or pricing competition. Increased competition could have an adverse effect on the Company's insurance business.

The Company's financial position, results of operations and cash flows may be adversely affected by fluctuations in foreign exchange rates.

        The Company's reporting currency is the U.S. dollar. The principal functional currencies of AGL's insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries include the U.S. dollar and U.K. sterling. Exchange rate fluctuations, which have been exacerbated by the recent turmoil in the European financial markets, relative to the functional currencies may materially impact the Company's financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Many of the Company's non-U.S. subsidiaries maintain both assets and liabilities in currencies different than their functional currency, which exposes the Company to changes in currency exchange rates. In addition, locally-required capital levels are invested in local currencies in order to satisfy regulatory requirements and to support local insurance operations regardless of currency fluctuations.

        The principal currencies creating foreign exchange risk are the British pound sterling and the European Union euro. The Company cannot accurately predict the nature or extent of future exchange rate variability between these currencies or relative to the U.S. dollar. Exchange rates between these currencies and the U.S. dollar have fluctuated significantly in recent periods and may continue to do so in the future, which could adversely impact the Company's financial position results of operations and cash flows.

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The Company's international operations expose it to less predictable credit and legal risks.

        The Company pursues new business opportunities in international markets and currently operates in various countries in Europe and the Asia Pacific region. The underwriting of obligations of an issuer in a foreign country involves the same process as that for a domestic issuer, but additional risks must be addressed, such as the evaluation of foreign currency exchange rates, foreign business and legal issues, and the economic and political environment of the foreign country or countries in which an issuer does business. Changes in such factors could impede the Company's ability to insure, or increase the risk of loss from insuring, obligations in the countries in which it currently does business and limit its ability to pursue business opportunities in other countries.

The Company's investment portfolio may be adversely affected by credit, interest rate and other market changes.

        The Company's operating results are affected, in part, by the performance of its investment portfolio which consists primarily of fixed-income securities and short-term investments. As of December 31, 2010, the fixed-income securities and short-term investments had a fair value of approximately $10.4 billion. Credit losses and changes in interest rates could have an adverse effect on its shareholders' equity and investment income. Credit losses result in realized losses on the Company's investment portfolio, which reduce shareholders' equity. Changes in interest rates can affect both shareholders' equity and investment income. For example, if interest rates decline, funds reinvested will earn less than expected, reducing the Company's future investment income compared to the amount it would earn if interest rates had not declined. However, the value of the Company's fixed-rate investments would generally increase if interest rates decreased, resulting in an unrealized gain on investments included in net income and an increase in shareholders' equity. Conversely, if interest rates increase, the value of the investment portfolio will be reduced, resulting in unrealized losses that the Company is required to include in shareholders' equity as a change in accumulated other comprehensive income. Accordingly, interest rate increases could reduce the Company's shareholders' equity.

        As of December 31, 2010, mortgage-backed securities constituted approximately 15.0% of the Company's fixed-income securities and short-term investments. Changes in interest rates can expose the Company to significant prepayment risks on these investments. In periods of declining interest rates, mortgage prepayments generally increase and mortgage-backed securities are prepaid more quickly, requiring the Company to reinvest the proceeds at then-current market rates. During periods of rising interest rates, the frequency of prepayments generally decreases. Mortgage-backed securities having an amortized value less than par (i.e., purchased at a discount to face value) may incur a decrease in yield or a loss as a result of slower prepayment.

        Interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors, including monetary policies, domestic and international economic and political conditions and other factors beyond the Company's control. The Company does not engage in active management, or hedging, of interest rate risk, and may not be able to mitigate interest rate sensitivity effectively.

        The market value of the investment portfolio also may be adversely affected by general developments in the capital markets, including decreased market liquidity for investment assets, market perception of increased credit risk with respect to the types of securities held in the portfolio, downgrades of credit ratings of issuers of investment assets and/or foreign exchange movements which impact investment assets. In addition, the Company invests in securities insured by other financial guarantors, the market value of which may be affected by the rating instability of the relevant financial guarantor.


Risks Related to the Company's Capital and Liquidity Requirements

The Company may require additional capital from time to time, including from soft capital and liquidity credit facilities, which may not be available or may be available only on unfavorable terms.

        The Company's capital requirements depend on many factors, including its in-force book of business and rating agency capital requirements. For example, as discussed in "Risks Related to the Company's Financial Strength and Financial Enhancement Ratings," S&P noted in its January 24, 2011 Request for Comment, that it could lower its financial strength ratings on existing investment-grade bond insurers (which include the Company's insurance subsidiaries) by one or more rating categories if

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the proposed bond insurance ratings criteria are adopted, unless those bond insurers raise additional capital or reduce risk. The Company also needs capital to pay losses on its insured portfolio and to write new business. Failure to raise additional capital as needed may result in the Company being unable to write new business and may result in the ratings of the Company and its subsidiaries being downgraded by one or more ratings agency.

        The Company's access to external sources of financing, as well as the cost of such financing, is dependent on various factors, including the market supply of such financing, the Company's long-term debt ratings and insurance financial strength ratings and the perceptions of its financial strength and the financial strength of its insurance subsidiaries. The Company's debt ratings are in turn influenced by numerous factors, such as financial leverage, balance sheet strength, capital structure and earnings trends. If the Company's need for capital arises because of significant losses, the occurrence of these losses may make it more difficult for the Company to raise the necessary capital. In light of the uncertainty over the Company's financial strength ratings, the Company expects that it may be difficult to renew or extend existing credit facilities as they expire or run off and any such renewal or extension may involve higher pricing than would typically apply.

        Future capital raises for equity or equity-linked securities, such as the Company's June 2009 issuance of mandatorily convertible senior notes, could also result in dilution to the Company's shareholders. In addition, some securities that the Company could issue, such as preferred stock or securities issued by the Company's operating subsidiaries, may have rights, preferences and privileges that are senior to those of its common shares.

        Financial guaranty insurers and reinsurers typically rely on providers of lines of credit, credit swap facilities and similar capital support mechanisms (often referred to as "soft capital") to supplement their existing capital base, or "hard capital." The ratings of soft capital providers directly affect the level of capital credit which the rating agencies give the Company when evaluating its financial strength. The Company intends to maintain soft capital facilities with providers having ratings adequate to provide the Company's desired capital credit, although no assurance can be given that one or more of the rating agencies will not downgrade or withdraw the applicable ratings of such providers in the future. In addition, the Company may not be able to replace a downgraded soft capital provider with an acceptable replacement provider for a variety of reasons, including if an acceptable replacement provider is willing to provide the Company with soft capital commitments or if any adequately-rated institutions are actively providing soft capital facilities. Furthermore, the rating agencies may in the future change their methodology and no longer give credit for soft capital, which may necessitate the Company having to raise additional capital in order to maintain its ratings.

An increase in the Company's subsidiaries' risk-to-capital ratio or leverage ratio may prevent them from writing new insurance.

        Rating agencies and insurance regulatory authorities impose capital requirements on the Company's insurance subsidiaries. These capital requirements, which include risk-to-capital ratios, leverage ratios and surplus requirements, limit the amount of insurance that the Company's subsidiaries may write. The Company's insurance subsidiaries have several alternatives available to control their risk-to-capital ratios and leverage ratios, including obtaining capital contributions from the Company, purchasing reinsurance or entering into other loss mitigation agreements, or reducing the amount of new business written. However, a material reduction in the statutory capital and surplus of a subsidiary, whether resulting from underwriting or investment losses, a change in regulatory capital requirements or otherwise, or a disproportionate increase in the amount of risk in force, could increase a subsidiary's risk-to-capital ratio or leverage ratio. This in turn could require that subsidiary to obtain reinsurance for existing business (which may not be available, or may be available on terms that the Company considers unfavorable), or add to its capital base to maintain its financial strength ratings. Failure to maintain regulatory capital levels could limit that subsidiary's ability to write new business.

The Company's holding companies' ability to meet its obligations may be constrained.

        Each of AGL, AGMH and AGUS is a holding company and, as such, has no direct operations of its own. Neither AGL nor AGUS expects to have any significant operations or assets other than its ownership of the shares of its subsidiaries. However, AGL's and AGUS' insurance subsidiaries are subject to regulatory, contractual and rating agency restrictions limiting their ability to declare and to

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pay dividends and make other payments to AGL. Such dividends and permitted payments are expected to be AGL's and AGUS' primary source of funds to meet ongoing cash requirements, including operating expenses, any future debt service payments and other expenses, and to pay dividends to its shareholders. Accordingly, if AGL's and AGUS' insurance subsidiaries cannot pay sufficient dividends or make other permitted payments to them at the times or in the amounts that they require, it would have an adverse effect on AGL's and AGUS' ability to satisfy their ongoing cash requirements and on their ability to pay dividends to shareholders. If AGL does not pay dividends, the only return on an investment in AGL's shares, if at all, would come from any appreciation in the price of the common shares.

        Furthermore, in connection with the AGMH Acquisition, the Company has committed to the New York Insurance Department that AGM will not pay any dividends for a period of two years from the date of the AGMH Acquisition without its written approval. It also covenanted to Dexia that it would not repurchase, redeem or pay any dividends on any class of its equity interests for a period of three years from the date of the AGMH Acquisition unless AGM had certain minimum ratings from the rating agencies and the aggregate amount of dividends paid in any year does not exceed 125% of AGMH's debt service requirements for that year. See "Risks Related to the AGMH Acquisition—Restrictions on the conduct of AGM's business subsequent to the AGMH Acquisition place limits on the Company's operating and financial flexibility." In addition, to the extent that dividends are paid from AGL's U.S. subsidiaries, they presently would be subject to U.S. withholding tax at a rate of 30%.

        AG Re's and AGRO's dividend distribution are governed by Bermuda law. Under Bermuda law, dividends may only be paid if there are reasonable grounds for believing that the company is, or would after the payment be, able to pay its liabilities as they become due and if the realizable value of its assets would thereby not be less than the aggregate of its liabilities and issued share capital and share premium accounts. Distributions to shareholders may also be paid out of statutory capital, but are subject to a 15% limitation without prior approval of the Authority. Dividends are limited by requirements that the subject company must at all times (i) maintain the minimum solvency margin required under the Insurance Act and the enhanced capital requirement applicable to it and (ii) have relevant assets in an amount at least equal to 75% of relevant liabilities, both as defined under the Insurance Act. AG Re, as a Class 3B insurer, is prohibited from declaring or paying in any financial year dividends of more than 25% of its total statutory capital and surplus (as shown on its previous financial year's statutory balance sheet) unless it files (at least seven days before payment of such dividends) with the Authority an affidavit stating that it will continue to meet the required margins. Any distribution which results in a reduction of 15% of more of the company's total statutory capital, as set out in its previous year's financial statements, would require the prior approval of the Authority.

The ability of AGL and its subsidiaries to meet their liquidity needs may be limited.

        Each of AGL, AGUS and AGMH requires liquidity, either in the form of cash or in the ability to easily sell investment assets for cash, in order to meet its payment obligations, including, without limitation, its operating expenses, interest on debt and dividends on common shares, and to make capital investments in operating subsidiaries. The Company's operating subsidiaries require substantial liquidity in order to meet their respective payment and/or collateral posting obligations, including under financial guaranty insurance policies, CDS contracts or reinsurance agreements. They also require liquidity to pay operating expenses, reinsurance premiums, dividends to AGUS or AGMH for debt service and dividends to the Company, as well as, where appropriate, to make capital investments in their own subsidiaries.

        AGL anticipates that its liquidity needs will be met by (1) the ability of its operating subsidiaries to pay dividends or to make other payments to AGL, AGUS and AGMH, (2) external financings, (3) investment income from its invested assets and (4) current cash and short-term investments. The Company expects that its subsidiaries' need for liquidity will be met by (1) the operating cash flows of such subsidiaries, (2) external financings, (3) investment income from their invested assets and (4) proceeds derived from the sale of its investment portfolio, a significant portion of which is in the form of cash or short-term investments. All of these sources of liquidity are subject to market, regulatory or other factors that may impact the Company's liquidity position at any time. As discussed above, AGL's insurance subsidiaries are subject to regulatory, contractual and rating agency restrictions limiting their ability to declare and to pay dividends and make other payments to AGL. As further

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noted above, external financing may or may not be available to AGL or its subsidiaries in the future on satisfactory terms.

        In addition, investment income at AGL and its subsidiaries may fluctuate based on interest rates, defaults by the issuers of the securities AGL or its subsidiaries hold in their respective investment portfolios, or other factors that the Company does not control. Finally, the value of the Company's investments may be adversely affected by changes in interest rates, credit risk and capital market conditions and therefore may adversely affect the Company's potential ability to sell investments quickly and the price which the Company might receive for those investments.

        There can be no assurance that the liquidity of AGL and its subsidiaries will not be adversely affected by adverse market conditions, changes in insurance regulatory law or changes in general economic conditions. Similarly, there can be no assurance that existing liquidity facilities will prove adequate to the needs of AGL and its subsidiaries or that adequate liquidity will be available on favorable terms in the future.


Risks Related to the Company's Business

The Company's financial guaranty products may subject it to significant risks from individual or correlated credits.

        The Company is exposed to the risk that issuers of debt that it insures or other counterparties may default in their financial obligations, whether as a result of insolvency, lack of liquidity, operational failure or other reasons. Similarly, the Company could be exposed to corporate credit risk if a corporation's securities are contained in a portfolio of collateralized debt obligations ("CDOs") it insures, or if the corporation or financial institution is the originator or servicer of loans, mortgages or other assets backing structured securities that the Company has insured.

        In addition, because the Company insures or reinsures municipal bonds, it can have significant exposures to single municipal risks. While the Company's risk of a complete loss, where it would have to pay the entire principal amount of an issue of bonds and interest thereon with no recovery, is generally lower than for corporate credits as most municipal bonds are backed by tax or other revenues, there can be no assurance that a single default by a municipality would not have a material adverse effect on its results of operations or financial condition.

        The Company's ultimate exposure to a single name may exceed its underwriting guidelines, and an event with respect to a single name may cause a significant loss. The Company seeks to reduce this risk by managing exposure to large single risks, as well as concentrations of correlated risks, through tracking its aggregate exposure to single names in its various lines of business, establishing underwriting criteria to manage risk aggregations, and utilizing reinsurance and other risk mitigation measures. The Company may insure and has insured individual public finance and asset-backed risks well in excess of $1 billion. Should the Company's risk assessments prove inaccurate and should the applicable limits prove inadequate, the Company could be exposed to larger than anticipated losses, and could be required by the rating agencies to hold additional capital against insured exposures whether or not downgraded by the rating agencies.

        The Company is exposed to correlation risk across the various assets the Company insures. During periods of strong macroeconomic performance, stress in an individual transaction generally occurs in a single asset class or for idiosyncratic reasons. During a broad economic downturn, a wider range of the Company's insured portfolio could be exposed to stress at the same time. This stress may manifest itself in ratings downgrades, which may require more capital, or in actual losses. In addition, while the Company has experienced catastrophic events in the past without material loss, such as the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and the 2005 hurricane season, unexpected catastrophic events may have a material adverse effect upon the Company's insured portfolio and/or its investment portfolios.

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Some of the Company's direct financial guaranty products may be riskier than traditional financial guaranty insurance.

        As of December 31, 2010, 19% of the Company's financial guaranty direct exposures have been executed as credit derivatives. Traditional financial guaranty insurance provides an unconditional and irrevocable guaranty that protects the holder of a municipal finance or structured finance obligation against non-payment of principal and interest, while credit derivatives provide protection from the occurrence of specified credit events, including non-payment of principal and interest. In general, the Company structures credit derivative transactions such that circumstances giving rise to its obligation to make payments are similar to that for financial guaranty policies and generally occur as losses are realized on the underlying reference obligation. The tenor of credit derivatives exposures, like exposure under financial guaranty insurance policies, is also generally for as long as the reference obligation remains outstanding.

        Nonetheless, credit derivative transactions are governed by ISDA documentation and operate differently from financial guaranty insurance policies. For example, the Company's control rights with respect to a reference obligation under a credit derivative may be more limited than when it issues a financial guaranty insurance policy on a direct primary basis. In addition, a credit derivative may be terminated for a breach of the ISDA documentation or other specific events, unlike financial guaranty insurance policies. In some of the Company's older credit derivative transactions, one such specified event is the failure of AGC to maintain specified financial strength ratings. If a credit derivative is terminated, the Company could be required to make a mark-to-market payment as determined under the ISDA documentation. In addition, under a limited number of credit derivative contracts, the Company may be required to post eligible securities as collateral, generally cash or U.S. government or agency securities, under specified circumstances. The need to post collateral under these transactions is generally based on mark-to-market valuation in excess of contractual thresholds. The particular thresholds decline if the Company's ratings decline. See "Risks Related to the Company's Financial Strength and Financial Enhancement Ratings—A downgrade of the financial strength or financial enhancement ratings of any of the Company's insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries would adversely affect its business and prospects and, consequently, its results of operations and financial condition."

Further downgrades of one or more of the Company's reinsurers could reduce the Company's capital adequacy and return on equity.

        At December 31, 2010, the Company had ceded approximately 9.4% of its principal amount of insurance outstanding to third party reinsurers. In evaluating the credits insured by the Company, securities rating agencies allow capital charge "credit" for reinsurance based on the reinsurers' ratings. In recent years, a number of the Company's reinsurers were downgraded by one or more rating agencies, resulting in decreases in the credit allowed for reinsurance and in the financial benefits of using reinsurance under existing rating agency capital adequacy models. Many of the Company's reinsurers have already been downgraded to single-A or below by one or more rating agencies. The Company could be required to raise additional capital to replace the lost reinsurance credit in order to satisfy rating agency and regulatory capital adequacy and single risk requirements. The rating agencies' reduction in credit for reinsurance could also ultimately reduce the Company's return on equity to the extent that ceding commissions paid to the Company by the reinsurers were not adequately increased to compensate for the effect of any additional capital required. In addition, downgraded reinsurers may default on amounts due to the Company and such reinsurer obligations may not be adequately collateralized, resulting in additional losses to the Company and a reduction in its shareholders' equity and net income.

The performance of the Company's invested assets affects its results of operations and cash flows.

        Investment income from the Company's investment portfolio is one of the primary sources of cash flows supporting its operations and claim payments. For the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, the Company's net investment income was $354.7 million, $259.2 million and $162.6 million, respectively. If the Company's calculations with respect to its policy liabilities are incorrect or other unanticipated payment obligations arise, or if the Company improperly structures its investments to

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meet these liabilities, it could have unexpected losses, including losses resulting from forced liquidation of investments before their maturity.

        The investment policies of the insurance subsidiaries are subject to insurance law requirements, and may change depending upon regulatory, economic and market conditions and the existing or anticipated financial condition and operating requirements, including the tax position, of the Company's businesses. Changes in the Company's investment policies could result in sales of securities that could result in investment losses and reduce net income and shareholders' equity. The change in investment policies could also affect the amount of investment income generated by the portfolio, causing a reduction in net investment income.

        The Company has retained a number of investment managers to manage its investment portfolio. The performance of the Company's invested assets is subject to the performance of the investment managers in selecting and managing appropriate investments. The investment managers have discretionary authority over the Company's investment portfolio within the limits of its investment guidelines.

The Company is dependent on key executives and the loss of any of these executives, or its inability to retain other key personnel, could adversely affect its business.

        The Company's success substantially depends upon its ability to attract and retain qualified employees and upon the ability of its senior management and other key employees to implement its business strategy. The Company believes there are only a limited number of available qualified executives in the business lines in which the Company competes. Although the Company is not aware of any planned departures, the Company relies substantially upon the services of Dominic J. Frederico, President and Chief Executive Officer, and other executives. Although Mr. Frederico and certain other executives have employment agreements with the Company, the Company may not be successful in retaining their services. The loss of the services of any of these individuals or other key members of the Company's management team could adversely affect the implementation of its business strategy.

The Company's business could be adversely affected by Bermuda employment restrictions.

        The Company's senior management plays an active role in its underwriting and business decisions, as well as in performing its financial reporting and compliance obligations. The Company's location in Bermuda may serve as an impediment to attracting and retaining experienced personnel. Under Bermuda law, non-Bermudians, other than spouses of Bermudians and individuals holding permanent resident certificates or working resident certificates, are not permitted to engage in any gainful occupation in Bermuda without a work permit issued by the Bermuda government. A work permit is only granted or extended if the employer can show that, after a proper public advertisement, no Bermudian, spouse of a Bermudian or individual holding a permanent resident certificate or working resident certificate is available who meets the minimum standards for the position.

        The Bermuda government's policy places a six year term limit on individuals with work permits, subject to specified exemptions for persons deemed to be key employees. All of the Company's Bermuda-based employees who require work permits have been granted permits by the Bermuda government. It is possible that the Company could lose the services of one or more of its key employees if the Company is unable to obtain or renew their work permits.

The regulatory systems under which the Company operates, and recent changes and potential changes thereto, could have a significant and negative effect on its business.

        The Bermuda Monetary Authority has stated that achieving equivalence with European Union regulators under the Solvency II Directive (expected to become effective in late 2012 or early 2013) is one of its key strategic objectives. To that end, the Authority has introduced (and is in the process of introducing) regulations that, among other things, implements a group supervision regime and enhances the capital and solvency framework applicable to Bermuda insurers. The regulations and the proposed regulations, if implemented, may have an impact on the Company's operations.

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Risks Related to GAAP and Applicable Law

Marking-to-market the Company's insured credit derivatives portfolio may subject net income to volatility.

        The Company is required to mark-to-market certain derivatives that it insures, including CDS that are considered derivatives under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). Although there is no cash flow effect from this "marking-to-market," net changes in the fair market value of the derivative are reported in the Company's consolidated statements of operations and therefore affect its reported earnings. As a result of such treatment, and given the large principal balance of the Company's CDS portfolio, small changes in the market pricing for insurance of CDS will generally result in the Company recognizing material gains or losses, with material market price increases generally resulting in large reported losses under GAAP. Accordingly, the Company's GAAP earnings will be more volatile than would be suggested by the actual performance of its business operations and insured portfolio.

        The fair value of a credit derivative will be affected by any event causing changes in the credit spread (i.e., the difference in interest rates between comparable securities having different credit risk) on an underlying security referenced in the credit derivative. Common events that may cause credit spreads on an underlying municipal or corporate security referenced in a credit derivative to fluctuate include changes in the state of national or regional economic conditions, industry cyclicality, changes to a company's competitive position within an industry, management changes, changes in the ratings of the underlying security, movements in interest rates, default or failure to pay interest, or any other factor leading investors to revise expectations about the issuer's ability to pay principal and interest on its debt obligations. Similarly, common events that may cause credit spreads on an underlying structured security referenced in a credit derivative to fluctuate may include the occurrence and severity of collateral defaults, changes in demographic trends and their impact on the levels of credit enhancement, rating changes, changes in interest rates or prepayment speeds, or any other factor leading investors to revise expectations about the risk of the collateral or the ability of the servicer to collect payments on the underlying assets sufficient to pay principal and interest. The fair value of credit derivative contracts also reflects the change in the Company's own credit cost, based on the price to purchase credit protection on AGC. For discussion of the Company's fair value methodology for credit derivatives, see Note 6 to "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data."

        If the derivative is held to maturity and no credit loss is incurred, any gains or losses previously reported would be offset by corresponding gains or losses at maturity. Due to the complexity of fair value accounting and the application of GAAP requirements, future amendments or interpretations of relevant accounting standards may cause the Company to modify its accounting methodology in a manner which may have an adverse impact on its financial results.

Change in industry and other accounting practices could impair the Company's reported financial results and impede its ability to do business.

        Changes in or the issuance of new accounting standards, as well as any changes in the interpretation of current accounting guidance, may have an adverse effect on the Company's reported financial results, including future revenues, and may influence the types and/or volume of business that management may choose to pursue.

Changes in or inability to comply with applicable law could adversely affect the Company's ability to do business.

        The Company's businesses are subject to direct and indirect regulation under state insurance laws, federal securities, commodities and tax laws affecting public finance and asset backed obligations, and federal regulation of derivatives, as well as applicable laws in the other countries in which the Company operates. Future legislative, regulatory, judicial or other legal changes in the jurisdictions in which the Company does business may adversely affect its ability to pursue its current mix of business, thereby materially impacting its financial results by, among other things, limiting the types of risks it may insure, lowering applicable single or aggregate risk limits, increasing required reserves, increasing the level of supervision or regulation to which the Company's operations may be subject, imposing restrictions that make the Company's products less attractive to potential buyers, lowering the

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profitability of the Company's business activities, requiring the Company to change certain of its business practices and exposing it to additional costs (including increased compliance costs).

        In particular, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the "Dodd-Frank Act") signed into law on July 21, 2010 could result in requirements to maintain capital and/or post margin with respect to any future derivative transactions and possibly its existing insured derivatives portfolio. It is also possible that the Dodd-Frank Act could extend even more broadly to encompass the Company's financial guaranty insurance business. The magnitude of any capital or margin requirements, as well as the extent to which such requirements would apply in respect of the Company's existing derivatives or insured portfolio, will depend primarily on rulemaking by the SEC and Commodity Futures Trading Commission. As discussed in "Risks Related to the Company's Capital and Liquidity Requirements—The Company may require additional capital from time to time, including from soft capital and liquidity credit facilities, which may not be available or may be available only on unfavorable terms," we cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain, or obtain on favorable terms, any additional capital that may be required by the Dodd-Frank Act. If the new regulations require a substantial amount of collateral to be posted, this could have material adverse effects on the Company's financial condition, liquidity and results of operation.

        As a result of the Dodd-Frank Act, the Company and its affiliates may also be required to clear or exchange trade some or all of the swap transactions they enter into, which could result in higher cost, less transaction flexibility and more price disclosure. The requirements of the legislation could render it uneconomic for the Company to continue to offer insurance on credit derivative transactions. The Company has not provided credit protection through a CDS since early 2009, other than in connection with loss mitigation and other remediation efforts relating to its existing book of business.

        Generally, the Dodd-Frank Act requirements will become effective on the later of enactment plus 360 days or 90 days following promulgation of final rules by the relevant regulator. These requirements, as well as others that could be applied to the Company as a result of the legislation, could limit the Company's ability to conduct certain lines of business, subject the Company to enhanced business conduct standards when transacting with certain end-users, materially impact the market demand for derivatives and/or the Company's ability to enter into derivative transactions and/or otherwise adversely affect its future results of operations. Because many provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act will be implemented through agency rulemaking processes, which have not been completed, we cannot predict the impact on the Company and its business.

        Furthermore, the perceived decline in the financial strength of many financial guaranty insurers has caused government officials to examine the suitability of some of the complex securities guaranteed by financial guaranty insurers. For example, the New York Insurance Department had announced that it would develop new rules and regulations for the financial guaranty industry. On September 22, 2008, the Department issued Circular Letter No. 19 (2008) (the "Circular Letter"), which established best practices guidelines for financial guaranty insurers effective January 1, 2009. The Department had announced that it plans to propose legislation and regulations to formalize these guidelines. Such guidelines and the related legislation and regulations may limit the amount of new structured finance business that AGC may write.

        In addition, in 2010, bills that had been introduced into the New York General Assembly and the New York Senate in 2009 to amend the New York Insurance Law to enhance the regulation of financial guaranty insurers were reintroduced for the 2010 sessions. Although they were not enacted, if they are reintroduced and ultimately enacted, such new rules may have the effect of increasing the Company's required reserves or lowering the single risk limits applicable to transactions the Company is considering, resulting in limitations on the amount of new structured finance business AGC may write. At this time it is not possible to predict if any such new rules will be implemented or legislation enacted.

        Other potential actions that could materially affect the Company's business include government support for new or existing competitors; and federal government programs for states and municipalities that might adversely impact the demand for insured bonds. Such initiatives introduce a level of uncertainty into how the Company conducts its business and into the types of business the Company is able to conduct.

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        In addition, if the Company fails to comply with applicable insurance laws and regulations it could be exposed to fines, the loss of insurance licenses, limitations on the right to originate new business and restrictions on its ability to pay dividends, all of which could have an adverse impact on its business results and prospects. As a result of a number of factors, including incurred losses and risks reassumed from troubled reinsurers, AGM and AGC have from time to time exceeded regulatory risk limits. Failure to comply with these limits allows the Department the discretion to cause the Company to cease writing new business. Although the Company has notified the Department of such noncompliance, the Department has not exercised such discretion in the past. If an insurance company's surplus declines below minimum required levels, the insurance regulator could impose additional restrictions on the insurer or initiate insolvency proceedings. AGC and AGM may increase surplus by various means, including obtaining capital contributions from the Company, purchasing reinsurance or entering into other loss mitigation arrangements, reducing the amount of new business written or obtaining regulatory approval to release contingency reserves. From time to time, AGM and AGC have obtained approval from their regulators to release contingency reserves based on the expiration of its insured exposure.

AGL's ability to pay dividends may be constrained by certain regulatory requirements and restrictions.

        AGL is subject to Bermuda regulatory requirements that affect its ability to pay dividends on common shares and to make other payments. Under the Bermuda Companies Act 1981, as amended, AGL may declare or pay a dividend only (1) if it has reasonable grounds for believing that it is, and after the payment would be, able to pay its liabilities as they become due and (2) if the realizable value of its assets would not be less than the aggregate of its liabilities and issued share capital and share premium accounts. While AGL currently intends to pay dividends on its common shares, investors who require dividend income should carefully consider these risks before investing in AGL.

        In addition, if, pursuant to the insurance laws and related regulations of Bermuda, Maryland and New York, AGL's insurance subsidiaries cannot pay sufficient dividends to AGL at the times or in the amounts that it requires, it would have an adverse effect on AGL's ability to pay dividends to shareholders. See "Risks Related to the Company's Capital and Liquidity Requirements—The Company's ability to meet its obligations may be constrained."

Applicable insurance laws may make it difficult to effect a change of control of AGL.

        Before a person can acquire control of a U.S. or U.K. insurance company, prior written approval must be obtained from the insurance commissioner of the state or country where the insurer is domiciled. Because a person acquiring 10% or more of AGL's common shares would indirectly control the same percentage of the stock of its U.S. insurance company subsidiaries, the insurance change of control laws of Maryland, New York, Oklahoma and the U.K. would likely apply to such a transaction.

        These laws may discourage potential acquisition proposals and may delay, deter or prevent a change of control of AGL, including through transactions, and in particular unsolicited transactions, that some or all of its shareholders might consider to be desirable.

        While AGL's Bye-Laws limit the voting power of any shareholder to less than 10%, we cannot assure you that the applicable regulatory body would agree that a shareholder who owned 10% or more of its common shares did not control the applicable insurance company subsidiary, notwithstanding the limitation on the voting power of such shares.


Risks Related to Taxation

Changes in U.S. tax laws could reduce the demand or profitability of financial guaranty insurance, or negatively impact the Company's investment portfolio.

        Any material change in the U.S. tax treatment of municipal securities, the imposition of a national sales tax or a flat tax in lieu of the current federal income tax structure in the U.S., or changes in the treatment of dividends, could adversely affect the market for municipal obligations and, consequently, reduce the demand for financial guaranty insurance and reinsurance of such obligations.

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        Changes in U.S. federal, state or local laws that materially adversely affect the tax treatment of municipal securities or the market for those securities, or other changes negatively affecting the municipal securities market, also may adversely impact the Company's investment portfolio, a significant portion of which is invested in tax-exempt instruments. These adverse changes may adversely affect the value of the Company's tax-exempt portfolio, or its liquidity.

Certain of the Company's foreign subsidiaries may be subject to U.S. tax.

        The Company manages its business so that AGL and its foreign subsidiaries (other than AGRO and AGE) operate in such a manner that none of them should be subject to U.S. federal tax (other than U.S. excise tax on insurance and reinsurance premium income attributable to insuring or reinsuring U.S. risks, and U.S. withholding tax on certain U.S. source investment income). However, because there is considerable uncertainty as to the activities which constitute being engaged in a trade or business within the U.S., the Company cannot be certain that the IRS will not contend successfully that AGL or any of its foreign subsidiaries (other than AGRO and AGE) is/are engaged in a trade or business in the U.S. If AGL and its foreign subsidiaries (other than AGRO and AGE) were considered to be engaged in a trade or business in the U.S., each such company could be subject to U.S. corporate income and branch profits taxes on the portion of its earnings effectively connected to such U.S. business.

AGL and its Bermuda subsidiaries may become subject to taxes in Bermuda after March 2016, which may have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations and on an investment in the Company.

        The Bermuda Minister of Finance, under Bermuda's Exempted Undertakings Tax Protection Act 1966, as amended, has given AGL and its Bermuda Subsidiaries an assurance that if any legislation is enacted in Bermuda that would impose tax computed on profits or income, or computed on any capital asset, gain or appreciation, or any tax in the nature of estate duty or inheritance tax, then subject to certain limitations the imposition of any such tax will not be applicable to AGL or its Bermuda Subsidiaries, or any of AGL's or its subsidiaries' operations, shares, debentures or other obligations until March 28, 2016. Given the limited duration of the Minister of Finance's assurance, the Company cannot be certain that it will not be subject to Bermuda tax after March 28, 2016. The Bermuda Ministry of Finance announced in November 2010 that the standard assurance will be extended to March 31, 2035, but the required legislation for this has not yet come into force.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the European Union are considering measures that might increase the Company's taxes and reduce its net income.

        The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (the "OECD") has published reports and launched a global initiative dialogue among member and non-member countries on measures to limit harmful tax competition. These measures are largely directed at counteracting the effects of tax havens and preferential tax regimes in countries around the world. According to the OECD, Bermuda is a jurisdiction that has substantially implemented the internationally agreed tax standard and as such is listed on the OECD "white list." The Company is not able to predict whether any changes will be made to this classification or whether such changes will subject the Company to additional taxes.

U.S. Persons who hold 10% or more of AGL's shares directly or through foreign entities may be subject to taxation under the U.S. controlled foreign corporation rules.

        Each 10% U.S. shareholder of a foreign corporation that is a controlled foreign corporation ("CFC") for an uninterrupted period of 30 days or more during a taxable year, and who owns shares in the foreign corporation directly or indirectly through foreign entities on the last day of the foreign corporation's taxable year on which it is a CFC, must include in its gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes its pro rata share of the CFC's "subpart F income," even if the subpart F income is not distributed. In addition, upon a sale of shares of a CFC, 10% U.S. shareholders may be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a portion of their gain at ordinary income rates.

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        The Company believes that because of the dispersion of the share ownership in AGL, provisions in AGL's Bye-Laws that limit voting power, contractual limits on voting power and other factors, no U.S. Person who owns AGL's shares directly or indirectly through foreign entities should be treated as a 10% U.S. shareholder of AGL or of any of its foreign subsidiaries. It is possible, however, that the IRS could challenge the effectiveness of these provisions and that a court could sustain such a challenge, in which case such U.S. Person may be subject to taxation under U.S. tax rules.

U.S. Persons who hold shares may be subject to U.S. income taxation at ordinary income rates on their proportionate share of the Company's related person insurance income.

        If:

then a U.S. Person who owns AGL's shares (directly or indirectly through foreign entities) on the last day of the taxable year would be required to include in its income for U.S. federal income tax purposes such person's pro rata share of such Foreign Insurance Subsidiary's RPII for the entire taxable year, determined as if such RPII were distributed proportionately only to U.S. Persons at that date, regardless of whether such income is distributed. In addition, any RPII that is includible in the income of a U.S. tax-exempt organization may be treated as unrelated business taxable income.

        The amount of RPII earned by a Foreign Insurance Subsidiary (generally, premium and related investment income from the direct or indirect insurance or reinsurance of any direct or indirect U.S. holder of shares or any person related to such holder) will depend on a number of factors, including the geographic distribution of a Foreign Insurance Subsidiary's business and the identity of persons directly or indirectly insured or reinsured by a Foreign Insurance Subsidiary. The Company believes that each of its Foreign Insurance Subsidiaries either should not in the foreseeable future have RPII income which equals or exceeds 20% of its gross insurance income or have direct or indirect insureds, as provided for by RPII rules, that directly or indirectly own 20% or more of either the voting power or value of AGL's shares. However, the Company cannot be certain that this will be the case because some of the factors which determine the extent of RPII may be beyond its control.

U.S. Persons who dispose of AGL's shares may be subject to U.S. income taxation at dividend tax rates on a portion of their gain, if any.

        The meaning of the RPII provisions and the application thereof to AGL and its Foreign Insurance Subsidiaries is uncertain. The RPII rules in conjunction with section 1248 of the Code provide that if a U.S. Person disposes of shares in a foreign insurance corporation in which U.S. Persons own (directly, indirectly, through foreign entities or by attribution) 25% or more of the shares (even if the amount of gross RPII is less than 20% of the corporation's gross insurance income and the ownership of its shares by direct or indirect insureds and related persons is less than the 20% threshold), any gain from the disposition will generally be treated as dividend income to the extent of the holder's share of the corporation's undistributed earnings and profits that were accumulated during the period that the holder owned the shares. This provision applies whether or not such earnings and profits are attributable to RPII. In addition, such a holder will be required to comply with certain reporting requirements, regardless of the amount of shares owned by the holder.

        In the case of AGL's shares, these RPII rules should not apply to dispositions of shares because AGL is not itself directly engaged in the insurance business. However, the RPII provisions have never

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been interpreted by the courts or the U.S. Treasury Department in final regulations, and regulations interpreting the RPII provisions of the Code exist only in proposed form. It is not certain whether these regulations will be adopted in their proposed form, what changes or clarifications might ultimately be made thereto, or whether any such changes, as well as any interpretation or application of the RPII rules by the IRS, the courts, or otherwise, might have retroactive effect. The U.S. Treasury Department has authority to impose, among other things, additional reporting requirements with respect to RPII.

U.S. Persons who hold common shares will be subject to adverse tax consequences if AGL is considered to be a "passive foreign investment company" for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

        If AGL is considered a passive foreign investment company ("PFIC") for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a U.S. Person who owns any shares of AGL will be subject to adverse tax consequences that could materially adversely affect its investment, including subjecting the investor to both a greater tax liability than might otherwise apply and an interest charge. The Company believes that AGL is not, and currently does not expect AGL to become, a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes; however, there can be no assurance that AGL will not be deemed a PFIC by the IRS.

        There are currently no regulations regarding the application of the PFIC provisions to an insurance company. New regulations or pronouncements interpreting or clarifying these rules may be forthcoming. The Company cannot predict what impact, if any, such guidance would have on an investor that is subject to U.S. federal income taxation.

Changes in U.S. federal income tax law could materially adversely affect an investment in AGL's common shares.

        Legislation has been introduced in the U.S. Congress intended to eliminate certain perceived tax advantages of companies (including insurance companies) that have legal domiciles outside the U.S. but have certain U.S. connections. For example, legislation has been introduced in Congress to limit the deductibility of reinsurance premiums paid by U.S. insurance companies to foreign affiliates and impose additional limits on deductibility of interest of foreign owned U.S. corporations. Another legislative proposal would treat a foreign corporation that is primarily managed and controlled in the U.S. as a U.S. corporation for U.S federal income tax purposes. Further, legislation has been introduced to override the reduction or elimination of the U.S. withholding tax on certain U.S. source investment income under a tax treaty in the case of a deductible related party payment made by a U.S. member of a foreign controlled group to a foreign member of the group organized in a tax treaty country to the extent that the ultimate foreign parent corporation would not enjoy the treaty benefits with respect to such payments. It is possible that this or similar legislation could be introduced in and enacted by the current Congress or future Congresses that could have an adverse impact on the Company or the Company's shareholders.

        U.S. federal income tax laws and interpretations regarding whether a company is engaged in a trade or business within the U.S. is a PFIC, or whether U.S. Persons would be required to include in their gross income the "subpart F income" of a CFC or RPII are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis. There currently are no regulations regarding the application of the PFIC rules to insurance companies, and the regulations regarding RPII are still in proposed form. New regulations or pronouncements interpreting or clarifying such rules may be forthcoming. The Company cannot be certain if, when, or in what form such regulations or pronouncements may be implemented or made, or whether such guidance will have a retroactive effect.

Scope of Application of Recently Enacted Legislation is Uncertain

        Congress recently enacted legislation that would require any non-U.S. entity that is characterized as a "foreign financial institution" ("FFI") to enter into an agreement with the Internal Revenue Service that would require the FFI to obtain information about the FFI's financial account owners, including its shareholders and noteholders other than holders of shares or notes that are regularly traded on an established securities market ("Non-Publicly Traded Securities Holders"), and to disclose information about its U.S. Non-Publicly Traded Securities Holders to the IRS. This legislation generally

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also would impose a 30% withholding tax on certain payments of U.S. source income to the FFI if it does not enter into the agreement, is unable to obtain information about its U.S. Non-Publicly Traded Securities Holders or otherwise fails to satisfy its obligations under the agreement. Additionally, even if the FFI does enter into such an agreement with the IRS, the 30% withholding tax could be imposed on Non-Publicly Traded Securities Holders that do not provide the required information. If the FFI cannot satisfy these obligations, payments of U.S. source income made after December 31, 2012 to the FFI or payments by the FFI to the Non-Publicly Traded Securities Holders after this date generally would be subject to such withholding tax under the legislation. Further, if the non-U.S. entity is not characterized as an FFI, it generally would be subject to such 30% withholding tax on certain payments of U.S. source income unless it either provides information to withholding agents with respect to its "substantial U.S. owners" or makes certain certifications, with an exception to this rule provided for a corporation the stock of which is regularly traded on an established securities market and subsidiaries of such corporation. Although this recently enacted legislation does not appear to be intended to apply to AGL or its non-U.S. subsidiaries, the scope of this legislation is unclear. As a result, Non-Publicly Traded Securities Holders may be required to provide any information that AGL determines necessary to avoid the imposition of such withholding tax in order to allow AGL to satisfy such obligations. The U.S. Treasury is expected to issue regulations clarifying the scope of this legislation, and such regulations could have an adverse impact on us. In the event that this withholding tax is imposed, our results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

Recharacterization by the Internal Revenue Service of the Company's U.S. federal tax treatment of losses on the Company's CDS portfolio can adversely affect the Company's financial position.

        As part of the Company's financial guaranty business, the Company has sold credit protection by insuring CDS entered into with various financial institutions. Assured Guaranty's CDS portfolio has experienced significant cumulative mark-to-market losses of $983 million, which are only deductible for U.S. federal income tax purposes upon realization and, consequently, generate a significant deferred tax asset based on the Company's intended treatment of such losses as ordinary insurance losses upon realization. The U.S. federal income tax treatment of CDS is an unsettled area of the tax law. As such, it is possible that the Internal Revenue Service may decide that the losses generated by the Company's CDS business should be characterized as capital rather than ordinary insurance losses, which could materially adversely affect the Company's financial condition.

An ownership change under Section 382 of the Code could have adverse U.S. federal tax consequences.

        If AGL were to issue equity securities in the future, including in connection with any strategic transaction, or if previously issued securities of AGL were to be sold by the current holders, AGL may experience an "ownership change" within the meaning of Section 382 of the Code. In general terms, an ownership change would result from transactions increasing the aggregate ownership of certain stockholders in AGL's stock by more than 50 percentage points over a testing period (generally three years). If an ownership change occurred, the Company's ability to use certain tax attributes, including certain built-in losses, credits, deductions or tax basis and/or the Company's ability to continue to reflect the associated tax benefits as assets on AGL's balance sheet, may be limited. The Company cannot give any assurance that AGL will not undergo an ownership change at a time when these limitations could materially adversely affect the Company's financial condition.

AGMH likely experienced an ownership change under Section 382 of the Code.

        In connection with the AGMH Acquisition, AGMH likely experienced an "ownership change" within the meaning of Section 382 of the Code. The Company has concluded that the Section 382 limitations as discussed in "An ownership change under Section 382 of the Code could have adverse U.S. federal tax consequences" are unlikely to have any material tax or accounting consequences. However, this conclusion is based on a variety of assumptions, including the Company's estimates regarding the amount and timing of certain deductions and future earnings, any of which could be incorrect. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that these limitations would not have an adverse effect on the Company's financial condition or that such adverse effects would not be material.

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Risks Related to AGL's Common Shares

The market price of AGL's common shares may be volatile, which could cause the value of an investment in the Company to decline.

        The market price of AGL's common shares has experienced, and may continue to experience, significant volatility. Numerous factors, including many over which the Company has no control, may have a significant impact on the market price of its common shares. These risks include those described or referred to in this "Risk Factors" section as well as, among other things:

        In addition, the stock market in recent years has experienced extreme price and trading volume fluctuations that often have been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of individual companies. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the price of AGL's common shares, regardless of its operating performance.

AGL's common shares are equity securities and are junior to existing and future indebtedness.

        As equity interests, AGL's common shares rank junior to indebtedness and to other non-equity claims on AGL and its assets available to satisfy claims on AGL, including claims in a bankruptcy or similar proceeding. For example, upon liquidation, holders of AGL debt securities and shares of preferred stock and creditors would receive distributions of AGL's available assets prior to the holders of AGL common shares. Similarly, creditors, including holders of debt securities, of AGL's subsidiaries, have priority on the assets of those subsidiaries. Future indebtedness may restrict payment of dividends on the common shares.

        Additionally, unlike indebtedness, where principal and interest customarily are payable on specified due dates, in the case of common shares, dividends are payable only when and if declared by AGL's board of directors or a duly authorized committee of the board. Further, the common shares place no restrictions on its business or operations or on its ability to incur indebtedness or engage in any transactions, subject only to the voting rights available to stockholders generally.

There may be future sales or other dilution of AGL's equity, which may adversely affect the market price of its common shares.

        Future sales or other dilution of AGL's equity may adversely affect the market price of its common shares and equity-linked securities. For example, as discussed under "Risks Related to the Company's Financial Strength and Financial Enhancement Ratings—A downgrade of the financial strength or financial enhancement ratings of any of the company's insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries would adversely affect its business and prospects and, consequently, its results of operations and financial condition," if S&P adopts revised ratings criteria for bond insurers, the Company may need to raise additional capital (which it may do by issuing equity) in order to maintain its current financial strength ratings. In addition, WLR Recovery Fund IV, L.P., which as of February 23, 2011 owned approximately 8.7% of AGL's common shares, has registration rights with respect to such common shares. The market price of AGL's common shares could decline as a result of sales of a large number of common shares or similar securities in the market or the perception that such sales could occur.

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Anti-takeover provisions in AGL's Bye-Laws could impede an attempt to replace or remove its directors, which could diminish the value of its common shares.

        AGL's Bye-Laws contain provisions that may make it more difficult for shareholders to replace directors even if the shareholders consider it beneficial to do so. In addition, these provisions could delay or prevent a change of control that a shareholder might consider favorable. For example, these provisions may prevent a shareholder from receiving the benefit from any premium over the market price of AGL's common shares offered by a bidder in a potential takeover. Even in the absence of an attempt to effect a change in management or a takeover attempt, these provisions may adversely affect the prevailing market price of AGL's common shares if they are viewed as discouraging takeover attempts in the future. See "Other Provisions of AGL's Bye-Laws—AGL's Board of Directors and Corporate Action" in "Item 1. Business" for a description of a proposal on which shareholders will be asked to vote at the Company's annual general meeting in May 2011, to amend AGL's Bye-Laws to eliminate the classified board structure and provide for the annual election of all directors.

Provisions in the Code and AGL's Bye-Laws may reduce or increase the voting rights of its common shares.

        Under the Code, AGL's Bye-Laws and contractual arrangements, certain shareholders have their voting rights limited to less than one vote per share, resulting in other shareholders having voting rights in excess of one vote per share. Moreover, the relevant provisions of the Code may have the effect of reducing the votes of certain shareholders who would not otherwise be subject to the limitation by virtue of their direct share ownership.

        More specifically, pursuant to the relevant provisions of the Code, if, and so long as, the common shares of a shareholder are treated as "controlled shares" (as determined under section 958 of the Code) of any U.S. Person (as defined below) and such controlled shares constitute 9.5% or more of the votes conferred by AGL's issued shares, the voting rights with respect to the controlled shares of such U.S. Person (a "9.5% U.S. Shareholder") are limited, in the aggregate, to a voting power of less than 9.5%, under a formula specified in AGL's Bye-Laws. The formula is applied repeatedly until the voting power of all 9.5% U.S. Shareholders has been reduced to less than 9.5%. For these purposes, "controlled shares" include, among other things, all shares of AGL that such U.S. Person is deemed to own directly, indirectly or constructively (within the meaning of section 958 of the Code).

        In addition, the Board of Directors may limit a shareholder's voting rights where it deems appropriate to do so to (1) avoid the existence of any 9.5% U.S. Shareholders, and (2) avoid certain material adverse tax, legal or regulatory consequences to the Company or any of the Company's subsidiaries or any shareholder or its affiliates. AGL's Bye-Laws provide that shareholders will be notified of their voting interests prior to any vote taken by them.

        As a result of any such reallocation of votes, the voting rights of a holder of AGL common shares might increase above 5% of the aggregate voting power of the outstanding common shares, thereby possibly resulting in such holder becoming a reporting person subject to Schedule 13D or 13G filing requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. In addition, the reallocation of votes could result in such holder becoming subject to the short swing profit recovery and filing requirements under Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

        AGL also has the authority under its Bye-Laws to request information from any shareholder for the purpose of determining whether a shareholder's voting rights are to be reallocated under the Bye-Laws. If a shareholder fails to respond to a request for information or submits incomplete or inaccurate information in response to a request, the Company may, in its sole discretion, eliminate such shareholder's voting rights.

Provisions in AGL's Bye-Laws may restrict the ability to transfer common shares, and may require shareholders to sell their common shares.

        AGL's Board of Directors may decline to approve or register a transfer of any common shares (1) if it appears to the Board of Directors, after taking into account the limitations on voting rights contained in AGL's Bye-Laws, that any adverse tax, regulatory or legal consequences to AGL, any of its subsidiaries or any of its shareholders may occur as a result of such transfer (other than such as the

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Board of Directors considers to be de minimis), or (2) subject to any applicable requirements of or commitments to the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE"), if a written opinion from counsel supporting the legality of the transaction under U.S. securities laws has not been provided or if any required governmental approvals have not been obtained.

        AGL's Bye-Laws also provide that if the Board of Directors determines that share ownership by a person may result in adverse tax, legal or regulatory consequences to the Company, any of the subsidiaries or any of the shareholders (other than such as the Board of Directors considers to be de minimis), then AGL has the option, but not the obligation, to require that shareholder to sell to AGL or to third parties to whom AGL assigns the repurchase right for fair market value the minimum number of common shares held by such person which is necessary to eliminate such adverse tax, legal or regulatory consequences.

Existing reinsurance agreement terms may make it difficult to effect a change of control of AGL.

        Some of the Company's reinsurance agreements have change of control provisions that are triggered if a third party acquires a designated percentage of AGL's shares. If a change of control provision is triggered, the ceding company may recapture some or all of the reinsurance business ceded to the Company in the past. Any such recapture could adversely affect the Company's shareholders' equity, future income or financial strength or debt ratings. These provisions may discourage potential acquisition proposals and may delay, deter or prevent a change of control of AGL, including through transactions that some or all of the shareholders might consider to be desirable.

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ITEM 1B.    UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

        None.

ITEM 2.    PROPERTIES

        The principal executive offices of AGL and AG Re consist of approximately 8,250 square feet of office space located in Hamilton, Bermuda. The lease for this space expires in April 2015.

        In addition, the Company occupies approximately 110,000 square feet of office space in New York City. This office space is leased by AGM, and AGC and certain of its affiliates relocated there following the closing of the AGMH Acquisition. The lease expires in April 2026.

        The Company and its subsidiaries also occupy currently another approximately 20,000 square feet of office space in San Francisco, London, Madrid, Sydney and Tokyo.

        Management believes that the office space is adequate for its current and anticipated needs.

ITEM 3.    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

        Lawsuits arise in the ordinary course of the Company's business. It is the opinion of the Company's management, based upon the information available, that the expected outcome of litigation against the Company, individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position or liquidity, although an adverse resolution of litigation against the Company could have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations in a particular quarter or fiscal year. In addition, in the ordinary course of their respective businesses, certain of the Company's subsidiaries assert claims in legal proceedings against third parties to recover losses paid in prior periods. For example, as described in "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Results of Operations—Consolidated Results of Operations—Recovery Litigation," as of the date of this filing, AGC and AGM have filed complaints against certain sponsors and underwriters of RMBS securities that AGC or AGM had insured, alleging, among other claims, that such persons had breached representations and warranties ("R&W") in the transaction documents, failed to cure or repurchase defective loans and/or violated state securities laws. The amounts, if any, the Company will recover in proceedings to recover losses are uncertain, and recoveries, or failure to obtain recoveries, in any one or more of these proceedings during any quarter or fiscal year could be material to the Company's results of operations in that particular quarter or fiscal year.

Proceedings Relating to the Company's Financial Guaranty Business

        The Company has received subpoenas duces tecum and interrogatories from the State of Connecticut Attorney General and the Attorney General of the State of California related to antitrust concerns associated with the methodologies used by rating agencies for determining the credit rating of municipal debt, including a proposal by Moody's to assign corporate equivalent ratings to municipal obligations, and the Company's communications with rating agencies. The Company has satisfied such requests. It may receive additional inquiries from these or other regulators and expects to provide additional information to such regulators regarding their inquiries in the future.

        Beginning in December 2008, AGM and various other financial guarantors have been named in complaints filed in the Superior Court, San Francisco County, California. Since that time, plaintiffs' counsel has filed amended complaints and added additional plaintiffs. As of the date of this filing, the plaintiffs with complaints against AGM and AGC, among other financial guaranty insurers, are: (a) City of Los Angeles, acting by and through the Department of Water and Power; (b) City of Sacramento; (c) City of Los Angeles; (d) City of Oakland; (e) City of Riverside; (f) City of Stockton; (g) County of Alameda; (h) County of Contra Costa; (i) County of San Mateo; (j) Los Angeles World Airports; (k) City of Richmond; (l) Redwood City; (m) East Bay Municipal Utility District; (n) Sacramento Suburban Water District; (o) City of San Jose; (p) County of Tulare; (q) The Regents of the University of California; (r) The Redevelopment Agency of the City of Riverside; (s) The Public Financing Authority of the City of Riverside; (t) The Jewish Community Center of San Francisco; (u) The San Jose Redevelopment Agency; and (v) The

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Olympic Club. Complaints filed by the City and County of San Francisco and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District were subsequently dismissed against AGC and AGM.

        At a hearing on March 1, 2010, the court struck all of the plaintiffs' complaints with leave to amend. The court instructed plaintiffs to file one consolidated complaint. On October 13, 2010, plaintiffs' counsel filed three consolidated complaints, two of which also added the three major credit rating agencies as defendants in addition to the financial guaranty insurers. In November 2010, the credit rating agency defendants filed a motion to remove the cases to the Northern District of California and plaintiffs responded with a motion to remand the cases back to California state court. On January 31, 2011, the court for the Northern District of California granted plaintiffs' motion and the action was remanded to the Superior Court, San Francisco County, California.

        These complaints allege that the financial guaranty insurer defendants (i) participated in a conspiracy in violation of California's antitrust laws to maintain a dual credit rating scale that misstated the credit default risk of municipal bond issuers and created market demand for municipal bond insurance, (ii) participated in risky financial transactions in other lines of business that damaged each insurer's financial condition (thereby undermining the value of each of their guaranties), and (iii) failed to adequately disclose the impact of those transactions on their financial condition. In addition to their antitrust claims, various plaintiffs in these actions assert claims for breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, fraud, unjust enrichment, negligence, and negligent misrepresentation. The complaints in these lawsuits generally seek unspecified monetary damages, interest, attorneys' fees, costs and other expenses. The Company cannot reasonably estimate the possible loss or range of loss that may arise from these lawsuits.

        In August 2008, a number of financial institutions and other parties, including AGM and other bond insurers, were named as defendants in a civil action brought in the circuit court of Jefferson County, Alabama relating to the County's problems meeting its debt obligations on its $3.2 billion sewer debt: Charles E. Wilson vs. JPMorgan Chase & Co et al (filed the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Alabama), Case No. 01-CV-2008-901907.00, a putative class action. The action was brought on behalf of rate payers, tax payers and citizens residing in Jefferson County, and alleges conspiracy and fraud in connection with the issuance of the County's debt. The complaint in this lawsuit seeks equitable relief, unspecified monetary damages, interest, attorneys' fees and other costs. On January, 13, 2011, the circuit court issued an order denying a motion by the bond insurers and other defendants to dismiss the action. Defendants, including the bond insurers, have petitioned the Alabama Supreme Court for a writ of mandamus to the circuit court vacating such order and directing the dismissal with prejudice of plaintiffs' claims for lack of standing. The Company cannot reasonably estimate the possible loss or range of loss that may arise from this lawsuit.

        In September 2010, AGM, among others, was named as a defendant in an interpleader complaint filed by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trust administrator, in the United States District Court, Southern District of New York. The interpleader complaint relates to the MASTR Adjustable Rate Mortgages Trust 2006-OA2, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-OA2 RMBS transaction, in which AGM had insured certain classes of certificates. Certain holders of uninsured certificates have disputed payments made by the trust administrator to reimburse AGM for claims it had paid under its financial guaranty policy. The trust administrator seeks adjudication of the priority of AGM's reimbursements. The Company has submitted a motion for judgment on the pleadings that is being reviewed by the court. If the decision is adverse to AGM, total unreimbursed claims is uncertain but could be as much as approximately $144 million (on a gross undiscounted basis, without taking into account the benefit of R&W recoveries) over the life of the transaction. The Company intends to defend this action and to pursue its rights under the transaction documents vigorously.

Proceedings Related to AGMH's Former Financial Products Business

        The following is a description of legal proceedings involving AGMH's former Financial Products Business. Although the Company did not acquire AGMH's former Financial Products Business, which included AGMH's former GICs business, medium term notes business and portions of the leveraged lease businesses, certain legal proceedings relating to those businesses are against entities which the Company did acquire. While Dexia SA and DCL, jointly and severally, have agreed to indemnify the

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Company against liability arising out of the proceedings described below in this "—Proceedings Related to AGMH's Former Financial Products Business" section, such indemnification might not be sufficient to fully hold the Company harmless against any injunctive relief or criminal sanction that is imposed against AGMH or its subsidiaries.

Governmental Investigations into Former Financial Products Business

        AGMH and/or AGM have received subpoenas duces tecum and interrogatories or civil investigative demands from the Attorney General of the States of Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, Texas and West Virginia relating to their investigations of alleged bid rigging of municipal GICs. AGMH is responding to such requests. AGMH may receive additional inquiries from these or other regulators and expects to provide additional information to such regulators regarding their inquiries in the future. In addition,

        Pursuant to the subpoenas, AGMH has furnished to the Department of Justice and SEC records and other information with respect to AGMH's municipal GICs business. The ultimate loss that may arise from these investigations remains uncertain.

Lawsuits Relating to Former Financial Products Business

        During 2008, nine putative class action lawsuits were filed in federal court alleging federal antitrust violations in the municipal derivatives industry, seeking damages and alleging, among other things, a conspiracy to fix the pricing of, and manipulate bids for, municipal derivatives, including GICs. These cases have been coordinated and consolidated for pretrial proceedings in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York as MDL 1950, In re Municipal Derivatives Antitrust Litigation, Case No. 1:08-cv-2516 ("MDL 1950").

        Five of these cases named both AGMH and AGM: (a) Hinds County, Mississippi v. Wachovia Bank, N.A.; (b) Fairfax County, Virginia v. Wachovia Bank, N.A.; (c) Central Bucks School District, Pennsylvania v. Wachovia Bank, N.A.; (d) Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, Maryland v. Wachovia Bank, N.A.; and (e) Washington County, Tennessee v. Wachovia Bank N.A. In April 2009, the MDL 1950 court granted the defendants' motion to dismiss on the federal claims, but granted leave for the plaintiffs to file a second amended complaint. In June 2009, interim lead plaintiffs' counsel filed a Second Consolidated Amended Class Action Complaint. The complaints in these lawsuits generally seek unspecified monetary damages, interest, attorneys' fees and other costs. The Company cannot reasonably estimate the possible loss or range of loss that may arise from these lawsuits; although the Second Consolidated Amended Class Action Complaint currently describes some of AGMH's and AGM's activities, it does not name those entities as defendants. In March 2010, the MDL 1950 court denied the named defendants' motions to dismiss the Second Consolidated Amended Class Action Complaint.

        Four of the cases named AGMH (but not AGM) and also alleged that the defendants violated California state antitrust law and common law by engaging in illegal bid-rigging and market allocation, thereby depriving the cities or municipalities of competition in the awarding of GICs and ultimately resulting in the cities paying higher fees for these products: (f) City of Oakland, California v. AIG Financial Products Corp.; (g) County of Alameda, California v. AIG Financial Products Corp.; (h) City of Fresno, California v. AIG Financial Products Corp.; and (i) Fresno County Financing Authority v. AIG

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Financial Products Corp. When the four plaintiffs filed a consolidated complaint in September 2009, the plaintiffs did not name AGMH as a defendant. However, the complaint does describe some of AGMH's and AGM's activities. The consolidated complaint generally seeks unspecified monetary damages, interest, attorneys' fees and other costs. In April 2010, the MDL 1950 court granted in part and denied in part the named defendants' motions to dismiss this consolidated complaint.

        In 2008, AGMH and AGM also were named in five non-class action lawsuits originally filed in the California Superior Courts alleging violations of California law related to the municipal derivatives industry: (a) City of Los Angeles, California v. Bank of America, N.A.; (b) City of Stockton, California v. Bank of America, N.A.; (c) County of San Diego, California v. Bank of America, N.A.; (d) County of San Mateo, California v. Bank of America, N.A.; and (e) County of Contra Costa, California v. Bank of America, N.A. Amended complaints in these actions were filed in September 2009, adding a federal antitrust claim and naming AGM (but not AGMH) and AGUS, among other defendants. These cases have been transferred to the Southern District of New York and consolidated with MDL 1950 for pretrial proceedings.

        In late 2009, AGM and AGUS, among other defendants, were named in six additional non-class action cases filed in federal court, which also have been coordinated and consolidated for pretrial proceedings with MDL 1950: (f) City of Riverside, California v. Bank of America, N.A.; (g) Sacramento Municipal Utility District v. Bank of America, N.A.; (h) Los Angeles World Airports v. Bank of America, N.A.; (i) Redevelopment Agency of the City of Stockton v. Bank of America, N.A.; (j) Sacramento Suburban Water District v. Bank of America, N.A.; and (k) County of Tulare, California v. Bank of America, N.A.

        The MDL 1950 court denied AGM and AGUS's motions to dismiss these eleven complaints in April 2010. Amended complaints were filed in May 2010. On October 29, 2010, AGM and AGUS were voluntarily dismissed with prejudice from the Sacramento Municipal Utility District case only. The complaints in these lawsuits generally seek or sought unspecified monetary damages, interest, attorneys' fees, costs and other expenses. The Company cannot reasonably estimate the possible loss or range of loss that may arise from the remaining lawsuits.

        In May 2010, AGM and AGUS, among other defendants, were named in five additional non-class action cases filed in federal court in California: (a) City of Richmond, California v. Bank of America, N.A. (filed on May 18, 2010, N.D. California); (b) City of Redwood City, California v. Bank of America, N.A. (filed on May 18, 2010, N.D. California); (c) Redevelopment Agency of the City and County of San Francisco, California v. Bank of America, N.A. (filed on May 21, 2010, N.D. California); (d) East Bay Municipal Utility District, California v. Bank of America, N.A. (filed on May 18, 2010, N.D. California) ; and (e) City of San Jose and the San Jose Redevelopment Agency, California v. Bank of America, N.A (filed on May 18, 2010, N.D. California). These cases have also been transferred to the Southern District of New York and consolidated with MDL 1950 for pretrial proceedings. In September 2010, AGM and AGUS, among other defendants, were named in a sixth additional non-class action filed in federal court in New York, but which alleges violation of New York's Donnelly Act in addition to federal antitrust law: Active Retirement Community, Inc. d/b/a Jefferson's Ferry v. Bank of America, N.A. (filed on September 21, 2010, E.D. New York), which has also been transferred to the Southern District of New York and consolidated with MDL 1950 for pretrial proceedings. In late December 2010, AGM and AGUS, among other defendants, were named in a seventh additional non-class action filed in federal court in the Central District of California, Los Angeles Unified School District v. Bank of America, N.A., and in an eighth additional non-class action filed in federal court in the Southern District of New York, Kendal on Hudson, Inc. v. Bank of America, N.A. These cases also have been consolidated with MDL 1950 for pretrial proceedings. The complaints in these lawsuits generally seek unspecified monetary damages, interest, attorneys' fees, costs and other expenses. The Company cannot reasonably estimate the possible loss or range of loss that may arise from these lawsuits.

        In January 2011, AGM and AGUS, among other defendants, were named in an additional non-class action case filed in federal court in New York, which alleges violation of New York's Donnelly Act in addition to federal antitrust law: Peconic Landing at Southold, Inc. v. Bank of America, N.A. This case has been noticed as a tag-along action to MDL 1950. The complaint in this lawsuit

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generally seeks unspecified monetary damages, interest, attorneys' fees, costs and other expenses. The Company cannot reasonably estimate the possible loss or range of loss that may arise from this lawsuit.

        In September 2009, the Attorney General of the State of West Virginia filed a lawsuit (Circuit Ct. Mason County, W. Va.) against Bank of America, N.A. alleging West Virginia state antitrust violations in the municipal derivatives industry, seeking damages and alleging, among other things, a conspiracy to fix the pricing of, and manipulate bids for, municipal derivatives, including GICs. An amended complaint in this action was filed in June 2010, adding a federal antitrust claim and naming AGM (but not AGMH) and AGUS, among other defendants. This case has been removed to federal court as well as transferred to the S.D.N.Y. and consolidated with MDL 1950 for pretrial proceedings. The complaint in this lawsuit generally seeks civil penalties, unspecified monetary damages, interest, attorneys' fees, costs and other expenses. The Company cannot reasonably estimate the possible loss or range of loss that may arise from this lawsuit.

ITEM 4.    SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

        No matters were submitted to a vote of stockholders during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year covered by this report.

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Executive Officers of the Company

        The table below sets forth the names, ages, positions and business experience of the executive officers of Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Name
  Age   Position(s)

Dominic J. Frederico

    58   President and Chief Executive Officer; Deputy Chairman

Séan McCarthy

    51   Chief Operating Officer

Robert B. Mills

    61   Chief Financial Officer

James M. Michener

    58   General Counsel and Secretary

Robert A. Bailenson

    44   Chief Accounting Officer

        Dominic J. Frederico has been President and Chief Executive Officer of AGL since December 2003. Mr. Frederico served as Vice Chairman of ACE Limited from June 2003 until April 2004 and served as President and Chief Operating Officer of ACE Limited and Chairman of ACE INA Holdings, Inc. from November 1999 to June 2003. Mr. Frederico was a director of ACE Limited since 2001, but retired from that board when his term expired on May 26, 2005. Mr. Frederico has also served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of ACE INA Holdings, Inc. from May 1999 through November 1999. Mr. Frederico previously served as President of ACE Bermuda Insurance Ltd. from July 1997 to May 1999, Executive Vice President, Underwriting from December 1996 to July 1997, and as Executive Vice President, Financial Lines from January 1995 to December 1996. Prior to joining ACE Limited, Mr. Frederico spent 13 years working for various subsidiaries of American International Group ("AIG"). Mr. Frederico completed his employment at AIG after serving as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of AIG Risk Management. Before that, Mr. Frederico was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of UNAT, a wholly owned subsidiary of AIG headquartered in Paris, France.

        Séan W. McCarthy has been Chief Operating Officer of AGL since November 2009. Mr. McCarthy has been a director and the Chief Operating Officer of AGUS since July 2009. Mr. McCarthy has served as a director of AGMH since February 1999. Mr. McCarthy has been Chief Operating Officer of AGMH since January 2002, and prior to that time served as its Executive Vice President from November 1997 until January 2002 and its President from January 2002 until November 2009. He has served as Chief Operating Officer of AGM since July 2009, and prior to that time served as its Chief Operating Officer from November 1997 until November 2000 and its President from November 2000 until July 2009. Mr. McCarthy was named a Managing Director of AGM in March 1989, head of its Financial Guaranty Department in April 1993 and Executive Vice President of AGM in October 1999. He has been a director of AGM since September 1993. Prior to joining AGM in 1988, Mr. McCarthy was a Vice President of PaineWebber Incorporated.

        Robert B. Mills has been Chief Financial Officer of AGL since January 2004. Mr. Mills was Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer—Americas of UBS AG and UBS Investment Bank from April 1994 to January 2004, where he was also a member of the Investment Bank Board of Directors. Previously, Mr. Mills was with KPMG from 1971 to 1994, where his responsibilities included being partner-in-charge of the Investment Banking and Capital Markets practice.

        James M. Michener has been General Counsel and Secretary of AGL since February 2004. Mr. Michener was General Counsel and Secretary of Travelers Property Casualty Corp. from January 2002 to February 2004. From April 2001 to January 2002, Mr. Michener served as general counsel of Citigroup's Emerging Markets business. Prior to joining Citigroup's Emerging Markets business, Mr. Michener was General Counsel of Travelers Insurance from April 2000 to April 2001 and General Counsel of Travelers Property Casualty Corp. from May 1996 to April 2000.

        Robert A. Bailenson has been Chief Accounting Officer of AGL since May 2005 and has been with Assured Guaranty and its predecessor companies since 1990. In addition to this position, Mr. Bailenson serves as the Chief Accounting Officer of AGC, a position he has held since 2003. Mr. Bailenson became the Chief Accounting Officer of AGM in July 2009. He was Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of AG Re from 1999 until 2003 and was previously the Assistant Controller of Capital Re Corp., the Company's predecessor.

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PART II

ITEM 5.    MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

        AGL's common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under symbol "AGO." The table below sets forth, for the calendar quarters indicated, the reported high and low sales prices and amount of any cash dividends declared.

Common Stock Prices and Dividends

 
  2010   2009  
 
  Sales Price   Cash   Sales Price   Cash  
 
  High   Low   Dividends   High   Low   Dividends  

First Quarter

  $ 24.40   $ 19.31   $ 0.045   $ 12.79   $ 2.69   $ 0.045  

Second Quarter

    24.90     12.66     0.045     16.07     6.48     0.045  

Third Quarter

    18.64     12.63     0.045     21.06     10.64     0.045  

Fourth Quarter

    22.30     16.53     0.045     28.14     16.25     0.045  

        On February 23, 2011, the closing price for AGL's common shares on the NYSE was $15.32, and the approximate number of shareholders of record at the close of business on that date was 166.

        AGL is a holding company whose principal source of income is dividends from its operating subsidiaries. The ability of the operating subsidiaries to pay dividends to AGL and AGL's ability to pay dividends to its shareholders are each subject to legal and regulatory restrictions. The declaration and payment of future dividends will be at the discretion of AGL's Board of Directors and will be dependent upon the Company's profits and financial requirements and other factors, including legal restrictions on the payment of dividends and such other factors as the Board of Directors deems relevant. For more information concerning AGL's dividends, please refer to Item 7 under the caption "Liquidity and Capital Resources" and Note 10 "Insurance Company Regulatory Requirements" to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

Recent Purchases

        In May 2010, the Company completed a share repurchase program that was authorized in 2007. On August 4, 2010, the Company's Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase program for up to 2.0 million common shares. Share repurchases will take place at management's discretion depending on market conditions. No shares were repurchased in 2010 under this plan.

        The following table reflects AGL's share repurchase activity during the three months ended December 31, 2010. All shares repurchased were for the payment of employee withholding taxes due in connection with the vesting of restricted stock awards.

Share Repurchase Activity

Period
  Total Number of
Shares Purchased
  Average
Price Paid
Per Share
  Total Number of
Shares Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Program
  Maximum Number
of Shares that
May Yet Be Purchased
Under the Program
 

October 1 – October 31

    106   $ 18.14         2,000,000  

November 1 – November 30

      $         2,000,000  

December 1 – December 31

      $         2,000,000  
                       
 

Total

    106   $ 18.14            
                       

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Performance Graph

        Set forth below are a line graph and a table comparing the dollar change in the cumulative total shareholder return on AGL's common shares from December 31, 2005 through December 31, 2010 as compared to the cumulative total return of the Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index and the cumulative total return of the Standard & Poor's 500 Financials Index. The chart and table depict the value on December 31, 2005, December 31, 2006, December 31, 2007, December 31, 2008, December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2010 of a $100 investment made on December 31, 2005, with all dividends reinvested:

GRAPHIC

 
  Assured Guaranty   S&P 500 Index   S&P 500
Financial Index
 

12/31/05

  $ 100.00   $ 100.00   $ 100.00  

12/31/06

    105.35     115.80     119.22  

12/31/07

    105.77     122.16     97.14  

12/31/08

    46.05     76.96     43.45  

12/31/09

    89.18     97.33     50.94  

12/31/10

    73.28     111.99     57.15  

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ITEM 6.    SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

        The following selected financial data should be read together with the other information contained in this Form 10-K, including "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and the consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Form 10-K.

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009(1)   2008   2007   2006  
 
  (dollars in millions, except per share amounts)
 

Statement of operations data(2):

                               

Revenues:

                               
 

Net earned premiums(3)

  $ 1,186.7   $ 930.4   $ 261.4   $ 159.3   $ 144.8  
 

Net investment income

    354.7     259.2     162.6     128.1     111.5  
 

Net realized investment gains (losses)

    (2.0 )   (32.7 )   (69.8 )   (1.3 )   (2.0 )
 

Realized gains and other settlements on credit derivatives

    153.5     163.6     117.6     74.0     73.9  
 

Net unrealized gains (losses) on credit derivatives

    (157.8 )   (337.8 )   38.0     (670.4 )   11.8  
 

Fair value gain (loss) on committed capital securities

    9.2     (122.9 )   42.7     8.3      
 

Net change in financial guaranty variable interest entities

    (183.1 )   (1.2 )            
 

Other income

    40.1     58.5     0.7     0.5     0.4  
                       
 

Total revenues

    1,401.3     917.1     553.2     (301.5 )   340.4  

Expenses:

                               
 

Loss and loss adjustment expenses(3)

    413.8     377.8     265.8     5.8     11.3  
 

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs(3)

    34.1     53.9     61.2     43.2     45.2  
 

Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings Inc. acquisition-related expenses

    6.8     92.3              
 

Interest expense

    99.6     62.8     23.3     23.5     13.8  
 

Goodwill and settlement of pre-existing relationship

        23.3              
 

Other operating expenses

    211.5     174.1     90.6     89.0     80.1  
                       
 

Total expenses

    765.8     784.2     440.9     161.5     150.4  
                       

Income (loss) before (benefit) provision for income taxes

    635.5     132.9     112.3     (463.0 )   190.0  

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

    86.6     36.9     43.4     (159.7 )   30.3  
                       

Net income (loss)

    548.9     96.0     68.9     (303.3 )   159.7  
 

Less: Noncontrolling interest of variable interest entities

        (1.2 )            
                       

Net income (loss) attributable to Assured Guaranty Ltd. 

  $ 548.9   $ 97.2   $ 68.9   $ (303.3 ) $ 159.7  
                       

Earnings (loss) per share(4):

                               
   

Basic

  $ 2.98   $ 0.77   $ 0.78   $ (4.38 ) $ 2.15  
   

Diluted

  $ 2.90   $ 0.75   $ 0.77   $ (4.38 ) $ 2.13  

Dividends per share

  $ 0.18   $ 0.18   $ 0.18   $ 0.16   $ 0.14  

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  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   2008   2007   2006  
 
  (dollars in millions, except per share amounts)
 

Balance sheet data (end of period)(2):

                               

Assets:

                               
 

Investments and cash

  $ 10,837.1   $ 11,012.5   $ 3,643.6   $ 3,147.9   $ 2,469.9  
 

Premiums receivable, net of ceding commission(3)

    1,167.6     1,418.2     15.7     27.8     22.8  
 

Ceded unearned premium reserve(3)

    821.8     1,080.5     18.9     13.5     4.5  
 

Credit derivative assets

    592.9     492.5     147.0     5.5     70.6  
 

Total assets

    20,471.5     16,802.7     4,555.7     3,762.9     2,931.6  

Liabilities and shareholders' equity:

                               
 

Unearned premium reserves(3)

    6,972.9     8,400.2     1,233.7     887.2     631.0  
 

Loss and loss adjustment expense reserve(3)

    563.0     289.5     196.8     125.6     115.9  
 

Credit derivative liabilities

    2,465.5     2,034.6     733.8     623.1     21.6  
 

Long-term debt

    1,052.9     1,066.5     347.2     347.1     347.1  
 

Total liabilities

    16,672.7     13,282.6     2,629.5     2,096.3     1,280.8  
 

Accumulated other comprehensive income

    110.7     141.8     2.9     56.6     41.9  
 

Shareholders' equity attributable to Assured Guaranty Ltd. 

    3,798.8     3,520.5     1,926.2     1,666.6     1,650.8  
 

Shareholders' equity

    3,798.8     3,520.1     1,926.2     1,666.6     1,650.8  
 

Book value per share

    20.67     19.12     21.18     20.85     24.44  

Consolidated statutory financial information(5):

                               
 

Contingency reserve

  $ 2,288.0   $ 1,878.8   $ 712.2   $ 582.5   $ 630.9  
 

Policyholders' surplus(6)

    2,626.8     2,962.1     1,598.1     1,497.0     1,027.0  
 

Claims paying resources(2)(7)

    12,630.0     13,051.0     4,962.0     4,440.0     3,415.0  

Additional financial guaranty information (end of period):

                               
 

Net in-force business (principal and interest)

  $ 927,143   $ 958,265   $ 348,816   $ 302,413   $ 180,174  
 

Net in-force business (principal only)

    617,131     640,422     222,722     200,279     132,296  

(1)
Results of operations of AGMH are included for periods beginning July 1, 2009, which we refer to as the Acquisition Date.

(2)
Certain prior year balances have been reclassified to conform to the current year's presentation.

(3)
Accounting guidance for financial guaranty insurance contracts changed effective January 1, 2009. As a result, amounts are not comparable to periods prior to 2009.

(4)
Accounting guidance for the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share changed effective January 1, 2009. All periods presented have been revised for comparability.

(5)
Prepared in accordance with accounting practices prescribed or permitted by insurance regulatory authorities.

(6)
Consolidated policyholders' surplus represents the addition of the Company's U.S. based statutory surplus and the estimate of U.S. statutory surplus for its Bermuda based statutory entity, AG Re.

(7)
Claims paying resources is calculated as the sum of statutory policyholders' surplus, statutory contingency reserve, statutory unearned premium reserves, statutory loss and loss adjustment expense ("LAE") reserves, present value of installment premium on financial guaranty and credit derivatives, discounted at 6%, and standby line of credit/stop loss. Total claims paying resources is used by Moody's to evaluate the adequacy of capital resources and credit ratings.

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ITEM 7.    MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

        The following discussion and analysis of the Company's financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the Company's consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes which appear elsewhere in this Form 10-K. It contains forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Please see "Forward Looking Statements" for more information. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward looking statements as a result of various factors, including those discussed below and elsewhere in this Form 10-K, particularly under the headings "Risk Factors" and "Forward Looking Statements."

Introduction

        Assured Guaranty provides, through its operating subsidiaries, credit protection products to the U.S. and international public finance, infrastructure and structured finance markets. The Company has applied its credit underwriting judgment, risk management skills and capital markets experience to develop insurance, reinsurance and credit derivative products that protect holders of debt instruments and other monetary obligations from defaults in scheduled payments, including scheduled interest and principal payments. The securities insured by the Company include taxable and tax-exempt obligations issued by U.S. state or municipal governmental authorities, utility districts or facilities; notes or bonds issued to finance international infrastructure projects; and asset-backed securities issued by special purpose entities. The Company markets its credit protection products directly to issuers and underwriters of public finance, infrastructure and structured finance securities as well as to investors in such debt obligations. The Company guarantees debt obligations issued in many countries, although its principal focus is on the U.S., Europe and Australia. The Company's business segments are comprised of two principal segments based on whether the contracts were written on a direct or assumed basis.

        Financial guaranty contracts written in insurance form provide an unconditional and irrevocable guaranty that protects the holder of a financial obligation against non-payment of principal and interest when due. Financial guaranty contracts written in credit derivatives form are generally structured such that the circumstances giving rise to the Company's obligation to make loss payments are similar to those for financial guaranty contracts accounted for as insurance and only occurs upon one or more defined credit events with respect to one or more third party referenced securities or loans. Financial guaranties accounted for as credit derivatives are primarily comprised of CDS.

        Public finance obligations insured or assumed through reinsurance by the Company consist primarily of general obligation bonds supported by the issuers' taxing powers, tax-supported bonds and revenue bonds and other obligations of states, their political subdivisions and other municipal issuers supported by the issuers' or obligors' covenant to impose and collect fees and charges for public services or specific projects. Public finance obligations include obligations backed by the cash flow from leases or other revenues from projects serving substantial public purposes, including government office buildings, toll roads, health care facilities and utilities.

        Structured finance obligations insured or assumed through reinsurance by the Company are backed by pools of assets such as residential mortgage loans, consumer or trade receivables, securities or other assets having an ascertainable cash flow or market value and issued by special purpose entities. The Company currently does not underwrite U.S. residential RMBS.

2010 Executive Summary

        This executive summary of management's discussion and analysis highlights selected information and may not contain all of the information that is important to readers of the Annual Report. For a complete description of events, trends and uncertainties, as well as the capital, liquidity, credit, operational and market risks and the critical accounting policies and estimates affecting the Company, this Annual Report should be read in its entirety.

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Financial Performance

        The most significant contributing factor to increases in most of the major components of revenue and expense lines items in 2010 was the inclusion of a full year of AGMH results of operation in 2010 compared with only six months in 2009, as described below. In addition to AGMH's full year contribution to income in 2010, income was positively affected by commutation gains of $49.8 million related to several AGMH ceded reinsurance contracts, and a net tax benefit of $55.8 million due to the filing of an amended tax return for a period prior to the AGMH Acquisition.

        In 2010, loss and LAE on financial guaranty contracts accounted for as insurance and losses incurred on credit derivatives (i.e., claim payments plus changes in future expected losses on credit derivatives) were higher than 2009 due primarily to higher U.S. RMBS losses. The changes in assumptions in 2010 (a) reflect a slower recovery in the housing market than had been assumed at the beginning of the year, and (b) include an increase in the assumed initial loss severities for subprime transactions from 70% to 80%. Mitigating the effects of this loss development were increases in the benefit taken for recoveries from breaches of R&W, as the Company's loss mitigation efforts have been increasingly successful in obtaining commitments to repurchase and accessing new loan files.

        Credit spreads of underlying CDS obligations and the Company's own credit spreads can have a significant effect on reported net income. In 2010, Alt-A option ARMs and Alt-A first lien transactions generated fair value losses due to wider implied net spreads. This was offset in part by fair value gains in the pooled corporate and other sectors which had tighter implied spreads.

        The adoption of a new consolidation model for variable interest entities ("VIEs") on January 1, 2010 affects comparability between 2010 and 2009. On that date, 21 VIEs were consolidated and four were deconsolidated, and throughout 2010, additional VIEs were consolidated and others were deconsolidated. As of December 31, 2010, the Company had consolidated 29 VIEs. In 2010, the Company consolidated VIEs when it had both 1) the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the entity's economic performance; and 2) the obligation to absorb losses of the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The Company continuously evaluates its power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of VIEs that have debt obligations insured by the Company. The Company obtains protective rights under its insurance contracts that give the Company additional controls over a VIE if there is either deterioration of deal performance or in the financial health of the deal servicer. Under GAAP, the Company is deemed to be the control party typically when its protective rights give it the power to both terminate and replace the deal servicer.

        The Company elected the fair value option for all newly consolidated financial guaranty VIEs in 2010, which required that changes in fair value be recorded in the consolidated statements of operations. Consistent with consolidation accounting rules, in 2010, net earned premium of $47.6 million and loss and LAE of $68.8 million associated with consolidated VIEs were eliminated from the reported results of operations. The discussion of each affected revenue and expense line item below describes the financial effect in 2010 of this new accounting model.

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Financial Performance

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   Change  
 
  (dollars in millions, except per share amounts)
 

Net earned premiums

  $ 1,186.7   $ 930.4   $ 256.3  

Net investment income

    354.7     259.2     95.5  

Realized gains and other settlements on credit derivatives

    153.5     163.6     (10.1 )

Net unrealized gains (losses) on credit derivatives

    (157.8 )   (337.8 )   180.0  

Net change in financial guaranty VIEs

    (183.1 )   (1.2 )   (181.9 )

Loss and LAE

    (413.8 )   (377.8 )   (36.0 )

AGMH Acquisition-related expenses

    (6.8 )   (92.3 )   85.5  

Goodwill and settlement of pre-existing relationship

        (23.3 )   23.3  

Other operating expenses

    (211.5 )   (174.1 )   (37.4 )

Net income (loss) attributable to Assured Guaranty Ltd. 

    548.9     97.2     451.7  

Diluted earnings per share

    2.90     0.75     2.15  

        The table above presents selected financial data in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). In addition to these measures, the Company evaluates several non-GAAP financial measures which are described in "—Non-GAAP Financial Measures." One such measure is PVP as described below.

        The tables below present new business production ("PVP") and par amount written in the period. The gross PVP represents the present value of estimated future earnings primarily on new financial guaranty insurance and credit derivative contracts written in the period, before consideration of cessions to reinsurers. See "—Non-GAAP Financial Measures" for a detailed description of PVP.

Present Value of New Business Production

 
  Year Ended
December 31,
 
 
  2010   2009  
 
  (in millions)
 

Public finance—U.S.

             
 

Primary markets

  $ 285.6   $ 557.1  
 

Secondary markets

    42.5     57.1  

Public finance—non-U.S.

             
 

Primary markets

        1.6  
 

Secondary markets

    0.7     0.2  

Structured finance—U.S. 

    30.2     23.2  

Structured finance—non-U.S. 

    3.7     1.0  
           
 

Total

  $ 362.7   $ 640.2  
           

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Financial Guaranty Gross Par Written

 
  Year Ended
December 31,
 
 
  2010   2009  
 
  (in millions)
 

Public finance—U.S.

             
 

Primary markets

  $ 26,195   $ 45,793  
 

Secondary markets

    1,567     1,327  

Public finance—non-U.S.

             
 

Primary markets

        466  
 

Secondary markets

    34     90  

Structured finance—U.S. 

    2,963     2,245  

Structured finance—non-U.S. 

         
           
 

Total

  $ 30,759   $ 49,921  
           

        PVP in 2010 decreased due to lower new business production in the new issue tax-exempt U.S. municipal market. During 2010, the Company insured, on a sales date basis, 1,697 U.S. new issue public finance transactions. The Company insured 8.4% of tax-exempt new issue par and 14.0% of tax-exempt new issue transactions originated in the U.S. public finance market during 2010. The decline in the Company's 2010 PVP reflects the decrease in insurable transactions as a result of the BABs program, rating recalibration and uncertainty about the Company's financial strength rating.

        All par written since second quarter of 2009 has been in the direct segment and was primarily U.S. public finance business. In January 2009, AGC finalized a reinsurance agreement with CIFG Assurance North America Inc. to assume a diversified portfolio of financial guaranty contracts totaling approximately $13.3 billion of net par outstanding which was included in the reinsurance segment. AGC received $75.6 million, net of ceding commissions, as of the closing of this transaction and it was entitled to approximately $12.2 million of future installments related to this transaction. There have been no PVP originations in the reinsurance segment since the first quarter of 2009.

        The table below reconciles PVP to gross written premiums.

Reconciliation of PVP to Gross Written Premium

 
  Year Ended
December 31,
 
 
  2010   2009  
 
  (in millions)
 

Total PVP

  $ 362.7   $ 640.2  
 

Less: PVP of credit derivatives

        2.4  
           

PVP of financial guaranty insurance

    362.7     637.8  
 

Less: Financial guaranty installment premium PVP

    33.2     25.4  
           

Total: Financial guaranty upfront GWP

    329.5     612.4  
 

Plus: Financial guaranty installment GWP

    (107.2 )   (55.1 )
           

Total financial guaranty GWP

    222.3     557.3  
 

Plus: Other GWP

        (0.9 )
           

Total GWP

  $ 222.3   $ 556.4  
           

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Business Overview

        Since 2008, the Company has been the most active provider of financial guaranty credit protection products. The significant financial distress faced by many of the Company's former competitors since 2007, the Company's ability to maintain investment-grade financial strength ratings throughout the financial crisis, and its acquisition of AGMH in 2009 have all contributed to the Company's position in the market. However, business conditions have been difficult for the entire financial guaranty insurance industry since 2007 and the Company has faced challenges in maintaining its market penetration that continue today.

        The recent U.S. economic recession that began in 2007 following the start of a global financial crisis was the longest recession the U.S. has experienced since World War II. The recession combined with the global financial crisis and, in some cases, highly leveraged financial risk, created significant credit and financial losses at many financial institutions, resulting in record levels of failures and government bailout of many global financial institutions and corporations.

        Within the financial guaranty industry, financial losses were concentrated in the U.S. RMBS sector and, in particular, on collateralized debt obligations ("CDOs") backed by asset-backed securities ("ABS") containing significant residential mortgage collateral ("CDOs of ABS"). The Company has very limited exposure to CDOs of ABS, with only $32.3 million in net par outstanding as of December 31, 2010. As a result of credit losses on these types of securities, and as discussed in greater detail under "Competition" in "Item 1. Business," all of the Company's pre-2007 financial guaranty competitors, except AGM, have had their financial strength ratings downgraded by rating agencies to below investment grade levels, rendering them unable to underwrite new business. The Company's insurance subsidiaries have also been downgraded, principally due to their exposure to U.S. RMBS, but because management substantially avoided insuring CDOs of ABS, AGM and AGC have retained double-A level ratings, which have been acceptable for new business origination.

        Although the National Bureau of Economic Research declared that the recession ended in June 2009, housing prices have not consistently stabilized and the ultimate credit experience on U.S. RMBS transactions underwritten from the end of 2004 through 2008 by many financial institutions, including the financial guaranty insurers, remains uncertain. Furthermore, while hiring trends have improved, unemployment levels remain high and may take years to return to pre-recession levels, which may adversely affect Assured Guaranty's loss experience on RMBS. In addition, the economic recession has also affected the credit performance of other markets, including pooled corporate obligations insured by the Company and, more specifically, trust preferred securities ("TruPS") that include subordinated capital and notes issued by banks, mortgage real estate investment trusts and insurance companies.

        The U.S. municipal bond market, which has been the Company's principal market since 2007, has also changed significantly during the past three years. Municipal credits have experienced increased budgetary stress, as the amount of sales, income and real estate taxes and other municipal excise or usage revenues collected by most states and municipalities have declined. In addition, many states and towns have significant unfunded pension and retiree health care liabilities that create additional budgetary stress.

        The current economic environment has had a significant negative impact on the demand by investors for financial guaranty policies, and it is uncertain when or if demand for financial guaranties will return to their pre-economic crisis level. In particular, there has been limited demand for financial guaranties in 2010 in both the global structured finance and international infrastructure finance markets and also limited new issuance activity in those asset classes in which the Company was previously active. As a result, near-term opportunities for financial guaranties in these two sectors are largely in secondary markets. The Company expects that global structured finance and international infrastructure opportunities will increase in the future as the global economy recovers, issuers return to the capital markets for financings and institutional investors again utilize financial guaranties. Financial guaranties had been an essential component of capital markets financings for international infrastructure projects and asset-based lending, such as for auto loans and leases and equipment financings, but these financings have been largely financed in recent years with relatively short-term bank loans.

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        With respect to the Company, as discussed in the "Overview" in "Item 1. Business," during 2010, the Company faced challenges in maintaining its market penetration. The portion of the market that benefitted from the Company's insurance product was reduced as a result of a combination of the rating agency recalibration and upgrading of the ratings of municipal bonds; the downgrade of AGC's financial strength rating by Moody's in November 2009; and the issuances under the BABs program that constituted a large volume of the transactions in the U.S. public finance market during the year. In addition, both the uncertainty over the financial strength ratings of the Company's insurance subsidiaries and a negative perception of financial guaranty insurers arising from the financial distress suffered by other companies in the industry during the financial crisis have resulted in lower demand for the Company's insurance product.

        In 2010, the Company insured 6.2% of new U.S. municipal issuance based on par. The following table presents additional detail with respect to the Company's penetration into the U.S. public finance market in 2010, 2009 and 2008.

Municipal Market Data

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   2008  
 
  Par   Number
of issues
  Par   Number
of issues
  Par   Number
of issues
 
 
  (dollars in billions, except number of issues)
 

New municipal bonds issued

  $ 430.8     13,594   $ 406.8     11,412   $ 386.5     10,452  

New municipal bonds issued under BABs program

    117.3     1,567     64.2     784          

New municipal bonds insured (all financial guaranty)

    26.8     1,697     35.4     2,012     72.2     2,564  

New municipal bonds insured (AGC and AGM)

    26.8     1,697     34.8     2,005     65.7     2,415  

New municipal bonds insured under BABs program (AGC and AGM)

    4.7     153     1.7     87          

        Management believes that, in light of the prevalence of individual rather than institutional investors in the municipal market, the Company is able to provide value not only by insuring the timely payment of scheduled interest and principal amounts when due, but also through its underwriting skills and surveillance capabilities. Because few individual or even institutional investors have the analytic resources to cover all the varied municipal credits in the market, which are estimated to number more than 30,000, through its financial guaranty, the Company effectively consolidates the tasks of credit selection, analysis, negotiation of terms, monitoring and, if necessary, remediation. Management believes this allows retail investors to participate more widely, institutional investors to operate more efficiently and smaller, less well-known issuers to gain market access on a more cost-effective basis. In fact, in 2010, based on par, the Company insured approximately 15% of new U.S. municipal issuance in the single-A rating category, which is its target market, and more than 15% of new U.S. municipal issuance transactions that were $25 million or less in size.

AGMH Acquisition

        On July 1, 2009, the Company completed the AGMH Acquisition. The total purchase price of $821.9 million was paid in a combination of $546 million in cash and 22.3 million AGL common shares. AGL issued approximately 21.8 million common shares to Dexia, all of which Dexia subsequently sold in a secondary offering that closed in March 2010.

        The Company acquired 99.9264% of the common stock of AGMH pursuant to a purchase agreement with Dexia and the remaining shares of AGMH common stock from AGMH's former chief executive officer, for 305,017 AGL common shares. The Company also exchanged the deemed investment of Sean McCarthy, who became the Chief Operating Officer of the Company following the closing of the AGMH Acquisition, in 22,306 share units of AGMH under a AGMH nonqualified deferred compensation plan for a deemed investment in 130,000 share units of AGL. The AGL share

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units will ultimately be distributed to Mr. McCarthy as a corresponding number of AGL common shares at the time he receives a distribution from such nonqualified deferred compensation plan.

        The AGMH Acquisition excluded AGMH's former financial products segment, which was comprised of its GIC business, its medium term notes business and the equity payment undertaking agreements in the leveraged lease business. The AGMH subsidiaries that conducted AGMH's financial products business were transferred to Dexia Holdings prior to completion of the AGMH Acquisition. In addition, as further described under "—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Liquidity Arrangements with respect to AGMH's former Financial Products Business," the Company has entered into various agreements with Dexia pursuant to which Dexia has assumed the credit and liquidity risks associated with AGMH's former financial products business.

        The cash portion of the purchase price for the AGMH Acquisition was financed through the sale of 44,275,000 common shares and 3,450,000 equity units in a public offering in June 2009. The equity units initially consist of a forward purchase contract and a 5% undivided beneficial ownership interest in $1,000 principal amount 8.50% senior notes due 2014 issued by AGUS ("8.50% Senior Notes"). For a description of the equity units, see "—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Commitments and Contingencies—Long Term Debt Obligations—8.50% Senior Notes." The net proceeds after underwriting expenses and offering costs for these two offerings totaled approximately $616.5 million.

        As described under "—WL Ross Investments," WLR Funds managed by WL Ross purchased 3,850,000 AGL common shares in the June 2009 public common share offering at the public offering price in the public offering, pursuant to pre-emptive rights.

        The Company has agreed with Dexia Holdings to operate the business of AGM in accordance with the key parameters described. These restrictions will limit the Company's operating and financial flexibility.

        Generally, for three years after the closing of the AGMH Acquisition:

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        This provision does not limit: collateral arrangements between AGM and its subsidiaries in support of intercompany reinsurance obligations; or statutory deposits or other collateral arrangements required by law in connection with the conduct of business in any jurisdiction; or pledges of recoveries or other amounts to secure repayment of amounts borrowed under AGM's "soft capital" facilities or its strip liquidity facility with Dexia Credit Local S.A. ("DCL"). See "—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Liquidity Arrangements with Respect to AGMH's former Financial Products Business—Strip Coverage Facility for the Leveraged Lease Business."

        Furthermore, until the date on which (1) a credit rating has been assigned by S&P and Moody's to the GIC issuers (and/or the liabilities of the GIC issuers under the relevant GICs have been separately rated by S&P and Moody's) which is independent of the financial strength rating of AGM, and (2) the principal amount of GICs in relation to which a downgrade of AGM may result in a requirement to post collateral or terminate such GIC, notwithstanding the existence of a separate rating referred to in (1) of at least AA or higher is below $1.0 billion (the "AGM De-Linkage Date"):

        Notwithstanding the above, all such restrictions will terminate on any date after the AGM De-Linkage Date that the aggregate principal amount or notional amount of exposure of Dexia Holdings and any of its affiliates (excluding the exposures relating to the financial products business) to any transactions insured by AGM or any of its affiliates prior to November 14, 2008 is less than $1 billion. Breach of any of these restrictions not remedied within 30 days of notice by Dexia Holdings entitles Dexia Holdings to payment of damages, injunctive relief or other remedies available under applicable law.

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        The following table shows the assets and liabilities of the companies acquired in the AGMH Acquisition ("Acquired Companies") after the allocation of the purchase price to the net assets. The bargain purchase gain resulted from the difference between the purchase price and the net assets' fair value estimates.

 
  July 1, 2009  
 
  (in millions)
 

Purchase price:

       
 

Cash

  $ 546.0  
 

Fair value of common shares issued (based upon June 30, 2009 closing price of AGL common shares)

    275.9  
       
   

Total purchase price

    821.9  
       

Identifiable assets acquired:

       
 

Investments

    5,950.1  
 

Cash

    87.0  
 

Premiums receivable, net of ceding commissions payable

    854.1  
 

Ceded unearned premium reserve

    1,727.7  
 

Deferred tax asset, net

    888.1  
 

Financial guaranty VIE's assets

    1,879.4  
 

Other assets

    662.6  
       
     

Total assets

    12,049.0  
       

Liabilities assumed:

       
 

Unearned premium reserve

    7,286.4  
 

Long-term debt

    560.6  
 

Credit derivative liabilities

    920.0  
 

Financial guaranty VIE's liabilities

    1,878.6  
 

Other liabilities

    348.9  
       
     

Total liabilities

    10,994.5  
       

Net assets resulting from AGMH Acquisition

    1,054.5  
       

Bargain purchase gain resulting from the AGMH Acquisition

  $ 232.6  
       

        Due to the unprecedented credit crisis, the Company acquired AGMH at a significant discount to its book value primarily because the fair value of the obligation associated with its financial guaranty insurance contracts was significantly in excess of the obligation's historical carrying value. The Company recorded the fair value of these contracts based on what a hypothetical similarly rated financial guaranty insurer would have charged for each contract at the Acquisition Date and not the actual cash flows under the insurance contract. This resulted in some AGMH acquired contracts having a significantly higher unearned premium reserve and, subsequently, premium earnings compared to the contractual premium cash flows for the policy. On the Acquisition Date, there were limited financial guaranty contracts being written in the structured finance market, particularly in the U.S. RMBS asset class. Therefore, for certain asset classes, significant judgment was required to determine the estimated fair value of the acquired contracts. The Company determined the fair value of these contracts by taking into account the rating of the insured obligation, expectation of loss, estimated risk premiums, sector and term.

        For a discussion of significant accounting policies applied to the AGMH Acquisition, the effects of the AGMH Acquisition, and unaudited pro forma results of operations, see Note 3 in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data."

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Results of Operations

Estimates and Assumptions

        The Company's consolidated financial statements include amounts that are determined using estimates and assumptions. The actual amounts realized could ultimately be materially different from the amounts currently provided for in the Company's consolidated financial statements. Management believes the items requiring the most inherently subjective and complex estimates to be:

        An understanding of the Company's accounting policies for these items is of critical importance to understanding its consolidated financial statements. See "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for a discussion of significant accounting policies and fair value methodologies. The following discussion of the consolidated and segment results of operations includes information regarding the estimates and assumptions used for these items and should be read in conjunction with the notes to the Company's consolidated financial statements.

Consolidated Results of Operations

        The following table presents summary consolidated results of operations. Comparability of periods presented is affected by the inclusion of AGMH results beginning July 1, 2009 and the adoption of new GAAP accounting requiring the consolidation of certain VIEs previously accounted for as financial guaranty insurance on January 1, 2010 and the adoption of a new financial guaranty accounting model on January 1, 2009.

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Summary Consolidated Results

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   2008  
 
  (in millions)
 

Revenues:

                   

Net earned premiums

  $ 1,186.7   $ 930.4   $ 261.4  

Net investment income

    354.7     259.2     162.6  

Net realized investment gains (losses)

    (2.0 )   (32.7 )   (69.8 )

Change in fair value of credit derivatives:

                   
 

Realized gains and other settlements

    153.5     163.6     117.6  
 

Net unrealized gains

    (157.8 )   (337.8 )   38.0  
               

Net change in fair value of credit derivatives

    (4.3 )   (174.2 )   155.6  

Fair value gain (loss) on committed capital securities

    9.2     (122.9 )   42.7  

Net change in financial guaranty VIEs

    (183.1 )   (1.2 )    

Other income

    40.1     58.5     0.7  
               
 

Total revenues

    1,401.3     917.1     553.2  
               

Expenses:

                   

Loss and LAE

    413.8     377.8     265.8  

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs

    34.1     53.9     61.2  

AGMH acquisition-related expenses

    6.8     92.3      

Interest expense

    99.6     62.8     23.3  

Goodwill and settlement of pre-existing relationship

        23.3      

Other operating expenses

    211.5     174.1     90.6  
               
 

Total expenses

    765.8     784.2     440.9  
               

Income (loss) before provision for income taxes

    635.5     132.9     112.3  

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

    86.6     36.9     43.4  
               
 

Net income (loss)

    548.9     96.0     68.9  

Less: Noncontrolling interest of VIEs

        (1.2 )    
               
 

Net income (loss) attributable to Assured Guaranty Ltd. 

  $ 548.9   $ 97.2   $ 68.9  
               

Net Earned Premiums

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   2008  
 
  (in millions)
 

Financial guaranty:

                   
 

Public finance

                   
   

Scheduled net earned premiums

  $ 385.4   $ 249.3   $ 95.8  
   

Acceleration of premium earnings(1)

    91.0     171.5     61.9  
               
     

Total public finance

    476.4     420.8     157.7  
 

Structured finance

                   
   

Scheduled net earned premiums(2)

    708.9     504.3     98.0  
   

Acceleration of premium earnings(1)

    (1.0 )   2.3      
               
     

Total structured finance

    707.9     506.6     98.0  

Other

    2.4     3.0     5.7  
               

Total net earned premiums

  $ 1,186.7   $ 930.4   $ 261.4  
               

(1)
Reflects the unscheduled refunding or early termination of underlying insured obligations.

(2)
Excludes $47.6 million in 2010 related to consolidated VIEs.

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        2010 compared with 2009:    Net earned premiums increased significantly in 2010 compared with 2009, due almost entirely to the inclusion of a full year of AGMH results in 2010 compared to only six months in 2009. The net earned premium contribution from AGMH as a result of the AGMH Acquisition was approximately $1.0 billion for 2010, representing twelve months of activity and $0.6 billion for 2009, representing six months of activity.

        Beginning January 1, 2010, net earned premiums excludes the net earned premium related to consolidated VIEs under new VIE consolidation accounting rules. The consolidated VIEs are entities that are established and used in structured finance insured transactions for which the Company is deemed to have a controlling financial interest, as defined by GAAP, due to its ability to terminate and replace the deal's servicer. Net earned premiums associated with the consolidated VIEs in 2010, and therefore eliminated in consolidation, were $47.6 million. AGMH's contribution to net earned premiums of $1.0 billion is already net of the elimination of $46.2 million of AGM's consolidated VIEs. In 2009, four VIEs were consolidated for only the last six months under consolidation rules in effect at that time; however, the related net earned premiums in 2009 were immaterial.

        Excluding AGMH's contribution and VIE eliminations, net earned premiums in 2010 compared to 2009 decreased 18.1% due primarily to higher refundings and accelerations in 2009, offset in part by the effect of conforming estimates used to determine inputs to the calculation of the net earned premiums to those used by the Acquired Companies in 2009. Refundings and accelerations, excluding AGMH, were $20.5 million in 2010 compared to $129.7 million in 2009.

        2009 compared with 2008:    Net earned premium increased significantly in 2009 compared to 2008 due primarily to the inclusion of $0.6 billion from AGMH for the last six months of 2009 and significant refundings and accelerations in 2009 on the legacy AGC and AG Re book of business. Excluding AGMH's contribution to net earned premiums, net earned premium increased 22.3% due primarily to higher refundings and accelerations of legacy AGC and AG Re business of $129.7 million in 2009 compared to $61.9 million in 2008, offset in part by the effects of conforming accounting estimates used to determine inputs to the calculation of the net earned premiums to those used by the Acquired Companies in 2009. Net earned premiums in 2008 were accounted for under a different accounting model as described in Note 5 in Item 8. "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data".

        Net investment income for 2009 includes six months of income from AGMH investments and 2010 includes a full year of AGMH net investment income and is the primary driver of the increase in net investment income in 2010 and 2009. The AGMH investments were recorded at fair value on the Acquisition Date which resulted in a net premium to par of $58.7 million that is being amortized to net investment income over the remaining term to maturity of each of the investments. Investment income is a function of the yield that the Company earns on invested assets. The investment yield is a function of market interest rates at the time of investment as well as the type, credit quality and maturity of the invested assets.

Net Investment Income

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   2008  
 
  (in millions)
 

Income from fixed maturity securities

  $ 359.7   $ 262.4   $ 154.5  

Income from short-term investments

    3.5     3.2     11.5  
               
 

Gross investment income

    363.2     265.6     166.0  

Investment expenses

    (8.5 )   (6.4 )   (3.4 )
               
 

Net investment income

  $ 354.7   $ 259.2   $ 162.6  
               

Average fixed and short term maturity balance(1)

  $ 10,326.8   $ 6,875.0   $ 3,555.6  
               

(1)
Based on amortized cost.

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        2010 compared with 2009:    The increase in net investment income in 2010 compared with 2009 is primarily driven by the inclusion of a full year of AGMH in 2010 compared with only six months in 2009. The net investment income contribution from AGMH was $181.5 million in 2010 compared with $91.8 million in 2009. Excluding bonds purchased for risk mitigation purposes, AGMH pre-tax yield was 3.6% as of December 31, 2010, compared to 3.5% as of December 31, 2009. The legacy AGL companies' net investment income increased 3.4% in 2010 due to increased invested assets. Excluding bonds purchased for risk mitigation purposes in the legacy AGL companies' portfolio, pre-tax yield was 3.8% as of December 31, 2010 compared to 3.4% as of December 31, 2009.

        2009 compared with 2008:    Excluding AGMH'S contribution of $91.8 million in 2009, net investment income decreased 3.0% due to a decrease in book yields. Excluding bonds purchased for risk mitigation purposes, AGMH's pre-tax yield was 3.5% as of December 31, 2009. Excluding bonds purchased for risk mitigation purposes, the legacy AGL companies' pre-tax yield was 3.4%, as of December 31, 2009, compared to 4.6% as of December 31, 2008.

        The Company adopted a GAAP standard on April 1, 2009, which prescribed bifurcation of credit and non-credit related OTTI net in realized investment gains (losses) and other comprehensive income ("OCI"), respectively. Prior to April 1, 2009, the entire unrealized loss on OTTI securities was recognized in the consolidated statements of operations. Subsequent to that date, only the credit component of the unrealized loss on OTTI securities was recognized in the consolidated statements of operations. The cumulative effect of this change in accounting of $62.2 million was recorded as a reclassification from retained earnings to accumulated OCI ("AOCI"). See Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for the Company's accounting policy on OTTI methodology.

        The table below presents the components of consolidated net realized investment gains (losses). The full year 2008 OTTI recorded includes the entire unrealized loss amount for OTTI securities. Net realized gains (losses) in 2010 include $27.4 million in OTTI primarily attributable to asset-backed, mortgage-backed and municipal securities, some of which the Company intends to sell. The 2010 OTTI represents the sum of the credit component of the securities for which we have determined the unrealized loss to be other-than-temporary and the entire unrealized loss related to securities the Company intends to sell.

Net Realized Investment Gains (Losses)

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   2008  
 
  (in millions)
 

OTTI losses

  $ (44.6 ) $ (74.0 ) $ (71.3 )

Less: portion of OTTI loss recognized in other comprehensive income

    (17.2 )   (28.2 )    
               
 

Subtotal

    (27.4 )   (45.8 )   (71.3 )

Realized gains on investment portfolio

    31.1     27.6     5.7  

Realized losses on investment portfolio

    (5.0 )   (15.2 )   (4.2 )

Other invested assets

    (0.7 )   0.7      
               

Total realized investment gains (losses)

  $ (2.0 ) $ (32.7 ) $ (69.8 )
               

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        The table below provides the components of OTTI.

OTTI Components

 
  Year Ended December 31  
 
  2010   2009   2008  
 
  (in millions)
 

Intent to sell

  $ (4.0 ) $ (13.4 ) $ (4.1 )

Credit component of OTTI securities

    (23.4 )   (32.4 )   (67.2 )
               
 

Total

  $ (27.4 ) $ (45.8 ) $ (71.3 )
               

        The Company views the credit derivatives it insures as an extension of the Company's financial guaranty business; however, they qualify as derivatives under U.S. GAAP, and are reported at fair value, with changes in fair value included in earnings. Changes in fair value of credit derivatives occur because of changes in interest rates, credit spreads, credit ratings of the referenced obligations, the Company's credit spread and other market factors. The unrealized gains (losses) on credit derivatives excluding losses incurred, is expected to reduce to zero as the exposure approaches its maturity date, unless there is a payment default on the exposure or early termination. In the event that the Company terminates a credit derivative contract prior to maturity, the resulting gain or loss will be realized through net change in fair value of credit derivatives. Changes in the fair value of the Company's credit derivatives that do not reflect actual or expected claims or credit losses have no impact on the Company's statutory claims paying resources, rating agency capital or regulatory capital positions.

        In the table below, the Company presents the components of net change in fair value of credit derivatives in three components: credit derivative revenues which represent the net premiums and fees received and receivable for credit protection sold net of premiums and fees on credit protection purchased by the Company, losses incurred which represents the change in economic losses expected to be incurred and which have or will result in cash outflows under the credit derivative contracts, and additional unrealized gains and losses representing the excess of fair value over the credit derivative revenues and losses incurred. The consolidated statement of operations presents premiums received and receivable and losses paid and payable as realized gains and other settlements and a separate component of unrealized gains (losses).

Net Change in Fair Value of Credit Derivatives

 
  Year Ended December 31  
 
  2010   2009   2008  
 
  (in millions)
 

Credit derivative revenues

  $ 210.3   $ 170.2   $ 117.2  

Losses incurred on credit derivatives

    (209.4 )   (238.7 )   (43.3 )

Net unrealized gains (losses), excluding losses incurred

    (5.2 )   (105.7 )   81.7  
               
 

Net change in fair value

  $ (4.3 ) $ (174.2 ) $ 155.6  
               

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        Credit derivative revenues:    Credit derivative revenues increased significantly in 2010 and 2009 due to the inclusion of AGMH results beginning July 1, 2009; however, the Company currently expects AGMH's portfolio of credit derivatives to produce a declining amount of fee revenue as AGMH will not insure any new structured finance obligations. AGMH contributed $100.4 million and $56.6 million of credit derivative revenues in 2010 and 2009, respectively. AGMH net par outstanding as of December 31, 2010 and 2009 was $53.1 billion and $58.0 billion, respectively. Legacy AGL companies' credit derivative revenues have also declined in 2010 and 2009 due to the lack of new business originations to offset the reduction of in-force business. Legacy AGL companies' net par outstanding as of December 31, 2010 and 2009 was $57.9 billion and $65.7 billion, respectively.

        Losses incurred on credit derivatives:    The legacy AGL companies' portfolio of credit derivatives was the primary driver of losses incurred in the credit derivative portfolio as AGMH contributed $24.6 million in 2010 and ($47.0) million in 2009. AGMH losses incurred in 2010 were driven primarily by losses for an energy power plant securitization, while legacy AGL companies' losses incurred in 2010 were driven by losses in first lien Alt-A transactions primarily as a result of stabilization of early stage delinquency rates, which had originally been assumed to decline in prior assumptions. Higher severity assumptions for first lien transactions and an increased weighting of the pessimistic scenario also contributed to losses incurred.

        In 2009, AGMH expected losses improved for most transactions resulting in a net benefit, while legacy AGL companies' credit derivatives experienced deterioration in expected losses primarily in first lien Alt-A transactions.

Net Change in Fair Value of Credit Derivatives

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
Asset Type
  2010   2009   2008  
 
  (in millions)
 

Financial Guaranty Direct:

                   
 

Pooled corporate obligations:

                   
   

CLOs/CBOs

  $ 2.1   $ 152.3   $ 263.3  
   

Synthetic investment grade pooled corporate

    (1.9 )   (24.0 )   3.8  
   

Synthetic high yield pooled corporate

    11.4     95.1      
   

TruPS CDOs

    59.1     (44.1 )   7.5  
   

Market value CDOs of corporate obligations

    (0.1 )   (0.6 )   48.7  
   

Commercial real estate

            7.5  
   

CDO of CDOs (corporate)

        6.3     (3.4 )
               
 

Total pooled corporate obligations

    70.6     185.0     327.4  
 

U.S. RMBS:

                   
   

Alt-A option ARMs and Alt-A first lien

    (283.1 )   (429.3 )   (194.9 )
   

Subprime first lien (including net interest margin)

    (10.1 )   4.9     185.4  
   

Prime first lien

    (8.3 )   (85.2 )   5.2  
   

Closed end second lien and home equity lines of credit ("HELOCs")

    (2.0 )   11.6     0.3  
               
 

Total U.S. RMBS

    (303.5 )   (498.0 )   (4.0 )
 

Commercial mortgage-backed securities ("CMBS")

    10.1     (41.1 )   79.0  
 

Other(1)

    65.6     6.7     (336.7 )
               

Total Financial Guaranty Direct

    (157.2 )   (347.4 )   65.7  

Financial Guaranty Reinsurance

    (0.6 )   9.6     (27.7 )
               

Total

  $ (157.8 ) $ (337.8 ) $ 38.0  
               

(1)
"Other" includes all other U.S. and international asset classes, such as commercial receivables, international infrastructure, international RMBS securities, and pooled infrastructure securities.

        Net change in fair value of credit derivatives:    In 2010, U.S. RMBS unrealized fair value losses were generated primarily in the Alt-A option ARM and Alt-A first lien sector due to wider implied net spreads. The wider implied net spreads were a result of internal ratings downgrades on several of these Alt-A option ARM and Alt-A first lien policies. The unrealized fair value gain within the TruPS CDO

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and Other asset classes resulted from tighter implied spreads. These transactions were pricing above their floor levels (or the minimum rate at which the Company would consider assuming these risks based on historical experience); therefore when the cost of purchasing CDS protection on AGC and AGM increased, which management refers to as the CDS spread on AGC or AGM, the implied spreads that the Company would expect to receive on these transactions decreased. During 2010, AGC's and AGM's spreads widened. However, gains due to the widening of the Company's own CDS spreads were offset by declines in fair value resulting from price changes and the internal downgrades of several U.S. RMBS policies referenced above.

        In 2009, AGC's and AGM's credit spreads narrowed, but remained relatively wide compared to pre-2007 levels. Offsetting the benefit attributable to AGC's and AGM's wide credit spread were declines in fixed income security market prices primarily attributable to widening spreads in certain markets as a result of the continued deterioration in credit markets and some credit rating downgrades. The higher credit spreads in the fixed income security market were primarily due to continuing market concerns over the most recent vintages of Subprime RMBS and trust-preferred securities.

        The 2008 gain included an amount of $4.1 billion associated with the change in AGC's credit spread, which widened substantially from 180 basis points at December 31, 2007 to 1,775 basis points at December 31, 2008. Management believed that the widening of AGC's credit spread was due to the correlation between AGC's risk profile and that experienced currently by the broader financial markets and increased demand for credit protection against AGC as the result of its increased business volume. Offsetting the gain attributable to the significant increase in AGC's credit spread were declines in fixed income security market prices primarily attributable to widening spreads in certain markets as a result of the continued deterioration in credit markets and some credit rating downgrades, rather than from delinquencies or defaults on securities guaranteed by the Company. The higher credit spreads in the fixed income security market were due to the lack of liquidity in the high yield CDO and CLO markets as well as continuing market concerns over the most recent vintages of subprime RMBS and CMBS.

        The impact of changes in credit spreads will vary based upon the volume, tenor, interest rates, and other market conditions at the time these fair values are determined. In addition, since each transaction has unique collateral and structural terms, the underlying change in fair value of each transaction may vary considerably. The fair value of credit derivative contracts also reflects the change in the Company's own credit cost based on the price to purchase credit protection on AGC and AGM. The Company determines its own credit risk based on quoted CDS prices traded on the Company at each balance sheet date. Generally, a widening of the CDS prices traded on AGC and AGM has an effect of offsetting unrealized losses that result from widening general market credit spreads, while a narrowing of the CDS prices traded on AGC and AGM has an effect of offsetting unrealized gains that result from narrowing general market credit spreads. An overall narrowing of spreads generally results in an unrealized gain on credit derivatives for the Company and an overall widening of spreads generally results in an unrealized loss for the Company.

Effect of the Company's Credit Spread on Credit Derivatives Fair Value

 
  As of December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   2008  
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

Quoted price of CDS contract (in basis points):

                   
 

AGC

    804     634     1,775  
 

AGM

    650     541 (1)   N/A  

Fair value of credit derivatives:

                   
 

Before considering implication of the Company's credit spreads

  $ (5,543.9 ) $ (5,830.8 ) $ (4,734.4 )
 

After considering implication of the Company's credit spreads

  $ (1,872.6 ) $ (1,542.1 ) $ (586.8 )

(1)
The quoted price of CDS contract for AGM was 1,047 basis points at July 1, 2009.

        The gain or loss created by the estimated fair value adjustment will rise or fall based on estimated market pricing and may not be an indication of ultimate claims. Fair value is defined as the amount at

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which an asset or liability could be bought or sold in a current transaction between willing parties. The Company enters into credit derivative contracts which require the Company to make payments upon the occurrence of certain defined credit events (such as failure to pay or bankruptcy) relating to an underlying obligation (generally a fixed income obligation). The Company's credit derivative exposures are substantially similar to its financial guaranty insurance contracts and provide for credit protection against payment default. They are contracts that are generally held to maturity. The unrealized gains and losses on credit derivatives will reduce to zero as the exposure approaches its maturity date, unless there is a payment default on the exposure or early termination. See "—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Liquidity Requirements and Resources".

        The Company does not typically exit its credit derivative contracts and there are typically no quoted prices for its instruments or similar instruments. Observable inputs other than quoted market prices exist; however, these inputs reflect contracts that do not contain terms and conditions similar to those in the credit derivatives issued by the Company. Therefore, the valuation of the Company's credit derivative contracts requires the use of models that contain significant, unobservable inputs. Thus, management believes that the Company's credit derivative contract valuations are in Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. See Note 6 in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data".

        The fair value of these instruments represents the difference between the present value of remaining contractual premiums charged for the credit protection and the estimated present value of premiums that a comparable financial guarantor would hypothetically charge for the same protection at the balance sheet date. The fair value of these contracts depends on a number of factors including notional amount of the contract, expected term, credit spreads, changes in interest rates, the credit ratings of the referenced entities, the Company's own credit risk and remaining contractual flows.

        Contractual cash flows are the most readily observable inputs since they are based on the CDS contractual terms. These variables include:

        Market conditions at December 31, 2010 were such that market prices for the Company's CDS contracts were not generally available. Where market prices were not available, the Company used proprietary valuation models that used both unobservable and observable market data inputs such as various market indices, credit spreads, the Company's own credit spread, and estimated contractual payments to estimate the fair value of its credit derivatives. These models are primarily developed internally based on market conventions for similar transactions that we have observed in the past. There has been very limited new issuance activity on this market over the past two to three years.

        Management considers the non-standard terms of its credit derivative contracts in determining the fair value of these contracts. These terms differ from more standardized credit derivatives sold by companies outside of the financial guaranty industry. The non-standard terms include the absence of collateral support agreements or immediate settlement provisions. In addition, the Company employs relatively high attachment points and does not exit derivatives it sells for credit protection purposes. Because of these terms and conditions, the fair value of the Company's credit derivatives may not reflect the same prices observed in an actively traded market of CDS that do not contain terms and conditions similar to those observed in the financial guaranty market. The Company's models and the related assumptions are continuously reevaluated by management and enhanced, as appropriate, based upon improvements in modeling techniques and availability of more timely and relevant market information.

        Valuation models include the use of management estimates and current market information. Management is also required to make assumptions on how the fair value of credit derivative instruments is affected by current market conditions. Management considers factors such as current prices charged for similar agreements, performance of underlying assets, life of the instrument and the nature and extent of activity in the financial guaranty credit derivative marketplace. The assumptions

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that management uses to determine its fair value may change in the future due to market conditions. Due to the inherent uncertainties of the assumptions used in the valuation models to determine the fair value of these credit derivative products, actual experience may differ from the estimates reflected in the Company's consolidated financial statements and the differences may be material.

        The table below presents management's estimates of expected claim payments related to below investment grade ("BIG") credit derivatives. Expected loss to be paid represents management's estimate of the present value of future net claim payments, not the current fair value of the contract, and includes a net benefit for breaches of R&W of approximately $70.2 million at December 31, 2010 and $37.6 million at December 31, 2009.

        The Company considers R&W claim recoveries in determining the fair value of its CDS contracts. When determining the fair value of our CDS contracts as of December 31, 2010, we determined that in the hypothetical exit market, a market participant would ascribe $0 value to this benefit because we have had limited recovery experience to date.

        The assumptions used to calculate the present value of expected losses for credit derivatives (credit impairment) are consistent with the assumptions used for BIG transactions accounted for as financial guaranty insurance as discussed below in "—Loss and LAE Reserves".

Rollforward of Expected Losses on Credit Derivatives

 
  Expected Losses as of
December 31, 2009
  Development
and Accretion
of Discount
  Less:
Paid Losses
  Expected Losses as of
December 31, 2010
 
 
  (in millions)
 

U.S. RMBS:

                         
 

First lien:

                         
   

Alt-A first lien

  $ 141.0   $ 68.0   $ (6.4 ) $ 215.4  
   

Alt-A options ARM

    131.4     (2.9 )   23.4     105.1  
   

Subprime

    73.3     51.7     14.8     110.2  
                   
     

Total first lien

    345.7     116.8     31.8     430.7  
 

Second lien:

                         
   

Closed end second lien

    44.8     4.5     18.4     30.9  
                   
     

Total second lien

    44.8     4.5     18.4     30.9  
                   

Total U.S. RMBS

    390.5     121.3     50.2     461.6  

TruPS

    60.3     33.6     3.6     90.3  

Other structured finance

    29.3     61.9     (10.9 )   102.1  

Public finance

    0.3     0.9     1.2      
                   

Total

  $ 480.4   $ 217.7   $ 44.1   $ 654.0  
                   

 

        CCS consist of committed preferred trust securities which allow AGC and AGM to issue preferred stock to trusts created for the purpose of issuing such securities that invest in high quality investments and selling put options to AGC and AGM in exchange for cash. The fair value of CCS represents the difference between the present value of remaining expected put option premium payments under AGC's CCS (the "AGC CCS Securities") and AGM Committed Preferred Trust Securities (the "AGM CPS Securities") agreements and the value of such estimated payments based upon the quoted price for such premium payments as of the reporting dates (see Note 6 in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data"). Changes in fair value of this financial instrument are included in the consolidated statement of operations. The significant market inputs used are observable; therefore, the Company classified this fair value measurement as Level 2.

        The driver of fair value gain (loss) on CCS is the CDS spread of AGC and AGM. Widening of these CDS spreads results in gains while tightening results in losses. See "Effect of Company's Credit Spread on Credit Derivatives Fair Value" table in "—Net Change in Fair Value of Credit Derivatives" for information on AGC and AGM CDS spreads.

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Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Committed Capital Securities

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   2008  
 
  (in millions)
 

AGC CCS Securities

  $ 7.1   $ (47.1 ) $ 42.7  

AGM CPS Securities

    2.1     (75.8 )    
               
 

Total

  $ 9.2   $ (122.9 ) $ 42.7  
               

        Other income is comprised of recurring income items such as foreign exchange revaluation of premiums receivable, income on assets acquired in refinancing transactions, ancillary fees on financial guaranty policies such as consent and processing fees as well as other revenue items on financial guaranty insurance and reinsurance contracts such as negotiated settlements and commutation gains on re-assumptions of previously ceded business.

        In 2010, the primary components of other income were commutation gains on reassumptions of previously ceded AGMH business. In 2009, AGMH other income was primarily comprised of foreign exchange gain on revaluation of premiums receivable and AGMH's settlement to a previously consolidated financial guaranty VIE at a gain of $29.2 million.

Other Income

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   2008  
 
  (in millions)
 

Foreign exchange gain (loss) on revaluation of premium receivable

  $ (28.9 ) $ 27.1   $  

Settlement from previously consolidated financial guaranty VIEs

        29.2      

Reinsurance cessions of OTTI(1)

    8.5          

Commutation gains (losses)

    49.8     (1.8 )    

Other

    10.7     4.0     0.7  
               
 

Total other income

  $ 40.1   $ 58.5   $ 0.7  
               

(1)
Reinsurance cessions of OTTI of investment assets associated with a BIG financial guaranty contract.

        Amortization of DAC in 2010 included $9.3 million of amortization of AGMH ceding commission income and none of AG Re's amortization of ceding commission expense from the intercompany cession from AGMH. In 2009, amortization of DAC included $10.0 million in AG Re amortization of ceding commission expense related to the first six months of cessions from AGMH (i.e., prior to the AGMH Acquisition). AGMH DAC was written off on July 1, 2009 and therefore AGMH did not contribute a significant amount to the amortization of DAC in 2009. The decrease in 2009 compared to 2008 was due primarily to the elimination of commission expense related to business assumed from AGMH which is now eliminated as an intercompany expense.

        Acquisition costs associated with insurance and reinsurance contracts, that vary with and are directly related to the production of new business are deferred and then amortized in relation to earned premiums. These costs include direct and indirect expenses such as ceding commissions, brokerage expenses and the cost of underwriting and marketing personnel. Regarding direct insurance, management uses its judgment in determining which origination related costs should be deferred, as well as the percentage of these costs to be deferred. The Company annually conducts a study to determine which costs and how much acquisition costs should be deferred. Ceding commissions received on premiums the Company cedes to other reinsurers reduce acquisition costs.

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        Anticipated losses, LAE and the remaining costs of servicing the insured or reinsured business are considered in determining the recoverability of acquisition costs. Acquisition costs associated with credit derivative products are expensed as incurred. When an insured issue is retired early the remaining related DAC is expensed. Upon the adoption of the new accounting standard that became effective January 1, 2009 ceding commissions associated with future installment premiums on assumed and ceded business were recorded in DAC.

        In 2010, AGMH Acquisition-related expenses were primarily comprised of consulting fees related to integration efforts. In 2009, AGMH Acquisition-related expenses were primarily comprised of severance costs, real estate, legal, consulting and relocation fees.

        Expenses related to the AGMH Acquisition are summarized below.

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009  
 
  (in millions)
 

Severance costs

  $   $ 40.4  

Professional services

    6.8     32.8  

Office consolidation

        19.1  
           
 

Total

  $ 6.8   $ 92.3  
           

        The following table presents the components of interest expense. Interest expense in 2010 includes a full year of interest expense for AGMH debt and 2009 includes only the last six months.

Interest Expense

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   2008  
 
  (in millions)
 

AGUS:

                   
 

7.0% Senior Notes

  $ 13.5   $ 13.5   $ 13.5  
 

8.50% Senior Notes

    16.0     8.3      
 

Series A Enhanced Junior Subordinated Debentures

    9.8     9.8     9.8  
               

AGUS total

    39.3     31.6     23.3  

AGMH:

                   
 

67/8% QUIBS

    7.2     3.6      
 

6.25% Notes

    15.4     7.7      
 

5.60% Notes

    6.1     3.1      
 

Junior Subordinated Debentures

    24.9     12.4      
 

Notes Payable

    6.7     4.4      
               

AGMH total

    60.3     31.2      
               

Total

  $ 99.6   $ 62.8   $ 23.3  
               

        The Company reassessed the recoverability of goodwill in third quarter 2009 subsequent to the AGMH Acquisition. AGMH had historically been the most significant ceding reinsurance company within the Company's assumed book of business. As a result of the AGMH Acquisition, which significantly diminished the Company's potential near future market for assuming reinsurance, combined with the continued credit crisis, which has adversely affected the fair value of the Company's in-force policies, management determined that the full carrying value of $85.4 million of goodwill on its books prior to the AGMH Acquisition should be written off in third quarter 2009.

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        In addition, the Company recognized a $232.6 million bargain purchase gain on the AGMH Acquisition and also recorded a charge of $170.5 million to settle pre-existing relationships. The bargain purchase gain represents the excess of the fair value of net assets acquired over the purchase price. As disclosed in Note 3 in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data", the Company and AGMH had a pre-existing reinsurance relationship in which the Company assumed financial guaranty risks ceded to it by AGMH. This pre-existing relationship was effectively settled at fair value. The Company determined fair value as the difference between contractual premiums and the Company's estimate of current market premiums.

Goodwill and Settlement of Pre-Existing Relationships

 
  Year Ended
December 31, 2009
 
 
  (in millions)
 

Goodwill impairment

  $ 85.4  

Gain on bargain purchase of AGMH

    (232.6 )

Settlement of pre-existing relationships

    170.5  
       
 

Total

  $ 23.3  
       

        Other operating expenses increased in 2010 compared to 2009 and in 2009 compared to 2008 mainly due to the addition of other operating expenses of AGMH, which was acquired on July 1, 2009. Since the AGMH Acquisition, management has integrated various systems, processes and profit and cost centers to achieve economies of scale. Compensation is a primary component of other operating expenses and varies primarily based on headcount and performance driven long-term incentive compensation. Headcount as of December 31, 2010, December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 was 347, 350 and 160 employees, respectively. Operating expenses are also affected by deferral rates on costs that are policy acquisition costs. Deferral rates in 2010, 2009 and 2008 were 19%, 13% and 18%.

        Loss and LAE recognition for financial guaranty contracts accounted for as insurance is dependent on the amount of deferred premium revenue on a contract by contract basis. Loss and LAE is only expensed when losses exceed deferred premium revenue. See Note 5 of Item 8. "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for a full discussion of the Company's loss recognition policy. AGMH's contribution to loss and LAE was $196.4 million in 2010 compared to $51.3 million in 2009 and includes loss expense recognized due to the amortization of deferred premium revenue as well as loss development and the effects of changes in discount rates. AGMH losses in 2010 were driven by losses in first lien U.S. RMBS transactions and include loss development due to continued trends in early stage delinquencies and increased severity rates as well as loss recognition due to normal amortization of deferred premium revenue. Mitigating 2010 losses in the first lien portfolio were increased estimated benefits from recoveries of R&W putbacks as the Company has gained access to more loan files and attained increasing success in obtaining commitments from transaction parties. Losses for the six months ended December 31, 2009 were primarily driven by losses in U.S. RMBS first lien transactions.

        Excluding AGMH loss and LAE, the increase in 2009 compared to 2008 is primarily driven by loss development on U.S. RMBS exposures in first lien sectors as well as increased losses in the municipal and insurance securitization sector. Loss and LAE increases in 2009 were mainly related to rising delinquencies, defaults and foreclosures in RMBS transactions, as well as a public finance transaction experiencing cash shortfalls. Loss and LAE in the Company's mortgage guaranty segment increased during 2009 primarily due to a loss settlement related to an arbitration proceeding.

        The following table presents the loss and LAE by sector for financial guaranty contracts accounted for as insurance that was recorded in the consolidated statements of operations. Amounts presented are net of reinsurance and net of the benefit for recoveries from breaches of R&W. Change in expected

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losses for financial guaranty contracts accounted for as derivatives are a component of the fair value recorded on such contracts and are not included in the tables below.

Loss and LAE Reported
for Financial Guaranty Contracts Accounted for as Insurance

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   2008  
 
  (in millions)
 

Financial Guaranty:

                   
 

U.S. RMBS:

                   
   

First lien:

                   
     

Prime first lien

  $ 0.9   $   $ 0.1  
     

Alt-A first lien

    37.4     21.1     5.1  
     

Alt-A option ARM

    272.4     43.0     4.5  
     

Subprime

    85.9     13.1     9.3  
               
       

Total first lien

    396.6     77.2     19.0  
   

Second lien:

                   
     

Closed end second lien

    5.2     47.8     56.8  
     

HELOC

    (14.7 )   148.4     156.0  
               
       

Total second lien

    (9.5 )   196.2     212.8  
               
 

Total U.S. RMBS

    387.1     273.4     231.8  
 

Other structured finance

    62.4     21.1     14.2  
 

Public finance

    32.9     71.2     19.2  
               

Total financial guaranty

    482.4     365.7     265.2  

Other

    0.2     12.1     0.6  
               
   

Subtotal

    482.6     377.8     265.8  

Effect of consolidating financial guaranty VIEs

    (68.8 )        
               
   

Total loss and LAE

  $ 413.8   $ 377.8   $ 265.8  
               

        In order to assess the economic development of net future payments of expected losses, the Company prepares a rollforward of expected losses to be paid which present the components of the change in expected future payments from period to period. The components of the change in expected loss to be paid are: payments made during the period and loss development. Loss development reflects the changes in loss experience due to changes in assumptions, discount rates and accretion.

        Surveillance personnel present analysis related to potential losses to the Company's loss reserve committees for consideration in estimating the expected loss of the Company. Such analysis includes the consideration of various scenarios with potential probabilities assigned to them. Depending upon the nature of the risk, the Company's view of the potential size of any loss and the information available to the Company, that analysis may be based upon individually developed cash flow models, internal credit ratings assessments and sector-driven loss severity assumptions, judgmental assessment or (in the case of its reinsurance segment) loss estimates provided by ceding insurers. The Company's loss reserve committees review and refresh the Company's expected loss estimates each quarter. The Company's estimate of ultimate loss on a policy is subject to significant uncertainty over the life of the insured transaction due to the potential for significant variability in credit performance due to changing economic, fiscal and financial market variability over the long duration of most contracts. The determination of expected loss is an inherently subjective process involving numerous estimates, assumptions and judgments by management.

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        The following table presents the expected loss related to financial guaranty contracts, accounted for as insurance. Amounts in the table below are net of reinsurance and net of estimated benefits for recoveries from breaches of R&W.

Financial Guaranty Insurance
Present Value of Net Expected Loss and LAE to be Paid
Roll Forward by Sector(1)

 
  Expected
Loss to be
Paid as of
December 31,
2009
  Development
and Accretion
of Discount
  Less:
Paid
Losses
  Expected
Loss to be
Paid as of
December 31,
2010
 
 
  (in millions)
 

U.S. RMBS:

                         
 

First lien:

                         
   

Prime first lien

  $   $ 1.4   $   $ 1.4  
   

Alt-A first lien

    204.4     40.0     60.0     184.4  
   

Alt-A option ARM

    545.2     160.1     181.6     523.7  
   

Subprime

    77.5     126.3     3.4     200.4  
                   
     

Total first lien

    827.1     327.8     245.0     909.9  
 

Second lien:

                         
   

CES

    199.3     (73.3 )   69.4     56.6  
   

HELOCs

    (232.9 )   (60.0 )   512.8     (805.7 )
                   
     

Total second lien

    (33.6 )   (133.3 )   582.2     (749.1 )
                   

Total U.S. RMBS

    793.5     194.5     827.2     160.8  

Other structured finance

    102.6     51.1     8.6     145.1  

Public finance

    130.9     9.6     51.6     88.9  
                   
     

Total

  $ 1,027.0   $ 255.2   $ 887.4   $ 394.8  
                   

 

 
  Loss and
LAE Reserve
as of
December 31,
2008
  Change in
Accounting
(2)
  Expected
Loss to be
Paid as of
January 1,
2009
  Expected
Loss of
AGMH at
July 1,
2009
  Development
and Accretion
of Discount
  Less:
Paid
Losses
  Expected
Loss to be
Paid as of
December 31,
2009
 
 
  (in millions)
 

U.S. RMBS:

                                           
 

First lien:

                                           
   

Prime first lien

  $ 2.4   $ (2.4 ) $   $   $   $   $  
   

Alt-A first lien

    5.4     4.4     9.8     223.1     (27.5 )   1.0     204.4  
   

Alt-A option ARM

    4.5     8.7     13.2     477.6     55.1     0.7     545.2  
   

Subprime

    15.1     (5.4 )   9.7     72.4     (2.0 )   2.6     77.5  
                               
     

Total first lien

    27.4     5.3     32.7     773.1     25.6     4.3     827.1  
 

Second lien:

                                           
   

Closed end second lien

    39.5     (0.7 )   38.8     227.4     34.2     101.1     199.3  
   

HELOC

    (43.1 )   (13.0 )   (56.1 )   347.3     4.0     528.1     (232.9 )
                               
     

Total second lien

    (3.6 )   (13.7 )   (17.3 )   574.7     38.2     629.2     (33.6 )
                               

Total U.S. RMBS

    23.8     (8.4 )   15.4     1,347.8     63.8     633.5     793.5  

Other structured finance

    51.7     7.1     58.8     9.9     34.7     0.8     102.6  

Public finance

    38.3     (4.0 )   34.3     81.2     38.6     23.2     130.9  
                               

Total

  $ 113.8   $ (5.3 ) $ 108.5   $ 1,438.9   $ 137.1   $ 657.5   $ 1,027.0  
                               

(1)
Amounts include all expected payments whether or not the insured transaction VIE is consolidated. Amounts exclude expected losses in the other segment of $2.1 million as of December 31, 2010 and $2.1 million as of December 31, 2009.

(2)
Change in accounting for financial guaranty contracts related to the adoption of a new financial guaranty insurance accounting standard effective January 1, 2009.

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        The Company's expected LAE for mitigating claim liabilities were $17.2 million and $12.6 million as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The Company used weighted-average risk free rates ranging from 0% to 5.34% and 0.07% to 5.21% to discount expected losses as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

        The table below provides a reconciliation of the Company's 2010 expected loss to be paid to expected loss to be expensed. Expected loss to be paid differs from expected loss to be expensed due to: (1) the contra-paid, because the payments have been made but have not yet been expensed, (2) for transactions with a net expected recovery, the addition of claim payments that have been made (and therefore are not included in the expected to be paid) that are expected to be recovered in the future (and therefore have also reduced the expected to be paid), and (3) loss reserves, which have already been established and therefore expensed but not yet paid.

Reconciliation of Expected Loss to be Paid and Net Expected Loss to be Expensed

 
  As of December 31, 2010  
 
  (in millions)
 

Net expected to be paid

  $ 394.8  

Less: net expected to be paid for financial guaranty VIEs

    49.2  
       
 

Total

    345.6  

Contra-paid, net

    121.3  

Salvage and subrogation recoverable, net(1)

    903.0  

Loss and LAE reserve, net(2)

    (538.6 )
       

Net expected to be expensed(3)

  $ 831.3  
       

(1)
Represents gross salvage and subrogation amounts of $1,032.4 million net of ceded salvage and subrogation of $129.4 million which is recorded in reinsurance balances payable.

(2)
Represents loss and LAE reserves, net of reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses, excluding $2.1 million in reserves for other segment.

(3)
Excludes $211.9 million as of December 31, 2010 related to consolidated financial guaranty VIEs.

        The following table provides a schedule of the expected timing of the income statement recognition of financial guaranty insurance PV of net expected losses, pre-tax. This table excludes amounts related to consolidated VIEs.

Expected Timing of Financial Guaranty Insurance Loss Recognition
As of December 31, 2010

 
  Net Expected
Loss to be Expensed(1)
 
 
  (in millions)
 

2011 (January 1 – March 31)

  $ 51.5  

2011 (April 1 – June 30)

    42.2  

2011 (July 1 – September 30)

    33.9  

2011 (October 1 – December 31)

    28.6  

2012

    84.6  

2013

    78.7  

2014

    68.6  

2015

    54.7  

2016-2020

    184.5  

2021-2025

    95.0  

2026-2030

    54.8  

After 2030

    54.2  
       
 

Total present value basis(2)(3)

    831.3  

Discount

    771.0  
       
 

Total future value

  $ 1,602.3  
       

(1)
These amounts reflect the Company's estimate as of December 31, 2010 of expected losses to be expensed and are not included in loss and LAE reserve because these losses are less than deferred premium revenue determined on a contract-by-contract basis.

(2)
Balances represent discounted amounts.

(3)
The effect of consolidating financial guaranty VIEs resulted in a reduction of $211.9 million in net expected loss and LAE, excluding accretion of discount.

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        The Company projects losses in U.S. RMBS on a transaction-by-transaction basis by projecting the performance of the underlying pool of mortgages over time and then applying the structural features (i.e., payment priorities and tranching) of the RMBS to the projected performance of the collateral over time. The resulting projection of any projected claim payments or reimbursements is then discounted to a present value using a risk free rate. For transactions where the Company projects it will receive recoveries from providers of R&W, the projected amount of recoveries is included in the projected cash flows from the collateral. The Company runs, and probability-weights, several sets of assumptions (scenarios) regarding potential mortgage collateral performance.

        The further behind a mortgage borrower falls in payments, the more likely it is that he or she will default. The rate at which borrowers from a particular delinquency category (number of monthly payments behind) eventually default is referred to as the "liquidation rate". Liquidation rates may be derived from observed roll rates, which are the rates at which loans progress from one delinquency category to the next and eventually to default and liquidation. The Company applies liquidation rates to the mortgage loan collateral in each delinquency category and makes certain timing assumptions to project near-term mortgage collateral defaults from loans that are currently delinquent.

        Mortgage borrowers that are a single payment or less behind (generally considered performing borrowers) have demonstrated an ability and willingness to pay throughout the recession and mortgage crisis, and as a result are viewed as less likely to default than delinquent borrowers. Performing borrowers that eventually default will also need to progress through delinquency categories before any defaults occur. The Company projects how much of the currently performing loans will default and when by first converting the projected near term defaults of delinquent borrowers derived from liquidation rates into a vector of conditional default rates, then projecting how the conditional default rates will develop over time. Loans that are defaulted pursuant to the conditional default rate after the liquidation of currently delinquent loans represent defaults of currently performing loans. A conditional default rate is the outstanding principal amount of loans defaulting in a given month divided by the remaining outstanding amount of the whole pool of loans (or "collateral pool balance"). The collateral pool balance decreases over time as a result of scheduled principal payments, partial and whole principal repayments, and defaults.

        In order to derive collateral pool losses from the collateral pool defaults it has projected, the Company applies a loss severity. The loss severity is the amount of loss the transaction experiences on a defaulted loan after the application of net proceeds from the disposal of the underlying property. The Company projects loss severities by sector based on experience to date. Further detail regarding the assumptions and variables the Company used to project collateral losses in its U.S. RMBS portfolio may be found below in the sections "U.S. Second Lien RMBS Loss Projections: HELOCs and Closed-End Second Lien" and "U.S. First Lien RMBS Loss Projections: Alt-A, Option ARM, Subprime and Prime".

        The Company is in the process of enforcing, on behalf of RMBS issuers, claims for breaches of R&W regarding the characteristics of the loans included in the collateral pools. The Company calculates a credit to the RMBS issuer for such recoveries where the R&W were provided by an entity the Company believes to be financially viable and where the Company already has access or believes it will attain access to the underlying mortgage loan files. In second liens this credit is based on a factor of actual repurchase rates achieved, while in first liens this credit is estimated by reducing collateral losses projected by the Company to reflect a factor of the recoveries the Company believes it will achieve based on breaches identified to date. The first lien approach is different than the second lien approach because the Company's first lien transactions have multiple tranches and a more complicated method is required to correctly allocate credit to each tranche. In each case, the credit is a function of the projected lifetime collateral losses in the collateral pool, so an increase in projected collateral losses increases the representation and warranty credit calculated by the Company for the RMBS issuer. Further detail regarding how the Company calculates these credits may be found under "Breaches of Representations and Warranties" below.

        The Company projects the overall future cash flow from a collateral pool by adjusting the payment stream from the principal and interest contractually due on the underlying mortgages for (a) the

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collateral losses it projects as described above, (b) assumed voluntary prepayments and (c) recoveries for breaches of R&W as described above. The Company then applies an individual model of the structure of the transaction to the projected future cash flow from that transaction's collateral pool to project the Company's future claims and claim reimbursements for that individual transaction. Finally, the projected claims and reimbursements are discounted to a present value using a risk free rate and compared to the unearned premium reserve for that transaction. As noted above, the Company runs several sets of assumptions regarding potential mortgage collateral performance, or scenarios, and probability weights them. See Note 5 in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for loss and loss adjustment expense reserve accounting.

        The Company's RMBS projection methodology assumes that the housing and mortgage markets will eventually recover. So, to the extent it retains the shape of the curves and probability weightings used in the previous quarter, such action reflects the Company's assumption that the recovery in the housing and mortgage markets will be delayed by another three months.

        The scenarios used to project RMBS collateral losses in first quarter of 2010, with the exception of an increase to the subprime loss severity, were the same as those employed at year-end 2009. In the second quarter 2010, the Company changed how scenarios were run as compared to the first quarter 2010 to reflect the Company's view that it was observing the beginning of an improvement in the housing and mortgage markets. In the third and fourth quarters 2010 early stage delinquencies did not trend down as much as the Company had anticipated in the second quarter, so the Company adjusted its curves to reflect the observed early stage delinquencies. Additionally, in the fourth quarter 2010, due to the Company's concerns about the timing and strength of any recovery in the mortgage and housing markets, the probability weightings were adjusted to reflect a somewhat more pessimistic view. Also in the fourth quarter 2010 the Company increased its initial subprime loss severity assumption to reflect recent experience. Taken together, the changes in the assumptions between year-end 2009 and 2010 had the effect of (a) reflecting a slower recovery in the housing market than had been assumed at the beginning of the year, and (b) increasing the assumed initial loss severities for subprime transactions from 70% to 80%.

        The methodology the Company used to project RMBS losses prior to the AGMH Acquisition on July 1, 2009 was somewhat different that that used by AGMH. For the third quarter 2009 the Company adopted a methodology to project RMBS losses that was based on a combination of the approaches used by the Company and AGMH prior to the AGMH Acquisition, and so the methodology used prior to the third quarter 2009 was somewhat different than that described here. In addition, the methodology the Company used prior to the third quarter 2009 was applied to the smaller pre-acquisition RMBS portfolio. For these reasons, the results are not directly comparable. However, that Company's second lien methodology utilized many of the same assumptions as those used at year-end 2009 and year-end 2010, so the year-end 2008 second lien assumptions are provided below for comparative purposes.

        The Company also used generally the same methodology to project the credit received by the RMBS issuers for recoveries on R&W at year-end 2010 as it used at year-end 2009. Other than the impact of the increase in projected collateral defaults on the calculation of the credit, the primary difference relates to the population of transactions the Company included in its R&W credits. The Company added credits for four second lien transactions: two transactions where a capital infusion of the provider of the R&W made that company financially viable in the Company's opinion and another two transactions where the Company obtained loan files that it had not previously concluded were accessible. The Company added credits for four first lien transactions where it has obtained loan files that it had not previously concluded were accessible. The Company also refined some of the assumptions in the calculation of the amount of the credit to reflect actual experience.

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        Prior to the AGMH Acquisition the Company used a similar approach to calculate a credit for recoveries on R&W, but on its smaller RMBS portfolio and based on its projected losses at the time. The credit at year-end 2008 related primarily to two second lien transactions.

        The Company insures two types of second lien RMBS: those secured by HELOCs and those secured by closed end second lien mortgages. HELOCs are revolving lines of credit generally secured by a second lien on a one to four family home. A mortgage for a fixed amount secured by a second lien on a one to four family home is generally referred to as a closed end second lien. Both first lien RMBS and second lien RMBS sometimes include a portion of loan collateral with a different priority than the majority of the collateral. The Company has material exposure to second lien mortgage loans originated and serviced by a number of parties, but the Company's most significant second lien exposure is to HELOCs originated and serviced by Countrywide, a subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation.

        The delinquency performance of HELOC and closed end second lien exposures included in transactions insured by the Company began to deteriorate in 2007, and such transactions, particularly those originated in the period from 2005 through 2007, continue to perform below the Company's original underwriting expectations. While insured securities benefit from structural protections within the transactions designed to absorb collateral losses in excess of previous historical high levels, in many second lien RMBS projected losses now exceed those structural protections.

        The Company believes the primary variables impacting its expected losses in second lien RMBS transactions are the amount and timing of future losses in the collateral pool supporting the transactions and the amount of loans repurchased for breaches of R&W. Expected losses are also a function of the structure of the transaction, the voluntary prepayment rate (typically also referred to as conditional prepayment rate of the collateral); the interest rate environment; and assumptions about the draw rate and loss severity. These variables are: interrelated, difficult to predict and subject to considerable volatility. If actual experience differs from the Company's assumptions, the losses incurred could be materially different from the estimate. The Company continues to update its evaluation of these exposures as new information becomes available.

        The following table shows the Company's key assumptions used in its calculation of estimated expected losses for the Company's direct vintage 2004 – 2008 second lien U.S. RMBS as of December 31, 2010, December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008:

Assumptions in Base Case Expected Loss Estimates
Second Lien RMBS(1)

HELOC Key Variables
  As of
December 31, 2010
  As of
December 31, 2009
  As of
December 31, 2008

Plateau conditional default rate

  4.2 – 22.1%   10.7 – 40.0%   19.0 – 21.0%

Final conditional default rate trended down to

  0.4 – 3.2%   0.5 – 3.2%   1.0%

Expected period until final conditional default rate

  24 months   21 months   15 months

Initial conditional prepayment rate

  3.3 – 17.5%   1.9 – 14.9%   7.0% – 8.0%

Final conditional prepayment rate

  10%   10%   7.0% – 8.0%

Loss severity

  98%   95%   100%

Initial draw rate

  0.0 – 6.8%   0.1 – 2.0%   1.0 – 2.0%

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Closed end second lien Key Variables
  As of
December 31, 2010
  As of
December 31, 2009
  As of
December 31, 2008

Plateau conditional default rate

  7.3 – 27.1%   21.5 – 44.2%   34.0% – 36.0%

Final conditional default rate trended down to

  2.9 – 8.1%   3.3 – 8.1%   3.4% – 3.6%

Expected period until final conditional default rate achieved

  24 months   21 months   24 months

Initial conditional prepayment rate

  1.3 – 9.7%   0.8 – 3.6%   7.0%

Final conditional prepayment rate

  10%   10%   7%

Loss severity

  98%   95%   100%

(1)
Represents assumptions for most heavily weighted scenario (the "base case").

        In second lien transactions the projection of near-term defaults from currently delinquent loans is relatively straightforward because loans in second lien transactions are generally "charged off" (treated as defaulted) by the securitization's servicer once the loan is 180 days past due. Most second lien transactions report the amount of loans in five monthly delinquency categories (i.e., 30-59 days past due, 60-89 days past due, 90-119 days past due, 120-149 days past due and 150-179 days past due). The Company estimates the amount of loans that will default over the next five months by calculating current representative liquidation rates (the percent of loans in a given delinquency status that are assumed to ultimately default) from selected representative transactions and then applying an average of the preceding 12 months' liquidation rates to the amount of loans in the delinquency categories. The amount of loans projected to default in the first through fifth months is expressed as a conditional default rate. The first four months' conditional default rate is calculated by applying the liquidation rates to the current period past due balances (i.e., the 150-179 day balance is liquidated in the first projected month, the 120-149 day balance is liquidated in the second projected month, the 90-119 day balance is liquidated in the third projected month and the 60-89 day balance is liquidated in the fourth projected month). For the fifth month the conditional default rate is calculated using the average 30-59 day past due balances for the prior three months. The fifth month is then used as the basis for the plateau period that follows the embedded five months of losses.

        As of December 31, 2010, in the base scenario, the conditional default rate (the "plateau conditional default rate") was held constant for one month. (At year-end 2009 the plateau default rate was held constant for four months.) Once the plateau period has ended, the conditional default rate is assumed to gradually trend down in uniform increments to its final long-term steady state conditional default rate. In the base scenario, the time over which the conditional default rate trends down to its final conditional default rate is eighteen months (compared to twelve months at year-end 2009). Therefore, the total stress period for second lien transactions would be twenty-four months which is comprised of: five months of delinquent data, a one month plateau period and an eighteen month decrease to the steady state conditional default rate. This is three month longer than the 21 months used at year-end 2009.The long-term steady state conditional default rates are calculated as the constant conditional default rates that would have yielded the amount of losses originally expected at underwriting. When a second lien loan defaults, there is generally very low recovery. Based on current expectations of future performance, the Company reduced its loss recovery assumption to 2% from 5% (thus increasing its severity from 95% to 98%) in the third quarter of 2010.

        The rate at which the principal amount of loans is prepaid may impact both the amount of losses projected (which is a function of the conditional default rate and the loan balance over time) as well as the amount of excess spread (which is the excess of the interest paid by the borrowers on the underlying loan over the amount of interest and expenses owed on the insured obligations). In the base case, the current conditional prepayment rate is assumed to continue until the end of the plateau before gradually increasing to the final conditional prepayment rate over the same period the conditional default rate decreases. For transactions where the initial conditional prepayment rate is higher than the final conditional prepayment rate, the initial conditional prepayment rate is held constant. The final conditional prepayment rate is assumed to be 10% for both HELOC and closed end second lien transactions. This level is much higher than current rates, but lower than the historical average, which reflects the Company's continued uncertainty about performance of the borrowers in these transactions. This pattern is consistent with how the Company modeled the conditional

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prepayment rate at year-end 2009. To the extent that prepayments differ from projected levels it could materially change the Company's projected excess spread.

        The Company uses a number of other variables in its second lien loss projections, including the spread between relevant interest rate indices, and HELOC draw rates (the amount of new advances provided on existing HELOCs expressed as a percent of current outstanding advances). For HELOC transactions, the draw rate is assumed to decline from the current level to the final draw rate over a period of three months. The final draw rates were assumed to range from 0.0% to 3.4%.

        In estimating expected losses, the Company modeled and probability weighted three possible conditional default rate curves applicable to the period preceding the return to the long-term steady state conditional default rate. Given that draw rates have been reduced to levels below the historical average and that loss severities in these products have been higher than anticipated at inception, the Company believes that the level of the elevated conditional default rate and the length of time it will persist is the primary driver behind the likely amount of losses the collateral will suffer (before considering the effects of repurchases of ineligible loans). The Company continues to evaluate the assumptions affecting its modeling results.

        At year-end 2010, the Company's base case assumed a one month conditional default rate plateau and an 18 month ramp down. Increasing the conditional default rate plateau to 4 months and keeping the ramp down at 18 months would increase the expected loss by approximately $132.7 million for HELOC transactions and $18.2 million for closed end second lien transactions. On the other hand, keeping the conditional default rate plateau at one month but decreasing the length of the conditional default rate ramp down to the 12 month assumption used at year-end 2009 would decrease the expected loss by approximately $75.6 million for HELOC transactions and $10.4 million for closed end second lien transactions.

        First lien RMBS are generally categorized in accordance with the characteristics of the first lien mortgage loans on one to four family homes supporting the transactions. The collateral supporting "Subprime RMBS" transactions is comprised of first-lien residential mortgage loans made to subprime borrowers. A "subprime borrower" is one considered to be a higher risk credit based on credit scores or other risk characteristics. Another type of RMBS transaction is generally referred to as "Alt-A RMBS." The collateral supporting such transactions is comprised of first-lien residential mortgage loans made to "prime" quality borrowers who lack certain ancillary characteristics that would make them prime. When more than 66% of the loans originally included in the pool are mortgage loans with an option to make a minimum payment that has the potential to negatively amortize the loan (i.e., increase the amount of principal owed), the transaction is referred to as an "Option ARM." Finally, transactions may be primarily composed of loans made to prime borrowers. Both first lien RMBS and second lien RMBS sometimes include a portion of loan collateral with a different priority than the majority of the collateral.

        The performance of the Company's first lien RMBS exposures began to deteriorate in 2007 and such transactions, particularly those originated in the period from 2005 through 2007 continue to perform below the Company's original underwriting expectations. The Company currently projects first lien collateral losses many times those expected at the time of underwriting. While insured securities benefitted from structural protections within the transactions designed to absorb some of the collateral losses, in many first lien RMBS transactions, projected losses exceed those structural protections.

        The majority of projected losses in first lien RMBS transactions are expected to come from non-performing mortgage loans (those that are delinquent, in foreclosure or where the loan has been foreclosed and the RMBS issuer owns the underlying real estate).An increase in non-performing loans beyond that projected in the previous period is one of the primary drivers of loss development in this portfolio. In order to determine the number of defaults resulting from these delinquent and foreclosed loans, the Company applies a liquidation rate assumption to loans in each of various delinquency categories. The Company arrived at its liquidation rates based on data in loan performance and assumptions about how delays in the foreclosure process may ultimately affect the rate at which loans are liquidated. The following table shows the Company's liquidation assumptions for various

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delinquency categories as of December 31, 2010 and 2009. The liquidation rate is a standard industry measure that is used to estimate the number of loans in a given aging category that will default within a specified time period. The Company projects these liquidations to occur over two years.

 
  December 31,
2010
  December 31,
2009
 

30 – 59 Days Delinquent

             
 

Alt-A first lien

    45 %   45 %
 

Alt-A option ARM

    50     50  
 

Subprime

    50     50  

60 – 89 Days Delinquent

             
 

Alt-A first lien

    65     65  
 

Alt-A option ARM

    65     65  
 

Subprime

    65     65  

90 – Bankruptcy

             
 

Alt-A first lien

    70     70  
 

Alt-A option ARM

    75     75  
 

Subprime

    75     75  

Foreclosure

             
 

Alt-A first lien

    85     85  
 

Alt-A option ARM

    85     85  
 

Subprime

    85     85  

Real Estate Owned

             
 

Alt-A first lien

    100     100  
 

Alt-A option ARM

    100     100  
 

Subprime

    100     100  

        While the Company uses liquidation rates as described above to project defaults of non-performing loans, it projects defaults on presently current loans by applying a conditional default rate trend. The start of that conditional default rate trend is based on the defaults the Company projects will emerge from currently nonperforming loans. The total amount of expected defaults from the non-performing loans is translated into a constant conditional default rate (i.e., the conditional default rate plateau), which, if applied for each of the next 24 months, would be sufficient to produce approximately the amount of defaults that were calculated to emerge from the various delinquency categories. The conditional default rate thus calculated individually on the collateral pool for each RMBS is then used as the starting point for the conditional default rate curve used to project defaults of the presently performing loans.

        In the base case, each transaction's conditional default rate is projected to improve over 12 months to an intermediate conditional default rate (calculated as 15% of its conditional default rate plateau); that intermediate conditional default rate is held constant for 36 months and then trails off in steps to a final conditional default rate of 5% of the conditional default rate plateau. Under the Company's methodology, defaults projected to occur in the first 24 months represent defaults that can be attributed to loans that are currently delinquent or in foreclosure, while the defaults projected to occur using the projected conditional default rate trend after the first 24 month period represent defaults attributable to borrowers that are currently performing.

        Another important driver of loss projections is loss severity, which is the amount of loss the transaction incurs on a loan after the application of net proceeds from the disposal of the underlying property. Loss severities experienced in first lien transactions have reached historical high levels and the Company is assuming that these historical high levels will continue for another year. The Company determines its initial loss severity based on actual recent experience. The Company then assumes that loss severities begin returning to levels consistent with underwriting assumptions beginning in December 2011, and in the base scenario decline over two years to 40%.

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        The following table shows the Company's key assumptions used in its calculation of expected losses for the Company's direct vintage 2004 – 2008 first lien U.S. RMBS as of December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009. The Company was not projecting any losses for first lien RMBS deals as of December 31, 2008:

Key Assumptions in Base Case Expected Loss Estimates of First Lien RMBS Transactions

 
  As of
December 31, 2010
  As of
December 31, 2009

Alt-A First Lien

       
 

Plateau conditional default rate

  2.6% – 42.2%   1.5% – 35.7%
 

Intermediate conditional default rate

  0.4% – 6.3%   0.2% – 5.4%
 

Final conditional default rate

  0.1% – 2.1%   0.1% – 1.8%
 

Initial loss severity

  60%   60%
 

Initial conditional prepayment rate

  0.0% – 36.5%   0.0% – 20.5%
 

Final conditional prepayment rate

  10%   10%

Alt-A option ARM

       
 

Plateau conditional default rate

  11.7% – 32.7%   13.5% – 27.0%
 

Intermediate conditional default rate

  1.8% – 4.9%   2.0% – 4.1%
 

Final conditional default rate

  0.6% – 1.6%   0.7% – 1.4%
 

Initial loss severity

  60%   60%
 

Initial conditional prepayment rate

  0.0% – 17.7%   0.0% – 3.5%
 

Final conditional prepayment rate

  10%   10%

Subprime

       
 

Plateau conditional default rate

  9.0% – 34.6%   7.1% – 29.5%
 

Intermediate conditional default rate

  1.3% – 5.2%   1.1% – 4.4%
 

Final conditional default rate

  0.4% – 1.7%   0.4% – 1.5%
 

Initial loss severity

  80%   70%
 

Initial conditional prepayment rate

  0.0% – 13.5%   0.0% – 12.0%
 

Final conditional prepayment rate

  10%   10%

        The rate at which the principal amount of loans is prepaid may impact both the amount of losses projected (since that amount is a function of the conditional default rate and the loan balance over time) as well as the amount of excess spread (the amount by which the interest paid by the borrowers on the underlying loan exceeds the amount of interest owed on the insured obligations). The assumption for the conditional prepayment rate follows a similar pattern to that of the conditional default rate. The current level of voluntary prepayments is assumed to continue for the plateau period before gradually increasing over 12 months to the final conditional prepayment rate, which is assumed to be either 10% or 15% depending on the scenario run. For transactions where the initial conditional prepayment rate is higher than the final conditional prepayment rate, the initial conditional prepayment rate is held constant.

        The ultimate performance of the Company's first lien RMBS transactions remains highly uncertain and may be subject to considerable volatility due to the influence of many factors, including the level and timing of loan defaults, changes in housing prices and other variables. The Company will continue to monitor the performance of its RMBS exposures and will adjust the loss projections for those transactions based on actual performance and management's estimates of future performance.

        In estimating expected losses, the Company modeled and probability weighted sensitivities for first lien transactions by varying its assumptions of how fast recovery is expected to occur. The primary variable when modeling sensitivities was how quickly the conditional default rate returned to its modeled equilibrium, which was defined as 5% of the current conditional default rate. The Company also stressed conditional prepayment rates and the speed of recovery of loss severity rates. In a somewhat more stressful environment than that of the base case, where the conditional default rate recovery was more gradual and the final conditional prepayment rate was 15% rather than 10%, the Company's expected losses would increase by approximately $8.7 million for Alt-A first liens, $104.8 million for Option ARMs, $18.5 million for subprime and $0.1 million for prime transactions. In an even more stressful scenario where the conditional default rate plateau was extended 3 months (to

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be 27 months long) before the same more gradual conditional default rate recovery and loss severities were assumed to recover over 4 rather than 2 years (and subprime loss severities were assumed to recover only to 55%), the Company's expected losses would increase by approximately $35.5 million for Alt-A first liens, $191.3 million for Option ARMs, $204.6 million for subprime and $0.8 million for prime transactions. The Company also considered a scenario where the recovery was faster than in its base case. In this scenario, where the conditional default rate plateau was 3 months shorter (21 months, effectively assuming that liquidation rates would improve) and the conditional default rate recovery was more pronounced, the Company's expected losses would decrease by approximately $24.4 million for Alt-A first liens, $78.0 million for Option ARMs, $37.2 million for subprime and $0.5 million for prime transactions.

        The Company is pursuing reimbursements for breaches of R&W regarding loan characteristics. Performance of the collateral underlying certain first and second lien securitizations has substantially differed from the Company's original expectations. The Company has employed several loan file diligence firms and law firms as well as devoted internal resources to review the mortgage files surrounding many of the defaulted loans. As of December 31, 2010, the Company had performed a detailed review of approximately 37,500 second lien and 15,500 first lien defaulted loan files, representing nearly $2.8 billion in second lien and $5.7 billion in first lien outstanding par of defaulted loans underlying insured transactions. The Company identified approximately 33,100 second lien transaction loan files and approximately 14,500 first lien transaction loan files that breached one or more R&W regarding the characteristics of the loans, such as misrepresentation of income or employment of the borrower, occupancy, undisclosed debt and non-compliance with underwriting guidelines at loan origination. The Company continues to review new files as new loans default and as new loan files are made available to it. The Company generally obtains the loan files from the originators or servicers (including master servicers). In some cases, the Company requests loan files via the trustee, which then requests the loan files from the originators and/or servicers. On second lien loans, the Company requests loan files for all charged-off loans. On first lien loans, the Company requests loan files for all severely (60+ days) delinquent loans and all liquidated loans. Recently, the Company started requesting loan files for all the loans (both performing and non-performing) in certain deals to limit the number of requests for additional loan files as the transactions season and loans charge-off, become 60+ days delinquent or are liquidated. (The Company takes no repurchase credit for R&W breaches on loans that are expected to continue to perform.) Following negotiations with the providers of the R&W, as of December 31, 2010, the Company had reached agreement for providers to repurchase $323 million of second lien and $205 million of first lien loans. The $323 million for second lien loans represents the calculated repurchase price for 3,120 loans and the $205 million for first lien loans represents the calculated repurchase price for 547 loans. The repurchase proceeds are paid to the RMBS transactions and distributed in accordance with the payment priorities set out in the transaction agreements, so the proceeds are not necessarily allocated to the Company on a dollar-for-dollar basis. Proceeds projected to be reimbursed to the Company on transactions where the Company has already paid claims are viewed as a recovery on paid losses. For transactions where the Company has not already paid claims, projected recoveries reduce projected loss estimates. In either case, projected recoveries have no effect on the amount of the Company's exposure. These amounts reflect payments made pursuant to the negotiated transaction agreements and not payments made pursuant to legal settlements. See "Recovery Litigation" below for a description of the related legal proceedings the Company has commenced.

        The Company has included in its net expected loss estimates as of December 31, 2010 an estimated benefit from repurchases of $1.6 billion. The amount of benefit recorded as a reduction of expected losses was calculated by extrapolating each transaction's breach rate on defaulted loans to projected defaults. The Company did not incorporate any gain contingencies or damages paid from potential litigation in its estimated repurchases. The amount the Company will ultimately recover related to contractual R&W is uncertain and subject to a number of factors including the counterparty's ability to pay, the number and loss amount of loans determined to have breached R&W and, potentially, negotiated settlements or litigation recoveries. As such, the Company's estimate of recoveries is uncertain and actual amounts realized may differ significantly from these estimates. In

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arriving at the expected recovery from breaches of R&W, the Company considered the credit worthiness of the provider of the R&W, the number of breaches found on defaulted loans, the success rate in resolving these breaches with the provider of the R&W and the potential amount of time until the recovery is realized.

        The calculation of expected recovery from breaches of R&W involved a variety of scenarios which ranged from the Company recovering substantially all of the losses it incurred due to violations of R&W to the Company realizing very limited recoveries. The Company did not include any recoveries related to breaches of R&W in amounts greater than the losses it expected to pay under any given cash flow scenario. These scenarios were probability weighted in order to determine the recovery incorporated into the Company's reserve estimate. This approach was used for both loans that had already defaulted and those assumed to default in the future. In all cases, recoveries were limited to amounts paid or expected to be paid by the Company.

        The following table represents the Company's total estimated recoveries netted in expected loss to be paid, from defective mortgage loans included in certain first and second lien U.S. RMBS loan securitizations that it insures. The Company had $1.6 billion of estimated recoveries from ineligible loans as of December 31, 2010, of which $0.9 billion is reported in salvage and subrogation recoverable, $0.5 billion is netted in loss and LAE reserves and $0.2 billion is netted in unearned premium reserve. The Company had $1.2 billion of estimated recoveries from ineligible loans as of December 31, 2009 of which $0.3 billion was reported in salvage and subrogation recoverable, $0.6 billion netted in loss and LAE reserves and $0.3 billion included within the Company's unearned premium reserve portion of its stand-ready obligation reported on the Company's consolidated balance sheet.

Rollforward of Estimated Benefit from Recoveries of Representation and Warranty Breaches,
Net of Reinsurance

 
  # of
Insurance
Policies as of
December 31,
2010 with
R&W
Benefit
Recorded
  Outstanding
Principal
and Interest
of Policies
with R&W
Benefit
Recorded as of
December 31,
2010
  Future Net
R&W
Benefit at
December 31,
2009
  R&W
Development
and Accretion of
Discount
during
Year
  R&W
Recovered
During
2010(1)
  Future Net
R&W
Benefit at
December 31,
2010
 
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

Prime first lien

    1   $ 57.1   $   $ 1.1   $   $ 1.1  

Alt-A first lien

    17     1,882.8     64.2     16.8         81.0  

Alt-A option ARM

    11     1,909.8     203.7     166.6     61.0     309.3  

Subprime

    1     228.7         26.8         26.8  

Closed end second lien

    4     444.9     76.5     101.7         178.2  

HELOC

    13     2,969.8     828.7     303.5     128.1     1,004.1  
                           
 

Total

    47   $ 7,493.1   $ 1,173.1   $ 616.5   $ 189.1   $ 1,600.5  
                           

 

 
  # of
Insurance
Policies as of
December 31,
2009 with
R&W Benefit Recorded
  Outstanding
Principal
and Interest
of Policies
with R&W
Benefit
Recorded as of
December 31,
2009
  Future Net
R&W
Benefit at
December 31,
2008
  R&W
Development
and
Accretion of
Discount
during
Year
  R&W
Recovered
During
2009
  R&W
Benefit
from
AGMH
Acquisition
  Future Net
R&W
Benefit at
December 31,
2009
 
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

Prime first lien

      $   $   $   $   $   $  

Alt-A first lien

    17     1,821.5         64.2             64.2  

Alt-A option ARM

    9     2,437.5         41.2     16.7     179.2     203.7  

Subprime

                             

Closed end second lien

    2     224.0         76.5             76.5  

HELOC

    11     4,384.5     49.3     618.9     66.9     227.4     828.7  
                               
 

Total

    39   $ 8,867.5   $ 49.3   $ 800.8   $ 83.6   $ 406.6   $ 1,173.1  
                               

(1)
Gross amount recovered is $217.6 million.

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        The following table provides a breakdown of the development and accretion amount in the rollforward of estimated recoveries associated with alleged breaches of R&W:

 
  As of
December 31, 2010
 
 
  (in millions)
 

Inclusion of new deals with breaches of R&W during period

  $ 170.5  

Change in recovery assumptions as the result of additional file review and recovery success

    253.5  

Estimated increase in defaults that will result in additional breaches

    188.1  

Accretion of discount on balance

    4.4  
       
 

Total

  $ 616.5  
       

        The $616.5 million R&W development and accretion of discount during 2010 in the above table primarily resulted from an increase in loan file reviews, increased success rates in putting back loans, and increased projected defaults on loans with breaches of R&W. This development primarily can be broken down into changes in calculation inputs, changes in the timing and amounts of defaults and the inclusion of additional deals during the year for which the Company expects to obtain these benefits. The Company has reflected eight additional transactions during 2010 which resulted in approximately $170.5 million of the development. The remainder of the development primarily relates to changes in assumptions and additional projected defaults. The accretion of discount was not a primary driver of the development. Changes in assumptions generally relate to an increase in loan file reviews and increased success rates in putting back loans. The Company assumes that recoveries on HELOC and closed end second lien loans will occur in two to four years from the balance sheet date depending on the scenarios and that recoveries on Alt-A, Option ARM and Subprime loans will occur as claims are paid over the life of the transactions. The $800.8 million development and accretion of discount during 2009 in the above table primarily resulted from an increase in loan file reviews and extrapolation of expected recoveries. The Company assumes in its base case that recoveries on HELOC and CES loans will occur in two years from the balance sheet date and that recoveries on Alt-A, Option ARM and Subprime loans will occur as claims are paid over the life of the transactions.

        The Company has insured $2.1 billion of net par in "XXX" life insurance reserve securitization transactions based on discrete blocks of individual life insurance business. In these transactions the monies raised by the sale of the bonds insured by the Company were used to capitalize a special purpose vehicle that provides reinsurance to a life insurer or reinsurer. The monies are invested at inception in accounts managed by third-party investment managers. In order for the Company to incur an ultimate net loss on these transactions, adverse experience on the underlying block of life insurance policies and/or credit losses in the investment portfolio would need to exceed the level of credit enhancement built into the transaction structures. In particular, such credit losses in the investment portfolio could be realized in the event that circumstances arise resulting in the early liquidation of assets at a time when their market value is less than their intrinsic value.

        The Company's $2.1 billion net par of XXX life insurance transactions includes, as of December 31, 2010, includes a total of $882.5 million rated BIG, comprising Class A-2 Floating Rate Notes issued by Ballantyne Re p.l.c and Series A-1 Floating Rate Notes issued by Orkney Re II p.l.c ("Orkney Re II"). The Ballantyne Re and Orkney Re II XXX transactions had material amounts of their assets invested in U.S. RMBS transactions. Based on its analysis of the information currently available, including estimates of future investment performance provided by the current investment manager, and projected credit impairments on the invested assets and performance of the blocks of life insurance business at December 31, 2010, the Company's gross expected loss, prior to reinsurance or netting of unearned premium, for its two BIG XXX insurance transactions was $73.8 million and its net reserve was $57.7 million.

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        The Company has insured $458 billion of public finance transactions across a number of different sectors. Within that category, $4.5 billion is rated BIG, and the company is projecting $88.9 million of expected losses across the portfolio.

        Of these losses, $25.8 million are expected in relation to eight student loan transactions with $592.4 million of net par outstanding. The largest of these losses was $18.5 million related to a transaction backed by a pool of government-guaranteed student loans ceded to AG Re by another monoline insurer. The guaranteed bonds were issued as variable rate demand obligations that have since been "put" to the bank liquidity providers and now bear a high rate of interest. Further the underlying loan collateral has performed below expectations. The Company has estimated its losses based upon a weighting of potential outcomes.

        The Company has also projected estimated losses of $33 million on its total net par outstanding of $513.2 million on Jefferson County Alabama Sewer Authority exposure. This estimate is based primarily on the Company's view of how much debt the Authority should be able to support under certain probability-weighted scenarios.

        The Company has $164.5 million of net par exposure to the city of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, of which $93.2 million is BIG. The Company has paid $2.9 million in net claims to date, and expects a full recovery.

        The Company continues to closely monitor other sectors and individual financial guaranty insurance transactions it feels warrant the additional attention, including, as of December 31, 2010, its commercial real estate exposure of $584.2 million of net par, its TruPS collateralized debt obligations ("CDOs") exposure of $1.1 billion, its insurance on a financing of 78 train sets (one train set being composed of eight cars) for an Australian commuter railway for $616.5 million net par and its U.S. health care exposure of $21.4 billion of net par.

        As of the date of this filing, the Company has filed lawsuits with regard to four second lien U.S. RMBS transactions insured by the Company, alleging breaches of R&W both in respect of the underlying loans in the transactions and the accuracy of the information provided to the Company, and failure to cure or repurchase defective loans identified by the Company to such persons. These transactions consist of the ACE Securities Corp. Home Equity Loan Trust, Series 2006-GP1, the ACE Securities Corp. Home Equity Loan Trust, Series 2007-SL2 and the ACE Securities Corp. Home Equity Loan Trust, Series 2007-SL3 transactions (in each of which the Company has sued DB Structured Products, Inc. and its affiliate ACE Securities Corp.) and the SACO I Trust 2005-GP1 transaction (in which the Company has sued JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s affiliate EMC Mortgage Corporation).

        The Company has also filed a lawsuit against UBS Securities LLC and Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc., as underwriters, as well as several named and unnamed control persons of IndyMac Bank, FSB and related IndyMac entities, with regard to two U.S. RMBS transactions that the Company had insured, alleging violations of state securities laws and breach of contract, among other claims. One of these transactions (referred to as IndyMac Home Equity Loan Trust 2007-H1) is a second lien transaction and the other (referred to as IndyMac IMSC Mortgage Loan Trust 2007-HOA-1) is a first lien transaction.

        In December 2008, the Company sued J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. ("JPMIM"), the investment manager in the Orkney Re II transaction, in New York Supreme Court ("Court") alleging that JPMIM engaged in breaches of fiduciary duty, gross negligence and breaches of contract based upon its handling of the investments of Orkney Re II. In January 2010, the Court ruled against the Company on a motion to dismiss filed by JPMIM, dismissing the Company's claims for breaches of fiduciary duty and gross negligence on the ground that such claims are preempted by the Martin Act, which is New York's blue sky law, such that only the New York Attorney General has the authority to sue JPMIM. The Company appealed and, in November 2010, the Appellate Division (First

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Department) issued a ruling, ordering the Court's order to be modified to reinstate the Company's claims for breach of fiduciary duty and gross negligence and certain of its claims for breach of contract, in each case for claims accruing on or after June 26, 2007. In December 2010, JPMIM filed a motion for permission to appeal to the Court of Appeals on the Martin Act issue; that motion was granted in February 2011.

        In June 2010, the Company sued JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and JPMorgan Securities, Inc. (together, "JPMorgan"), the underwriter of debt issued by Jefferson County, in New York Supreme Court alleging that JPMorgan induced the Company to issue its insurance policies in respect of such debt through material and fraudulent misrepresentations and omissions, including concealing that it had secured its position as underwriter and swap provider through bribes to Jefferson County commissioners and others. In December 2010, the Court denied JPMorgan's motion to dismiss. The Company is continuing its risk remediation efforts for this exposure.

        In September 2010, the Company, together with TD Bank, National Association and Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company, filed a complaint in the Court of Common Pleas in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania against The Harrisburg Authority, The City of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (the "City"), and the Treasurer of the City in connection with certain Resource Recovery Facility bonds and notes issued by the Harrisburg Authority, alleging, among other claims, breach of contract by both the Harrisburg Authority and the City, and seeking remedies including an order compelling the Harrisburg Authority to pay all unpaid and past due principal and interest and to charge and collect sufficient rates, rental and other charges adequate to carry out its pledge of revenues and receipts; an order compelling the City to budget for, impose and collect taxes and revenues sufficient to satisfy its obligations; and the appointment of a receiver for the Harrisburg Authority.

        Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are established for the temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Such temporary differences relate principally to unrealized gains and losses on investments and credit derivatives, DAC, reserves for losses and LAE, unearned premium reserves and statutory contingency reserves. As of December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the Company had a net deferred income tax asset of $1,224.0 million and $1,158.2 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2010, the Company has foreign tax credits, which expire in 2018, of $22.3 million from its AGMH Acquisition. Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code limits the amounts of credits the Company may utilize each year. Management believes sufficient future taxable income exists to realize the full benefit of these foreign tax credits. At December 31, 2009, the Company established a valuation allowance of $7.0 million. Management has reassessed the likelihood of realization of all of its deferred tax assets. As of December 31, 2010, management believes sufficient future taxable income exists to offset the AGRO net operating loss and has released the $7 million valuation allowance.

        For the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, income tax expense was $86.6 million, $36.9 million and $43.4 million and the Company's effective tax rate was 13.6%, 27.7% and 38.7% for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The Company's effective tax rates reflect the proportion of income recognized by each of the Company's operating subsidiaries, with U.S. subsidiaries taxed at the U.S. marginal corporate income tax rate of 35%, U.K. subsidiaries taxed at the U.K. marginal corporate tax rate of 28%, and no taxes for the Company's Bermuda holding company and subsidiaries, and the impact of the goodwill impairment and gain on bargain purchase which is not tax effected. Accordingly, the Company's overall corporate effective tax rate fluctuates based on the distribution of taxable income across these jurisdictions. During the year ended December 31, 2010, a net tax benefit of $55.8 million was recorded by the Company due to the filing of an amended tax return which included the AGMH and Subsidiaries tax group. The amended return filed in September 2010 was for a period prior to the AGMH Acquisition and consequently, the Company no longer has a deferred tax asset related to net operating loss or alternative minimum tax credits associated with the AGMH Acquisition. Instead, the Company has recorded additional deferred tax assets for loss reserves and foreign tax credits and has decreased its liability for uncertain tax positions. The event giving rise to this recognition occurred after the measurement period as defined by acquisition accounting and thus the amount is included in the year

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ended December 31, 2010 net income. Included in the $55.8 million net tax benefit is a decrease for uncertain tax positions, including interest and penalties, of $9.2 million. In 2009 pre-tax income included the bargain purchase gain on AGMH Acquisition of $232.6 million and expense of $85.4 million related to goodwill impairment, which was the primary reason for the 27.7% effective tax rate. In 2008 pre-tax income included $38.0 million of pre-tax unrealized gains on credit derivatives, the majority of which was associated with subsidiaries taxed in the U.S.

        On January 1, 2010, the Company adopted a new accounting standard as required by the Financial Accounting Standards Board that changed how a company determines when an entity that is insufficiently capitalized or is not controlled through voting (or similar rights) should be consolidated. The new accounting standard requires the Company to perform an analysis to determine whether its variable interests give it a controlling financial interest in a VIE. The new accounting standard mandated the accounting changes prescribed by the statement to be recognized by the Company as a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings as of January 1, 2010. The cumulative effect of adopting the new accounting standard was a $206.5 million after-tax decrease to the opening retained earnings balance due to the consolidation of 21 VIEs at fair value on January 1, 2010. This analysis identifies the primary beneficiary of a VIE as the enterprise that has both (1) the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the entity's economic performance; and (2) the obligation to absorb losses of the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE. Under GAAP, the Company is deemed to be the control party typically when its protective rights give it the power to both terminate and replace the deal servicer. Additionally, this new accounting standard requires an ongoing reassessment of whether the Company is the primary beneficiary of a VIE.

        Pursuant to the new accounting standard, the Company evaluated its power to direct the significant activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of VIEs that have debt obligations insured by the Company and, accordingly, where the Company is obligated to absorb VIE losses that could potentially be significant to the VIE. As a result of changes in control rights during the year ended December 31, 2010, two VIEs were deconsolidated and ten additional VIEs were consolidated subsequent to the Company's adoption of the new accounting standard on January 1, 2010. This resulted in an increase in financial guaranty variable interest entities' assets of $2,606.8 million, an increase in financial guaranty variable interest entities' liabilities of $2,974.4 million and a net pre-tax loss on deconsolidation/consolidation of $241.9 million, which was included in "net change in financial guaranty variable interest entities" in the consolidated statement of operations. The following table presents the effects on the Company's statement of operations for consolidating these VIEs and eliminating their related insurance accounting for the year ended December 31, 2010:

Effect of Consolidating VIEs

 
  Year Ended
December 31,
2010
 
 
  (in millions)
 

Net earned premiums(1)

  $ (47.6 )

Net change in financial guaranty VIEs

    (183.1 )

Loss and LAE(2)

    68.8  
       
 

Total pre-tax impact on GAAP net income

    (161.9 )

Less: Tax provision (benefit)

    (56.7 )
       
 

Total impact on GAAP net income

  $ (105.2 )
       

(1)
Represents net earned premiums of consolidated VIEs that were eliminated upon consolidation of VIEs.

(2)
Represents loss and LAE of consolidated VIEs that were eliminated upon consolidation of VIEs.

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        During 2010, the fair value of VIEs' liabilities decreased principally as a result of lengthening duration of the expected payback period of these liabilities due to improved performance of the underlying VIEs' assets supporting the cash flows for the VIEs' liabilities.

        In 2009, the Company consolidated VIEs for which it determined that it was the primary beneficiary, based on accounting rules in effect at the time. In determining whether the Company was the primary beneficiary prior to 2010, a number of factors were considered, including the design of the entity and the risks the VIE was created to pass along to variable interest holders, the extent of credit risk absorbed by the Company through its insurance contract and the extent to which credit protection provided by other variable interest holders reduces this exposure and the exposure that the Company cedes to third party reinsurers. The criteria for determining whether the Company is the primary beneficiary of a VIE has changed as of January 1, 2010, as described above.

Segment Underwriting Gains (Losses)

        Management uses underwriting gains and losses as the primary measure of each segment's financial performance. The Company manages its business without regard to accounting requirements to consolidate certain VIEs. As a result, underwriting gain or loss includes results of operations as if consolidated VIEs were accounted for as insurance. All segments are reported net of cessions to third party reinsurers.

        The Company's business includes two principal segments: financial guaranty direct and financial guaranty reinsurance. The financial guaranty direct segment includes policies issued directly to the holders of insured obligations at time of issuance and those issued in the secondary market. The financial guaranty reinsurance segment includes assumed reinsurance contracts written to third parties. The Company's mortgage guaranty insurance business, which was previously reported as a separate segment and has had no new activity in recent years, and other lines of business that were 100% ceded upon Assured Guaranty's initial public offering in 2004, are shown as "other." The financial guaranty segments include contracts accounted for as both insurance and credit derivatives.

        Prior to the AGMH Acquisition, AG Re assumed business from AGM and it continues to do so. For periods prior to the AGMH Acquisition, the Company reported the business assumed from AGMH in the financial guaranty reinsurance segment, reflecting the separate organizational structures as of those reporting dates. As a result, prior period segment results are consistent with the amounts previously reported by segment. For periods subsequent to the AGMH Acquisition, the Company included all financial guaranty business written by AGMH in the financial guaranty direct segment and the AGMH business assumed by AG Re is eliminated from the financial guaranty reinsurance segment.

Underwriting Gain (Loss) by Segment

 
  Year Ended December 31, 2010  
 
  Financial
Guaranty
Direct
  Financial
Guaranty
Reinsurance
  Other   Underwriting
Gain (Loss)
  Consolidation
of VIEs
  Total  
 
  (in millions)
 

Net earned premiums

  $ 1,161.7   $ 70.2   $ 2.4   $ 1,234.3   $ (47.6 ) $ 1,186.7  

Credit derivative revenues(1)

    210.9     (0.6 )       210.3         210.3  

Other income

    60.5             60.5         60.5  

Loss and loss adjustment (expenses) recoveries

    (406.7 )   (75.7 )   (0.2 )   (482.6 )   68.8     (413.8 )

Losses incurred on credit derivatives(2)

    (200.5 )   (8.9 )       (209.4 )       (209.4 )

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs

    (16.6 )   (17.4 )   (0.1 )   (34.1 )       (34.1 )

Other operating expenses

    (171.3 )   (29.2 )   (1.3 )   (201.8 )       (201.8 )
                               

Underwriting gain (loss)

  $ 638.0   $ (61.6 ) $ 0.8   $ 577.2              
                               

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  Year Ended December 31, 2009  
 
  Financial
Guaranty
Direct
  Financial
Guaranty
Reinsurance
  Other   Total  
 
  (in millions)
 

Net earned premiums

  $ 793.1   $ 134.4   $ 2.9   $ 930.4  

Credit derivative revenues(1)

    168.2     2.0         170.2  

Other income

    31.3     0.1         31.4  

Loss and loss adjustment (expenses) recoveries

    (241.9 )   (123.8 )   (12.1 )   (377.8 )

Losses incurred on credit derivatives(2)

    (238.1 )   (0.6 )       (238.7 )

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs

    (16.3 )   (37.1 )   (0.5 )   (53.9 )

Other operating expenses

    (136.4 )   (26.4 )   (3.0 )   (165.8 )
                   

Underwriting gain (loss)

  $ 359.9   $ (51.4 ) $ (12.7 ) $ 295.8  
                   

 

 
  Year Ended December 31, 2008  
 
  Financial
Guaranty
Direct
  Financial
Guaranty
Reinsurance
  Other   Total  
 
  (in millions)
 

Net earned premiums

  $ 90.0   $ 165.7   $ 5.7   $ 261.4  

Credit derivative revenues(1)

    113.8     3.4         117.2  

Other income

    0.5     0.2         0.7  

Loss and loss adjustment (expenses) recoveries

    (196.9 )   (68.4 )   (0.5 )   (265.8 )

Losses incurred on credit derivatives(2)

    (38.3 )   (5.4 )   0.4     (43.3 )

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs

    (14.1 )   (46.6 )   (0.5 )   (61.2 )

Other operating expenses

    (61.6 )   (20.7 )   (2.6 )   (84.9 )
                   

Underwriting gain (loss)

  $ (106.6 ) $ 28.2   $ 2.5   $ (75.9 )
                   

(1)
Comprised of premiums and ceding commissions.

(2)
Represents changes in present value of expected claims to be paid under credit derivative contracts.

Reconciliation of Underwriting Gain (Loss)
to Income (Loss) before Income Taxes

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   2008  
 
  (in millions)
 

Total underwriting gain

  $ 577.2   $ 295.8   $ (75.9 )

Net investment income

    354.7     259.2     162.6  

Net realized investment gains (losses)

    (2.0 )   (32.7 )   (69.8 )

Unrealized gains on credit derivatives, excluding losses incurred on credit derivatives

    (5.2 )   (105.7 )   81.7  

Fair value gain (loss) on committed capital securities

    9.2     (122.9 )   42.7  

Net change in financial guaranty VIEs

    (183.1 )   (1.2 )    

Other income(1)

    (20.4 )   27.1      

AGMH acquisition-related expenses

    (6.8 )   (92.3 )    

Interest expense

    (99.6 )   (62.8 )   (23.3 )

Goodwill and settlement of intercompany relationship

        (23.3 )    

CCS premium expense(2)

    (9.7 )   (8.3 )   (5.7 )

Elimination of insurance accounts for VIEs

    21.2          
               

Income (loss) before provision for income taxes

  $ 635.5   $ 132.9   $ 112.3  
               

(1)
Includes foreign exchange gain (loss) on revaluation of premium receivable and reinsurance cession of OTTI of investment assets associated with a BIG financial guaranty contract.

(2)
Recorded in other operating expenses.

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        For 2010 and 2009, the financial guaranty direct segment recorded underwriting gains primarily due to AGMH net earned premiums, while the reinsurance segment recorded underwriting losses for all periods presented primarily as a result of U.S. RMBS assumed losses and the reclassification of AG Re's assumed business from AGM, from the reinsurance to the direct segment after the Acquisition Date. AGM is one of AG Re's largest ceding companies and AGM results of operations, net of third party cessions, are included in the financial guaranty direct segment in all periods since the Acquisition Date. Prior to the AGMH Acquisition, AGM's cessions to AG Re are included in the reinsurance segment.

        2010 compared with 2009:    Financial guaranty direct segment underwriting gains increased in 2010 due primarily to increased net earned premiums and credit derivative revenues due to the inclusion of AGMH results for a full year in 2010 compared with a half year in 2009, offset in part by increased loss and LAE on RMBS exposures. The financial guaranty direct segment underwriting gains (losses) in 2010 include gains related to various reassumptions of previously ceded books of business. In the future, the AGMH portfolio of insured structured finance obligations, including credit derivatives, will generate a declining stream of net earned premiums and credit derivative revenues due to AGMH's focus on underwriting public financial obligations.

        Present value of PVP in the direct segment declined in 2010. The current market conditions have had a significant impact on the demand in both the global structured finance and international infrastructure finance markets for financial guaranties, and it is uncertain when or if demand for financial guaranties will return. The Company has witnessed limited new issuance activity in many markets in which the Company was previously active. See "—Executive Summary."

        2009 compared with 2008:    The AGMH Acquisition significantly increased the size of the financial guaranty direct segment. Net par outstanding in the financial guaranty direct segment increased from $132.0 billion at December 31, 2008 to $575.5 billion as of December 31, 2009. The financial guaranty direct segment contributed $366.8 million to the total underwriting gain in 2009 compared to an underwriting loss of $106.6 million in 2008.

        The increase in underwriting gain in the financial guaranty direct segment in 2009 was driven primarily by net earned premiums and credit derivative revenues. Growth in net earned premiums resulted primarily from the AGMH Acquisition. On a going forward basis, the AGMH portfolio of insured structured finance obligations, including credit derivatives, will generate a declining stream of net earned premiums and credit derivative revenues due to AGM's focus on underwriting public finance obligations exclusively.

        In addition to the net earned premiums contribution to the financial guaranty direct segment's underwriting gain, in 2009 a $29.2 million non-recurring settlement and distribution of excess cash flow from a financial guaranty VIE that was previously consolidated by AGMH was recorded in "other income."

        Partially offsetting these underwriting gains were increased loss and LAE and losses incurred on credit derivatives primarily driven by AGC's book of business. AGMH's losses on policies accounted for as financial guaranty insurance have been substantially absorbed by the unearned premium reserve which was recorded at fair value on July 1, 2009, the date of the AGMH Acquisition. See Note 5 in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for a discussion of the accounting for premiums and losses and its effects in relation to acquisition accounting.

        Other operating expenses primarily reflect the addition of expenses related to the AGMH acquired companies.

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        PVP in the direct segment decreased 21.6% in 2009. The decline was attributable to the decline in the structured finance market in which the Company wrote $24.2 million in PVP in 2009 compared to $260.1 million in 2008. In 2009, the Company insured 8.5% of all new U.S. municipal issuance based on par written in large part due to the lack of financially strong competitors.

        2010 compared with 2009:    The financial guaranty reinsurance segment's underwriting loss in 2010 increased compared to 2009 due to decreased net earned premiums and credit derivative revenues, partially offset by reduced loss and LAE. The financial guaranty reinsurance segment's underwriting loss in 2010 was higher than 2009 due primarily to (1) the reallocation of AG Re's assumed book of AGMH business to the financial guaranty direct segment, (2) the normal runoff of business, and (3) the decrease in new business opportunities.

        There was no PVP in 2010 in the financial guaranty reinsurance segment, however, the Company continues to earn premiums on its existing book of business.

        2009 compared with 2008:    As a result of the reallocation of AG Re's assumed book of AGMH business to the financial guaranty direct segment, the normal runoff of business and decrease in new business opportunities in 2009, the size of the financial guaranty reinsurance segment declined and, therefore, 2009 net earned premiums declined. Net par outstanding in the financial guaranty reinsurance segment declined to $64.9 billion as of December 31, 2009 from $90.7 billion as of December 31, 2008. In addition, loss and LAE increased in 2009 compared to 2008 and 2007 due to losses in the RMBS sectors.

        There was $90.8 million new business production in 2009 in the financial guaranty reinsurance segment. The Company also continues to earn premiums on its existing book of assumed business from third party financial guaranty companies.


Non-GAAP Financial Measures

        To more accurately reflect the key financial measures management analyzes in evaluating the Company's operations and progress towards long-term goals, the Company discusses both measures promulgated in accordance with GAAP and measures not promulgated in accordance with GAAP ("non-GAAP financial measures"). Although the financial measures identified as non-GAAP should not be considered substitutes for GAAP measures, management considers them key performance indicators and employs them as well as other factors in determining compensation. Non-GAAP financial measures, therefore, provide investors with important information about the key financial measures management utilizes in measuring its business. The primary limitation of non-GAAP financial measures is the potential lack of comparability to other companies as each company may define non-GAAP measures differently as there is limited literature with respect to such measures. Three of the primary non-GAAP financial measures analyzed by the Company's senior management are: operating income, adjusted book value and PVP.

        Assured Guaranty's management and board of directors utilize non-GAAP financial measures in evaluating the Company's financial performance and as a basis for determining senior management incentive compensation. By providing these non-GAAP financial measures, investors, analysts and financial news reporters have access to the same information that management reviews internally. In addition, Assured Guaranty's presentation of non-GAAP financial measures is consistent with how analysts calculate their estimates of Assured Guaranty's financial results in their research reports on Assured Guaranty and with how investors, analysts and the financial news media evaluate Assured Guaranty's financial results.

        The following paragraphs define each non-GAAP financial measure and describe why they are useful. A reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure and the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, if available, is also presented below. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be viewed as substitutes for their most directly comparable GAAP measures.

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Operating Income

        The table below presents net income attributable to AGL and a reconciliation to operating income. The Company revised its definition of operating income in the second quarter of 2010 to exclude foreign exchange revaluation gains and losses on premiums receivable. Prior and subsequent periods are presented on a consistent basis with this revised definition.

Reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Assured Guaranty Ltd.
to Operating Income

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009  
 
  (in millions)
 

Net income (loss) attributable to Assured Guaranty Ltd.

  $ 548.9   $ 97.2  

Less after-tax adjustments:

             
 

Realized gains (losses) on investments

    1.0     (34.2 )
 

Non-credit impairment unrealized fair value gains (losses) on credit derivatives

    11.3     (82.2 )
 

Fair value gains (losses) on committed capital securities

    6.0     (79.9 )
 

Foreign exchange gains (losses) on revaluation of premiums receivable

    (24.5 )   23.4  
 

Effect of consolidating financial guaranty VIEs

    (105.2 )    
 

Goodwill and settlement of pre-existing relationship

        (23.3 )
           

Operating income

  $ 660.3   $ 293.4  
           

        The increase in operating income in 2010 was primarily attributable to the inclusion of 12 months of AGMH compared to six months in 2009, commutation gains and the recording of a tax benefit of $55.8 million in 2010 due to the filing of an amended tax return for a period prior to the AGMH Acquisition, offset in part by higher loss and LAE. Excluding the AGMH Acquisition, the decline in earned premiums in 2010 compared to 2009 relates primarily to lower refundings and accelerations. Net earned premiums and credit derivative revenue from the AGM structured finance book of business will decline as the net par runs off. Loss and LAE in 2010 includes amounts recognized due to the amortization of deferred premium revenue and amounts attributable to loss development principally in the U.S. RMBS and other structured sectors. Operating income in 2009 included additional expense items attributable to the AGMH Acquisition such as AGMH Acquisition—related expenses which were $92.3 million in 2009 compared to $6.8 million in 2010, and goodwill and settlement of pre-existing relationships.

        Management believes that operating income is a useful measure because it clarifies the understanding of the underwriting results of the Company's financial guaranty insurance business, and also includes financing costs and net investment income, and enables investors and analysts to evaluate the Company's financial results as compared to the consensus analyst estimates distributed publicly by financial databases. Operating income is defined as net income (loss) attributable to AGL, as reported under GAAP, adjusted for the following:

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Adjusted Book Value and Operating Shareholders' Equity

        Management also uses adjusted book value to measure the intrinsic value of the Company, excluding franchise value. Growth in adjusted book value is one of the key financial measures used in determining the amount of certain long term compensation to management and employees and used by rating agencies and investors.

Reconciliation of Shareholders' Equity Attributable to Assured Guaranty Ltd.
to Adjusted Book Value

 
  As of December 31,  
 
  2010   2009  
 
  Total   Per Share   Total   Per Share  
 
  (dollars in millions, except share and
per share amounts)

 

Shareholders' equity attributable to Assured Guaranty Ltd. 

  $ 3,798.8   $ 20.67   $ 3,520.5   $ 19.12  

Less after-tax adjustments:

                         
 

Effect of consolidating financial guaranty VIEs

    (311.8 )   (1.70 )        
 

Non-credit impairment unrealized fair value gains (losses) on credit derivatives

    (764.8 )   (4.16 )   (767.6 )   (4.17 )
 

Fair value gains (losses) on committed capital securities

    12.2     0.07     6.2     0.03  
 

Unrealized gain (loss) on investment portfolio excluding foreign exchange effect

    100.1     0.54     139.7     0.76  
                   

Operating shareholders' equity

    4,763.1     25.92     4,142.2     22.49  

After-tax adjustments:

                         
 

Less: DAC

    248.4     1.35     235.3     1.28  
 

Plus: Net present value of estimated net future credit derivative revenue

    424.8     2.31     520.0     2.82  
 

Plus: Net unearned premium reserve on financial guaranty contracts in excess of expected loss to be expensed

    4,059.6     22.09     4,486.8     24.36  
                   

Adjusted book value

  $ 8,999.1   $ 48.98   $ 8,913.7   $ 48.40  
                   

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        As of December 31, 2010, shareholders' equity increased to $3.8 billion from $3.5 billion at December 31, 2009 due primarily to net income of $548.9 million offset in part by the cumulative effect of a change in accounting for VIEs of $206.5 million. Adjusted book value and adjusted book value per share remained relatively flat. While the addition of PVP, a tax benefit due to the filing of an amended tax return relating to AGMH and its subsidiaries and the re-assumption of various portfolios of ceded business increased adjusted book value, such positive adjustments were mostly offset by loss development, dividends and stock buybacks. Shares outstanding remained relatively flat as the Company did not issue new shares and repurchased only 0.7 million shares in 2010.

        Management believes that operating shareholders' equity is a useful measure because it presents the equity of AGL with all financial guaranty contracts accounted for on a more consistent basis and excluding fair value adjustments that are not expected to result in economic loss. Many investors, analysts and financial news reporters use operating shareholders' equity as the principal financial measure for valuing AGL's current share price or projected share price and also as the basis of their decision to recommend, buy or sell AGL's common shares. Many of the Company's fixed income investors also use operating shareholders' equity to evaluate the Company's capital adequacy. Operating shareholders' equity is the basis of the calculation of adjusted book value (see below). Operating shareholders' equity is defined as shareholders' equity attributable to AGL, as reported under GAAP, adjusted for the following:

        Management believes that adjusted book value is a useful measure because it enables an evaluation of the net present value of the Company's in force premiums and revenues in addition to operating shareholders' equity. The premiums and revenues included in adjusted book value will be earned in future periods, but actual earnings may differ materially from the estimated amounts used in determining current adjusted book value due to changes in, foreign exchange rates, refinancing or refunding activity, prepayment speeds, terminations, credit defaults and other factors. Many investors, analysts and financial news reporters use adjusted book value to evaluate AGL's share price and as the basis of their decision to recommend, buy or sell the AGL common shares. Adjusted book value is operating shareholders' equity, as defined above, further adjusted for the following:

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Net Present Value of Estimated Net Future Credit Derivative Revenue

        Management believes that this amount is a useful measure because it enables an evaluation of the value of future estimated credit derivative revenue. There is no corresponding GAAP financial measure. This amount represents the present value of estimated future revenue from the Company's credit derivative in-force book of business, net of reinsurance, ceding commissions and premium taxes in excess of expected losses, and is discounted at 6% (which represents the Company's tax-equivalent pre-tax investment yield on its investment portfolio). Estimated net future credit derivative revenue may change from period to period due to changes in foreign exchange rates, prepayment speeds, terminations, credit defaults or other factors that affect par outstanding or the ultimate maturity of an obligation.

PVP or Present Value of New Business Production

        Management believes that PVP is a useful measure because it enables the evaluation of the value of new business production for the Company by taking into account the value of estimated future installment premiums on all new contracts underwritten in a reporting period as well as premium supplements and additional installment premium on existing contracts as to which the issuer has the right to call the insured obligation but has not exercised such right, whether in insurance or credit derivative contract form, which GAAP gross premiums written and the net credit derivative premiums received and receivable portion of net realized gains and other settlement on credit derivatives ("Credit Derivative Revenues") do not adequately measure. PVP in respect of insurance and credit derivative contracts written in a specified period is defined as gross upfront and installment premiums received and the present value of gross estimated future installment premiums, in each case, discounted at 6% (the Company's tax-equivalent pre-tax investment yield on its investment portfolio). For purposes of the PVP calculation, management discounts estimated future installment premiums on insurance contracts at 6%, while under GAAP, these amounts are discounted at a risk free rate. Additionally, under GAAP, management records future installment premiums on financial guaranty insurance contracts covering non-homogeneous pools of assets based on the contractual term of the transaction, whereas for PVP purposes, management records an estimate of the future installment premiums the Company expects to receive, which may be based upon a shorter period of time than the contractual term of the transaction. Actual future net earned or written premiums and Credit Derivative Revenues may differ from PVP due to factors including, but not limited to, changes in foreign exchange rates, refinancing or refunding activity, prepayment speeds, terminations, credit defaults, or other factors that affect par outstanding or the ultimate maturity of an obligation.

Financial Guaranty Insured Portfolio Profile

        The following tables present the insured portfolio by asset class net of cessions to reinsurers as of December 31, 2010 and 2009. See Note 12 in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for information related to reinsurers. It includes all financial guaranty contracts outstanding as of the dates presented, regardless of the form written (i.e. credit derivative form or traditional financial guaranty insurance form) or the applicable accounting model (i.e. insurance or derivative accounting).

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Net Par Outstanding and Average Rating by Asset Class
As of December 31, 2010

 
  Financial
Guaranty Direct
  Financial
Guaranty
Reinsurance
  Consolidated
Sector
  Net Par
Outstanding
  Net Par
Outstanding
  Net Par
Outstanding
  Avg.
Rating
 
  (dollars in millions)

Public finance:

                     
 

U.S.:

                     
   

General obligation

  $ 166,631   $ 15,168   $ 181,799   A+
   

Tax backed

    73,892     9,511     83,403   A+
   

Municipal utilities

    64,544     5,522     70,066   A
   

Transportation

    31,126     5,847     36,973   A
   

Healthcare

    20,294     1,298     21,592   A
   

Higher education

    13,157     2,530     15,687   A+
   

Housing

    6,250     312     6,562   AA-
   

Infrastructure finance

    2,367     1,725     4,092   BBB+
   

Investor-owned utilities

    162     1,343     1,505   A-
   

Other public finance—U.S. 

    3,982     1,335     5,317   A-
                 
     

Total public finance—U.S. 

    382,405     44,591     426,996   A+
 

Non-U.S.:

                     
   

Infrastructure finance

    14,984     989     15,973   BBB
   

Regulated utilities

    12,517     1,461     13,978   BBB+
   

Pooled infrastructure

    3,432         3,432   AA
   

Other public finance—non-U.S. 

    7,246     114     7,360   AA-
                 
     

Total public finance—non-U.S. 

    38,179     2,564     40,743   A-
                 

Total public finance

    420,584     47,155     467,739   A

Structured finance:

                     
 

U.S.:

                     
   

Pooled corporate obligations

    66,606     778     67,384   AAA
   

RMBS

    24,778     352     25,130   BB
   

CMBS and other commercial real estate related exposures

    6,714     370     7,084   AAA
   

Financial products(1)

    6,831         6,831   AA-
   

Consumer receivables

    4,907     1,166     6,073   AA-
   

Commercial receivables

    1,291     848     2,139   BBB+
   

Structured credit

    1,361     368     1,729   BBB
   

Insurance securitizations

    1,247     337     1,584   A+
   

Other structured finance—U.S. 

    766     36     802   A-
                 
     

Total structured finance—U.S. 

    114,501     4,255     118,756   AA-
 

Non-U.S.:

                     
   

Pooled corporate obligations

    21,928     682     22,610   AAA
   

RMBS

    3,384     10     3,394   AA+
   

Commercial receivables

    794     935     1,729   A-
   

Structured credit

    1,140     127     1,267   BBB
   

Insurance securitizations

    964         964   CCC-
   

CMBS and other commercial real estate related exposures

    251         251   AAA
   

Other structured finance—non-U.S. 

    419     2     421   Super Senior
                 
     

Total structured finance—non-U.S. 

    28,880     1,756     30,636   AA+
                 

Total structured finance

    143,381     6,011     149,392   AA
                 

Total net par outstanding

  $ 563,965   $ 53,166   $ 617,131   A+
                 

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Net Par Outstanding and Average Rating by Asset Class
As of December 31, 2009

 
  Financial
Guaranty Direct
  Financial
Guaranty
Reinsurance
  Consolidated
Sector
  Net Par
Outstanding
  Net Par
Outstanding
  Net Par
Outstanding
  Avg.
Rating
 
  (dollars in millions)

Public Finance:

                     
 

U.S.:

                     
   

General obligation

  $ 161,140   $ 17,244   $ 178,384   A+
   

Tax backed

    72,972     10,057     83,029   A+
   

Municipal utilities

    62,911     6,667     69,578   A
   

Transportation

    29,086     6,211     35,297   A
   

Healthcare

    20,132     1,877     22,009   A
   

Higher education

    12,184     2,948     15,132   A+
   

Housing

    7,146     1,378     8,524   AA-
   

Infrastructure finance

    2,717     836     3,553   BBB
   

Investor-owned utilities

    124     1,566     1,690   BBB+
   

Other public finance—U.S. 

    3,676     2,206     5,882   A
                 
     

Total public finance—U.S. 

    372,088     50,990     423,078   A+
 

Non-U.S.:

                     
   

Infrastructure finance

    13,865     2,479     16,344   BBB
   

Regulated utilities

    11,393     2,458     13,851   BBB+
   

Pooled infrastructure

    4,404         4,404   AA
   

Other public finance—non-U.S. 

    7,619     557     8,176   AA-
                 
     

Total public finance—non-U.S. 

    37,281     5,494     42,775   A-
                 

Total public finance

    409,369     56,484     465,853   A

Structured Finance:

                     
 

U.S.:

                     
   

Pooled corporate obligations

    73,416     917     74,333   AAA
   

RMBS

    28,747     429     29,176   BB+
   

Financial products

    10,251         10,251   AA-
   

CMBS and other commercial real estate related exposures

    7,030     380     7,410   AAA
   

Consumer receivables

    7,434     1,439     8,873   A+
   

Structured credit

    2,223     384     2,607   A-
   

Commercial receivables

    1,207     1,275     2,482   BBB+
   

Insurance securitizations

    1,314     337     1,651   A+
   

Other structured finance—U.S. 

    1,323     195     1,518   A+
                 
     

Total structured finance—U.S. 

    132,945     5,356     138,301   AA-
 

Non-U.S.:

                     
   

Pooled corporate obligations

    23,668     1,029     24,697   AAA
   

RMBS

    5,203     24     5,227   AAA
   

Commercial receivables

    1,003     869     1,872   A-
   

Structured credit

    1,428     641     2,069   BBB
   

Insurance securitizations

    964     17     981   CCC-
   

CMBS and other commercial real estate related exposures

    430     322     752   AA
   

Other structured finance—non-U.S. 

    498     172     670   AAA
                 
     

Total structured finance—non-U.S. 

    33,194     3,074     36,268   AA+
                 

Total structured finance

    166,139     8,430     174,569   AA-
                 

Total net par outstanding

  $ 575,508   $ 64,914   $ 640,422   A+
                 

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        The December 31, 2010 and 2009 amounts above include $78.4 billion and $91.4 billion, respectively, of AGM structured finance net par outstanding. AGM has not insured a mortgage-backed transaction since January 2008 and announced its complete withdrawal from the structured finance market in August 2008. The structured finance transactions that remain in AGM's insured portfolio are of double-A average underlying credit quality, according to the Company's internal rating system. Management expects AGM's structured finance portfolio to run-off rapidly: 18% by year-end 2011, 54% by year end 2013, and 79% by year-end 2015.

        The following tables set forth the Company's net financial guaranty portfolio as of December 31, 2010 and 2009 by internal rating:


Financial Guaranty Portfolio by Internal Rating

 
  As of December 31, 2010  
 
  Public Finance
U.S.
  Public Finance
Non-U.S.
  Structured Finance
U.S
  Structured Finance
Non-U.S
  Total  
Rating Category
  Net Par
Outstanding
  %   Net Par
Outstanding
  %   Net Par
Outstanding
  %   Net Par
Outstanding
  %   Net Par
Outstanding
  %  
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

Super senior

  $     % $ 1,420     3.5 % $ 21,837     18.4 % $ 7,882     25.7 % $ 31,139     5.0 %

AAA

    5,784     1.4     1,378     3.4     45,067     37.9     13,573     44.3     65,802     10.7  

AA

    161,906     37.9     1,330     3.3     17,355     14.6     1,969     6.4     182,560     29.6  

A

    214,199     50.2     12,482     30.6     6,396     5.4     1,873     6.1     234,950     38.1  

BBB

    41,948     9.8     22,338     54.8     7,543     6.4     4,045     13.2     75,874     12.3  

BIG

    3,159     0.7     1,795     4.4     20,558     17.3     1,294     4.3     26,806     4.3  
                                           
 

Total net par outstanding

  $ 426,996     100.0 % $ 40,743     100.0 % $ 118,756     100.0 % $ 30,636     100.0 % $ 617,131     100.0 %
                                           

 

 
  As of December 31, 2009  
 
  Public Finance
U.S.
  Public Finance
Non-U.S.
  Structured Finance
U.S
  Structured Finance
Non-U.S
  Total  
Rating Category
  Net Par
Outstanding
  %   Net Par
Outstanding
  %   Net Par
Outstanding
  %   Net Par
Outstanding
  %   Net Par
Outstanding
  %  
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

Super senior

  $ 25     0.0 % $ 2,316     5.4 % $ 28,272     20.4 % $ 12,740     35.1 % $ 43,353     6.8 %

AAA

    6,461     1.5     1,477     3.5     40,022     28.9     11,826     32.6     59,786     9.3  

AA

    164,986     39.0     2,105     4.9     26,799     19.4     2,969     8.2     196,859     30.7  

A

    208,771     49.4     13,542     31.7     8,305     6.0     2,582     7.1     233,200     36.4  

BBB

    39,709     9.4     22,691     53.0     14,514     10.5     5,145     14.2     82,059     12.8  

BIG

    3,126     0.7     644     1.5     20,389     14.8     1,006     2.8     25,165     4.0  
                                           
 

Total net par outstanding

  $ 423,078     100.0 % $ 42,775     100.0 % $ 138,301     100.0 % $ 36,268     100.0 % $ 640,422     100.0 %
                                           

        The tables below show the Company's ten largest U.S. public finance and U.S. structured finance and non-U.S. exposures direct and reinsurance exposures by revenue source (stated as a percentage of the Company's total U.S. public finance, U.S. structured finance and non-U.S. net par outstanding) as of December 31, 2010:


Ten Largest U.S. Public Finance Exposures
As of December 31, 2010

 
  Net Par
Outstanding
  Percent of Total
U.S. Public Finance
Net Par Outstanding
  Rating
 
  (dollars in millions)

New Jersey, State of

  $ 4,475     1.0 % AA-

California, State of

    3,559     0.8   BBB+

New York, State of

    3,370     0.8   AA-

Massachusetts, Commonwealth of

    3,269     0.8   AA

New York, City of New York

    3,158     0.7   AA

Chicago, City of Illinois

    2,556     0.6   AA-

Puerto Rico, Commonwealth of

    2,421     0.6   BBB-

Washington, State of

    2,420     0.6   AA-

Houston Texas Water and Sewer Authority

    2,328     0.5   A+

Miami-Dade County Florida Aviation Authority

    2,302     0.5   A+
             
 

Total of top ten U.S. public finance exposures

  $ 29,858     6.9 %  
             

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Ten Largest U.S. Structured Finance Exposures
As of December 31, 2010

 
  Net Par
Outstanding
  Percent of Total
U.S. Structured Finance
Net Par Outstanding
  Rating
 
  (dollars in millions)

Fortress Credit Opportunities I, LP

  $ 1,302     1.1 % AA

Stone Tower Credit Funding

    1,254     1.0   AAA

Synthetic Investment Grade Pooled Corporate CDO

    1,157     1.0   AAA

Synthetic High Yield Pooled Corporate CDO

    975     0.8   AA-

Deutsche Alt-A Securities Mortgage Loan 2007-2

    896     0.8   CCC

Synthetic High Yield Pooled Corporate CDO

    842     0.7   Super Senior

Synthetic High Yield Pooled Corporate CDO

    815     0.7   Super Senior

Synthetic Investment Grade Pooled Corporate CDO

    765     0.6   Super Senior

Synthetic Investment Grade Pooled Corporate CDO

    754     0.6   Super Senior

Mizuho II Synthetic CDO

    747     0.6   A
             
 

Total of top ten U.S. structured finance exposures

  $ 9,507     8.0 % AA
             


Ten Largest Non-U.S. Exposures
As of December 31, 2010

 
  Net Par
Outstanding
  Percent of Total
Non-U.S.
Net Par Outstanding
  Rating
 
  (dollars in millions)

Quebec Province

  $ 2,263     3.2 % A+

Sydney Airport Finance Company

    1,725     2.4   BBB

Thames Water Utility Finance Plc

    1,492     2.1   A-

Essential Public Infrastructure Capital II

    979     1.4   Super Senior

Fortress Credit Investments I

    931     1.3   AAA

Channel Link Enterprises Finance Plc

    894     1.3   BBB

Reliance Rail Finance Pty. Limited

    821     1.2   BB

International AAA Sovereign Debt Synthetic CDO

    821     1.2   AAA

Southern Gas Networks Plc

    809     1.1   BBB

Paragon Mortgages (No. 13) Plc

    733     1.0   AAA
             
 

Total non-U.S. exposures

  $ 11,468     16.2 % A+
             

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Financial Guaranty Portfolio by Geographic Area

        The following table sets forth the geographic distribution of the Company's financial guaranty portfolio as of December 31, 2010:


Geographic Distribution of Financial Guaranty Portfolio
as of December 31, 2010

 
  Net Par
Outstanding
  Percent of Total
Net Par
Outstanding
 
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

U.S.:

             

U.S. Public finance:

             
 

California

  $ 59,699     9.7 %
 

New York

    35,397     5.7  
 

Texas

    31,629     5.1  
 

Pennsylvania

    31,162     5.0  
 

Florida

    26,759     4.3  
 

Illinois

    26,077     4.2  
 

New Jersey

    18,073     2.9  
 

Michigan

    16,737     2.7  
 

Washington

    12,568     2.0  
 

Massachusetts

    12,473     2.0  
 

Other states

    156,422     25.5  
           
     

Total U.S. Public finance

    426,996     69.1  
 

Structured finance (multiple states)

    118,756     19.3  
           
   

Total U.S. 

    545,752     88.4  

Non-U.S.

             
 

United Kingdom

    27,058     4.4  
 

Australia

    9,224     1.5  
 

Canada

    4,486     0.7  
 

France

    2,555     0.4  
 

Italy

    2,021     0.3  
 

Other

    26,035     4.3  
           
   

Total non-U.S. 

    71,379     11.6  
           

Total net par outstanding

  $ 617,131     100.0 %
           

Financial Guaranty Portfolio by Issue Size

        The Company seeks broad coverage of the market by insuring and reinsuring small and large issues alike. The following table sets forth the distribution of the Company's portfolio as of December 31, 2010 by original size of the Company's exposure:


Public Finance Portfolio by Issue Size

Original Par Amount Per Issue
  Number of
Issues
  Net Par
Outstanding
  % of Public Finance
Net Par Outstanding
 
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

Less than $10 million

    21,577   $ 59,459     12.7 %

$10 through $50 million

    7,699     141,427     30.2  

$50 through $100 million

    1,452     83,790     17.9  

$100 million and above

    1,023     183,063     39.2  
               
 

Total

    31,751   $ 467,739     100.0 %
               

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Structured Finance Portfolio by Issue Size

Original Par Amount Per Issue
  Number of
Issues
  Net Par
Outstanding
  % of Structured Finance
Net Par Outstanding
 
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

Less than $10 million

    358   $ 336     0.2 %

$10 through $50 million

    745     12,662     8.5  

$50 through $100 million

    322     15,570     10.4  

$100 million and above

    644     120,824     80.9  
               
 

Total

    2,069   $ 149,392     100.0 %
               

Significant Risk Management Activities

        The Risk Oversight and Audit Committees of the Board of Directors of AGL oversee the Company's risk management policies and procedures. With input from the board committees, specific risk policies and limits are set by the Portfolio Risk Management Committee, which includes members of senior management and senior Credit and Surveillance officers.

        Risk Management and Surveillance personnel are responsible for monitoring and reporting on all transactions in the insured portfolio, including exposures in both financial guaranty direct and financial guaranty reinsurance segments. The primary objective of the surveillance process is to monitor trends and changes in transaction credit quality, detect any deterioration in credit quality, and recommend to management such remedial actions as may be necessary or appropriate. All transactions in the insured portfolio are assigned internal credit ratings, and Surveillance personnel are responsible for recommending adjustments to those ratings to reflect changes in transaction credit quality. Risk Management and Surveillance personnel are also responsible for managing work-out and loss situations when necessary.

        Work-out personnel are responsible for managing work-out and loss mitigation situations. They develop strategies designed to enhance the ability of the Company to enforce its contractual rights and remedies and to mitigate its losses, engage in negotiation discussions with transaction participants and, when necessary, manage (along with legal personnel) the Company's litigation proceedings.

        Since the onset of the financial crisis, the Company has shifted personnel to loss mitigation and work-out activities and hired new personnel to augment its efforts. Although the Company's loss mitigation efforts may extend to any transaction it has identified as having loss potential, much of the recent activity has been focused on RMBS.

        Generally, when mortgage loans are transferred into a securitization, the loan originator(s) and/or sponsor(s) provide R&W, that the loans meet certain characteristics, and a breach of such R&W often requires that the loan be repurchased from the securitization. In many of the transactions the Company insures, it is in a position to enforce these requirements. The Company uses internal resources as well as third party forensic underwriting firms and legal firms to pursue breaches of R&W. If a provider of R&W refuses to honor its repurchase obligations, the Company may choose to initiate litigation.

        The quality of servicing of the mortgage loans underlying an RMBS transaction influences collateral performance and ultimately the amount (if any) of the Company's insured losses. The Company has established a group to mitigate RMBS losses by influencing mortgage servicing, including, if possible, causing the transfer of servicing or establishing special servicing.

        In the fall of 2010, several large RMBS servicers suspended foreclosures because of allegations of a widespread failure to comply with foreclosure procedures and faulty loan documentation. These issues are being investigated by various state attorney general offices throughout the U.S. The suspension of foreclosures and subsequent investigation will lead to additional servicing costs and expenses, including without limitation, increased advances by the servicers for principal and interest, taxes, insurance and legal costs. The Company is increasing its monitoring efforts to ensure that the servicers comply with their obligations under servicing contracts, including bearing the losses and expenses incurred as a result of this issue. These same foreclosure issues are expected to impact the

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timing of losses to RMBS transactions that the Company has insured, which may impact the speed at which various classes of RMBS securities amortize, and so could impact the size of losses ultimately paid by the Company. The Company expects these issues to take some time to resolve.

        The Company may also employ other strategies as appropriate to avoid or mitigate losses in U.S. RMBS or other areas. For example, the Company may pursue litigation or enter into other arrangements to alleviate all or a portion of certain risks.

Surveillance Categories

        The Company segregates its insured portfolio into investment grade and BIG surveillance categories to facilitate the appropriate allocation of resources to monitoring and loss mitigation efforts and to aid in establishing the appropriate cycle for periodic review for each exposure. BIG exposures include all exposures with internal credit ratings below BBB-. The Company's internal credit ratings are based on the Company's internal assessment of the likelihood of default. The Company's internal credit ratings are expressed on a ratings scale similar to that used by the rating agencies and are generally reflective of an approach similar to that employed by the rating agencies.

        The Company monitors its investment grade credits to determine whether any new credits need to be internally downgraded to BIG. The Company refreshes its internal credit ratings on individual credits in quarterly, semi-annual or annual cycles based on the Company's view of the credit's quality, loss potential, volatility and sector. Ratings on credits in sectors identified as under the most stress or with the most potential volatility are reviewed every quarter. The Company's insured credit ratings on assumed credits are based in large part on the ceding company's credit rating, although, to the extent information is available, the Company will conduct an independent review of low rated credits or credits in volatile sectors. For example the Company models all assumed RMBS credits with ceded par above $1 million, as well as certain RMBS credits below that amount.

        Credits identified as BIG are subjected to further review to determine the probability of a loss (see "Loss estimation process" below). Surveillance personnel then assign each BIG transaction to the appropriate BIG surveillance category based upon whether a lifetime loss is expected and whether a claim has been paid. The Company expects "lifetime losses" on a transaction when the Company believes there is more than a 50% chance that, on a present value basis, it will pay more claims over the life of that transaction than it will ultimately have been reimbursed. For surveillance purposes, the Company calculates present value using a constant discount rate of 5%. (A risk free rate is used for recording of reserves for financial statement purposes.) A "liquidity claim" is a claim that the Company expects to be reimbursed within one year.

        Intense monitoring and intervention is employed for all BIG surveillance categories, with internal credit ratings reviewed quarterly:

        In 2010 the Company revised the definitions of the three BIG surveillance categories to more closely track the Company's view of whether a transaction is expected to experience a loss, without regard to whether the probability weighted expected loss exceeded the unearned premium reserve. The revisions do not impact whether a transaction would be considered BIG or whether reserves are established for a transaction or the amount of any such reserves, but only the distribution within the BIG surveillance categories. While the revisions resulted in a number of transactions moving between BIG categories, the revisions had a relatively small impact on the totals in each category.

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Net Par Outstanding for Below Investment Grade Credits

 
  As of December 31, 2010  
Description
  Net Par
Outstanding
Financial
Guaranty
Insurance
  % of Total
Net Par
Outstanding
  Net Par
Outstanding
Credit
Derivatives
  % of Total
Net Par
Outstanding
  Net Par
Outstanding
Total
  % of Total
Net Par
Outstanding
  Number of
Credits
in Category
 
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

BIG:

                                           
 

Category 1

  $ 5,521     0.9 % $ 3,241     0.5 % $ 8,762     1.4 %   151  
 

Category 2

    5,646     0.9     3,457     0.6     9,103     1.5     147  
 

Category 3

    7,281     1.1     1,660     0.3     8,941     1.4     127  
                               

Total BIG

  $ 18,448     2.9 % $ 8,358     1.4 % $ 26,806     4.3 %   425  
                               

 

 
  As of December 31, 2009  
Description
  Net Par
Outstanding
Financial
Guaranty
Insurance
  % of Total
Net Par
Outstanding
  Net Par
Outstanding
Credit
Derivatives
  % of Total
Net Par
Outstanding
  Net Par
Outstanding
Total
  % of Total
Net Par
Outstanding
  Number of
Credits
in Category
 
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

BIG:

                                           
 

Category 1

  $ 4,230     0.7 % $ 2,408     0.4 % $ 6,638     1.1 %   112  
 

Category 2

    6,805     1.1     3,834     0.6     10,639     1.7     208  
 

Category 3

    6,672     1.0     1,217     0.2     7,889     1.2     44  
                               

Total BIG

  $ 17,707     2.8 % $ 7,459     1.2 % $ 25,166     4.0 %   364  
                               

        For a discussion of losses estimated for each BIG category and in order to understand loss amounts reported on the consolidated statements of operations and expected loss amounts reported, see the accounting policy in Note 5 in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data."


Exposure to Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities

        The tables below provide information on the risk ratings and certain other risk characteristics of the Company's RMBS exposures as of December 31, 2010.

        Net par outstanding in the following tables are based on values as of December 31, 2010. All performance information such as pool factor, subordination, cumulative losses and delinquency is based on December 31, 2010 information obtained from Intex, Bloomberg, and/or provided by the trustee and may be subject to restatement or correction.

        Pool factor in the following tables is the percentage of the current collateral balance divided by the original collateral balance of the transactions at inception.

        Subordination in the following tables represents the sum of subordinate tranches and over-collateralization, expressed as a percentage of total transaction size and does not include any benefit from excess interest collections that may be used to absorb losses. Many of the CES transactions insured by the Company have unique structures whereby the collateral may be written down for losses without a corresponding write-down of the obligations insured by the Company. Many of these transactions are currently under-collateralized, with the principal amount of collateral being less than the principal amount of the obligation insured by the Company. The Company is not required to pay principal shortfalls until legal maturity (rather than making timely principal payments), and takes the under-collateralization into account when estimating expected losses for these transactions.

        Cumulative losses in the following tables are defined as net charge-offs on the underlying loan collateral divided by the original pool balance.

        60+ day delinquencies in the following tables are defined as loans that are greater than 60 days delinquent and all loans that are in foreclosure, bankruptcy or real estate owned divided by net par outstanding.

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        U.S. Prime First Lien in the tables below includes primarily prime first lien plus an insignificant amount of other miscellaneous RMBS transactions.

        The Company has not insured or reinsured any U.S. RMBS transactions since June 2008.

Distribution of U.S. RMBS by Internal Rating and by Segment as of December 31, 2010

Ratings:
  Direct
Net Par
Outstanding
  %   Reinsurance
Net Par
Outstanding
  %   Total
Net Par
Outstanding
  %  
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

AAA

  $ 2,843     11.5 % $ 29     8.2 % $ 2,872     11.4 %

AA

    2,522     10.2     52     14.8     2,574     10.2  

A

    1,460     5.9     51     14.5     1,511     6.0  

BBB

    1,781     7.2     37     10.5     1,818     7.2  

BIG

    16,172     65.2     183     52.0     16,355     65.1  
                           
 

Total exposures

  $ 24,778     100.0 % $ 352     100.0 % $ 25,130     100.0 %
                           

Distribution of U.S. RMBS by Internal Rating and Type of Exposure as of December 31, 2010

Ratings:
  Prime
First
Lien
  Closed
End
Second
Lien
  HELOC   Alt-A
First Lien
  Alt-A
Option
ARMs
  Subprime
First
Lien
  Net
Interest
Margin
  Total Net
Par
Outstanding
 
 
  (in millions)
 

AAA

  $ 10   $ 0   $ 436   $ 100   $ 87   $ 2,238   $   $ 2,872  

AA

    167     33     264     216     29     1,865     0     2,574  

A

    22     1     12     104     127     1,245         1,511  

BBB

    26         18     1,056     111     585     23     1,818  

BIG

    624     1,131     4,000     4,657     2,859     2,931     152     16,355  
                                   
 

Total exposures

  $ 849   $ 1,164   $ 4,730   $ 6,134   $ 3,214   $ 8,864   $ 175   $ 25,130  
                                   

Distribution of U.S. RMBS by Year Insured and Type of Exposure as of December 31, 2010

Year insured:
  Prime
First
Lien
  Closed
End
Second
Lien
  HELOC   Alt-A First
Lien
  Alt-A
Option
ARMs
  Subprime
First
Lien
  Net
Interest
Margin
  Total Net
Par
Outstanding
 
 
  (in millions)
 

2004 and prior

  $ 61   $ 1   $ 352   $ 129   $ 51   $ 1,616   $ 0   $ 2,211  

2005

    182         1,051     691     149     388     0     2,460  

2006

    138     457     1,451     489     819     3,802     87     7,244  

2007

    468     706     1,875     3,086     2,084     2,971     88     11,279  

2008

                1,739     109     87         1,935  
                                   
 

Total exposures

  $ 849   $ 1,164   $ 4,730   $ 6,134   $ 3,214   $ 8,864   $ 175   $ 25,130  
                                   

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Distribution of U.S. RMBS by Internal Rating and Year Insured as of December 31, 2010

Year insured:
  AAA
Rated
  AA
Rated
  A
Rated
  BBB
Rated
  BIG
Rated
  Total  
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

2004 and prior

  $ 1,455   $ 91   $ 125   $ 168   $ 371   $ 2,211  

2005

    188     100     101     124     1,947     2,460  

2006

    931     1,763     1,131     117     3,302     7,244  

2007

    293     453     44     630     9,860     11,279  

2008

    5     167     109     779     874     1,935  
                           
 

Total exposures

  $ 2,872   $ 2,574   $ 1,511   $ 1,818   $ 16,355   $ 25,130  
                           

% of total

    11.4 %   10.2 %   6.0 %   7.2 %   65.2 %   100.0 %

Distribution of Financial Guaranty Direct U.S. RMBS
Insured January 1, 2005 or Later by Exposure Type, Average Pool Factor, Subordination,
Cumulative Losses and 60+ Day Delinquencies as of December 31, 2010

U.S. Prime First Lien

Year insured:
  Net Par
Outstanding
  Pool Factor   Subordination   Cumulative
Losses
  60+ Day
Delinquencies
  Number of
Transactions
 
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

2005

  $ 178     50.8 %   5.1 %   1.0 %   8.6 %   6  

2006

    138     64.4     8.1     0.0     14.9     1  

2007

    468     62.9     10.3     2.4     14.7     1  

2008

                         
                           

  $ 784     60.4 %   8.8 %   1.6 %   13.3 %   8  
                           

U.S. Closed End Second Lien

Year insured:
  Net Par
Outstanding
  Pool Factor   Subordination   Cumulative
Losses
  60+ Day
Delinquencies
  Number of
Transactions
 
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

2005

  $     %   %   %   %    

2006

    445     20.4         56.4     14.8     2  

2007

    706     25.4         61.3     13.5     10  

2008

                         
                           

  $ 1,151     23.5 %   %   59.4 %   14.0 %   12  
                           

U.S. HELOC

Year insured:
  Net Par
Outstanding
  Pool Factor   Subordination   Cumulative
Losses
  60+ Day
Delinquencies
  Number of
Transactions
 
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

2005

  $ 997     20.9 %   2.5 %   12.7 %   11.9 %   6  

2006

    1,424     34.1     2.0     28.9     11.3     7  

2007

    1,875     49.1     3.2     26.1     7.1     9  

2008

                         
                           

  $ 4,296     37.6 %   2.6 %   23.9 %   9.7 %   22  
                           

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U.S. Alt-A First Lien

Year insured:
  Net Par
Outstanding
  Pool Factor   Subordination   Cumulative
Losses
  60+ Day
Delinquencies
  Number of
Transactions
 
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

2005

  $ 688     40.5 %   11.7 %   4.7 %   20.1 %   21  

2006

    489     48.0     0.5     13.3     38.9     7  

2007

    3,086     60.0     7.2     9.2     34.3     12  

2008

    1,739     55.5     26.3     9.4     30.9     5  
                           

  $ 6,002     55.5 %   12.7 %   9.1 %   32.0 %   45  
                           

U.S. Alt-A Option ARMs

Year insured:
  Net Par
Outstanding
  Pool Factor   Subordination   Cumulative
Losses
  60+ Day
Delinquencies
  Number of
Transactions
 
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

2005

  $ 139     29.0 %   8.9 %   7.8 %   37.8 %   4  

2006

    813     55.0     4.5     11.9     52.0     7  

2007

    2,084     60.3     5.0     11.8     40.6     11  

2008

    109     62.2     49.4     8.1     35.1     1  
                           

  $ 3,146     57.6 %   6.6 %   11.5 %   43.2 %   23  
                           

U.S. Subprime First Lien

Year insured:
  Net Par
Outstanding
  Pool Factor   Subordination   Cumulative
Losses
  60+ Day
Delinquencies
  Number of
Transactions
 
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

2005

  $ 378     36.0 %   48.2 %   5.1 %   41.9 %   7  

2006

    3,795     25.5     61.5     13.7     41.1     4  

2007

    2,971     58.7     26.5     13.6     49.0     13  

2008

    82     71.2     32.9     7.1     34.2     1  
                           

  $ 7,226     40.2 %   46.1 %   13.1 %   44.3 %   25  
                           


Exposures by Reinsurer

        Ceded par outstanding represents the portion of insured risk ceded to other reinsurers. Under these relationships, the Company cedes a portion of its insured risk in exchange for a premium paid to the reinsurer. The Company remains primarily liable for all risks it directly underwrites and is required to pay all gross claims. It then seeks reimbursement from the reinsurer for its proportionate share of claims. The Company may be exposed to risk for this exposure if it were required to pay the gross claims and not be able to collect ceded claims from an assuming company experiencing financial distress. A number of the financial guaranty insurers to which the Company has ceded par have experienced financial distress and been downgraded by the rating agencies as a result. In addition, state insurance regulators have intervened with respect to some of these insurers.

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        Assumed par outstanding represents the amount of par assumed by the Company from other monolines. Under these relationships, the Company assumes a portion of the ceding company's insured risk in exchange for a premium. The Company may be exposed to risk in this portfolio in that the Company may be required to pay losses without a corresponding premium in circumstances where the ceding company is experiencing financial distress and is unable to pay premiums.

        In addition to assumed and ceded reinsurance arrangements, the company may also have exposure to some financial guaranty reinsurers (i.e. monolines) in other areas. Second-to-pay insured par outstanding represents transactions the Company has insured that were previously insured by other monolines. The Company underwrites such transactions based on the underlying insured obligation without regard to the primary insurer. Another area of exposure is in the investment portfolio where the Company holds fixed maturity securities that are wrapped by monolines and whose value may decline based on the rating of the monoline. At December 31, 2010, the Company had $899.2 million of fixed maturity securities in its investment portfolio wrapped by MBIA Insurance Corporation, $686.9 million by AMBAC Assurance Corp. and $67.6 million by other guarantors at fair value.

Exposure by Reinsurer

 
  Ratings at
February 23, 2011
  Par Outstanding as of December 31, 2010  
Reinsurer
  Moody's
Reinsurer
Rating
  S&P
Reinsurer
Rating
  Ceded
Par
Outstanding(3)
  Second-to-Pay
Insured Par
Outstanding
  Assumed Par
Outstanding
 
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

Radian Asset Assurance Inc. 

  Ba1   BB-   $ 21,829   $ 66   $  

Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. 

  Aa2(1)   AA-(1)     19,230         934  

RAM Reinsurance Co. Ltd. 

  WR(2)   WR(2)     13,367         24  

Syncora Guarantee Inc. 

  Ca   WR     4,252     2,666     880  

Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co. Ltd. 

  Aa3   AA-     2,452          

ACA Financial Guaranty Corp

  NR   WR     870     19     2  

Swiss Reinsurance Co. 

  A1   A+     515          

Financial Guaranty Insurance Co. 

  WR   WR     250     3,970     3,433  

Ambac Assurance Corporation

  Caa2   WR     109     8,039     24,816  

MBIA Insurance Corporation

  B3   B     108     11,684     11,740  

CIFG Assurance North America Inc. 

  WR   WR     73     259     11,223  

Berkshire Hathaway Assurance Corporation

  Aa1   AA+              

Multiple owner

                2,012      

Other

  Various   Various     1,062         114  
                       
 

Total

          $ 64,117   $ 28,715   $ 53,166  
                       

(1)
The Company has structural collateral agreements satisfying the triple-A credit requirement of S&P and/or Moody's.

(2)
Represents "Withdrawn Rating."

(3)
Includes $7,023 million in ceded par outstanding related to insured credit derivatives.

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Ceded Par Outstanding by Reinsurer and Credit Rating
As of December 31, 2010(1)

 
  Credit Rating  
Reinsurer
  Super Senior   AAA   AA   A   BBB   BIG   Total  
 
  (in millions)
 

Radian Asset Assurance Inc. 

  $ 193   $ 1,040   $ 9,668   $ 7,828   $ 2,777   $ 323   $ 21,829  

Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. 

    489     1,883     6,032     6,626     3,331     869     19,230  

RAM Reinsurance Co. Ltd. 

    393     2,347     4,726     3,641     1,849     411     13,367  

Syncora Guarantee Inc. 

        25     462     803     2,938     24     4,252  

Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co. Ltd. 

    8     153     898     895     416     82     2,452  

ACA Financial Guaranty Corp

            575     246     49         870  

Swiss Reinsurance Co. 

        10     108     215     99     83     515  

Financial Guaranty Insurance Co. 

                250             250  

Ambac Assurance Corporation

                109             109  

MBIA Insurance Corporation

            108                 108  

CIFG Assurance North America Inc. 

                        73     73  

Other

        0     224     743     94     1     1,062  
                               
 

Total

  $ 1,083   $ 5,458   $ 22,801   $ 21,356   $ 11,553   $ 1,866   $ 64,117  
                               

        In accordance with statutory accounting requirements and U.S. insurance laws and regulations, in order for the Company to receive credit for liabilities ceded to reinsurers domiciled outside of the U.S., such reinsurers must secure their liabilities to the Company. All of the unauthorized reinsurers in the table above post collateral for the benefit of the Company in an amount at least equal to the sum of their ceded unearned premium reserve, loss reserves and contingency reserves all calculated on a statutory basis of accounting. CIFG Assurance North America Inc. and Radian Asset Assurance Inc. are authorized reinsurers. Their collateral equals or exceeds their ceded statutory loss reserves. Collateral may be in the form of letters of credit or trust accounts. The total collateral posted by all non-affiliated reinsurers as of December 31, 2010 exceeds $1 billion.

Second-to-Pay
Insured Par Outstanding by Rating
As of December 31, 2010(1)

 
  Public Finance   Structured Finance    
 
 
  AAA   AA   A   BBB   BIG   AAA   AA   A   BBB   BIG   Total  
 
  (in millions)
 

Radian Asset Assurance Inc. 

  $   $   $ 14   $ 40   $ 11   $ 1   $   $   $   $   $ 66  

Syncora Guarantee Inc. 

        3     443     704     328     349     167     109     245     318     2,666  

ACA Financial Guaranty Corp

        13         6                             19  

Financial Guaranty Insurance Co

        171     1,221     598     356     1,209     195     132     17     71     3,970  

Ambac Assurance Corporation

    12     2,350     2,963     1,113     355     254     1     295     100     596     8,039  

MBIA Insurance Corporation

    15     3,515     4,319     1,753     30     41     1,353     37     596     25     11,684  

CIFG Assurance North America Inc. 

        11     69     134     45                         259  

Multiple owner

            2,012                                 2,012  
                                               
 

Total

  $ 27   $ 6,063   $ 11,041   $ 4,348   $ 1,125   $ 1,854   $ 1,716   $ 573   $ 958   $ 1,010   $ 28,715  
                                               

(1)
Assured Guaranty's internal rating.

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

Liquidity Requirements and Sources

        AGL and its holding company subsidiaries' liquidity is largely dependent on its operating results and its access to external financings. Liquidity requirements include the payment of operating expenses, interest on debt of AGUS and AGMH and dividends on common shares. AGL and its holding company subsidiaries may also require liquidity to make periodic capital investments in its operating subsidiaries. In the ordinary course of business, the Company evaluates its liquidity needs and capital resources in light of holding company expenses and dividend policy, as well as rating agency considerations. Management believes that AGL will have sufficient liquidity to satisfy its needs over the next twelve months, including the ability to pay dividends on AGL common shares. The Company anticipates that for the next twelve months, amounts paid by AGL's operating subsidiaries as dividends will be a major source of its liquidity. It is possible that in the future, AGL or its subsidiaries may need to seek additional external debt or equity financing in order to meet its obligations. External sources of financing may or may not be available to the Company, and if available, the cost of such financing may be higher than the Company's current level.

AGL and Holding Company Subsidiaries
Significant Cash Flow Items

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009(1)   2008  
 
  (in millions)
 

Net proceeds from issuance of common shares

  $   $ 1,022.8   $ 249.0  

Net proceeds from issuance of equity units

        167.3      

Capital contributions to subsidiaries

        (556.7 )   (250.0 )

Dividends and return of capital from subsidiaries

    124.0     72.1     47.8  

Dividends paid

    (33.2 )   (22.8 )   (17.0 )

Repurchases of common shares

    (10.5 )   (3.7 )    

Interest paid

    (84.3 )   (53.0 )   (23.6 )

(1)
Since July 1, 2009, amounts include AGMH.

        Liquidity of the insurance company subsidiaries is primarily used to pay (1) operating expenses, (2) claims, including payment obligations in respect of credit derivatives, (4) collateral postings in connection with credit derivatives and reinsurance transactions, (4) reinsurance premiums, (5) dividends to AGUS and AGMH for debt service and dividends to AGL, and (6) where appropriate, to make capital investments in their own subsidiaries. Management believes that its subsidiaries' liquidity needs for the next twelve months can be met from current cash, short-term investments and operating cash flow, including premium collections as well as coupon payments and scheduled maturities and paydowns from their respective investment portfolios.

        Beyond the next 12 months, the ability of the operating subsidiaries to declare and pay dividends may be influenced by a variety of factors, including market conditions, insurance regulations and rating agency capital requirements and general economic conditions.

        Insurance policies the Company issues provide, in general, that payments of principal, interest and other amounts insured may not be accelerated by the holder of the obligation. Amounts paid by the Company therefore are typically in accordance with the obligation's original payment schedule or, at the Company's option, may be on an accelerated basis. Insurance policies guaranteeing payments under CDS may provide for acceleration of amounts due upon the occurrence of certain credit events, subject to single risk limits specified in the insurance laws of the State of New York (the "New York Insurance Law"). These constraints prohibit or limit acceleration of certain claims according to Article 69 of the New York Insurance Law and serve to reduce the Company's liquidity requirements.

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        Payments made in settlement of the Company's obligations arising from its insured portfolio may, and often do, vary significantly from year-to-year, depending primarily on the frequency and severity of payment defaults and whether the Company chooses to accelerate its payment obligations in order to mitigate future losses.

Claims Paid Under Financial Guaranty Contracts

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010(2)   2009(1)   2008  
 
  (in millions)
 

Claims paid (recovered), net

  $ 931.7   $ 687.7   $ 257.7  

(1)
Since July 1, 2009, amounts include AGMH.

(2)
Includes $146.3 million for consolidated VIEs.

        The terms of the Company's CDS contracts generally are modified from standard CDS contract forms approved by International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. ("ISDA") in order to provide for payments on a scheduled basis and to replicate the terms of a traditional financial guaranty insurance policy. Some contracts the Company enters into as the credit protection seller, however, utilize standard ISDA settlement mechanics of cash settlement (i.e., a process to value the loss of market value of a reference obligation) or physical settlement (i.e., delivery of the reference obligation against payment of principal by the protection seller) in the event of a "credit event," as defined in the relevant contract. Cash settlement or physical settlement generally requires the payment of a larger amount, prior to the maturity of the reference obligation, than would settlement on a "pay-as-you-go" basis, under which the Company would be required to pay scheduled interest shortfalls during the term of the reference obligation and scheduled principal shortfall only at the final maturity of the reference obligation. The Company's CDS contracts also generally provide that if events of default or termination events specified in the CDS documentation were to occur, the non-defaulting or the non-affected party, which may be either the Company or the counterparty, depending upon the circumstances, may decide to terminate the CDS contract prior to maturity. The Company may be required to make a termination payment to its swap counterparty upon such termination. See also "—Ratings Sensitivity in Financial Guaranty Direct Business."

        Potential acceleration of claims with respect to CDS obligations occur with funded CDOs and synthetic CDOs, as described below:

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Pooled Corporate CDS

 
  As of December 31, 2010   As of December 31, 2009  
 
  Net Par
Outstanding
  %   Net Par
Outstanding
  %  
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

Funded CDOs

  $ 56,779     72 % $ 60,889     70 %

Synthetic CDOs

    22,221     28     25,692     30  
                   
 

Total pooled corporate CDS

  $ 79,000     100 % $ 86,581     100 %
                   

        The insurance company subsidiaries' ability to pay dividends depends, among other things, upon their financial condition, results of operations, cash requirements, and compliance with rating agency requirements, and is also subject to restrictions contained in the insurance laws and related regulations of their states of domicile. Dividends paid by a U.S. company to a Bermuda holding company presently are subject to a 30% withholding tax.

        Under Maryland's insurance law, AGC may pay dividends out of earned surplus in any twelve-month period in an aggregate amount not exceeding the lesser of (a) 10% of policyholders' surplus or (b) net investment income at the preceding December 31 (including net investment income which has not already been paid out as dividends for the three calendar years prior to the preceding calendar year) without prior approval of the Maryland Commissioner of Insurance. As of December 31, 2010, the amount available for distribution from AGC during 2011 with notice to, but without prior approval of, the Maryland Commissioner was approximately $85.4 million.

        Under the New York Insurance Law, AGM may pay dividends out of earned surplus, provided that, together with all dividends declared or distributed by AGM during the preceding 12 months, the dividends do not exceed the lesser of (a) 10% of policyholders' surplus as of its last statement filed with the Superintendent of Insurance of the State of New York (the "New York Superintendent") or (b) adjusted net investment income (net investment income at the preceding December 31 plus net investment income which has not already been paid out as dividends for the three calendar years prior to the preceding calendar year) during this period. Based on AGM's statutory statements for 2009, the maximum amount available for payment of dividends by AGM without regulatory approval over the 12 months following December 31, 2010 was approximately $92.7 million. However, in connection with the AGMH Acquisition, the Company has committed to the New York Insurance Department that AGM will not pay any dividends for a period of two years from the date of the AGMH Acquisition without the written approval of the New York Insurance Department.

        The amount available at AG Re to pay dividends or make a distribution of contributed surplus in 2010 in compliance with Bermuda law is $1,258 million. However, any distribution which results in a reduction of 15% or more of AG Re's total statutory capital, as set out in its previous years' financial statements, would require the prior approval of the Bermuda Monetary Authority.

Cash Flow Summary

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   2008  
 
  (in millions)
 

Net cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities

  $ 104.0   $ 279.2   $ 427.0  

Net cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities

    677.3     (1,397.2 )   (649.6 )

Net cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities

    (717.4 )   1,148.6     229.4  

Effect of exchange rate changes

    (0.8 )   1.3     (2.5 )

Cash at beginning of period

    44.1     12.3     8.0  
               
 

Total cash at the end of the period

  $ 107.2   $ 44.1   $ 12.3  
               

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        Operating cash flows in 2010 include a full year of AGMH activity compared to only six months in 2009 as well as net cash inflows of $226.9 million for consolidated VIEs. Excluding consolidated VIEs, the decrease in operating cash flows in 2010 was due primarily to higher outflows for net paid losses, interest, other expenses and taxes, offset in part by premium on financial guaranty and credit derivatives. Claim payments were $931.7 million in 2010 compared to $687.7 million in 2009 and $257.7 million in 2008. Interest payments were $90.3 million in 2010 compared to $56.4 million in 2009 and $23.6 million in 2008. Taxes paid were $39.2 million in 2010 compared to $27.8 million in 2009 and $18.7 million in 2008. Net premiums and credit derivative inflows increased in 2010 due to the inclusion of a full year of AGMH activity.

        In 2009, the Company had higher U.S. public finance originations and lower claim payments than 2008. The decrease in 2009 operating cash flows provided by operating activities compared with 2008 was due primarily to paid losses and AGMH Acquisition-related expenses, partially offset by an increase in public finance originations and one-time settlements.

        Investing activities were primarily net sales (purchases) of fixed maturity and short-term investment securities. In addition, the 2010 amount included $424.0 million of net proceeds from paydowns on financial guaranty VIEs' assets. The 2009 investing cash outflows was due primarily to the cost of the AGMH Acquisition of $546.0 million, net of cash acquired of $87.0 million, purchases of fixed maturity securities with the cash generated from common share and equity units offerings and positive cash flows from operating activities.

        In 2010 financing outflows were mainly due to the inclusion of consolidated VIEs in 2010. Financing inflows in 2009 was higher compared to 2008 due to net cash proceeds from common share and equity units offerings.

        In May 2010, the Company completed a share repurchase program that was authorized in 2007 by acquiring the remaining 707,350 authorized shares for $10.4 million. On August 4, 2010, the Company's Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase program for up to 2.0 million common shares. Share repurchases will take place at management's discretion depending on market conditions. No shares were repurchased in 2010 under the 2010 share repurchase program.

Commitments and Contingencies

        AGL and its subsidiaries are party to various lease agreements. Future cash payments associated with contractual obligations pursuant to operating leases for office space have not materially changed since December 31, 2009. The principal executive offices of AGL and AG Re consist of approximately 8,250 square feet of office space located in Hamilton, Bermuda. The lease for this space expires in April 2015.

        The Company's primary lease for the principal place of business of AGM, AGC and its other U.S. based subsidiaries in New York City expires April 2026. In addition, the Company and its subsidiaries lease additional office space under non-cancelable operating leases, which expire at various dates through 2013. Prior to AGMH Acquisition, the Company had entered into a five year lease agreement in New York City, however, as a result of the AGMH Acquisition, the Company decided not to occupy this office space and subleased it to two tenants for total minimum annual payments of approximately $3.7 million until October 2013. The Company wrote off related leasehold improvements and recorded a pre-tax loss on the sublease of $11.7 million in second quarter 2009, which is included in "AGMH acquisition-related expenses" and "other liabilities" in the consolidated statements of operations and balance sheets, respectively. See "—Contractual Obligations" for lease payments due by period.

        Rent expense for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 was $11.4 million, $10.6 million and $5.7 million, respectively.

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        The principal and carrying values of the Company's long-term debt issued by AGUS and AGMH were as follows:

Principal and Carrying Amounts of Debt

 
  As of December 31, 2010   As of December 31, 2009  
 
  Principal   Carrying
Value
  Principal   Carrying
Value
 
 
  (in millions)
 

AGUS:

                         
 

7.0% Senior Notes

  $ 200.0   $ 197.6   $ 200.0   $ 197.5  
 

8.50% Senior Notes

    172.5     171.0     172.5     170.1  
 

Series A Enhanced Junior Subordinated Debentures

    150.0     149.8     150.0     149.8  
                   
   

Total AGUS

    522.5     518.4     522.5     517.4  

AGMH(1):

                         
 

67/8% QUIBS

    100.0     67.0     100.0     66.7  
 

6.25% Notes

    230.0     135.0     230.0     133.9  
 

5.60% Notes

    100.0     53.0     100.0     52.6  
 

Junior Subordinated Debentures

    300.0     152.5     300.0     146.8  
 

Notes Payable

    119.3     127.0     140.1     149.1  
                   
   

Total AGMH

    849.3     534.5     870.1     549.1  
                   

Total

  $ 1,371.8   $ 1,052.9   $ 1,392.6   $ 1,066.5  
                   

(1)
AGMH principal amounts vary from carrying amounts due primarily to acquisition method fair value adjustments at the Acquisition Date which are accreted or amortized into interest expense over the remaining terms of these obligations.

        AGL fully and unconditionally guarantees the following debt obligations issued by AGUS: (1) 7.0% Senior Notes and (2) 8.50% Senior Notes. AGL also fully and unconditionally guarantees the following AGMH debt obligations: (1) 67/8% Quarterly Income Bonds Securities ("QUIBS"), (2) 6.25% Notes and (3) 5.60% Notes. In addition, AGL guarantees, on a junior subordinated basis, AGUS's Series A, Enhanced Junior Subordinated Debentures and the $300 million of AGMH's outstanding Junior Subordinated Debentures.

        7.0% Senior Notes.    On May 18, 2004, AGUS issued $200.0 million of 7.0% senior notes due 2034 ("7.0% Senior Notes") for net proceeds of $197.3 million. Although the coupon on the Senior Notes is 7.0%, the effective rate is approximately 6.4%, taking into account the effect of a cash flow hedge executed by the Company in March 2004.

        8.50% Senior Notes.    On June 24, 2009, AGL issued 3,450,000 equity units for net proceeds of approximately $166.8 million in a registered public offering. The net proceeds of the offering were used to pay a portion of the consideration for the AGMH Acquisition. Each equity unit consists of (i) a forward purchase contract and (ii) a 5% undivided beneficial ownership interest in $1,000 principal amount 8.50% senior notes due 2014 issued by AGUS. Under the purchase contract, holders are required to purchase, and AGL is required to issue, between 3.8685 and 4.5455 of AGL common shares for $50 no later than June 1, 2012. The actual number of shares purchased will be based on the average closing price of the common shares over a 20-trading day period ending three trading days prior to June 1, 2012. More specifically, if the average closing price per share for the relevant period (the "Applicable Market Value") is equal to or exceeds $12.93, the settlement rate will be 3.8685 shares. If the Applicable Market Value is less than or equal to $11.00, the settlement rate will be 4.5455 shares, and if it is between $11.00 and $12.93, the settlement rate will be equal to the quotient of $50.00 and the Applicable Market Value. The notes are pledged by the holders of the equity units to a collateral agent to secure their obligations under the purchase contracts. Interest on the notes is payable, initially, quarterly at the rate of 8.50% per year. The notes are subject to a mandatory

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remarketing between December 1, 2011 and May 1, 2012 (or, if not remarketed during such period, during a designated three business day period in May 2012). In the remarketing, the interest rate on the notes will be reset and certain other terms of the notes may be modified, including to extend the maturity date, to change the redemption rights (as long as there will be at least two years between the reset date and any new redemption date) and to add interest deferral provisions. If the notes are not successfully remarketed, the interest rate on the notes will not be reset and holders of all notes will have the right to put their notes to the Company on the purchase contract settlement date at a put price equal to $1,000 per note ($50 per equity unit) plus accrued and unpaid interest. The notes are redeemable at AGUS' option, in whole but not in part, upon the occurrence and continuation of certain events at any time prior to the earlier of the date of a successful remarketing and the purchase contract settlement date. The aggregate redemption amount for the notes is equal to an amount that would permit the collateral agent to purchase a portfolio of U.S. Treasury securities sufficient to pay the principal amount of the notes and all scheduled interest payment dates that occur after the special event redemption date to, and including the purchase contract settlement date; provided that the aggregate redemption amount may not be less than the principal amount of the notes. Other than in connection with certain specified tax or accounting related events, the notes may not be redeemed by AGUS prior to June 1, 2014.

        Series A Enhanced Junior Subordinated Debentures.    On December 20, 2006, AGUS issued $150.0 million of the Debentures due 2066 for net proceeds of $149.7 million. The Debentures pay a fixed 6.40% rate of interest until December 15, 2016, and thereafter pay a floating rate of interest, reset quarterly, at a rate equal to 3 month London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") plus a margin equal to 2.38%. AGUS may elect at one or more times to defer payment of interest for one or more consecutive periods for up to ten years. Any unpaid interest bears interest at the then applicable rate. AGUS may not defer interest past the maturity date.

        67/8% QUIBS.    On December 19, 2001, AGMH issued $100.0 million face amount of 67/8% QUIBS due December 15, 2101, which are callable without premium or penalty.

        6.25% Notes.    On November 26, 2002, AGMH issued $230.0 million face amount of 6.25% Notes due November 1, 2102, which are callable without premium or penalty in whole or in part.

        5.60% Notes.    On July 31, 2003, AGMH issued $100.0 million face amount of 5.60% Notes due July 15, 2103, which are callable without premium or penalty in whole or in part.

        Junior Subordinated Debentures.    On November 22, 2006, AGMH issued $300.0 million face amount of Junior Subordinated Debentures with a scheduled maturity date of December 15, 2036 and a final repayment date of December 15, 2066. The final repayment date of December 15, 2066 may be automatically extended up to four times in five-year increments provided certain conditions are met. The debentures are redeemable, in whole or in part, at any time prior to December 15, 2036 at their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption or, if greater, the make-whole redemption price. Interest on the debentures will accrue from November 22, 2006 to December 15, 2036 at the annual rate of 6.40%. If any amount of the debentures remains outstanding after December 15, 2036, then the principal amount of the outstanding debentures will bear interest at a floating interest rate equal to one-month LIBOR plus 2.215% until repaid. AGMH may elect at one or more times to defer payment of interest on the debentures for one or more consecutive interest periods that do not exceed ten years. In connection with the completion of this offering, AGMH entered into a replacement capital covenant for the benefit of persons that buy, hold or sell a specified series of AGMH long-term indebtedness ranking senior to the debentures. Under the covenant, the debentures will not be repaid, redeemed, repurchased or defeased by AGMH or any of its subsidiaries on or before the date that is 20 years prior to the final repayment date, except to the extent that AGMH has received proceeds from the sale of replacement capital securities. The proceeds from this offering were used to pay a dividend to the shareholders of AGMH.

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        Notes Payable represents debt, issued by VIEs consolidated by AGM, to the Financial Products Companies which were transferred to Dexia Holdings prior to the AGMH Acquisition. The funds borrowed were used to finance the purchase of the underlying obligations of AGM-insured obligations which had breached triggers allowing AGM to exercise its right to accelerate payment of a claim in order to mitigate loss. The assets purchased are classified as assets acquired in refinancing transactions and recorded in "other invested assets". The term of the notes payable matches the terms of the assets. On the Acquisition Date, the fair value of this note was $164.4 million, representing a premium of $9.5 million, which is amortized over the term of the debt.

        On November 6, 2006, AGL and certain of its subsidiaries entered into a $300.0 million five-year unsecured revolving credit facility (the "2006 Credit Facility") with a syndicate of banks. Under the 2006 Credit Facility, each of AGC, AGUK, AG Re, AGRO and AGL are entitled to request the banks to make loans to such borrower or to request that letters of credit be issued for the account of such borrower. Of the $300.0 million available to be borrowed, no more than $100.0 million may be borrowed by AGL, AG Re or AGRO, individually or in the aggregate, and no more than $20.0 million may be borrowed by AGUK. The stated amount of all outstanding letters of credit and the amount of all unpaid drawings in respect of all letters of credit cannot, in the aggregate, exceed $100.0 million. The 2006 Credit Facility also provides that Assured Guaranty may request that the commitment of the banks be increased an additional $100.0 million up to a maximum aggregate amount of $400.0 million. Any such incremental commitment increase is subject to certain conditions provided in the agreement and must be for at least $25.0 million.

        The proceeds of the loans and letters of credit are to be used for the working capital and other general corporate purposes of the borrowers and to support reinsurance transactions.

        At the closing of the 2006 Credit Facility, AGC guaranteed the obligations of AGUK under the facility and AGL guaranteed the obligations of AG Re and AGRO under the facility and agreed that, if the Company consolidated assets (as defined in the related credit agreement) of AGC and its subsidiaries were to fall below $1.2 billion, it would, within 15 days, guarantee the obligations of AGC and AGUK under the facility. At the same time, Assured Guaranty Overseas US Holdings Inc. guaranteed the obligations of AGL, AG Re and AGRO under the facility, and each of AG Re and AGRO guaranteed the other as well as AGL.

        The 2006 Credit Facility's financial covenants require that AGL:

        In addition, the 2006 Credit Facility requires that AGC maintain qualified statutory capital of at least 75% of its statutory capital as of the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2006. Furthermore, the 2006 Credit Facility contains restrictions on AGL and its subsidiaries, including, among other things, in respect of their ability to incur debt, permit liens, become liable in respect of guaranties, make loans or investments, pay dividends or make distributions, dissolve or become party to a merger, consolidation or acquisition, dispose of assets or enter into affiliate transactions. Most of these restrictions are subject to certain minimum thresholds and exceptions. The 2006 Credit Facility has customary events of default, including (subject to certain materiality thresholds and grace periods) payment default, failure to comply with covenants, material inaccuracy of representation or warranty, bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, change of control and cross-default to other debt agreements. A default by one borrower will give rise to a right of the lenders to terminate the facility and accelerate all amounts then outstanding. As of December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, Assured Guaranty was in compliance with all of the financial covenants.

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        As of December 31, 2010, no amounts were outstanding under this facility nor have there been any borrowings during the life of the 2006 Credit Facility.

        Letters of credit totaling approximately $2.9 million remained outstanding as of December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009. The Company obtained the letters of credit in connection with entering into a lease for new office space in 2008, which space was subsequently sublet.

        In connection with the AGMH Acquisition, AGM agreed to retain the risks relating to the debt and strip policy portions of the leveraged lease business. The liquidity risk to AGM related to the strip policy portion of the leveraged lease business is mitigated by the strip coverage facility described below.

        In a leveraged lease transaction, a tax-exempt entity (such as a transit agency) transfers tax benefits to a tax-paying entity by transferring ownership of a depreciable asset, such as subway cars. The tax-exempt entity then leases the asset back from its new owner.

        If the lease is terminated early, the tax-exempt entity must make an early termination payment to the lessor. A portion of this early termination payment is funded from monies that were pre-funded and invested at the closing of the leveraged lease transaction (along with earnings on those invested funds). The tax-exempt entity is obligated to pay the remaining, unfunded portion of this early termination payment (known as the "strip coverage") from its own sources. AGM issued financial guaranty insurance policies (known as "strip policies") that guaranteed the payment of these unfunded strip coverage amounts to the lessor, in the event that a tax-exempt entity defaulted on its obligation to pay this portion of its early termination payment. AGM can then seek reimbursement of its strip policy payments from the tax-exempt entity, and can also sell the transferred depreciable asset and reimburse itself from the sale proceeds.

        One event that may lead to an early termination of a lease is the downgrade of AGM, as the strip coverage provider, or the downgrade of the equity payment undertaker within the transaction. Upon such downgrade, the tax exempt entity is generally obligated to find a replacement credit enhancer within a specified period of time; failure to find a replacement could result in a lease default, and failure to cure the default within a specified period of time could lead to an early termination of the lease and a demand by the lessor for a termination payment from the tax exempt entity. However, even in the event of an early termination of the lease, there would not necessarily be an automatic draw on AGM's policy, as this would only occur to the extent the tax exempt entity does not make the required termination payment.

        AIG International Group, Inc. is one entity that has acted as equity payment undertaker in a number of transactions in which AGM acted as strip coverage provider. AIG was downgraded in the third quarter of 2008 and AGM was downgraded by Moody's in the fourth quarter of 2008. As a result of those downgrades, as of December 31, 2010, 45 leveraged lease transactions in which AGM acts as strip coverage provider were breaching either a ratings trigger related to AIG or a ratings trigger related to AGM. For such 45 leveraged lease transactions, if early termination of the leases were to occur and the tax exempt entities do not make the required early termination payments, then AGM would be exposed to possible liquidity claims on gross exposure of approximately $1.1 billion as of December 31, 2010. If AGM were downgraded to A+ by S&P or A1 by Moody's, as of December 31, 2010, another 26 leveraged lease transactions in which AGM acts as strip coverage provider would be affected. For such 26 leveraged lease transactions, if early termination of the leases were to occur and the tax exempt entities do not make the required early termination payments, then AGM would be exposed to possible liquidity claims on gross exposure of an additional approximately $1.0 billion as of December 31, 2010. To date, none of the leveraged lease transactions which involve AGM has experienced an early termination due to a lease default and a claim on the AGM guaranty. It is difficult to determine the probability that the Company will have to pay strip provider claims or the likely aggregate amount of such claims. At December 31, 2010, approximately $567 million of cumulative strip par exposure had been terminated on a consensual basis. The consensual terminations have resulted in no claims on AGM.

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        On July 1, 2009, AGM and DCL, acting through its New York Branch ("Dexia Crédit Local (NY)"), entered into a credit facility (the "Strip Coverage Facility"). Under the Strip Coverage Facility, Dexia Crédit Local (NY) agreed to make loans to AGM to finance all draws made by lessors on AGM strip policies that were outstanding as of November 13, 2008, up to the commitment amount. The commitment amount of the Strip Coverage Facility was $1 billion at closing of the AGMH Acquisition but is scheduled to amortize over time. As of December 31, 2010, the maximum commitment amount of the Strip Coverage Facility has amortized to $991.9 million. It may also be reduced in 2014 to $750 million, if AGM does not have a specified consolidated net worth at that time.

        Fundings under this facility are subject to certain conditions precedent, and their repayment is collateralized by a security interest that AGM granted to Dexia Crédit Local (NY) in amounts that AGM recovers—from the tax-exempt entity, or from asset sale proceeds—following its payment of strip policy claims. The Strip Coverage Facility will terminate upon the earliest to occur of an AGM change of control, the reduction of the commitment amount to $0, and January 31, 2042.

        The Strip Coverage Facility's financial covenants require that AGM and its subsidiaries maintain a maximum debt-to-capital ratio of 30% and maintain a minimum net worth of 75% of consolidated net worth as of July 1, 2009, plus, starting July 1, 2014, 25% of the aggregate consolidated net income (or loss) for the period beginning July 1, 2009 and ending on June 30, 2014 or, if the commitment amount has been reduced to $750 million as described above, zero. The Company is in compliance with all covenants as of the date of this filing.

        The Strip Coverage Facility contains restrictions on AGM, including, among other things, in respect of its ability to incur debt, permit liens, pay dividends or make distributions, dissolve or become party to a merger or consolidation. Most of these restrictions are subject to exceptions. The Strip Coverage Facility has customary events of default, including (subject to certain materiality thresholds and grace periods) payment default, bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings and cross-default to other debt agreements.

        As of December 31, 2010, no amounts were outstanding under this facility, nor have there been any borrowings during the life of this facility.

        On July 31, 2007, AG Re entered into a limited recourse credit facility ("AG Re Credit Facility") with a syndicate of banks which provides up to $200.0 million for the payment of losses in respect of the covered portfolio. The AG Re Credit Facility expires in July 2014. The facility can be utilized after AG Re has incurred, during the term of the facility, cumulative municipal losses (net of any recoveries) in excess of the greater of $260 million or the average annual debt service of the covered portfolio multiplied by 4.5%. The obligation to repay loans under this agreement is a limited recourse obligation payable solely from, and collateralized by, a pledge of recoveries realized on defaulted insured obligations in the covered portfolio, including certain installment premiums and other collateral.

        As of December 31, 2010, no amounts were outstanding under this facility nor have there been any borrowings during the life of this facility.

        On April 30, 2005, AGM entered into a limited recourse credit facility ("AGM Credit Facility") with a syndicate of international banks which provides up to $297.5 million for the payment of losses in respect of the covered portfolio. The AGM Credit Facility expires April 30, 2015. The facility can be utilized after AGM has incurred, during the term of the facility, cumulative municipal losses (net of any recoveries) in excess of the greater of $297.5 million or the average annual debt service of the covered portfolio multiplied by 5.0%. The obligation to repay loans under this agreement is a limited recourse obligation payable solely from, and collateralized by, a pledge of recoveries realized on defaulted insured obligations in the covered portfolio, including certain installment premiums and other collateral. The ratings downgrade of AGM by Moody's to Aa3 in November 2008 resulted in an increase to the commitment fee.

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        As of December 31, 2010, no amounts were outstanding under this facility nor have there been any borrowings during the life of this facility.

        On April 8, 2005, AGC entered into separate agreements (the "Put Agreements") with four custodial trusts (each, a "Custodial Trust") pursuant to which AGC may, at its option, cause each of the Custodial Trusts to purchase up to $50 million of perpetual preferred stock of AGC (the "AGC Preferred Stock").

        Each of the Custodial Trusts is a special purpose Delaware statutory trust formed for the purpose of (a) issuing a series of flex AGC CCS Securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Custodial Trust; (b) investing the proceeds from the issuance of the AGC CCS Securities or any redemption in full of AGC Preferred Stock in a portfolio of high-grade commercial paper and (in limited cases) U.S. Treasury Securities (the "Eligible Assets"), and (c) entering into the Put Agreement and related agreements. The Custodial Trusts are not consolidated in Assured Guaranty's financial statements.

        Income distributions on the AGC CCS Securities were equal to an annualized rate of one-month LIBOR plus 110 basis points for all periods ending on or before April 8, 2008. For periods after that date, distributions on the AGC CCS Securities were determined pursuant to an auction process. However, on April 7, 2008 the auction process failed. As a result, the annualized rate on the AGC CCS Securities increased to one-month LIBOR plus 250 basis points. When a Custodial Trust holds Eligible Assets, the relevant distribution periods is 28 days; when a Custodial Trust holds AGC Preferred Stock, however, the distribution periods is 49 days.

        Put Agreements.    Pursuant to the Put Agreements, AGC pays a monthly put premium to each Custodial Trust except during any periods when the relevant Custodial Trust holds the AGC Preferred Stock that has been put to it or upon termination of the Put Agreement. This put premium equals the product of:

        Upon AGC's exercise of its put option, the relevant Custodial Trust will liquidate its portfolio of Eligible Assets and purchase the AGC Preferred Stock. The Custodial Trust will then hold the AGC Preferred Stock until the earlier of the redemption of the AGC Preferred Stock and the liquidation or dissolution of the Custodial Trust.

        The Put Agreements have no scheduled termination date or maturity. However, each Put Agreement will terminate if (subject to certain grace periods) (1) AGC fails to pay the put premium as required, (2) AGC elects to have the AGC Preferred Stock bear a fixed rate dividend (a "Fixed Rate Distribution Event"), (3) AGC fails to pay dividends on the AGC Preferred Stock, or the Custodial Trust's fees and expenses for the related period, (4) AGC fails to pay the redemption price of the AGC Preferred Stock, (5) the face amount of a Custodial Trust's CCS Securities is less than $20 million, (6) AGC terminates the Put Agreement, or (7) a decree of judicial dissolution of the Custodial Trust is entered. If, as a result of AGC's failure to pay the put premium, the Custodial Trust is liquidated, AGC will be required to pay a termination payment, which will in turn be distributed to the holders of the AGC CCS Securities. The termination payment will be at a rate equal to 1.10% per annum of the amount invested in Eligible Assets calculated from the date of the failure to pay the put premium through the end of the applicable period. As of December 31, 2010 the put option had not been exercised.

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        AGC Preferred Stock.    The dividend rate on the AGC Preferred Stock is determined pursuant to the same auction process applicable to distributions on the AGC CCS Securities. However, if a Fixed Rate Distribution Event occurs, the distribution rate on the AGC Preferred Stock will be the fixed rate equivalent of one-month LIBOR plus 2.50%. For these purposes, a "Fixed Rate Distribution Event" will occur when AGC Preferred Stock is outstanding, if (subject to certain grace periods): (1) AGC elects to have the AGC Preferred Stock bear dividends at a fixed rate, (2) AGC does not pay dividends on the AGC Preferred Stock for the related distribution period or (3) AGC does pay the fees and expenses of the Custodial Trust for the related distribution period. During the period in which AGC Preferred Stock is held by a Custodial Trust and unless a Fixed Rate Distribution Event has occurred, dividends will be paid every 49 days. Following a Fixed Rate Distribution Event, dividends will be paid every 90 days.

        Unless redeemed by AGC, the AGC Preferred Stock will be perpetual. Following exercise of the put option during any Flexed Rate Period, AGC may redeem the AGC Preferred Stock held by a Custodial Trust in whole and not in part on any distribution payment date by paying the Custodial Trust the liquidation preference amount of the AGC Preferred Stock plus any accrued but unpaid dividends for the then current distribution period. If AGC redeems the AGC Preferred Stock held by a Custodial Trust, the Custodial Trust will reinvest the redemption proceeds in Eligible Assets and AGC will pay the put premium to the Custodial Trust. If the AGC Preferred Stock was distributed to holders of AGC CCS Securities during any Flexed Rate Period then AGC may not redeem the AGC Preferred Stock until the end of the period.

        Following exercise of the put option, AGC Preferred Stock held by a Custodial Trust in whole or in part on any distribution payment date by paying the Custodial Trust the liquidation preference amount of the AGC Preferred Stock to be redeemed plus any accrued but unpaid dividends for the then current distribution period. If AGC partially redeems the AGC Preferred Stock held by a Custodial Trust, the redemption proceeds will be distributed pro rata to the holders of the CCS Securities (with a corresponding reduction in the aggregate face amount of AGC CCS Securities). However, AGC must redeem all of the AGC Preferred Stock if, after giving effect to a partial redemption, the aggregate liquidation preference amount of the AGC Preferred Stock held by the Custodial Trust immediately following such redemption would be less than $20 million. If a Fixed Rate Distribution Event occurs, AGC may not redeem the AGC Preferred Stock for two years from the date of the Fixed Rate Distribution Event.

        In June 2003, $200.0 million of AGM CPS Securities, money market preferred trust securities, were issued by trusts created for the primary purpose of issuing the AGM CPS Securities, investing the proceeds in high-quality commercial paper and selling put options to AGM, allowing AGM to issue the trusts non-cumulative redeemable perpetual preferred stock (the "AGM Preferred Stock") of AGM in exchange for cash. There are four trusts each with an initial aggregate face amount of $50 million. These trusts hold auctions every 28 days at which time investors submit bid orders to purchase AGM CPS Securities. If AGM were to exercise a put option, the applicable trust would transfer the portion of the proceeds attributable to principal received upon maturity of its assets, net of expenses, to AGM in exchange for Preferred Stock of AGM. AGM pays a floating put premium to the trusts, which represents the difference between the commercial paper yield and the winning auction rate (plus all fees and expenses of the trust). If any auction does not attract sufficient clearing bids, however, the auction rate is subject to a maximum rate of 200 basis points above LIBOR for the next succeeding distribution period. Beginning in August 2007, the AGM CPS Securities required the maximum rate for each of the relevant trusts. AGM continues to have the ability to exercise its put option and cause the related trusts to purchase AGM Preferred Stock. The trusts provide AGM access to new capital at its sole discretion through the exercise of the put options. The Company does not consider itself to be the primary beneficiary of the trusts because it does not retain the majority of the residual benefits or expected losses. As of December 31, 2010 the put option had not been exercised.

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        The following table summarizes the Company's contractual obligations as of December 31, 2010:

 
  As of December 31, 2010  
 
  Less Than
1 Year
  1-3
Years
  3-5
Years
  After
5 Years
  Total  
 
  (in millions)
 

Long-term debt:

                               
 

7.0% Senior Notes(1)

  $ 14.0   $ 28.0   $ 28.0   $ 457.5   $ 527.5  
 

8.50% Senior Notes(1)

    14.7     29.3     179.8         223.8  
 

Series A Enhanced Junior Subordinated Debentures(1)

    9.6     19.2     19.2     639.5     687.5  
 

67/8% QUIBS(1)

    6.9     13.8     13.8     691.2     725.7  
 

6.25% Notes(1)

    14.4     28.8     28.8     1,479.1     1,551.1  
 

5.60% Notes (1)

    5.6     11.2     11.2     590.5     618.5  
 

Junior Subordinated Debentures(1)

    19.2     38.4     38.4     1,279.0     1,375.0  
 

Notes Payable(1)

    37.6     52.1     28.7     18.8     137.2  

Operating lease obligations(2)

    15.9     28.9     15.7     81.8     142.3  

Financial guaranty segment claim payments(3)

    1,446.1     990.7     119.2     1,321.2     3,877.2  

Other compensation plans(4)

    6.4     5.9     1.7     0.8     14.8  
                       

Total

  $ 1,590.4   $ 1,246.3   $ 484.5   $ 6,559.4   $ 9,880.6  
                       

(1)
Principal and interest. See also Note 15 in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data."

(2)
Operating lease obligations exclude escalations in building operating costs and real estate taxes.

(3)
Financial guaranty segment claim payments represent undiscounted expected cash outflows under direct and assumed financial guaranty contracts whether accounted for as insurance or credit derivatives, including claim payments under contracts in consolidated VIEs. The amounts presented are not reduced for cessions under reinsurance contracts. Amounts include any benefit anticipated from excess spreads within the contracts but do not reflect any benefit for recoveries under breaches of representations and warranties.

(4)
Except for $4.7 million contractually payable in less than 1 year, certain obligations included above will be reduced if employees voluntarily terminate. Amount excludes approximately $25.7 million of liabilities under various supplemental retirement plans, which are fair valued and payable at the time of termination of employment by either employer or employee. Given the nature of these awards, we are unable to determine the year in which they will be paid. Also excluded is up to $22.6 million of compensation to the executive officers of the Company that is based on certain contingent events which may or may not occur.

Investment Portfolio

        The Company's fixed maturity securities and short-term investments have a duration of 5.0 years as of December 31, 2010, compared with 4.4 years as of December 31, 2009. The Company's fixed maturity securities are designated as available-for-sale. Fixed maturity securities are reported at their fair value, and the change in fair value is reported as part of AOCI except for the credit component of the unrealized loss for securities deemed to be OTTI. The Company reviews the investment portfolio for possible impairment losses. If management believes the decline in fair value is "other than temporary," the Company writes down the carrying value of the investment and records a realized loss in the consolidated statements of operations for an amount equal to the credit component of the unrealized loss. For additional information, see Note 9 in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data".

        Fair value of fixed maturity securities is based upon market prices provided by either independent pricing services or, when such prices are not available, by reference to broker or underwriter bid indications. The Company's fixed maturity and short term portfolio is primarily invested in publicly traded securities. For more information about the Investment Portfolio and a detailed description of the Company's valuation of investments see Note 9 in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data."

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Fixed Maturity Securities and Short Term Investments
by Security Type

 
  As of December 31, 2010  
 
  Amortized
Cost
  Gross
Unrealized
Gain
  Gross
Unrealized
Loss
  Estimated
Fair Value
 
 
  (in millions)
 

U.S. government and agencies

  $ 1,000.3   $ 48.3   $ (0.4 ) $ 1,048.2  

Obligations of state and political subdivisions

    4,922.0     99.9     (62.0 )   4,959.9  

Corporate securities

    980.1     25.2     (12.8 )   992.5  

Mortgage-backed securities(1):

                         
 

RMBS

    1,173.6     56.4     (45.9 )   1,184.1  
 

CMBS

    365.7     14.8     (1.4 )   379.1  

Asset-backed securities

    498.2     9.9     (5.2 )   502.9  

Foreign government securities

    349.5     5.3     (6.2 )   348.6  
                   
 

Total fixed maturity securities

    9,289.4     259.8     (133.9 )   9,415.3  

Short-term investments

    1,031.3     0.3         1,031.6  
                   
 

Total investments

  $ 10,320.7   $ 260.1   $ (133.9 ) $ 10,446.9  
                   

 

 
  As of December 31, 2009  
 
  Amortized
Cost
  Gross
Unrealized
Gain
  Gross
Unrealized
Loss
  Estimated
Fair Value
 
 
  (in millions)
 

U.S. government and agencies

  $ 1,014.2   $ 26.1   $ (2.7 ) $ 1,037.6  

Obligations of state and political subdivisions

    4,881.6     164.7     (6.8 )   5,039.5  

Corporate securities

    617.1     12.8     (4.4 )   625.5  

Mortgage-backed securities(1):

                         
 

RMBS

    1,449.4     39.5     (24.3 )   1,464.6  
 

CMBS

    229.9     3.4     (6.1 )   227.2  

Asset-backed securities

    395.3     1.5     (7.9 )   388.9  

Foreign government securities

    356.4     3.6     (3.4 )   356.6  
                   
 

Total fixed maturity securities

    8,943.9     251.6     (55.6 )   9,139.9  

Short-term investments

    1,668.3     0.7     (0.7 )   1,668.3  
                   
 

Total investments

  $ 10,612.2   $ 252.3   $ (56.3 ) $ 10,808.2  
                   

(1)
As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, approximately 64% and 80% of the Company's total mortgage-backed securities were government agency obligations.

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        The following tables summarize, for all fixed maturity securities in an unrealized loss position as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, the aggregate fair value and gross unrealized loss by length of time the amounts have continuously been in an unrealized loss position.


Fixed Maturity Securities
Gross Unrealized Loss by Length of Time

 
  As of December 31, 2010  
 
  Less than 12 months   12 months or more   Total  
 
  Fair
Value
  Unrealized
Loss
  Fair
Value
  Unrealized
Loss
  Fair
Value
  Unrealized
Loss
 
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

U.S. government and agencies

  $ 20.5   $ (0.4 ) $   $   $ 20.5   $ (0.4 )

Obligations of state and political subdivisions

    1,694.5     (58.9 )   23.5     (3.1 )   1,718.0     (62.0 )

Corporate securities

    403.6     (12.8 )           403.6     (12.8 )

Mortgage-backed securities:

                                     
 

RMBS

    148.4     (32.8 )   45.3     (13.1 )   193.7     (45.9 )
 

CMBS

    92.6     (1.4 )           92.6     (1.4 )

Asset-backed securities

    228.3     (5.1 )   2.3     (0.1 )   230.6     (5.2 )

Foreign government securities

    245.3     (6.2 )           245.3     (6.2 )
                           
   

Total

  $ 2,833.2   $ (117.6 ) $ 71.1   $ (16.3 ) $ 2,904.3   $ (133.9 )
                           

Number of securities

          406           19           425  
                                 

Number of securities with OTTI

          10           3           13  
                                 

 

 
  As of December 31, 2009  
 
  Less than 12 months   12 months or more   Total  
 
  Fair
Value
  Unrealized
Loss
  Fair
Value
  Unrealized
Loss
  Fair
Value
  Unrealized
Loss
 
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

U.S. government and agencies

  $ 292.5   $ (2.7 ) $   $   $ 292.5   $ (2.7 )

Obligations of state and political subdivisions

    407.4     (4.1 )   56.9     (2.7 )   464.3     (6.8 )

Corporate securities

    287.0     (3.9 )   8.2     (0.5 )   295.2     (4.4 )

Mortgage-backed securities:

                                     
 

RMBS

    361.4     (21.6 )   20.5     (2.7 )   381.9     (24.3 )
 

CMBS

    49.5     (2.4 )   56.4     (3.7 )   105.9     (6.1 )

Asset-backed securities

    126.1     (7.8 )   2.0     (0.1 )   128.1     (7.9 )

Foreign government securities

    270.4     (3.4 )           270.4     (3.4 )
                           
 

Total

  $ 1,794.3   $ (45.9 ) $ 144.0   $ (9.7 ) $ 1,938.3   $ (55.6 )
                           

Number of securities

          259           33           292  
                                 

Number of securities with OTTI

          13           2           15  
                                 

        The $78.3 million increase in gross unrealized losses was primarily due to an increase of unrealized losses attributable to municipal securities, RMBS and corporate bonds. The increase in gross unrealized losses during 2010 was due to the increase in U.S. Treasury yields during the fourth quarter of 2010. Of the securities in an unrealized loss position for 12 months or more as of December 31, 2010, seven securities had an unrealized loss greater than 10% of book value. The total unrealized loss for these securities as of December 31, 2010 was $12.9 million. The Company has determined that these securities were not impaired as of December 31, 2010.

        As of December 31, 2010 based on fair value, approximately 90.1% of the Company's investments were long-term fixed maturity securities, and the Company's portfolio, excluding other invested assets, had an average duration of 5.0 years, compared with 84.6% and 4.4 years as of December 31, 2009. Changes in interest rates affect the value of the Company's fixed maturity portfolio. As interest rates

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fall, the fair value of fixed maturity securities increases and as interest rates rise, the fair value of fixed maturity securities decreases. The Company's portfolio of fixed maturity securities is comprised primarily of high-quality, liquid instruments. The Company continues to receive sufficient information to value its investments and has not had to modify its approach due to the current market conditions.

        See Note 9 in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for more information on the Company's available-for-sale fixed maturity securities as of December 31, 2010 and 2009.

        The amortized cost and estimated fair value of the Company's available-for-sale fixed maturity securities as of December 31, 2010, by contractual maturity, are shown below. Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.


Distribution of Fixed Maturity Securities by Contractual Maturity

 
  As of December 31, 2010  
 
  Amortized
Cost
  Estimated
Fair Value
 
 
  (in millions)
 

Due within one year

  $ 64.9   $ 65.8  

Due after one year through five years

    1,807.1     1,847.1  

Due after five years through ten years

    2,244.7     2,295.2  

Due after ten years

    3,633.4     3,644.0  

Mortgage-backed securities:

             
 

RMBS

    1,173.6     1,184.1  
 

CMBS

    365.7     379.1  
           
 

Total

  $ 9,289.4   $ 9,415.3  
           

        The following table summarizes the ratings distributions of the Company's investment portfolio as of December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009. Ratings reflect the lower of the Moody's and S&P classifications, except for bonds purchased for loss mitigation or risk management strategies, which use Assured Guaranty's internal ratings classifications.


Distribution of Fixed Maturity Securities by Rating

 
  As of December 31, 2010  
Rating
  2010   2009  

AAA

    43.2 %   47.9 %

AA

    36.0     30.0  

A

    15.0     16.4  

BBB

    1.8     1.8  

BIG(1)

    2.1     3.9  

Not rated(1)

    1.9      
           
 

Total

    100.0 %   100.0 %
           

(1)
Include securities purchased or obtained as part of loss mitigation or other risk management strategies of $779.9 million in par with carrying value of $322.1 million or 3.4% of fixed maturity securities.

        As of December 31, 2010, the Company's investment portfolio contained 39 securities that were not rated or rated BIG, compared to 35 securities as of December 31, 2009. As of December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the weighted average credit quality of the Company's entire investment portfolio was AA.

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        The Company may purchase securities that it has insured, and for which it has expected losses, in order to economically mitigate insured losses. These securities are purchased at a discount. As of December 31, 2010, securities purchased for loss mitigation purposes had a fair value of $155.9 million representing $528.1 million of gross par outstanding. Under the terms of certain credit derivative contracts, the Company has obtained the obligations referenced in the transactions and recorded such assets in fixed maturity securities in the consolidated balance sheets. Such amounts totaled $166.2 million, representing $251.8 million in gross par outstanding. Prior to AGMH Acquisition, the Company acquired the underlying collateral of insured obligations as part of certain refinancing transactions where AGM had the right to accelerate claim payment and purchase or take possession of the underlying assets, primarily franchise loans. These assets are included in other invested assets on the consolidated balance sheet. In 2010, the Company restructured a CDS contract under which the Company acquired, among other assets, a 50% interest in a library of film revenues, which are recorded in other invested assets.

        As of December 31, 2010, $1,653.7 million of the Company's fixed maturity securities were guaranteed by third parties. The following table presents the fair value of securities with third-party guaranties by underlying credit rating:

Rating(1)
  As of
December 31,
2010
 
 
  (in millions)
 

AAA

  $ 2.2  

AA

    882.9  

A

    675.4  

BBB

    61.1  

BIG

    9.7  

Not Available

    22.4  
       
 

Total

  $ 1,653.7  
       

(1)
Ratings are lower of Moody's and S&P.


Distribution by Third-Party Guarantor

Guarantor
  As of
December 31,
2010
 
 
  (in millions)
 

MBIA Insurance Corporation

  $ 899.2  

Ambac Assurance Corporation

    686.9  

CIFG Assurance North America Inc

    21.1  

Financial Guaranty Insurance Co

    26.8  

Syncora Guarantee Inc

    15.5  

Berkshire Hathaway Assurance Corporation

    4.2  
       
 

Total

  $ 1,653.7  
       

        Short-term investments include securities with maturity dates equal to or less than one year from the original issue date. The Company's short-term investments are comprised of money market funds, discounted notes and certain time deposits for foreign cash portfolios. Short-term investments are reported at fair value.

        Under agreements with its cedants and in accordance with statutory requirements, the Company maintained fixed maturity securities in trust accounts of $365.3 million and $325.1 million as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, for the benefit of reinsured companies. In addition, to fulfill state licensing requirements the Company had placed on deposit eligible securities of $19.2 million and $20.6 million as of December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively, for the protection of policyholders.

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        Under certain derivative contracts, the Company is required to post eligible securities as collateral. The need to post collateral under these transactions is generally based on mark-to-market valuation in excess of contractual thresholds. The fair market value of the Company's pledged securities totaled $765.9 million and $649.6 million as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Liquidity Arrangements with respect to AGMH's former Financial Products Business

        AGMH's former financial products segment had been in the business of borrowing funds through the issuance of GICs and medium term notes and reinvesting the proceeds in investments that met AGMH's investment criteria. The financial products business also included the equity payment undertaking agreement portion of the leveraged lease business, as described further below in "—Strip Coverage Facility for the Leveraged Lease Business."

        In connection with the AGMH Acquisition by AGUS, Dexia SA and certain of its affiliates have entered into a number of agreements to protect the Company and AGM against ongoing risk related to GICs issued by, and the GIC business conducted by the Financial Products Companies, former subsidiaries of AGMH. These agreements include a guaranty jointly and severally issued by Dexia SA and DCL to AGM that guarantees the payment obligations of AGM under its policies related to the GIC business and an indemnification agreement between AGM, Dexia SA and DCL that protects AGM against other losses arising out of or as a result of the GIC business, as well as the liquidity facilities and the swap agreements described below.

        On September 30, 2009, affiliates of Dexia executed amended and restated liquidity commitments to FSA Asset Management LLC ("FSAM"), a former AGMH subsidiary, of $8.5 billion in the aggregate. Pursuant to the liquidity commitments, the Dexia affiliates assume the risk of loss, and support the payment obligations of FSAM and the three former AGMH subsidiaries that issued GICs (collectively, the "GIC Issuers") in respect of the GICs and the GIC business. The term of the commitments will generally extend until the GICs have been paid in full. The liquidity commitments are comprised of an amended and restated revolving credit agreement (the "Liquidity Facility") pursuant to which DCL and Dexia Bank Belgium SA commit to provide funds to FSAM in an amount up to $8.0 billion (approximately $7.0 billion of which was outstanding under the revolving credit facility as of December 31, 2010), and a master repurchase agreement (the "Repurchase Facility Agreement" and, together with the Liquidity Facility, the "Guaranteed Liquidity Facilities") pursuant to which DCL will provide up to $3.5 billion of funds in exchange for the transfer by FSAM to DCL of FSAM securities that are not eligible to satisfy collateralization obligations of the GIC Issuers under the GICs. As of December 31, 2010, no amounts were outstanding under the Repurchase Facility Agreement.

        On June 30, 2009, to support the payment obligations of FSAM and the GIC Issuers, each of Dexia SA and DCL entered into two separate ISDA Master Agreements, each with its associated schedule, confirmation and credit support annex (the "Guaranteed Put Contract" and the "Non-Guaranteed Put Contract" respectively, and collectively, the "Dexia Put Contracts"), pursuant to which Dexia SA and DCL jointly and severally guarantee the scheduled payments of interest and principal in relation to each FSAM asset, as well as any failure of Dexia to provide liquidity or liquid collateral under the Guaranteed Liquidity Facilities. The Dexia Put Contracts reference separate portfolios of FSAM assets to which assets owned by FSAM as of September 30, 2008 were allocated, with the less liquid assets and the assets with the lowest market-to-market values generally being allocated to the Guaranteed Put Contract. As of December 31, 2010, the aggregate outstanding principal balance of FSAM assets related to the Guaranteed Put Contract was equal to approximately $9.7 billion and the aggregate principal balance of FSAM assets related to the Non-Guaranteed Put Contract was equal to approximately $4.2 billion.

        Pursuant to the Dexia Put Contracts, FSAM may put an amount of FSAM assets to Dexia SA and DCL:

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        To secure each Dexia Put Contract, Dexia SA and DCL will, pursuant to the related credit support annex, post eligible highly liquid collateral having an aggregate value (subject to agreed reductions) equal to at least the excess of (a) the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding GICs over (b) the aggregate mark-to-market value of FSAM's assets. Prior to September 29, 2011 (the "Expected First Collateral Posting Date"), the aggregate mark-to-market value of the FSAM assets related to the Guaranteed Put Contract will be deemed to be equal to the aggregate unpaid principal balance of such assets for purposes of calculating their mark-to-market value. As a result, it is expected that Dexia SA and DCL will not be required to post collateral until the Expected First Collateral Posting Date. Additional collateralization is required in respect of certain other liabilities of FSAM.

        On June 30, 2009, the States of Belgium and France (the "States") issued a guaranty to FSAM pursuant to which the States guarantee, severally but not jointly, Dexia's payment obligations under the Guaranteed Put Contract, subject to certain limitations set forth therein. The States' guaranty with respect to payment demands arising from Liquidity Default Triggers and Collateral Default Triggers is scheduled to expire on October 31, 2011, and the States' guaranty with respect to payment demands arising from an Asset Default Trigger or a Bankruptcy Trigger is scheduled to expire on the earlier of (a) the final maturity of the latest maturing of the remaining FSAM assets related to the Guaranteed Put Contract, and (b) March 30, 2035.

        Despite the execution of such documentation, the Company remains subject to the risk that Dexia or the Belgian state and/or the French state may not make payments or securities available (a) on a timely basis, which is referred to as "liquidity risk," or (b) at all, which is referred to as "credit risk," because of the risk of default. Even if Dexia and/or the Belgian state or the French state have sufficient assets to pay all amounts when due, concerns regarding Dexia's or such states' financial condition or willingness to comply with their obligations could cause one or more rating agencies to view negatively the ability or willingness of Dexia or such states to perform under their various agreements and could negatively affect the Company's ratings.

        One situation in which AGM may be required to pay claims in respect of AGMH's former financial products business if Dexia or if the Belgian or French states do not comply with their obligations is if AGM is downgraded. Most of the GICs insured by AGM allow for the withdrawal of GIC funds in the event of a downgrade of AGM, unless the relevant GIC issuer posts collateral or otherwise enhances its credit. Most GICs insured by AGM allow for the termination of the GIC

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contract and a withdrawal of GIC funds in the event of a downgrade of AGM below a specified threshold, generally below A- by S&P or A3 by Moody's, with no right of the GIC issuer to avoid such withdrawal by posting collateral or otherwise enhancing its credit. Each GIC contract stipulates the thresholds below which the GIC provider must post eligible collateral along with the types of securities eligible for posting and the collateralization percentage applicable to each security type. These collateralization percentages range from 100% of the GIC balance for cash posted as collateral to, typically, 108% for ABS. At December 31, 2010, a downgrade of AGM to below AA- by S&P and Aa3 by Moody's (i.e., A+ by S&P and A1 by Moody's) would result in withdrawal of $489 million of GIC funds and the need to post collateral on GICs with a balance of $5.6 billion. In the event of such a downgrade, assuming an average margin of 105%, the market value as of December 31, 2010 that the GIC issuers would be required to post in order to avoid withdrawal of any GIC funds would be $5.9 billion.

        As of December 31, 2010, the market value of the assets of the Financial Products Companies exceeded the accreted value of their insured liabilities by approximately $2.3 billion (before any tax effects and including the aggregate net market value of the derivative portfolio of $123 million). This compares to December 31, 2009 when the accreted value of the insured liabilities exceeded the market value of the assets by approximately $1.3 billion (before any tax effects and including the aggregate net market value of the derivative portfolio of $128 million). If Dexia or if the Belgian or French states do not fulfill their contractual obligations, the Financial Products Companies may not have the financial ability to pay upon the withdrawal of GIC funds or post collateral or make other payments in respect of the GICs, thereby resulting in claims upon the AGM financial guaranty insurance policies. If AGM is required to pay a claim due to a failure of the Financial Products Companies to pay amounts in respect of the GICs, AGM is subject to the risk that the GICs will not be paid from funds received from Dexia or the Belgian state and/or the French state before it is required to make payment under its financial guaranty policies or that it will not receive the guaranty payment at all.

        In connection with the AGMH Acquisition, DCL agreed to fund, on behalf of AGM and Assured Guaranty (Bermuda) Ltd., 100% of all policy claims made under financial guaranty insurance policies issued by AGM and Assured Guaranty (Bermuda) in relation to the medium term notes issuance program of FSA Global Funding Limited. Such agreement is set out in a Separation Agreement, dated as of July 1, 2009, between DCL, AGM, Assured Guaranty (Bermuda), FSA Global Funding and Premier International Funding Co., and in a funding guaranty and a reimbursement guaranty that DCL issued for the benefit of AGM and Assured Guaranty (Bermuda). Under the funding guaranty, DCL guarantees to pay to or on behalf of AGM or Assured Guaranty (Bermuda) amounts equal to the payments required to be made under policies issued by AGM or Assured Guaranty (Bermuda) relating to the medium term notes business. Under the reimbursement guaranty, DCL guarantees to pay reimbursement amounts to AGM or Assured Guaranty (Bermuda) for payments they make following a claim for payment under an obligation insured by a policy they have issued. Notwithstanding DCL's obligation to fund 100% of all policy claims under those policies, AGM and Assured Guaranty (Bermuda) have a separate obligation to remit to DCL a certain percentage (ranging from 0% to 25%) of those policy claims. AGM, the Company and related parties are also protected against losses arising out of or as a result of the medium term note business through an indemnification agreement with DCL.

        Under the Strip Coverage Facility entered into in connection with the AGMH Acquisition, Dexia Credit Local (NY) agreed to make loans to AGM to finance all draws made by lessors on certain AGM strip policies, as described further under "Commitments and Contingencies—Recourse Credit Facilities—2009 Strip Coverage Facility" under this Liquidity and Capital Resources section of Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. AGM may request advances under the Strip Coverage Facility without any explicit limit on the number of loan

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requests, provided that the aggregate principal amount of loans outstanding as of any date may not initially exceed $1 billion (the "Commitment Amount"). The Commitment Amount:

        As of December 31, 2010, no advances were outstanding under the Strip Coverage Facility.

        Dexia Crédit Local (NY)'s commitment to make advances under the Strip Coverage Facility is subject to the satisfaction by AGM of customary conditions precedent, including compliance with certain financial covenants, and will terminate at the earliest of (A) the occurrence of a change of control with respect to AGM, (B) the reduction of the Commitment Amount to $0 and (C) January 31, 2042.

Sensitivity to Rating Agency Actions

        A downgrade by Moody's or S&P of the financial strength rating of the Company's insurance subsidiaries may have negative impact on the Company's liquidity. A downgrade may trigger (1) increased claims on the Company's insurance policies, in certain cases, on a more accelerated basis than when the original transaction closed; or (2) termination payments or collateral posting under CDS contracts. A downgrade in the financial strength rating may also enable beneficiaries of the Company's policies to cancel the credit protection offered by the Company and cease paying premium. A downgrade may also enable primary insurance companies that had ceded business to the Company to recapture a significant portion of its in-force financial guaranty reinsurance business. See "Risks Related to the Company's Financial Strength and Financial Enhancement" within "Item 1A. Risk Factors" for a more detailed discussion of the impact of a downgrade on the Company's direct and reinsurance business.

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ITEM 7A.    QUANTIATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

        Market risk is the risk that the value of a portfolio will decrease due to changes in market factors such as changes in credit spread, interest rates, and foreign exchange rates. Liquidity risk, which is the possible inability to satisfy contractual obligations when due and includes the inability to manage unplanned changes in funding sources, may compound these risks. Liquidity risk also arises from the failure to recognize or address changes in market conditions that affect the ability to liquidate assets quickly and with minimal loss in value.

        The Company's primary exposure to market risk is summarized below:

Credit Risk

        Credit risk is risk due to uncertainty in a counterparty's ability to meet its financial obligations. The Company's main exposure to fair value losses due to credit risk arises from its insured portfolio of credit derivatives, financial guaranty VIEs' assets and liabilities, the AGM CPS, the AGC CCS and the investment portfolio. Credit derivatives which comprise 17.8% and 19.1% of the total insured portfolio net par outstanding as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, are recorded at fair value through the statement of operations, as are changes in fair value of the AGM CPS and AGC CCS. The Company elected the fair value option for financial guaranty assets and liabilities, therefore changes in their fair values are also recorded in the statement of operations. Changes in the fair value of fixed maturity securities in the investment portfolio are recorded in accumulated comprehensive income in the statement of changes in shareholders' equity unless other-than-temporarily- impaired, in which case, the change in fair value attributable to credit deterioration is recorded in the statement of operations. The primary driver of changes in fair value of fixed maturity securities is changes in interest rates.

Credit Derivatives in the Insured Portfolio

        The Company's primary driver of unrealized gains and losses in the insured portfolio are credit derivatives, which consists primarily of CDS. The CDS portfolio includes U.S. RMBS exposures, which have experienced widespread deterioration, as well as pooled corporate obligations and other unique asset securitizations that have experienced credit deterioration.

        Unrealized gains and losses on credit derivatives are a function of changes in the estimated fair value of the Company's credit derivative contracts. If credit spreads of the underlying obligations change, the fair value of the related credit derivative changes. Market liquidity could also impact valuations of the underlying obligations. As such, Assured Guaranty experiences mark-to-market gains or losses. The Company considers the impact of its own credit risk, together with credit spreads on the risk that it assumes through CDS contracts, in determining their fair value. The Company determines its own credit risk based on quoted CDS prices traded on the Company at each balance sheet date. The quoted price of CDS contracts traded on AGC at December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 was 804 bps and 634 bps, respectively. The quoted price of CDS contracts traded on AGM at December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 was 650 bps and 541 bps, respectively. Historically, the price of CDS traded on AGC and AGM moves directionally the same as general market spreads. Generally, a widening of the CDS prices traded on AGC and AGM has an effect of offsetting unrealized losses that result from widening general market credit spreads, while a narrowing of the CDS prices traded on AGC and AGM has an effect of offsetting unrealized gains that result from narrowing general market credit spreads. An overall narrowing of spreads generally results in an unrealized gain on credit derivatives for the Company and an overall widening of spreads generally results in an unrealized loss for the Company.

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        The impact of changes in credit spreads will vary based upon the volume, tenor, interest rates, and other market conditions at the time these fair values are determined. In addition, since each transaction has unique collateral and structure terms, the underlying change in fair value of each transaction may vary considerably. The fair value of credit derivative contracts also reflects the change in the Company's own credit cost, based on the price to purchase credit protection on AGC and AGM. Management believes that the trading level of AGC's and AGM's credit spread was due to the correlation between AGC's and AGM's risk profile and that experienced currently by the broader financial markets and increased demand for credit protection against AGC and AGM as the result of its financial guaranty direct segment financial guarantee volume, as well as the overall lack of liquidity in the CDS market. Offsetting the benefit attributable to AGC's and AGM's credit spread were declines in fixed income security market prices primarily attributable to widening spreads in certain markets as a result of the continued deterioration in credit markets and some credit rating downgrades. The higher credit spreads in the fixed income security market were primarily due to continuing market concerns over the most recent vintages of Subprime and Alt-A RMBS, and TruPS.

        The Company generally holds these credit derivative contracts to maturity. The unrealized gains and losses on derivative financial instruments will reduce to zero as the exposure approaches its maturity date, unless there is a payment default on the exposure or early termination. The following table summarizes the estimated change in fair values on the net balance of the Company's CDS positions assuming immediate parallel shifts in credit spreads on AGC and AGM and on the risks that they both assume:

 
  As of December 31, 2010  
Credit Spreads(1)
  Estimated Net
Fair Value (Pre-Tax)
  Estimated
Change in Gain/(Loss)(Pre-Tax)
 
 
  (in millions)
 

100% widening in spreads

  $ (3,964.4 ) $ (2,091.8 )

50% widening in spreads

    (2,926.0 )   (1,053.4 )

25% widening in spreads

    (2,401.9 )   (529.3 )

10% widening in spreads

    (2,086.8 )   (214.2 )

Base Scenario

    (1,872.6 )    

10% narrowing in spreads

    (1,709.6 )   163.0  

25% narrowing in spreads

    (1,465.2 )   407.4  

50% narrowing in spreads

    (1,062.5 )   810.1  

 
  As of December 31, 2009  
Credit Spreads(1)
  Estimated Net
Fair Value (Pre-Tax)
  Estimated
Change in Gain/(Loss)(Pre-Tax)
 
 
  (in millions)
 

100% widening in spreads

  $ (3,700.9 ) $ (2,158.8 )

50% widening in spreads

    (2,623.5 )   (1,081.4 )

25% widening in spreads

    (2,084.8 )   (542.7 )

10% widening in spreads

    (1,761.6 )   (219.5 )

Base Scenario

    (1,542.1 )    

10% narrowing in spreads

    (1,389.7 )   152.4  

25% narrowing in spreads

    (1,159.3 )   382.8  

50% narrowing in spreads

    (782.0 )   760.1  

(1)
Includes the effects of spreads on both the underlying asset classes and the Company's own credit spread.

        The crisis and related turmoil in the global financial system has had and may continue to have an impact on the Company's business. As of December 31, 2010, the present value of future installment

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premiums ("PVI") of the Company's CDS contracts with counterparties in the financial services industry was approximately $661.9 million. The largest counterparties were:

Counterparty
  PVI Amount  
 
  (in millions)
 

Deutsche Bank AG

  $ 178.2  

Dexia Bank

    60.9  

Barclays Capital

    45.7  

BNP Paribas Finance Inc. 

    42.6  

RBS/ABN AMRO

    35.5  

Other(1)

    299.0  
       
 

Total

  $ 661.9  
       

(1)
Each counterparty within the "Other" category represents less than 5% of the total.

        As of December 31, 2009, the PVI of the Company's CDS contracts with counterparties in the financial services industry was approximately $646.9 million. The largest counterparties were:

Counterparty
  PVI Amount  
 
  (in millions)
 

Deutsche Bank AG

  $ 164.9  

Dexia Bank

    64.4  

Barclays Capital

    51.4  

RBS/ABN AMRO

    39.5  

Morgan Stanley Capital Services Inc. 

    37.5  

Rabobank International

    34.5  

BNP Paribas Finance Inc. 

    33.3  

Other(1)

    221.4  
       
 

Total

  $ 646.9  
       

(1)
Each counterparty within the "Other" category represents less than 5% of the total.

        The Company also has credit risk to the sellers and originators against which it is enforcing its remedy of putting back mortgage loans that support RMBS transactions or against which it may bring litigation proceedings. If the financial position of such sellers or originators deteriorates, including as a result of putback efforts or litigation pursued by other parties, such sellers or originators may not have the wherewithal to make payments to the Company. See "—Results of Operations—Analysis of Consolidated Statements of Operations—Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves". Furthermore, the Company has credit risk exposure to the financial guaranty insurers to which it has ceded portions of its insured portfolio, many of which have experienced financial distress in the past few years. See "—Exposures by Reinsurer."

Interest Rate Risk

        Interest rate risk is the risk that financial instruments' values will change due to changes in the absolute level of interest rates, in the spread between two rates, in the shape of the yield curve or in any other interest rate relationship. The Company is exposed to interest rate risk primarily in its investment portfolio. As interest rates rise for an available-for-sale investment portfolio, the fair value of fixed-income securities decreases. The Company's policy is generally to hold assets in the investment portfolio to maturity. Therefore, barring credit deterioration, interest rate movements do not result in realized gains or losses unless assets are sold prior to maturity.

Investment Portfolio

        Interest rate sensitivity in the investment portfolio can be estimated by projecting a hypothetical instantaneous increase or decrease in interest rates. The following table presents the estimated pre-tax change in fair value of the Company's investment portfolio from instantaneous parallel shifts in interest rates.

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Sensitivity to Change in Interest Rates on the Investment Portfolio
As of December 31, 2010

 
  Change in Interest Rates  
 
  300 Basis
Point
Decrease
  200 Basis
Point
Decrease
  100 Basis
Point
Decrease
  100 Basis
Point
Increase
  200 Basis
Point
Increase
  300 Basis
Point
Increase
 
 
  (in millions)
 

Estimated change in fair value

  $ 1,232.5   $ 943.6   $ 512.9   $ (530.8 ) $ (1,036.7 ) $ (1,505.1 )


Sensitivity to Change in Interest Rates on the Investment Portfolio
As of December 31, 2009

 
  Change in Interest Rates  
 
  300 Basis
Point
Decrease
  200 Basis
Point
Decrease
  100 Basis
Point
Decrease
  100 Basis
Point
Increase
  200 Basis
Point
Increase
  300 Basis
Point
Increase
 
 
  (in millions)
 

Estimated change in fair value

  $ 1,057.2   $ 827.3   $ 457.1   $ (480.0 ) $ (958.7 ) $ (1,409.0 )

Other Areas Sensitive to Rate Fluctuation

        Fluctuation in interest rates also affects the demand for the Company's product. When interest rates are lower or when the market is otherwise relatively less risk averse, the spread between insured and uninsured obligations typically narrows and, as a result, financial guaranty insurance typically provides lower cost savings to issuers than it would during periods of relatively wider spreads. These lower cost savings generally lead to a corresponding decrease in demand and premiums obtainable for financial guaranty insurance. Conversely, in a deteriorating credit environment, credit spreads widen and pricing for financial guaranty insurance typically improves. However, if the weakening environment is sudden, pronounced or prolonged, the stresses on the insured portfolio may result in claims payments in excess of normal or historical expectations. In addition, increases in prevailing interest rate levels can lead to a decreased volume of capital markets activity and, correspondingly, a decreased volume of insured transactions.

Foreign Exchange Risk

        Foreign exchange risk is the risk that a financial instrument's value will change due to a change in the foreign currency exchange rates. The Company has foreign denominated securities in its investment portfolio securities denominated in currencies other than U.S. Dollar were 3.7% of the investment portfolio. Changes in fair value of available for sale investments attributable to changes in foreign exchange rates are recorded in OCI.


Sensitivity to Change in Foreign Exchange Rates on the Investment Portfolio

 
  Change in Foreign Exchange Rates  
 
  30% Decrease   20% Decrease   10% Decrease   10% Increase   20% Increase   30% Increase  
 
  (in millions)
 

Estimated change in fair value

  $ (117.9 ) $ (78.6 ) $ (39.3 ) $ 39.3   $ 78.6   $ 117.9  

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ITEM 8.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
ASSURED GUARANTY LTD.

 
  Page

Management's Responsibility for Financial Statements and Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting

  157

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

  158

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2010 and 2009

  159

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

  160

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

  161

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

  162

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

  164

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

  165

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Management's Responsibility for Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Financial Statements

        The consolidated financial statements of Assured Guaranty Ltd. were prepared by management, who are responsible for their reliability and objectivity. The statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and, as such, include amounts based on informed estimates and judgments of management. Financial information elsewhere in this annual report is consistent with that in the consolidated financial statements.

        The Board of Directors, operating through its Audit Committee, which is composed entirely of directors who are not officers or employees of the Company, provides oversight of the financial reporting process and safeguarding of assets against unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition. The Audit Committee annually recommends the appointment of an independent registered public accounting firm and submits its recommendation to the Board of Directors for approval.

        The Audit Committee meets with management, the independent registered public accounting firm and the outside firm engaged to perform internal audit functions for the Company; approves the overall scope of audit work and related fee arrangements; and reviews audit reports and findings. In addition, the independent registered public accounting firm and the outside firm engaged to perform internal audit functions for the Company meets separately with the Audit Committee, without management representatives present, to discuss the results of their audits; the adequacy of the Company's internal control; the quality of its financial reporting; and the safeguarding of assets against unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition.

        The consolidated financial statements have been audited by an independent registered public accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, who were given unrestricted access to all financial records and related data, including minutes of all meetings of the Board of Directors and committees of the Board. The Company believes that all representations made to the Company's independent registered public accounting firm during their audits were valid and appropriate.

Internal Control over Financial Reporting

        The management of Assured Guaranty Ltd. is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of the Company's consolidated financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

        As of December 31, 2010, management has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on the criteria established in "Internal Control—Integrated Framework," issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this evaluation, the Company has concluded that Assured Guaranty Ltd.'s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2010.

        The effectiveness of the Company's internal controls over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report included in this Item under the heading "Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm."

  /s/ DOMINIC J. FREDERICO

Dominic J. Frederico
President and Chief Executive Officer
  /s/ ROBERT B. MILLS

Robert B. Mills
Chief Financial Officer

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Assured Guaranty Ltd.:

        In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated statements of operations, of comprehensive income, of shareholders' equity and of cash flows, present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Assured Guaranty Ltd. and its subsidiaries (the "Company") at December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2010 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company's management is responsible for these financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in Management's Responsibility for Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 8. Our responsibility is to express opinions on these financial statements and on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our integrated audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

        As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company changed the manner in which it accounts for variable interest entities effective January 1, 2010, for other-than-temporary impairment of debt securities classified as available-for-sale effective April 1, 2009, and for financial guaranty insurance contracts effective January 1, 2009.

        A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

        Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
March 1, 2011

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(dollars in thousands except per share and share amounts)

 
  As of December 31,  
 
  2010   2009  

Assets

             

Investment portfolio:

             
 

Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost of $9,289,444 and $8,943,909)

  $ 9,415,315   $ 9,139,900  
 

Short term investments, at fair value

    1,031,578     1,668,279  
 

Other invested assets

    283,032     160,250  
           
   

Total investment portfolio

    10,729,925     10,968,429  

Cash

    107,179     44,133  

Premiums receivable, net of ceding commissions payable

    1,167,587     1,418,232  

Ceded unearned premium reserve

    821,819     1,080,466  

Deferred acquisition costs

    239,805     241,961  

Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses

    22,255     14,122  

Salvage and subrogation recoverable

    1,032,369     420,238  

Credit derivative assets

    592,898     492,531  

Deferred tax asset, net

    1,223,958     1,158,205  

Financial guaranty variable interest entities' assets, at fair value

    4,334,409     762,303  

Other assets

    199,308     202,073  
           
 

Total assets

  $ 20,471,512   $ 16,802,693  
           

Liabilities and shareholders' equity

             

Unearned premium reserve

  $ 6,972,894   $ 8,400,152  

Loss and loss adjustment expense reserve

    562,955     289,470  

Reinsurance balances payable, net

    274,431     215,239  

Long-term debt

    1,052,936     1,066,413  

Credit derivative liabilities

    2,465,520     2,034,634  

Current income tax payable

    93,020     154,462  

Financial guaranty variable interest entities' liabilities with recourse, at fair value

    2,926,988     762,652  

Financial guaranty variable interest entities' liabilities without recourse, at fair value

    2,014,142      

Other liabilities

    309,862     359,512  
           
 

Total liabilities

    16,672,748     13,282,534  
           

Commitments and contingencies

             

Common stock ($0.01 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized; 183,744,655 and 184,162,896 shares issued and outstanding in 2010 and 2009)

    1,837     1,842  

Additional paid-in capital

    2,585,423     2,584,983  

Retained earnings

    1,098,859     789,869  

Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax provision (benefit) of $17,746 and $58,551

    110,645     141,814  

Deferred equity compensation (181,818 shares)

    2,000     2,000  
           
 

Total shareholders' equity attributable to Assured Guaranty Ltd. 

    3,798,764     3,520,508  

Noncontrolling interest of financial guaranty variable interest entities

        (349 )
           
 

Total shareholders' equity

    3,798,764     3,520,159  
           
 

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

  $ 20,471,512   $ 16,802,693  
           

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(dollars in thousands except per share amounts)

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   2008  

Revenues

                   
 

Net earned premiums

  $ 1,186,705   $ 930,429   $ 261,398  
 

Net investment income

    354,703     259,222     162,558  
 

Net realized investment gains (losses):

                   
   

Other-than-temporary impairment losses

    (44,672 )   (74,022 )   (71,268 )
   

Less: portion of other-than-temporary impairment loss recognized in other comprehensive income

    (17,292 )   (28,176 )    
   

Other net realized investment gains (losses)

    25,386     13,184     1,467  
               
     

Net realized investment gains (losses)

    (1,994 )   (32,662 )   (69,801 )
 

Net change in fair value of credit derivatives:

                   
   

Realized gains and other settlements

    153,495     163,558     117,589  
   

Net unrealized gains (losses)

    (157,795 )   (337,810 )   38,034  
               
     

Net change in fair value of credit derivatives

    (4,300 )   (174,252 )   155,623  
 

Fair value gain (loss) on committed capital securities

    9,195     (122,940 )   42,746  
 

Net change in financial guaranty variable interest entities

    (183,115 )   (1,156 )    
 

Other income

    40,107     58,518     664  
               
   

Total Revenues

    1,401,301     917,159     553,188  
               

Expenses

                   
 

Loss and loss adjustment expenses

    413,793     377,840     265,762  
 

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs

    34,057     53,899     61,249  
 

Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings Inc. acquisition-related expenses

    6,772     92,239      
 

Interest expense

    99,621     62,783     23,283  
 

Goodwill and settlement of pre-existing relationship

        23,341      
 

Other operating expenses

    211,536     174,165     90,563  
               
   

Total expenses

    765,779     784,267     440,857  
               

Income (loss) before income taxes

    635,522     132,892     112,331  

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

                   
 

Current

    (25,151 )   217,253     332  
 

Deferred

    111,760     (180,391 )   43,116  
               
   

Total provision (benefit) for income taxes

    86,609     36,862     43,448  
               

Net income (loss)

    548,913     96,030     68,883  

Less: Noncontrolling interest of variable interest entities

        (1,156 )    
               

Net income (loss) attributable to Assured Guaranty Ltd

  $ 548,913   $ 97,186   $ 68,883  
               

Earnings per share:

                   
   

Basic

  $ 2.98   $ 0.77   $ 0.78  
   

Diluted

  $ 2.90   $ 0.75   $ 0.77  

Dividends per share

  $ 0.18   $ 0.18   $ 0.18  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

(in thousands)

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   2008  

Net income (loss)

  $ 548,913   $ 96,030   $ 68,883  

Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the period, net of tax provision (benefit) of $(43,180), $66,835, and $(28,629)

    (28,824 )   165,929     (109,408 )

Less: reclassification adjustment for gains (losses) included in net income (loss), net of tax provision (benefit) of $(2,829), $1,435 and $(7,106)

    1,543     (34,097 )   (62,695 )
               

Change in net unrealized gains on investments

    (30,367 )   200,026     (46,713 )

Change in cumulative translation adjustment, net of tax provision (benefit) of $(229), $(759) and $(3,299)

    (384 )   (3,000 )   (6,611 )

Change in cash flow hedge, net of tax provision (benefit) of $(225), $(225) and $(225)

    (418 )   (418 )   (418 )
               

Other comprehensive income (loss)

    (31,169 )   196,608     (53,742 )
               

Comprehensive income (loss)

    517,744     292,638     15,141  

Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest of variable interest entities

        (1,127 )    
               

Comprehensive income (loss) of Assured Guaranty Ltd

  $ 517,744   $ 293,765   $ 15,141  
               

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Consolidated Statement of Shareholders' Equity

Years Ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

(dollars in thousands, except share data)

 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Noncontrolling
Interest of
Financial
Guaranty
Consolidated
Variable
Interest
Entities
   
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Total
Shareholders'
Equity
Attributable
to Assured
Guaranty Ltd.
   
 
 
  Common Stock    
   
  Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income
   
   
 
 
  Additional
Paid-in
Capital
  Retained
Earnings
  Deferred
Equity
Compensation
  Total
Shareholders'
Equity
 
 
  Shares   Amount  

Balance, December 31, 2007

    79,948,979   $ 799   $ 1,023,886   $ 585,256   $ 56,629   $   $ 1,666,570   $   $ 1,666,570  

Net income

                68,883             68,883         68,883  

Dividends on common stock ($0.18 per share)

                (16,015 )           (16,015 )       (16,015 )

Dividends on restricted stock units

            69     (69 )                    

Common stock issuance, net of offering costs

    10,651,896     107     248,948                 249,055         249,055  

Share-based compensation and other

    354,828     4     11,467                 11,471         11,471  

Change in cash flow hedge

                    (418 )       (418 )       (418 )

Change in cumulative translation adjustment

                    (6,611 )       (6,611 )       (6,611 )

Change in unrealized gains (losses) on:

                                                       
 

Investments with no other-than-temporary impairments

                    (109,408 )       (109,408 )       (109,408 )
 

Less: reclassification adjustment for gains (losses) included in net income (loss)

                    (62,695 )       (62,695 )       (62,695 )
                                       

Balance, December 31, 2008

    90,955,703     910     1,284,370     638,055     2,887         1,926,222         1,926,222  
                                       

Cumulative effect of change in accounting for financial guaranty contracts effective January 1, 2009

                19,443             19,443         19,443  
                                       

Balance, January 1, 2009

    90,955,703     910     1,284,370     657,498     2,887           1,945,665         1,945,665  

Cumulative effect of change in accounting for other-than-temporary impairments effective April 1, 2009

                57,652     (57,652 )                

Issuance of stock for acquisition of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings Inc. 

    22,153,951     222     275,653                 275,875         275,875  

Consolidation of financial guaranty variable interest entities

                                778     778  

Net income

                97,186             97,186     (1,156 )   96,030  

Dividends on common stock ($0.18 per share)

                (22,332 )           (22,332 )       (22,332 )

Dividends on restricted stock units

            135     (135 )                    

Common stock issuance, net of offering costs

    71,787,600     718     1,021,132                 1,021,850         1,021,850  

Common stock repurchases

    (1,010,050 )   (10 )   (3,666 )               (3,676 )       (3,676 )

Share-based compensation and other

    275,692     2     7,359             2,000     9,361         9,361  

Change in cash flow hedge

                    (418 )       (418 )       (418 )

Change in cumulative translation adjustment

                    (3,029 )       (3,029 )   29     (3,000 )

Change in unrealized gains (losses) on:

                                                       
 

Investments with no other-than-temporary impairment

                    177,307         177,307         177,307  
 

Investments with other-than-temporary impairment

                    (11,378 )       (11,378 )       (11,378 )
 

Less: reclassification adjustment for gains (losses) included in net income (loss)

                    (34,097 )       (34,097 )       (34,097 )
                                       

Balance, December 31, 2009

    184,162,896   $ 1,842   $ 2,584,983   $ 789,869   $ 141,814   $ 2,000   $ 3,520,508   $ (349 ) $ 3,520,159  
                                       

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Consolidated Statement of Shareholders' Equity

Years Ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

(dollars in thousands, except share data)

 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Noncontrolling
Interest of
Financial
Guaranty
Consolidated
Variable
Interest
Entities
   
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Total
Shareholders'
Equity
Attributable
to Assured
Guaranty Ltd.
   
 
 
  Common Stock    
   
  Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income
   
   
 
 
  Additional
Paid-in
Capital
  Retained
Earnings
  Deferred
Equity
Compensation
  Total
Shareholders'
Equity
 
 
  Shares   Amount  

Balance, December 31, 2009

    184,162,896   $ 1,842   $ 2,584,983   $ 789,869   $ 141,814   $ 2,000   $ 3,520,508   $ (349 ) $ 3,520,159  

Cumulative effect of accounting change—consolidation of variable interest entities effective January 1, 2010 (Note 8)

                (206,540 )           (206,540 )   349     (206,191 )
                                       

Balance, January 1, 2010

    184,162,896     1,842     2,584,983     583,329     141,814     2,000     3,313,968         3,313,968  

Net income

                548,913             548,913         548,913  

Dividends ($0.18 per share)

                (33,190 )           (33,190 )       (33,190 )

Dividends on restricted stock units

            193     (193 )                    

Common stock repurchases

    (707,350 )   (7 )   (10,450 )               (10,457 )       (10,457 )

Share-based compensation and other

    289,109     2     10,697                 10,699         10,699  

Change in cumulative translation adjustment

                    (384 )       (384 )       (384 )

Change in cash flow hedge

                    (418 )       (418 )       (418 )

Change in unrealized gains (losses) on:

                                                       
 

Investments with no other-than-temporary impairment

                    (34,600 )       (34,600 )       (34,600 )
 

Investments with other-than-temporary impairment

                    5,776         5,776         5,776  
 

Less: reclassification adjustment for gains (losses) included in net income (loss)

                    1,543         1,543         1,543  
                                       

Balance, December 31, 2010

    183,744,655   $ 1,837   $ 2,585,423   $ 1,098,859   $ 110,645   $ 2,000   $ 3,798,764   $   $ 3,798,764  
                                       

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands)

 
  Years Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   2008  

Operating activities

                   

Net income (loss)

  $ 548,913   $ 96,030   $ 68,883  

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flows provided by operating activities:

                   
 

Non-cash interest and operating expenses

    24,352     16,250     16,328  
 

Net amortization of premium on fixed maturity securities

    46,338     21,997     2,397  
 

Provision (benefit) for deferred income taxes

    111,760     (180,391 )   43,116  
 

Net realized investment losses (gains)

    1,994     32,662     69,801  
 

Net unrealized losses (gains) on credit derivatives

    157,795     337,810     (38,034 )
 

Fair value loss (gain) on committed capital securities

    (9,195 )   122,940     (42,746 )
 

Goodwill and settlements of pre-existing relationship

        23,341      
 

Non-cash items in other income

    4,314     (20,691 )    
 

Change in deferred acquisition costs

    2,156     31,646     (29,318 )
 

Change in premiums receivable, net of ceding commissions

    376,478     119,663     12,059  
 

Change in ceded unearned premium reserves

    258,647     200,673     (5,326 )
 

Change in unearned premium reserve

    (1,297,383 )   (711,937 )   346,543  
 

Change in loss and loss adjustment expense reserve, net

    (449,506 )   (31,561 )   16,583  
 

Change in current income taxes

    (87,165 )   175,873     (22,046 )
 

Other changes in credit derivatives assets and liabilities, net

    33,652     15,802     7,197  
 

Change in financial guaranty variable interest entities' assets and liabilities, net

    422,044          
 

Other

    (41,204 )   29,063     (18,448 )
               

Net cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities

    103,990     279,170     426,989  
               

Investing activities

                   
 

Fixed maturity securities:

                   
   

Purchases

    (2,461,692 )   (2,287,668 )   (1,272,024 )
   

Sales

    1,063,581     1,519,300     532,144  
   

Maturities

    994,360     217,895     11,730  
 

Net sales (purchases) of short-term investments

    637,256     (397,100 )   78,535  
 

Net proceeds from paydowns on financial guaranty variable interest entities' assets

    423,997          
 

Cash paid to acquire Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings Inc., net of cash acquired

        (458,998 )    
 

Other

    19,786     9,350      
               

Net cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities

    677,288     (1,397,221 )   (649,615 )
               

Financing activities

                   
 

Net proceeds from issuance of common stock

        1,022,096     248,967  
 

Net proceeds from issuance of equity units

        167,972      
 

Dividends paid

    (33,190 )   (22,332 )   (16,015 )
 

Repurchases of common stock

    (10,457 )   (3,676 )    
 

Share activity under option and incentive plans

    (2,062 )   (667 )   (3,632 )
 

Tax benefit for stock options exercised

    28     (16 )   16  
 

Net paydowns of financial guaranty variable interest entities' liabilities

    (650,862 )        
 

Repayment of long-term debt

    (20,891 )   (14,823 )    
               

Net cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities

    (717,434 )   1,148,554     229,336  

Effect of exchange rate changes

    (798 )   1,325     (2,453 )
               

Increase in cash

    63,046     31,828     4,257  

Cash at beginning of year

    44,133     12,305     8,048  
               

Cash at end of year

  $ 107,179   $ 44,133   $ 12,305  
               

Supplemental cash flow information

                   

Cash paid (received) during the period for:

                   
 

Income taxes

  $ 39,215   $ 27,849   $ 18,743  
 

Interest

  $ 90,314   $ 56,418   $ 23,600  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008


1. Business and Basis of Presentation

Business

        Assured Guaranty Ltd. ("AGL" and, together with its subsidiaries, "Assured Guaranty" or the "Company") is a Bermuda-based holding company that provides, through its operating subsidiaries, credit protection products to the United States ("U.S.") and international public finance, infrastructure and structured finance markets. The Company has applied its credit underwriting judgment, risk management skills and capital markets experience to develop insurance, reinsurance and credit derivative products that protect holders of debt instruments and other monetary obligations from defaults in scheduled payments, including scheduled interest and principal payments. The securities insured by the Company include taxable and tax-exempt obligations issued by U.S. state or municipal governmental authorities, utility districts or facilities; notes or bonds issued to finance international infrastructure projects; and asset-backed securities ("ABS") issued by special purpose entities. The Company markets its credit protection products directly to issuers and underwriters of public finance, infrastructure and structured finance securities as well as to investors in such debt obligations. The Company guarantees debt obligations issued in many countries, although its principal focus is on the U.S., Europe and Australia. The Company's business segments are comprised of two principal segments based on whether the contracts were written on a direct or assumed basis.

        Financial guaranty contracts accounted for as insurance provide an unconditional and irrevocable guaranty that protects the holder of a financial obligation against non-payment of principal and interest when due. Financial guaranty contracts accounted for as credit derivatives are generally structured such that the circumstances giving rise to the Company's obligation to make loss payments are similar to those for financial guaranty contracts accounted for as insurance and only occurs upon one or more defined credit events such as failure to pay or bankruptcy, in each case, as defined within the transaction documents, with respect to one or more third party referenced securities or loans. Financial guaranty contracts accounted for as credit derivatives are primarily comprised of credit default swaps ("CDS"). In general, the Company structures credit derivative transactions such that the circumstances giving rise to the Company's obligation to make loss payments are similar to those for financial guaranty contracts accounted for as insurance but are governed by International Swaps and Derivative Association, Inc. ("ISDA") documentation and operate differently from financial guaranty accounted for as insurance. The Company also enters into ceded reinsurance agreements to provide greater business diversification and reduce the net potential loss from large risks; however, ceded contracts do not relieve the Company of its obligations.

        Public finance obligations insured by the Company consist primarily of general obligation bonds supported by the issuers' taxing powers, tax-supported bonds and revenue bonds and other obligations of states, their political subdivisions and other municipal issuers supported by the issuers' or obligors' covenant to impose and collect fees and charges for public services or specific projects. Public finance obligations include obligations backed by the cash flow from leases or other revenues from projects serving substantial public purposes, including government office buildings, toll roads, health care facilities and utilities. Structured finance obligations insured by the Company are generally backed by pools of assets such as residential or commercial mortgage loans, consumer or trade receivables, securities or other assets having an ascertainable cash flow or market value and issued by special purpose entities. The Company currently does not underwrite any new U.S. residential mortgage backed security ("RMBS") transactions. See Note 4 for outstanding U.S. RMBS exposures.

        Debt obligations guaranteed by AGL's insurance company subsidiaries are generally awarded debt credit ratings that are the same rating as the financial strength rating of the AGL subsidiary that has guaranteed that obligation. Investors in products insured by the Company's insurance company subsidiaries frequently rely on ratings published by nationally recognized statistical rating organizations ("NRSROs") because such ratings influence the trading value of securities and form the basis for many

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

1. Business and Basis of Presentation (Continued)


institutions' investment guidelines as well as individuals' bond purchase decisions. Therefore, the Company manages its business with the goal of achieving high financial strength ratings, preferably the highest that NRSROs will assign. However, the models used by NRSROs differ, presenting conflicting goals that may make it inefficient or impractical to reach the highest rating level. The models are not fully transparent, contain subjective data (such as assumptions about future market demand for the Company's products) and change frequently. Ratings reflect only the views of the respective NRSROs and are subject to continuous review and revision or withdrawal at any time.

Basis of Presentation

        The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments which are of a normal recurring nature, necessary for a fair statement of the Company's financial condition, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

        The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of AGL and its direct and indirect subsidiaries, (collectively, the "Subsidiaries"). The consolidated financial statements also include the accounts of certain variable interest entities ("VIEs") subsidiary. Intercompany accounts and transactions between and among AGL and its subsidiaries have been eliminated as well as transactions between the insurance company subsidiaries and their consolidated VIEs. Certain prior year balances have been reclassified to conform to the current year's presentation.

        AGL's principal insurance company subsidiaries are Assured Guaranty Corp. ("AGC"), Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp ("AGM"), and Assured Guaranty Re Ltd. ("AG Re"). In addition, the Company also has another U.S. and a Bermuda insurance company subsidiary that participate in a pooling agreement with AGM, two UK insurance subsidiaries, and a mortgage insurance company. The Company's organizational structure includes various holdings companies, two of which—Assured Guaranty US Holdings Inc. ("AGUS") and Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings Inc. ("AGMH")—have public debt outstanding. See Note 15.

Significant Accounting Policies

        The Company revalues assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses denominated in non-U.S. currencies into U.S. dollars using applicable exchange rates. Gains and losses relating to translating functional currency financial statements for U.S. GAAP reporting are included in other comprehensive income (loss) within shareholders' equity. Gains and losses relating to nonfunctional currency transactions, including non-U.S. operations where functional currency is the U.S. dollar, are reported in the consolidated statement of operations.

        Cash is defined as cash on hand and demand deposits.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

1. Business and Basis of Presentation (Continued)

        The following table identifies the Company's most significant accounting policies and the note references where a detailed description of each policy can be found.


Significant Accounting Policies

Business combinations   Note 3

Premium revenue recognition on financial guaranty contracts accounted for as insurance

 

Note 5

Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense on financial guaranty contracts accounted for as insurance

 

Note 5

Policy acquisition costs

 

Note 5

Fair value measurement

 

Note 6

Credit derivatives

 

Note 7

VIEs

 

Note 8

Investments

 

Note 9

Income Taxes

 

Note 11

Stock based compensation

 

Note 17

Earnings per share

 

Note 18

Segments

 

Note 19


2. Business Changes, Risks, Uncertainties and Accounting Developments

        Summarized below are the most significant events over the past three years that have had, or may have in the future, a material effect on the financial position, results of operations or business prospects of the Company. In addition to global market and economic factors and business developments, changes in accounting standards may also affect the comparability of financial information between periods.

Market Conditions

        Volatility and disruption in the global financial markets over the past three years, including depressed home prices increased foreclosures, lower equity market values, high unemployment, reduced business and consumer confidence and the risk of increased inflation, have precipitated an economic slowdown. While there have been signs of a recovery as seen by stabilizing unemployment and home prices as well as rising equity markets, management cannot assure that volatility and disruption will not return to these markets in the near term. The Company's business and its financial condition will continue to be subject to the risk of global financial and economic conditions that could materially and negatively affect the demand for its products, the amount of losses incurred on transactions it guarantees, and its financial ratings. These conditions may adversely affect the Company's future profitability, financial position, investment portfolio, cash flow, statutory capital, financial strength ratings and stock price.

        The economic crisis caused many state and local governments that issue some of the obligations the Company insures to experience significant budget deficits and revenue collection shortfalls that

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

2. Business Changes, Risks, Uncertainties and Accounting Developments (Continued)


require them to significantly raise taxes and/or cut spending in order to satisfy their obligations. While the U.S. government has provided some financial support to state and local governments, significant budgetary pressures remain. If the issuers of the obligations in the Company's public finance portfolio do not have sufficient funds to cover their expenses and are unable or unwilling to raise taxes, decrease spending or receive federal assistance, the Company may experience increased levels of losses or impairments on its public finance obligations, which would materially and adversely affect its business, financial condition and results of operations. Additionally, future legislative, regulatory or judicial changes in the jurisdictions regulating the Company may adversely affect its ability to pursue its current mix of business, materially impacting its financial results. See Note 5 and 7.

NRSRO Rating Actions

        The NRSROs have downgraded the insurance financial strength ratings of all the Company's insurance subsidiaries over the course of the last several years from their previous AAA levels. There can be no assurance that NRSROs will not take further action on the Company's ratings. See Note 5, Note 7 and Note 12 for more information regarding the effect of NRSRO rating actions on the credit derivative business and the assumed reinsurance business of the Company. On January 24, 2011, Standard and Poor's Rating Services ("S&P") released a publication entitled "Request for Comment: Bond Insurance Criteria," in which it requested comments on proposed changes to its bond insurance ratings criteria. In the Request for Comment, S&P noted that it could lower its financial strength ratings on existing investment-grade bond insurers (which include the Company's insurance subsidiaries) by one or more rating categories if the proposed bond insurance ratings criteria are adopted, unless those bond insurers raise additional capital or reduce risk. The effect of this change in criteria, if adopted, and of the potential downgrade of the Company's financial strength ratings on the Company's financial condition and prospects is uncertain at this time.

        The Company believes that these rating agency actions and proposals, including the uncertainty caused by the release of S&P's Request for Comment, have reduced the Company's new business opportunities and have also affected the value of the Company's product to issuers and investors. The insurance subsidiaries' financial strength ratings are an important competitive factor in the financial guaranty insurance and reinsurance markets. If the financial strength or financial enhancement ratings of any of the Company's insurance subsidiaries were reduced below current levels, the Company expects it would have further adverse effects on its future business opportunities as well as the premiums it could charge for its insurance policies and consequently, a downgrade could harm the Company's new business production, results of operations and financial condition.

AGMH Acquisition

        On the July 1, 2009 ("Acquisition Date"), the Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, AGUS, purchased AGMH (formerly Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd, the "AGMH Acquisition") and, indirectly, its subsidiaries (excluding those involved in AGMH's former Financial Products Business) from Dexia Holdings Inc. ("Dexia Holdings"), an indirect subsidiary of Dexia SA and certain of its affiliates (together, "Dexia"). The principal operating subsidiary acquired was AGM (formerly Financial Security Assurance Inc.). The acquired companies are collectively referred to as the "Acquired Companies." The AGMH subsidiaries that conducted AGMH's former financial products business (the "Financial Products Companies") were sold to Dexia Holdings prior to the AGMH Acquisition. The purchase price paid by the Company was $546.0 million in cash and 22.3 million common shares of AGL with an Acquisition Date fair value of $275.9 million, for a total purchase price of $821.9 million.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

2. Business Changes, Risks, Uncertainties and Accounting Developments (Continued)

        AGMH's former financial products business had been in the business of borrowing funds through the issuance of guaranteed investment contracts ("GICs") and medium term notes and reinvesting the proceeds in investments that met AGMH's investment criteria. The financial products business also included portions of AGMH's leveraged lease business. In connection with the AGMH Acquisition, Dexia Holdings agreed to assume the risks in respect of the Financial Products Business and AGM agreed to retain the risks relating to the debt and strip policy portions of such business. Accordingly, the Company has entered into various agreements with Dexia in order to transfer to Dexia the credit risks and, as discussed further in Note 15, the liquidity risks associated with AGMH's former Financial Products Business.

        The Company is indemnified against exposure to AGMH's former financial products business through guaranties issued by Dexia and certain of its affiliates. In addition, the Company is protected from exposure to AGMH's GIC business through guaranties issued by the French and Belgian governments. Furthermore, to support the payment obligations of the Financial Products Companies, Dexia SA and its affiliate Dexia Crédit Local S.A. ("DCL") have entered into two separate ISDA Master Agreements, each with its associated schedule, confirmation and credit support annex (the "Guaranteed Put Contract" and the "Non-Guaranteed Put Contract" respectively, and collectively, the "Dexia Put Contracts"), pursuant to which Dexia SA and DCL jointly and severally guarantee the scheduled payments of interest and principal in relation to each asset of FSA Asset Management LLC, which is one of the Financial Products Companies, as well as any failure of Dexia to provide liquidity or liquid collateral under certain liquidity facilities.

        The Company financed the AGMH Acquisition with a common share and equity unit offering on June 24, 2009. The net proceeds after underwriting expenses and offering costs for these two offerings totaled approximately $616.5 million. Of that amount, $170.8 million related to the equity unit offering, $168.0 million of which was recognized as long-term debt and $2.8 million as additional paid-in-capital within shareholders' equity. Offering costs totaled approximately $43.5 million of which $41.8 million were recorded within additional paid-in capital. See Notes 3 and Note 5 for the Company's accounting policy for business combinations and its effect on financial guaranty contracts.

        Under the Purchase Agreement, the Company agreed to conduct AGM's business subject to certain operating and financial constraints. These restrictions will generally continue for three years after the closing of the AGMH Acquisition, or July 1, 2012. These agreements limit Assured Guaranty's operating and financial flexibility with respect to the operations of AGM. Among other items, the Company has agreed that AGM will not repurchase, redeem or pay any dividends on any class of its equity interests unless at that time:

Equity and Debt Offerings

        Over the past three years the Company has issued 82.4 million common shares for net proceeds of $1,271.7 million and $170.8 million in debt for various reasons including to finance the AGMH Acquisition and to satisfy NRSRO capital requirements.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

2. Business Changes, Risks, Uncertainties and Accounting Developments (Continued)

Accounting Changes

        Over the past three years there has been significant GAAP rule making activity which has significantly affected the accounting policies and presentation of the Company's financial information. All of these pronouncements have a significant effect on the comparability of the periods presented herein. The most significant changes are listed below in order of occurrence:


3. Business Combinations

Accounting Policy

        The AGMH Acquisition was accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting. Accordingly, the Company recorded the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their fair value at the Acquisition Date. Pre-existing relationships are effectively settled at fair value. The loss upon settlement of pre-existing relationships, along with goodwill impairment and the bargain purchase gain resulting from the difference between the purchase price and the net assets' fair value estimates, is recorded within "Goodwill and settlement of pre-existing relationship" in the consolidated statements of operations at the Acquisition Date.

AGMH Acquisition

        The initial difference between the purchase price of $821.9 million and AGMH's recorded net assets of $2.1 billion was reduced significantly by the recognition of additional liabilities related to AGMH's insured portfolio on a fair value basis as required by acquisition accounting. The bargain purchase resulted from the unprecedented credit crisis, which resulted in a significant decline in AGMH's franchise value due to material insured losses, ratings downgrades and significant losses at Dexia. Dexia required government intervention in its affairs, resulting in motivation to sell AGMH, and with the absence of potential purchasers of AGMH due to the financial crisis, the Company was able to negotiate a bargain purchase price.

        In many cases, determining the fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities required the Company to exercise significant judgment. The most significant of these determinations related to the valuation of the acquired financial guaranty direct and ceded contracts. The fair value of a financial guaranty direct contract accounted for as insurance is the estimated premium that a similarly rated hypothetical financial guarantor would demand to assume each policy and not the actual cash flows under the insurance contract. The methodology for determining such value takes into account the rating of the insured obligation, expectation of loss, sector and term. On January 1, 2009, a new accounting standard became effective for financial guaranty contracts accounted for as insurance which requires a Company to recognize loss reserves only to the extent expected losses exceed deferred premium revenue on a contract by contract basis. As the fair value of the deferred premium revenue exceeded the Company's estimate of expected loss for each contract, no loss reserves were recorded at July 1, 2009 for the Acquired Companies' contracts. See Note 5.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

3. Business Combinations (Continued)

        Based on the Company's assumptions, the fair value of the Acquired Companies' deferred premium revenue on its insurance contracts was $7.3 billion at July 1, 2009, an amount approximately $1.7 billion greater than the Acquired Companies' gross unearned premium reserve and loss and loss adjustment expense ("LAE") reserve (i.e., "gross stand ready obligations") at June 30, 2009. This indicates that the amounts of the Acquired Companies' contractual premiums were less than the premiums a market participant of similar credit quality would demand to acquire those contracts at the Acquisition Date. The fair value of the Acquired Companies' ceded contracts at July 1, 2009 was an asset of $1.7 billion and recorded in ceded unearned premium reserve. The fair value of the ceded contracts is in part derived from the fair value of the related direct insurance contracts with an adjustment for the credit quality of each reinsurer.

        The fair value of AGMH's long-term debt was based upon quoted market prices available from third-party brokers as of the Acquisition Date. The fair value of this debt was approximately $0.3 billion lower than its carrying value immediately prior to the AGMH Acquisition. This discount is being amortized into interest expense over the estimated remaining life of the debt.

        Additionally, other acquisition accounting adjustments included (1) the write off of the Acquired Companies' deferred acquisition cost ("DAC") and (2) the consolidation of certain financial guaranty VIEs in which the combined variable interest of the Acquired Companies and AG Re resulted in the Company being the primary beneficiary. Effective January 1, 2010, the Company deconsolidated these financial guaranty VIEs in accordance with a new GAAP standard as discussed in Note 8.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

3. Business Combinations (Continued)

        The following table shows the assets and liabilities of the Acquired Companies after the allocation of the purchase price to the net assets. The bargain purchase gain results from the difference between the purchase price and the net assets' fair value estimates.

 
  July 1, 2009  
 
  (in millions)
 

Purchase price:

       
 

Cash

  $ 546.0  
 

Fair value of common shares issued (based upon June 30, 2009 closing price of AGL common shares)

    275.9  
       
   

Total purchase price

    821.9  
       

Identifiable assets acquired:

       
 

Investments

    5,950.1  
 

Cash

    87.0  
 

Premiums receivable, net of ceding commissions payable

    854.1  
 

Ceded unearned premium reserve

    1,727.7  
 

Deferred tax asset, net

    888.1  
 

Financial guaranty VIEs' assets

    1,879.4  
 

Other assets

    662.6  
       
     

Total assets

    12,049.0  
       

Liabilities assumed:

       
 

Unearned premium reserve

    7,286.4  
 

Long-term debt

    560.6  
 

Credit derivative liabilities

    920.0  
 

Financial guaranty VIEs' liabilities

    1,878.6  
 

Other liabilities

    348.9  
       
     

Total liabilities

    10,994.5  
       

Net assets resulting from AGMH Acquisition

    1,054.5  
       

Bargain purchase gain resulting from the AGMH Acquisition

  $ 232.6  
       

        The Company and the Acquired Companies had a pre-existing reinsurance relationship. The loss relating to this pre-existing relationship resulted from the effective settlement of reinsurance contracts at fair value and the write-off of previously recorded assets and liabilities relating to this relationship recorded in the Company's historical accounts. The Company determined fair value as the difference between contractual premiums and the Company's estimate of current market premiums. The loss related to the contract settlement results from contractual premiums that were less than the Company's estimate of what a market participant would demand currently, estimated in a manner similar to how the value of the Acquired Companies' insurance policies were valued, as well as related acquisition costs described above.

        The Company had existing goodwill on its balance sheet at the date of acquisition relating to a previous acquisition. The Company reassessed the recoverability of the goodwill in the three-months ended September 30, 2009 ("third quarter 2009") subsequent to the AGMH Acquisition, which provided the Company's largest assumed book of business prior to the acquisition. As a result of the AGMH Acquisition, which significantly diminished the Company's potential near future market for assuming reinsurance, combined with the continued credit crisis, which adversely affected the fair value of the Company's in-force policies, management determined to write off the full carrying value of

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

3. Business Combinations (Continued)


$85.4 million of goodwill on its books prior to the AGMH Acquisition in the third quarter 2009. This charge did not have any adverse effect on the Company's debt agreements or its overall compliance with the covenants of its debt agreements.

        A summary of goodwill and settlements of pre-existing relationship included in the consolidated statement of operations follows:


Components of Goodwill and Settlement of Pre-existing Relationship

 
  Year Ended
December 31, 2009
 
 
  (in millions)
 

Goodwill impairment associated with assumed reinsurance line of business

  $ 85.4  

Gain on bargain purchase of AGMH

    (232.6 )

Settlement of pre-existing relationship in conjunction with the AGMH Acquisition

    170.5  
       
 

Goodwill and settlement of pre-existing relationship

  $ 23.3  
       

        For the year ended December 31, 2009, the Company recognized expenses related to the AGMH Acquisition of $92.3 million. These expenses were primarily driven by severance paid or accrued to AGM employees. AGMH Acquisition-related expenses also included various real estate, legal, consulting and relocation fees. Real estate expenses related primarily to consolidation of the Company's New York and London offices. The Company incurred additional acquisition-related expenses in 2010, primarily for consulting services employed as part of the integration process. The 2009 AGMH Acquisition-related expenses included $4.4 million and $6.6 million in accrued severance and office consolidation expenses, respectively, not yet paid as of December 31, 2010.

        AGMH Acquisition-related expenses for the year ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 are as follows:


AGMH Acquisition-Related Expenses

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009  

Severance costs

  $   $ 40.4  

Professional services

    6.8     32.8  

Office consolidation

        19.1  
           
 

Total

  $ 6.8   $ 92.3  
           

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

3. Business Combinations (Continued)

Pro Forma Condensed Combined Results of Operations

        The following unaudited pro forma information presents the combined results of operations of Assured Guaranty and the Acquired Companies. The unaudited pro forma combined financial information is presented for illustrative purposes only and does not indicate the financial results of the combined company had the companies actually been combined as of January 1, 2009, nor is it indicative of the results of operations in future periods. The pro forma results of operations for 2009 are not comparable to the 2008 information due to new accounting requirements for financial guaranty contracts effective January 1, 2009.


Pro Forma Condensed Combined Results of Operations (Unaudited)

 
  Year Ended December 31, 2009   Year Ended December 31, 2008  
 
  Revenues   Net Income
(Loss)
Attributable to
Assured
Guaranty Ltd.
  Net Income
(Loss) per
Basic Share
  Revenues   Net Income
(Loss)
Attributable to
Assured
Guaranty Ltd.
  Net Income
(Loss) per
Basic Share
 
 
  (in millions, except per share amounts)
 

Assured Guaranty as reported

  $ 929.6   $ 97.2   $ 0.77   $ 553.2   $ 68.9   $ 0.78  

Pro forma combined

    2,316.7     823.8     4.25     806.0     (1,072.8 )   (7.17 )


4. Outstanding Exposure

        The Company's insurance policies and credit derivative contracts are written in different forms, but collectively are considered financial guaranty contracts. They typically guarantee the scheduled payments of principal and interest ("Debt Service") on public finance and structured finance obligations. The Company seeks to limit its exposure to losses by underwriting obligations that are investment grade at inception, diversifying its portfolio and maintaining rigorous subordination or collateralization requirements on structured finance obligations. The Company also utilizes reinsurance by ceding business to third-party reinsurers. The Company provides financial guaranties with respect to debt obligations of special purpose entities, including VIEs. Based on accounting standards in effect during any given reporting period, some of these VIEs are consolidated as described in Note 8. Outstanding par and Debt Service amounts are presented below, including outstanding exposures on VIEs whether or not they are consolidated.


Debt Service Outstanding

 
  Gross Debt Service Outstanding   Net Debt Service Outstanding  
 
  December 31,
2010
  December 31,
2009
  December 31,
2010
  December 31,
2009
 
 
  (in millions)
 

Public finance

  $ 851,634   $ 880,933   $ 760,167   $ 761,301  

Structured finance

    178,348     214,104     166,976     196,964  
                   
 

Total

  $ 1,029,982   $ 1,095,037   $ 927,143   $ 958,265  
                   

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

Table of Contents

4. Outstanding Exposure (Continued)

Summary of Public and Structured Finance Insured Portfolio

 
  Gross Par Outstanding   Ceded Par Outstanding   Net Par Outstanding  
Sector
  December 31,
2010
  December 31,
2009
  December 31,
2010
  December 31,
2009
  December 31,
2010
  December 31,
2009
 
 
  (in millions)
 

Public finance:

                                     

U.S.:

                                     
 

General obligation

  $ 198,553   $ 201,264   $ 16,754   $ 22,880   $ 181,799   $ 178,384  
 

Tax backed

    92,246     94,825     8,843     11,796     83,403     83,029  
 

Municipal utilities

    75,588     77,872     5,522     8,294     70,066     69,578  
 

Transportation

    42,482     42,540     5,509     7,243     36,973     35,297  
 

Healthcare

    26,383     28,214     4,791     6,205     21,592     22,009  
 

Higher education

    16,584     16,399     897     1,267     15,687     15,132  
 

Housing

    7,316     9,623     754     1,099     6,562     8,524  
 

Infrastructure finance

    4,945     4,530     853     977     4,092     3,553  
 

Investor-owned utilities

    1,507     1,694     2     4     1,505     1,690  
 

Other public finance—U.S. 

    5,417     6,002     100     120     5,317     5,882  
                           
   

Total public finance—U.S. 

    471,021     482,963     44,025     59,885     426,996     423,078  

Non-U.S.:

                                     
 

Infrastructure finance

    18,780     19,404     2,807     3,060     15,973     16,344  
 

Regulated utilities

    18,427     18,979     4,449     5,128     13,978     13,851  
 

Pooled infrastructure

    3,656     4,684     224     280     3,432     4,404  
 

Other public finance—non-U.S. 

    9,582     10,485     2,222     2,309     7,360     8,176  
                           
   

Total public finance—non-U.S. 

    50,445     53,552     9,702     10,777     40,743     42,775  
                           

Total public finance obligations

  $ 521,466   $ 536,515   $ 53,727   $ 70,662   $ 467,739   $ 465,853  
                           

Structured finance:

                                     

U.S.:

                                     
 

Pooled corporate obligations

  $ 71,591   $ 82,622   $ 4,207   $ 8,289   $ 67,384   $ 74,333  
 

RMBS

    26,609     31,033     1,479     1,857     25,130     29,176  
 

Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities ("CMBS") and other commercial real estate related exposures

    7,137     7,463     53     53     7,084     7,410  
 

Financial products(1)

    6,831     10,251             6,831     10,251  
 

Consumer receivables

    6,343     9,314     270     441     6,073     8,873  
 

Commercial receivables

    2,142     2,485     3     3     2,139     2,482  
 

Structured credit

    1,794     2,738     65     131     1,729     2,607  
 

Insurance securitizations

    1,656     1,731     72     80     1,584     1,651  
 

Other structured finance—U.S. 

    1,980     2,754     1,178     1,236     802     1,518  
                           
   

Total structured finance—U.S. 

    126,083     150,391     7,327     12,090     118,756     138,301  

Non-U.S.:

                                     
 

Pooled corporate obligations

    25,087     27,743     2,477     3,046     22,610     24,697  
 

RMBS

    3,749     5,623     355     396     3,394     5,227  
 

Commercial receivables

    1,764     1,908     35     36     1,729     1,872  
 

Structured credit

    1,397     2,285     130     216     1,267     2,069  
 

Insurance securitizations

    979     995     15     14     964     981  
 

CMBS and other commercial real estate related exposures

    251     752             251     752  
 

Other structured finance—non-U.S. 

    472     717     51     47     421     670  
                           
   

Total structured finance—non-U.S. 

    33,699     40,023     3,063     3,755     30,636     36,268  
                           

Total structured finance obligations

  $ 159,782   $ 190,414   $ 10,390   $ 15,845   $ 149,392   $ 174,569  
                           

Total

  $ 681,248   $ 726,929   $ 64,117   $ 86,507   $ 617,131   $ 640,422  
                           

(1)
As discussed in Note 2, this represents the exposure to AGM's financial guaranties of GICs issued by AGMH's former financial products companies. This exposure is guaranteed by Dexia. The Company is also protected by guaranties issued by the French and Belgian governments.

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4. Outstanding Exposure (Continued)


Financial Guaranty Portfolio by Internal Rating

 
  As of December 31, 2010  
 
  Public Finance
U.S.
  Public Finance
Non-U.S.
  Structured Finance
U.S
  Structured Finance
Non-U.S
  Total  
Rating Category(1)
  Net Par
Outstanding
  %   Net Par
Outstanding
  %   Net Par
Outstanding
  %   Net Par
Outstanding
  %   Net Par
Outstanding
  %  
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

Super senior

  $     % $ 1,420     3.5 % $ 21,837     18.4 % $ 7,882     25.7 % $ 31,139     5.0 %

AAA

    5,784     1.4     1,378     3.4     45,067     37.9     13,573     44.3     65,802     10.7  

AA

    161,906     37.9     1,330     3.3     17,355     14.6     1,969     6.4     182,560     29.6  

A

    214,199     50.2     12,482     30.6     6,396     5.4     1,873     6.1     234,950     38.1  

BBB

    41,948     9.8     22,338     54.8     7,543     6.4     4,045     13.2     75,874     12.3  

Below investment grade ("BIG")

    3,159     0.7     1,795     4.4     20,558     17.3     1,294     4.3     26,806     4.3  
                                           
 

Total net par outstanding

  $ 426,996     100.0 % $ 40,743     100.0 % $ 118,756     100.0 % $ 30,636     100.0 % $ 617,131     100.0 %
                                           

 

 
  As of December 31, 2009  
 
  Public Finance
U.S.
  Public Finance
Non-U.S.
  Structured Finance
U.S
  Structured Finance
Non-U.S
  Total  
Rating Category(1)
  Net Par
Outstanding
  %   Net Par
Outstanding
  %   Net Par
Outstanding
  %   Net Par
Outstanding
  %   Net Par
Outstanding
  %  
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

Super senior

  $ 25     0.0 % $ 2,316     5.4 % $ 28,272     20.4 % $ 12,740     35.1 % $ 43,353     6.8 %

AAA

    6,461     1.5     1,477     3.5     40,022     28.9     11,826     32.6     59,786     9.3  

AA

    164,986     39.0     2,105     4.9     26,799     19.4     2,969     8.2     196,859     30.7  

A

    208,771     49.4     13,542     31.7     8,305     6.0     2,582     7.1     233,200     36.4  

BBB

    39,709     9.4     22,691     53.0     14,514     10.5     5,145     14.2     82,059     12.8  

BIG

    3,126     0.7     644     1.5     20,389     14.8     1,006     2.8     25,165     4.0  
                                           
 

Total net par outstanding

  $ 423,078     100.0 % $ 42,775     100.0 % $ 138,301     100.0 % $ 36,268     100.0 % $ 640,422     100.0 %
                                           

(1)
Represents the Company's internal rating. The Company's ratings scale is similar to that used by the NRSROs; however, the ratings in the above table may not be the same as ratings assigned by any such rating agency. The super senior category, which is not generally used by rating agencies, is used by the Company in instances where the Company's triple-A-rated exposure on its internal rating scale has additional credit enhancement due to either (1) the existence of another security rated triple-A that is subordinated to the Company's exposure or (2) the Company's exposure benefiting from a different form of credit enhancement that would pay any claims first in the event that any of the exposures incur a loss, and such credit enhancement, in management's opinion, causes the Company's attachment point to be materially above the triple-A attachment point.

        Actual maturities of insured obligations could differ from contractual maturities because borrowers have the right to call or prepay certain obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. The expected maturities for structured finance obligations are, in general, considerably shorter than the contractual maturities for such obligations. For structured finance obligations, the full par outstanding for each insured risk is shown in the maturity category that corresponds to the final legal maturity of such risk:

Contractual Terms to Maturity of
Net Par Outstanding of Financial Guaranty Insured Obligations

 
  December 31, 2010  
Terms to Maturity
  Public
Finance
  Structured
Finance
  Total  
 
  (in millions)
 

0 to 5 years

  $ 91,210   $ 32,235   $ 123,445  

5 to 10 years

    97,662     38,986     136,648  

10 to 15 years

    90,520     21,491     112,011  

15 to 20 years

    69,851     2,491     72,342  

20 years and above

    118,496     54,189     172,685  
               
 

Total net par outstanding

  $ 467,739   $ 149,392   $ 617,131  
               

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4. Outstanding Exposure (Continued)

        In addition to amounts shown in the tables above, the Company had outstanding commitments to provide guaranties of $3.6 billion for structured finance and $1.2 billion for public finance commitments at December 31, 2010. The structured finance commitments include the unfunded component of and delayed draws on pooled corporate transactions. Public finance commitments typically relate to primary and secondary public finance debt issuances. The expiration dates for the public finance commitments range between January 1, 2011 through February 1, 2019, with $0.9 billion expiring prior to December 31, 2011. All the commitments are contingent on the satisfaction of all conditions set forth in them and may expire unused or be cancelled at the counterparty's request. Therefore, the total commitment amount does not necessarily reflect actual future guaranteed amounts.

        The Company seeks to maintain a diversified portfolio of insured public finance obligations designed to spread its risk across a number of geographic areas. The following table sets forth those states in which municipalities located therein issued an aggregate of 2% or more of the Company's net par amount outstanding of insured public finance securities:


Geographic Distribution of Financial Guaranty Portfolio

 
  December 31, 2010  
 
  Number
of Risks
  Net
Par Amount
Outstanding
  Percent of
Total Net
Par Amount
Outstanding
  Ceded
Par Amount
Outstanding
 
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

U.S.:

                         

U.S. Public finance:

                         
 

California

    1,638   $ 59,699     9.7 % $ 6,788  
 

New York

    1,054     35,397     5.7     4,758  
 

Texas

    1,317     31,629     5.1     2,139  
 

Pennsylvania

    1,180     31,162     5.0     2,083  
 

Florida

    514     26,759     4.3     2,177  
 

Illinois

    1,046     26,077     4.2     3,426  
 

New Jersey

    824     18,073     2.9     3,190  
 

Michigan

    801     16,737     2.7     1,237  
 

Washington

    383     12,568     2.0     1,886  
 

Massachusetts

    343     12,473     2.0     2,379  
 

Other states

    5,834     156,422     25.5     13,962  
                   
   

Total U.S. Public finance

    14,934     426,996     69.1     44,025  
 

Structured finance (multiple states)

    1,373     118,756     19.3     7,327  
                   
   

Total U.S. 

    16,307     545,752     88.4     51,352  

Non-U.S.:

                         
 

United Kingdom

    142     27,058     4.4     5,455  
 

Australia

    42     9,224     1.5     1,484  
 

Canada

    9     4,486     0.7     577  
 

France

    15     2,555     0.4     911  
 

Italy

    10     2,021     0.3     735  
 

Other

    151     26,035     4.3     3,603  
                   
     

Total non-U.S. 

    369     71,379     11.6     12,765  
                   

Total

    16,676   $ 617,131     100.0 % $ 64,117  
                   

        As of December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the Company's net mortgage guaranty insurance in force (representing the current principal balance of all mortgage loans currently reinsured) was

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4. Outstanding Exposure (Continued)


approximately $0.3 billion and $0.4 billion, respectively, and net risk in force was approximately $0.3 billion and $0.4 billion, respectively. These amounts are not included in the above table.


Significant Risk Management Activities

        The Risk Oversight and Audit Committees of the Board of Directors of AGL oversee the Company's risk management policies and procedures. With input from the board committees, specific risk policies and limits are set by the Portfolio Risk Management Committee, which includes members of senior management and senior Credit and Surveillance officers.

        Risk Management and Surveillance personnel are responsible for monitoring and reporting on all transactions in the insured portfolio, including exposures in both financial guaranty direct and financial guaranty reinsurance segments. The primary objective of the surveillance process is to monitor trends and changes in transaction credit quality, detect any deterioration in credit quality, and recommend to management such remedial actions as may be necessary or appropriate. All transactions in the insured portfolio are assigned internal credit ratings, and Surveillance personnel are responsible for recommending adjustments to those ratings to reflect changes in transaction credit quality. Risk Management and Surveillance personnel are also responsible for managing work-out and loss situations when necessary.

        Work-out personnel are responsible for managing work-out and loss mitigation situations. They develop strategies designed to enhance the ability of the Company to enforce its contractual rights and remedies and to mitigate its losses, engage in negotiation discussions with transaction participants and, when necessary, manage (along with legal personnel) the Company's litigation proceedings.

        Since the onset of the financial crisis, the Company has shifted personnel to loss mitigation and work-out activities and hired new personnel to augment its efforts. Although the Company's loss mitigation efforts may extend to any transaction it has identified as having loss potential, much of the recent activity has been focused on RMBS.

        Generally, when mortgage loans are transferred into a securitization, the loan originator(s) and/or sponsor(s) provide representations and warranties ("R&W"), that the loans meet certain characteristics, and a breach of such R&W often requires that the loan be repurchased from the securitization. In many of the transactions the Company insures, it is in a position to enforce these requirements. The Company uses internal resources as well as third party forensic underwriting firms and legal firms to pursue breaches of R&W. If a provider of R&W refuses to honor its repurchase obligations, the Company may choose to initiate litigation. See "Recovery Litigation" in Note 5 below.

        The quality of servicing of the mortgage loans underlying an RMBS transaction influences collateral performance and ultimately the amount (if any) of the Company's insured losses. The Company has established a group to mitigate RMBS losses by influencing mortgage servicing, including, if possible, causing the transfer of servicing or establishing special servicing.

        In the fall of 2010, several large RMBS servicers suspended foreclosures because of allegations of a widespread failure to comply with foreclosure procedures and faulty loan documentation. These issues are being investigated by various state attorney general offices throughout the U.S. The suspension of foreclosures and subsequent investigation will lead to additional servicing costs and expenses, including without limitation, increased advances by the servicers for principal and interest, taxes, insurance and legal costs. The Company is increasing its monitoring efforts to ensure that the servicers comply with their obligations under servicing contracts, including bearing the losses and expenses incurred as a result of this issue. These same foreclosure issues are expected to impact the timing of losses to RMBS transactions that the Company has insured, which may impact the speed at

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4. Outstanding Exposure (Continued)


which various classes of RMBS securities amortize, and so could impact the size of losses ultimately paid by the Company. The Company expects these issues to take some time to resolve.

        The Company may also employ other strategies as appropriate to avoid or mitigate losses in U.S. RMBS or other areas. For example, the Company may pursue litigation or enter into other arrangements to alleviate all or a portion of certain risks.

Surveillance Categories

        The Company segregates its insured portfolio into investment grade and BIG surveillance categories to facilitate the appropriate allocation of resources to monitoring and loss mitigation efforts and to aid in establishing the appropriate cycle for periodic review for each exposure. BIG exposures include all exposures with internal credit ratings below BBB-. The Company's internal credit ratings are based on the Company's internal assessment of the likelihood of default. The Company's internal credit ratings are expressed on a ratings scale similar to that used by the rating agencies and are generally reflective of an approach similar to that employed by the rating agencies.

        The Company monitors its investment grade credits to determine whether any new credits need to be internally downgraded to BIG. The Company refreshes its internal credit ratings on individual credits in quarterly, semi-annual or annual cycles based on the Company's view of the credit's quality, loss potential, volatility and sector. Ratings on credits in sectors identified as under the most stress or with the most potential volatility are reviewed every quarter. The Company's insured credit ratings on assumed credits are based in large part on the ceding company's credit rating, although, to the extent information is available, the Company will conduct an independent review of low rated credits or credits in volatile sectors. For example the Company models all assumed RMBS credits with ceded par above $1 million, as well as certain RMBS credits below that amount.

        Credits identified as BIG are subjected to further review to determine the probability of a loss (see Note 5 "Loss estimation process"). Surveillance personnel then assign each BIG transaction to the appropriate BIG surveillance category based upon whether a lifetime loss is expected and whether a claim has been paid. The Company expects "lifetime losses" on a transaction when the Company believes there is more than a 50% chance that, on a present value basis, it will pay more claims over the life of that transaction than it will ultimately have been reimbursed. For surveillance purposes, the Company calculates present value using a constant discount rate of 5%. (A risk free rate is used for recording of reserves for financial statement purposes.) A "liquidity claim" is a claim that the Company expects to be reimbursed within one year.

        Intense monitoring and intervention is employed for all BIG surveillance categories, with internal credit ratings reviewed quarterly:

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4. Outstanding Exposure (Continued)

        In 2010 the Company revised the definitions of the three BIG surveillance categories to more closely track the Company's view of whether a transaction is expected to experience a loss, without regard to whether the probability weighted expected loss exceeded the unearned premium reserve. The revisions do not impact whether a transaction would be considered BIG or whether reserves are established for a transaction or the amount of any such reserves, but only the distribution within the BIG surveillance categories. While the revisions resulted in a number of transactions moving between BIG categories, the revisions had a relatively small impact on the totals in each category.


Financial Guaranty Exposures
(Insurance and Credit Derivative Form)

 
  December 31, 2010  
 
  BIG Net Par Outstanding    
   
 
 
  Total Net Par
Outstanding
  Total BIG as a %
of Total Net Par
Outstanding
 
 
  BIG 1   BIG 2   BIG 3   Total BIG  
 
  (in millions)
   
 

First lien U.S. RMBS:

                                     
 

Prime first lien

  $ 82   $ 542   $   $ 624   $ 849     0.1 %
 

Alt-A first lien

    976     3,108     573     4,657     6,134     0.8  
 

Alt-A option ARM

    33     2,186     640     2,859     3,214     0.5  
 

Subprime (including net interest margin securities)

    729     2,248     106     3,083     9,039     0.4  

Second lien U.S. RMBS:

                                     
 

Closed end second lien

    63     444     624     1,131     1,164     0.2  
 

Home equity lines of credit ("HELOCs")

    369         3,632     4,001     4,730     0.6  
                           
   

Total U.S. RMBS

    2,252     8,528     5,575     16,355     25,130     2.6  

Other structured finance

    2,758     292     2,447     5,497     124,262     0.9  

Public finance

    3,752     283     919     4,954     467,739     0.8  
                           
     

Total

  $ 8,762   $ 9,103   $ 8,941   $ 26,806   $ 617,131     4.3 %
                           

 

 
  December 31, 2009  
 
  BIG Net Par Outstanding    
   
 
 
  Total Net Par
Outstanding
  Total BIG as a %
of Total Net Par
Outstanding
 
 
  BIG 1   BIG 2   BIG 3   Total BIG  
 
  (in millions)
   
 

First lien U.S. RMBS:

                                     
 

Prime first lien

  $ 564   $ 51   $   $ 615   $ 985     0.1 %
 

Alt-A first lien

    752     3,698     173     4,623     7,108     0.7  
 

Alt-A option ARM

    629     2,811         3,440     3,882     0.6  
 

Subprime (including net interest margin securities)

    985     1,648     55     2,688     9,956     0.4  

Second lien U.S. RMBS:

                                     
 

Closed end second lien

    123     628     509     1,260     1,305     0.2  
 

HELOCs

    13     113     4,372     4,498     5,940     0.7  
                           
   

Total U.S. RMBS

    3,066     8,949     5,109     17,124     29,176     2.7  

Other structured finance

    1,211     967     2,093     4,271     145,393     0.7  

Public finance

    2,361     723     687     3,771     465,853     0.6  
                           
     

Total

  $ 6,638   $ 10,639   $ 7,889   $ 25,166   $ 640,422     4.0 %
                           

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

4. Outstanding Exposure (Continued)

Net Par Outstanding for Below Investment Grade Credits

 
  As of December 31, 2010  
Description
  Net Par
Outstanding
Financial
Guaranty
Insurance
  % of Total
Net Par
Outstanding
  Net Par
Outstanding
Credit
Derivatives
  % of Total
Net Par
Outstanding
  Net Par
Outstanding
Total
  % of Total
Net Par
Outstanding
  Number of
Credits
in Category
 
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

BIG:

                                           
 

Category 1

  $ 5,521     0.9 % $ 3,241     0.5 % $ 8,762     1.4 %   151  
 

Category 2

    5,646     0.9     3,457     0.6     9,103     1.5     147  
 

Category 3

    7,281     1.1     1,660     0.3     8,941     1.4     127  
                               

Total BIG

  $ 18,448     2.9 % $ 8,358     1.4 % $ 26,806     4.3 %   425  
                               

 

 
  As of December 31, 2009  
Description
  Net Par
Outstanding
Financial
Guaranty
Insurance
  % of Total
Net Par
Outstanding
  Net Par
Outstanding
Credit
Derivatives
  % of Total
Net Par
Outstanding
  Net Par
Outstanding
Total
  % of Total
Net Par
Outstanding
  Number of
Credits
in Category
 
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

BIG:

                                           
 

Category 1

  $ 4,230     0.7 % $ 2,408     0.4 % $ 6,638     1.1 %   112  
 

Category 2

    6,805     1.1     3,834     0.6     10,639     1.7     208  
 

Category 3

    6,672     1.0     1,217     0.2     7,889     1.2     44  
                               

Total BIG

  $ 17,707     2.8 % $ 7,459     1.2 % $ 25,166     4.0 %   364  
                               


5. Financial Guaranty Contracts Accounted for as Insurance

Accounting Policies

Premium Revenue Recognition

        Premiums are received either upfront at inception or in installments over the life of the contract. Accounting policies for financial guaranty contracts accounted for as insurance are consistent whether the contract was written on a direct basis, assumed from another financial guarantor under a reinsurance treaty, ceded to another insurer under a reinsurance treaty or acquired in a business combination. The Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued an authoritative standard, effective January 1, 2009, that changed premium revenue recognition and loss recognition for contracts accounted for as financial guaranty insurance. Contracts accounted for as credit derivatives are excluded from this standard.

        "Unearned premium reserve" or "unearned premium revenue" represents "deferred premium revenue" net of paid claims that have not yet been expensed, or "contra-paid". See loss and LAE reserve accounting policy note below for a description of "contra-paid".

        The amount of deferred premium revenue at contract inception is determined as follows:

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

5. Financial Guaranty Contracts Accounted for as Insurance (Continued)

        The Company recognizes deferred premium revenue as earned premium over the contractual period or expected period of the contract in proportion to the amount of insurance protection provided. As premium revenue is recognized, a corresponding decrease in the deferred premium revenue is recorded. The amount of insurance protection provided is a function of the insured principal amount outstanding. Accordingly, the proportionate share of premium revenue recognized in a given reporting period is a constant rate calculated based on the relationship between the insured principal amounts outstanding in the reporting period compared with the sum of each of the insured principal amounts outstanding for all periods. When the issuer of an insured financial obligation retires the insured financial obligation before its maturity, the financial guaranty insurance contract on the retired financial obligation is extinguished. The Company immediately recognizes any nonrefundable deferred premium revenue related to that contract as premium revenue and recognizes any associated acquisition costs previously deferred as an expense.

        In the Company's assumed businesses, the Company estimates the ultimate written and earned premiums to be received from a ceding company at the end of each quarter and the end of each year. A portion of the premiums must be estimated because some of the Company's ceding companies report premium data between 30 and 90 days after the end of the reporting period. Earned premium reported in the Company's consolidated statements of operations are based upon reports received from ceding companies supplemented by the Company's own estimates of premium for which ceding company reports have not yet been received. Differences between such estimates and actual amounts are recorded in the period in which the actual amounts are determined.

        Deferred premium revenue ceded to reinsurers is recorded as an asset called "ceded unearned premium reserve". The corresponding income statement recognition is included with the direct and assumed business in "net earned premiums".

        Prior to January 1, 2009, upfront premiums were earned in proportion to the expiration of the amount at risk. Each installment premium was earned ratably over its installment period, generally one year or less. Premium earnings under both the upfront and installment revenue recognition methods were based upon and were in proportion to the principal amount guaranteed and therefore resulted in higher premium earnings during periods where guaranteed principal was higher. For insured bonds for which the par value outstanding was declining during the insurance period, upfront premium earnings were greater in the earlier periods, thereby matching revenue recognition with the underlying risk. The premiums were allocated in accordance with the principal amortization schedule of the related bond issuance and were earned ratably over the amortization period. When an insured issuance was retired early, was called by the issuer, or was in substance paid in advance through a refunding accomplished by placing U.S. Government securities in escrow, the remaining unearned premium reserves were earned at that time. Unearned premium reserve represented the portion of premiums written that were

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

5. Financial Guaranty Contracts Accounted for as Insurance (Continued)


applicable to the unexpired amount at risk of insured bonds. On contracts where premiums were paid in installments, only the currently due installment was recorded in the financial statements.

Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves

        Under financial guaranty insurance accounting, unearned premium reserve and loss and LAE reserves represent the Company's combined stand-ready obligation. At contract inception, the entire stand-ready obligation is represented by unearned premium reserve. Loss and LAE reserves are only recorded when expected losses to be paid exceed the deferred premium revenue less contra-paid on a contract by contract basis.

        "Expected loss to be paid" represents the Company's discounted expected future cash outflows for claim payments, net of expected salvage and subrogation expected to be recovered. See "—Salvage and Subrogation" below.

        When a claim payment is made on a contract it first reduces any recorded "loss and LAE reserves". To the extent a "loss and LAE reserve" is not recorded on a contract, which occurs when "total losses" (contra-paid plus expected loss to be paid) are less than deferred premium revenue, claim payments are recorded as "contra-paid," which reduce the unearned premium reserve. The contra-paid is recognized in the line item "loss and LAE" in the consolidated statement of operations when and for the amount that total losses exceed the remaining deferred premium revenue on the contract.

        The contra-paid is recognized in the line item "loss and LAE expense" in the consolidated statement of operations in when total losses exceeds remaining deferred premium revenue on the contract.

        The "expected loss to be paid" is equal to the present value of expected future net cash outflows to be paid under the contract discounted using the current risk-free rate. That current risk-free rate is based on the remaining period of the contract used in the premium revenue recognition calculation (i.e., the contractual or expected period, as applicable). The Company updates the discount rate each quarter and reports the effect of such changes in loss development. Expected net cash outflows (cash outflows expected to be paid to the holder of the insured financial obligation, net of potential recoveries, excluding reinsurance) are probability weighted cash flows that reflect the likelihood of all possible outcomes. The Company estimates the expected net cash outflows using management's assumptions about the likelihood of all possible outcomes based on all information available to it. Those assumptions consider the relevant facts and circumstances and are consistent with the information tracked and monitored through the Company's risk-management activities.

        Prior to January 1, 2009, "loss reserves" included case reserves and portfolio reserves. Gross case reserves were established when there was significant credit deterioration on specific insured obligations and the obligations were in default or default was probable, not necessarily upon non-payment of principal or interest by an insured. Gross case reserves represented the present value of expected future loss payments and LAE, net of estimated recoveries, but before considering ceded reinsurance. This reserving method was different from case reserves established by traditional property and casualty insurance companies, which establish case reserves upon notification of a claim and establish incurred but not reported reserves for the difference between actuarially estimated ultimate losses and recorded case reserves. Financial guaranty insurance case reserves and related salvage and subrogation, if any, were discounted at the taxable equivalent yield on the Company's investment portfolio, which was approximately 6%, during 2008.

        The Company recorded a portfolio reserve for its financial guaranty business prior to 2009. Portfolio reserves were established with respect to the portion of the Company's business for which

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

5. Financial Guaranty Contracts Accounted for as Insurance (Continued)


case reserves were not established. Portfolio reserves were not established based on a specific event. Instead, they were calculated by aggregating the portfolio reserve calculated for each individual transaction. Individual transaction reserves were calculated on a quarterly basis by multiplying the par in-force by the product of the ultimate loss and earning factors without regard to discounting. The ultimate loss factor was defined as the frequency of loss multiplied by the severity of loss, where the frequency was defined as the probability of default for each individual issue. The earning factor was inception to date earned premium divided by the estimated ultimate written premium for each transaction. The probability of default was estimated from rating agency data and was based on the transaction's credit rating, industry sector and time until maturity. The severity was defined as the complement of recovery/salvage rates gathered by the rating agencies of defaulting issues and was based on the industry sector. Portfolio reserves were recorded gross of reinsurance. The Company did not cede any amounts under these reinsurance contracts, as the Company's recorded portfolio reserves did not exceed the Company's contractual retentions, required by said contracts.

        The Company recorded an incurred loss that was reflected in the consolidated statements of operations upon the establishment of portfolio reserves. When the Company initially recorded a case reserve, the Company reclassified the corresponding portfolio reserve already recorded for that credit within the consolidated balance sheets. The difference between the initially recorded case reserve and the reclassified portfolio reserve was recorded as a charge in the Company's consolidated statements of operations. Any subsequent change in portfolio reserves or the initial case reserves was recorded quarterly as a charge or credit in the Company's consolidated statements of operations in the period such estimates changed.

Salvage and Subrogation Recoverable

        When the Company becomes entitled to the cash flow from the underlying collateral of an insured credit under salvage and subrogation rights as a result of a claim payment or estimated recoveries from disputed claim payments on contractual grounds, it reduces the "expected loss to be paid" on the contract. Such reduction in expected to be paid can result in one of the following:

        The Company recognizes the expected recovery of AGMH claim payments made prior to the Acquisition consistent with its policy for recognizing recoveries on all financial guaranty insurance contracts. To the extent that the estimated amount of recoveries increases or decreases, due to changes in facts and circumstances, including the examination of additional loan files and our experience in recovering loans put back to the originator, the Company would recognize a benefit or expense consistent with the manner it records changes in the expected recovery of all other claim payments.

Policy Acquisition Costs

        Costs that vary with and are directly related to the production of new financial guaranty contracts accounted for as insurance are deferred and amortized in relation to earned premiums. These costs include direct and indirect expenses such as ceding commissions, and the cost of underwriting and marketing personnel. Management uses its judgment in determining the type and amount of cost to be deferred. The Company conducts an annual study to determine which operating costs vary with, and are directly related to, the acquisition of new business, and therefore qualify for deferral. Ceding

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

5. Financial Guaranty Contracts Accounted for as Insurance (Continued)


commission income on business ceded to third party reinsurers reduce policy acquisition costs and are deferred. Expected losses, LAE and the remaining costs of servicing the insured or reinsured business are considered in determining the recoverability of DAC. When an insured issue is retired early, the remaining related DAC is expensed at that time. Beginning January 1, 2009, ceding commission expense and income associated with future installment premiums on assumed and ceded business, respectively, are calculated at their contractually defined rates and recorded in deferred acquisition costs on the consolidated balance sheets with a corresponding offset to net premium receivable or payable.

        In October 2010, the FASB adopted Accounting Standards Update ("Update") No. 2010-26. This amendment in the Update specifies that certain costs incurred in the successful acquisition of new and renewal insurance contracts should be capitalized. These costs include incremental direct costs of contract acquisition that result directly from and are essential to the contract transaction and would not have been incurred by the insurance entity had the contract transaction not occurred. Costs incurred by the insurer for soliciting potential customers, market research, training, administration, unsuccessful acquisition efforts, and product development as well as all overhead type costs should be charged to expense as incurred. The amendment in the Update is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2011. The amendments in this Update will be applied prospectively upon adoption. Retrospective application to all prior periods presented upon the date of adoption also is permitted, but not required. Early adoption is permitted, but only at the beginning of an entity's annual reporting period. The Company, which is not early adopting, is currently evaluating the impact the amendment in the Update will have on its consolidated financial statements in 2012.

Adoption of Financial Guaranty Accounting Standard

        The following table presents the effect of adopting the new financial guaranty accounting standard on January 1, 2009 on the Company's consolidated balance sheet . The new financial guaranty accounting standard changed the premium revenue and loss recognition methodologies.

 
  December 31,
2008
As reported
  Transition
Adjustment
  January 1,
2009
 
 
  (in millions)
 

ASSETS:

                   

Deferred acquisition costs

  $ 288.6   $ 101.8   $ 390.4  

Ceded unearned premium reserve

    18.9     6.6     25.5  

Reinsurance recoverable on ceded losses

    6.5     (1.2 )   5.3  

Premiums receivable, net of ceding commissions payable

    15.7     721.5     737.2  

Deferred tax asset, net

    129.1     (7.7 )   121.4  

Salvage recoverable

    80.2     6.9     87.1  

Total assets

    4,555.7     827.9     5,383.6  

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:

                   

Unearned premium reserves

  $ 1,233.7   $ 827.7   $ 2,061.4  

Loss and LAE reserve

    196.8     (25.4 )   171.4  

Reinsurance balances payable, net

    17.9     6.2     24.1  

Total liabilities

    2,629.5     808.5     3,438.0  

Retained earnings

    638.1     19.4     657.5  

Total shareholders' equity

    1,926.2     19.4     1,945.6  

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

    4,555.7     827.9     5,383.6  

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

5. Financial Guaranty Contracts Accounted for as Insurance (Continued)

        A summary of the effects on the consolidated balance sheet amounts above is as follows:

Application of Financial Guaranty Insurance Accounting to the AGMH Acquisition

        Acquisition accounting required that the fair value of each of the financial guaranty contracts in AGMH's insured portfolio be recorded on the Company's consolidated balance sheet. The fair value of AGMH's direct contracts was recorded on the line items "premium receivable, net of ceding commissions payable" and "unearned premium reserve" and the fair value of its ceded contracts was recorded within "other liabilities" and "ceded unearned premium reserves" on the consolidated balance sheet.

        At the Acquisition Date, the acquired AGMH financial guaranty insurance contracts were recorded at fair value. Due to the unprecedented credit crisis, the Company acquired AGMH at a significant discount to its book value primarily because the fair value of the obligation associated with its financial guaranty insurance contracts was significantly in excess of the obligation's historical carrying value. The Company, taking into account then current market spreads and risk premiums, recorded the fair value of these contracts based on what a hypothetical similarly rated financial guaranty insurer would have charged for each contract at the Acquisition Date and not the actual cash flows under the insurance contract. This resulted in some AGMH acquired contracts having a significantly higher unearned premium reserve and, subsequently, premium earnings compared to the contractual premium cash flows for the policy.

        On the Acquisition Date, there were limited financial guaranty contracts being written in the structured finance market, particularly in the U.S. RMBS asset class. Therefore, for certain asset classes, significant judgment was required to determine the estimated fair value of the acquired contracts. The Company determined the fair value of these contracts by taking into account the rating

186


Table of Contents


Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

5. Financial Guaranty Contracts Accounted for as Insurance (Continued)


of the insured obligation, expectation of loss, estimate risk premiums, sector and term. The AGMH financial guaranty insurance and reinsurance contracts were recorded as follows:


Financial Guaranty Contracts Acquired in
AGMH Acquisition as of July 1, 2009

 
  AGMH
Carrying Value
As of June 30, 2009(1)
  Acquisition
Accounting
Adjustment(2)
  Assured
Guaranty
Carrying Value
As of July 1, 2009(3)
 
 
  (in millions)
 

Premiums receivable, net of ceding commissions payable

  $ 854.1   $   $ 854.1  

Ceded unearned premium reserve

    1,299.2     428.4     1,727.6  

Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses

    279.9     (279.9 )    

Reinsurance balances payable, net of commissions

    249.6         249.6  

Unearned premium reserve

    3,778.7     3,507.7     7,286.4  

Loss and LAE reserves

    1,821.3     (1,821.3 )    

Deferred acquisition costs

    289.3     (289.3 )    

(1)
Represents the amounts recorded in the AGMH financial statements for financial guaranty insurance and reinsurance contracts prior to the AGMH Acquisition.

(2)
Represents the adjustments required to record the Acquired Companies' balances at fair value.

(3)
Represents the carrying value of the Acquired Companies' financial guaranty contracts, before intercompany eliminations primarily between AG Re and the Acquired Companies.

Financial Guaranty Insurance Premiums and Losses

        The following tables present net premium earned, premium receivable activity, expected collections of future premiums and expected future earnings on the existing book of business. The tables below provide the expected timing of premium revenue recognition, before accretion, and the expected timing of loss and LAE recognition, before accretion. Actual collections may differ from expected collections in the tables below due to factors such as foreign exchange rate fluctuations and counterparty collectability issues. The amount and timing of actual premium earnings and loss expense may differ from the estimates shown below due to factors such as refundings, accelerations, future commutations, and updates to loss estimates.

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Table of Contents


Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

5. Financial Guaranty Contracts Accounted for as Insurance (Continued)


Net Earned Premiums

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   2008  
 
  (in millions)
 

Scheduled net earned premiums

  $ 1,054.4   $ 724.9   $ 193.8  

Acceleration of premium earnings(1)

    90.0     173.8     61.9  

Accretion of discount on net premiums receivable

    39.9     28.7      
               

Total financial guaranty

    1,184.3     927.4     255.7  

Other

    2.4     3.0     5.7  
               
 

Total net earned premiums(2)

  $ 1,186.7   $ 930.4   $ 261.4  
               

(1)
Reflects the unscheduled refundings of underlying insured obligations.

(2)
Excludes $47.6 million in 2010 related to consolidated VIEs.


Gross Premium Receivable, Net of Ceding Commissions Roll Forward

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009  
 
  (in millions)
 

Gross premium receivable, net of ceding commissions payable:

             

Balance beginning of period

  $ 1,418.2   $ 15.7  

Change in accounting

    (19.0 )   721.5  
           

Balance beginning of the period, adjusted

    1,399.2     737.2  

Premiums receivable purchased in AGMH Acquisition on July 1, 2009 after intercompany eliminations

        800.9  

Premium written, net

    347.1     594.5  

Premium payments received, net

    (486.8 )   (736.4 )

Adjustments to the premium receivable:

             
 

Changes in the expected term of financial guaranty insurance contracts

    (101.8 )   (37.5 )
 

Accretion of the discount

    43.1     27.7  
 

Foreign exchange translation

    (31.4 )   37.0  
 

Other adjustments

    (1.8 )   (5.2 )
           

Balance, end of period(1)

  $ 1,167.6   $ 1,418.2  
           

(1)
Includes premiums receivable of $(0.2) million and $0 million as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, for the other segment.

        Gains or losses due to foreign exchange rate changes relate to installment premium receivables denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Approximately 42% and 45% of the Company's installment premiums at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, are denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, primarily in euro and British Pound Sterling ("GBP").

        For premiums received in installments, the Company records premiums receivable as the present value of premiums due or expected to be collected over the life of the contracts. Installment premiums typically related to structured finance deals, where the insurance premium rate is determined at the inception of the contract but the insured par is subject to prepayment throughout the life of the deal.

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Table of Contents


Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

5. Financial Guaranty Contracts Accounted for as Insurance (Continued)


Premium payments to the Company are typically made from deal cash flows that are senior to payments made to the deal noteholders. Updates are made periodically to the amount of installment premiums due or expected to be collected when the Company believes there are significant changes to recorded amounts, as required under financial guaranty insurance accounting. The offset to any change in premiums receivable is a corresponding change to unearned premium revenues. When these installment premiums are related to assumed reinsurance amounts, the Company also assesses the credit quality and liquidity of the Company that the premiums are assumed from as well as the impact of any potential regulatory constraints to determine the collectability of such amounts. The Company had no premiums receivable amounts that it considers to be uncollectible as of December 31, 2010.


Expected Collections of Gross Premiums Receivable,
Net of Ceding Commissions

 
  December 31,
2010(1)
 
 
  (in millions)
 

Gross premium collections expected:

       

2011 (January 1 – March 31)

  $ 55.9  

2011 (April 1 – June 30)

    42.8  

2011 (July 1 – September 30)

    33.6  

2011 (October 1 – December 31)

    57.1  

2012

    119.2  

2013

    105.7  

2014

    94.3  

2015

    86.6  

2016-2020

    350.0  

2021-2025

    247.0  

2026-2030

    178.5  

After 2030

    217.2  
       
 

Total gross expected collections

  $ 1,587.9  
       

(1)
Represents undiscounted amounts expected to be collected and excludes the other segment.

        The unearned premium reserve is comprised of deferred premium revenue and the contra-paid as presented in the table below.

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Table of Contents


Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

5. Financial Guaranty Contracts Accounted for as Insurance (Continued)


Net Unearned Premium Reserve

 
  As of December 31, 2010   As of December 31, 2009  
 
  Gross
Unearned
Premium
Reserve
  Ceded
Unearned
Premium
Reserve
  Net
Unearned
Premium
Reserve
  Gross
Unearned
Premium
Reserve
  Ceded
Unearned
Premium
Reserve
  Net
Unearned
Premium
Reserve
 
 
  (in millions)
 

Deferred premium revenue

  $ 7,108.6   $ 846.6   $ 6,262.0   $ 8,536.7   $ 1,095.6   $ 7,441.1  

Contra-paid

    (146.1 )   (24.8 )   (121.3 )   (149.2 )   (15.1 )   (134.1 )
                           
 

Total financial guaranty

    6,962.5     821.8     6,140.7     8,387.5     1,080.5   $ 7,307.0  

Other

    10.4         10.4     12.7         12.7  
                           
 

Total

  $ 6,972.9   $ 821.8   $ 6,151.1   $ 8,400.2   $ 1,080.5   $ 7,319.7  
                           

        As of December 31, 2010, net deferred premium revenue recorded on the consolidated balance sheet was $6.3 billion, which will be recognized as net earned premiums in the statement of operations. Amounts expected to be recognized in net earned premiums differ significantly from expected cash collections due primarily to amounts in deferred premium revenue representing cash already collected on policies paid upfront and fair value adjustments recorded in connection with the AGMH Acquisition.

        The following table provides a schedule of the expected timing of the income statement recognition of financial guaranty insurance net deferred premium revenue and PV of net expected losses, pre-tax. This table excludes amounts related to consolidated VIEs.

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Table of Contents


Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

5. Financial Guaranty Contracts Accounted for as Insurance (Continued)


Expected Timing of Financial Guaranty Insurance
Premium and Loss Recognition

 
  As of December 31, 2010  
 
  Scheduled
Net Earned
Premium
  Net Expected
Loss to be
Expensed(1)
  Net  
 
  (in millions)
 

2011 (January 1–March 31)

  $ 199.4   $ 51.5   $ 147.9  

2011 (April 1–June 30)

    186.3     42.2     144.1  

2011 (July 1–September 30)

    174.0     33.9     140.1  

2011 (October 1–December 31)

    164.4     28.6     135.8  

2012

    578.3     84.6     493.7  

2013

    501.7     78.7     423.0  

2014

    448.3     68.6     379.7  

2015

    399.1     54.7     344.4  

2016 - 2020

    1,492.4     184.5     1,307.9  

2021 - 2025

    934.2     95.0     839.2  

2026 - 2030

    575.6     54.8     520.8  

After 2030

    608.3     54.2     554.1  
               
 

Total present value basis(2)(3)

    6,262.0     831.3     5,430.7  

Discount

    367.5     771.0     (403.5 )
               
 

Total future value

  $ 6,629.5   $ 1,602.3   $ 5,027.2  
               

(1)
These amounts reflect the Company's estimate as of December 31, 2010 of expected losses to be expensed and are not included in loss and LAE reserve because these losses are less than deferred premium revenue determined on a contract-by-contract basis.

(2)
Balances represent discounted amounts.

(3)
The effect of consolidating financial guaranty VIEs resulted in a reduction of $315.1 million in future scheduled net earned premium and $211.9 million in net expected loss and LAE, excluding accretion of discount.


Selected Information for Policies Paid in Installments

 
  As of December 31,  
 
  2010   2009  
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

Premiums receivable, net of ceding commission payable

  $ 1,167.6   $ 1,418.2  

Gross deferred premium revenue

    2,933.6     4,227.2  

Weighted-average risk-free rate used to discount premiums

    3.5     3.4  

Weighted-average period of premiums receivable (in years)

    10.1     10.4  

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Table of Contents


Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

5. Financial Guaranty Contracts Accounted for as Insurance (Continued)


Rollforward of Deferred Acquisition Costs

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   2008  
 
  (in millions)
 

Balance, beginning of period

  $ 242.0   $ 288.6   $ 259.3  

Change in accounting

        101.8      

Settlement of pre-existing relationships(1)

        (114.0 )    

Costs deferred during the period:

                   
 

Ceded and assumed commissions

    (18.2 )   (10.2 )   34.7  
 

Premium taxes

    11.6     14.2     14.0  
 

Compensation and other acquisition costs

    39.4     25.9     33.4  
               
   

Total

    32.8     29.9     82.1  

Costs amortized during the period

    (34.1 )   (53.9 )   (61.2 )

Foreign exchange translation

    (0.9 )   (10.4 )   9.5  

Other

            (1.1 )
               

Balance, end of period

  $ 239.8   $ 242.0   $ 288.6  
               

(1)
As discussed in Note 3, the Company settled the pre-existing relationship with AGMH. This relates to DAC associated with business previously assumed by AG Re from AGMH.

Loss Estimation Process

        The Company's loss reserve committees estimate expected losses for the Company's financial guaranty exposures. Surveillance personnel present analysis related to potential losses to the Company's loss reserve committees for consideration in estimating the expected loss of the Company. Such analysis includes the consideration of various scenarios with potential probabilities assigned to them. Depending upon the nature of the risk, the Company's view of the potential size of any loss and the information available to the Company, that analysis may be based upon individually developed cash flow models, internal credit ratings assessments and sector-driven loss severity assumptions, judgmental assessment or (in the case of its reinsurance segment) loss estimates provided by ceding insurers. The Company's loss reserve committees review and refresh the Company's expected loss estimates each quarter. The Company's estimate of ultimate loss on a policy is subject to significant uncertainty over the life of the insured transaction due to the potential for significant variability in credit performance due to changing economic, fiscal and financial market variability over the long duration of most contracts. The determination of expected loss is an inherently subjective process involving numerous estimates, assumptions and judgments by management.

        The following table presents a rollforward of the present value of net expected loss and LAE to be paid for financial guaranty contracts accounted for as insurance by sector. Expected loss to be paid is the Company's estimate of the present value of future claim payments, net of reinsurance and net of salvage and subrogation which includes the present value benefit of estimated recoveries for breaches of R&W.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

5. Financial Guaranty Contracts Accounted for as Insurance (Continued)


Financial Guaranty Insurance
Present Value of Net Expected Loss and LAE to be paid
Roll Forward by Sector(1)

 
  Expected
Loss to be
Paid as of
December 31,
2009
  Development
and
Accretion
of Discount
  Less:
Paid
Losses
  Expected
Loss to be
Paid as of
December 31,
2010
 
 
  (in millions)
 

U.S. RMBS:

                         
 

First lien:

                         
   

Prime first lien

  $   $ 1.4   $   $ 1.4  
   

Alt-A first lien

    204.4     40.0     60.0     184.4  
   

Alt-A option ARM

    545.2     160.1     181.6     523.7  
   

Subprime

    77.5     126.3     3.4     200.4  
                   
     

Total first lien

    827.1     327.8     245.0     909.9  
 

Second lien:

                         
   

CES

    199.3     (73.3 )   69.4     56.6  
   

HELOCs

    (232.9 )   (60.0 )   512.8     (805.7 )
                   
     

Total second lien

    (33.6 )   (133.3 )   582.2     (749.1 )
                   

Total U.S. RMBS

    793.5     194.5     827.2     160.8  

Other structured finance

    102.6     51.1     8.6     145.1  

Public finance

    130.9     9.6     51.6     88.9  
                   
     

Total

  $ 1,027.0   $ 255.2   $ 887.4   $ 394.8  
                   

 

 
  Loss and
LAE Reserve
as of
December 31,
2008
  Change in
Accounting
(2)
  Expected
Loss to be
Paid as of
January 1,
2009
  Expected
Loss of
AGMH at
July 1,
2009
  Development
and
Accretion of
Discount
  Less:
Paid
Losses
  Expected
Loss to be
Paid as of December 31, 2009
 
 
  (in millions)
 

U.S. RMBS:

                                           

First lien:

                                           
 

Prime first lien

  $ 2.4   $ (2.4 ) $   $   $   $   $  
 

Alt-A first lien

    5.4     4.4     9.8     223.1     (27.5 )   1.0     204.4  
 

Alt-A option ARM

    4.5     8.7     13.2     477.6     55.1     0.7     545.2  
 

Subprime

    15.1     (5.4 )   9.7     72.4     (2.0 )   2.6     77.5  
                               
   

Total first lien

    27.4     5.3     32.7     773.1     25.6     4.3     827.1  

Second lien:

                                           
 

Closed end second lien

    39.5     (0.7 )   38.8     227.4     34.2     101.1     199.3  
 

HELOC

    (43.1 )   (13.0 )   (56.1 )   347.3     4.0     528.1     (232.9 )
                               
   

Total second lien

    (3.6 )   (13.7 )   (17.3 )   574.7     38.2     629.2     (33.6 )
                               

Total U.S. RMBS

    23.8     (8.4 )   15.4     1,347.8     63.8     633.5     793.5  

Other structured finance

    51.7     7.1     58.8     9.9     34.7     0.8     102.6  

Public finance

    38.3     (4.0 )   34.3     81.2     38.6     23.2     130.9  
                               

Total

  $ 113.8   $ (5.3 ) $ 108.5   $ 1,438.9   $ 137.1   $ 657.5   $ 1,027.0  
                               

(1)
Amounts include all expected payments whether or not the insured transaction VIE is consolidated. Amounts exclude expected losses in the other segment of $2.1 million as of December 31, 2010 and $2.1 million as of December 31, 2009.

(2)
Change in accounting for financial guaranty contracts related to the adoption of a new financial guaranty insurance accounting standard effective January 1, 2009.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

5. Financial Guaranty Contracts Accounted for as Insurance (Continued)

        The Company's expected LAE for mitigating claim liabilities were $17.2 million and $12.6 million as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The Company used weighted-average risk free rates ranging from 0% to 5.34% and 0.07% to 5.21% to discount expected losses as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

        The table below provides a reconciliation of the Company's expected loss to be paid to expected loss to be expensed. Expected loss to be paid differs from expected loss to be expensed due to: (1) the contra-paid because the payments have been made but have not yet been expensed (2) for transactions with a net expected recovery, the addition of claim payments that have been made (and therefore are not included in the expected to be paid) that are expected to be recovered in the future (and therefore have also reduced the expected to be paid), and (3) loss reserves have already been established and therefore expensed but not yet paid.


Reconciliation of Expected Loss to be Paid and Net Expected Loss to be Expensed

 
  As of
December 31, 2010
 
 
  (in millions)
 

Net expected to be paid

  $ 394.8  

Less: net expected to be paid for financial guaranty VIEs

    49.2  
       
 

Total

    345.6  

Contra-paid, net

    121.3  

Salvage and subrogation recoverable, net(1)

    903.0  

Loss and LAE reserve, net(2)

    (538.6 )
       

Net expected to be expensed(3)

  $ 831.3  
       

(1)
Represents gross salvage and subrogation amounts of $1,032.4 million net of ceded amounts of $129.4 million which is recorded in reinsurance balances payable.

(2)
Represents loss and LAE reserves, net of reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses, excluding $2.1 million in reserves for other segment.

(3)
Excludes $211.9 million as of December 31, 2010 related to consolidated financial guaranty VIEs.

        The Company projects losses in U.S. RMBS on a transaction-by-transaction basis by projecting the performance of the underlying pool of mortgages over time and then applying the structural features (i.e., payment priorities and tranching) of the RMBS to the projected performance of the collateral over time. The resulting projection of any projected claim payments or reimbursements is then discounted to a present value using a risk free rate. For transactions where the Company projects it will receive recoveries from providers of R&W, the projected amount of recoveries is included in the projected cash flows from the collateral. The Company runs, and probability-weights, several sets of assumptions (scenarios) regarding potential mortgage collateral performance.

        The further behind a mortgage borrower falls in payments, the more likely it is that he or she will default. The rate at which borrowers from a particular delinquency category (number of monthly payments behind) eventually default is referred to as the "liquidation rate". Liquidation rates may be derived from observed roll rates, which are the rates at which loans progress from one delinquency category to the next and eventually to default and liquidation. The Company applies liquidation rates to the mortgage loan collateral in each delinquency category and makes certain timing assumptions to project near-term mortgage collateral defaults from loans that are currently delinquent.

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        Mortgage borrowers that are a single payment or less behind (generally considered performing borrowers) have demonstrated an ability and willingness to pay throughout the recession and mortgage crisis, and as a result are viewed as less likely to default than delinquent borrowers. Performing borrowers that eventually default will also need to progress through delinquency categories before any defaults occur. The Company projects how much of the currently performing loans will default and when by first converting the projected near term defaults of delinquent borrowers derived from liquidation rates into a vector of conditional default rates, then projecting how the conditional default rates will develop over time. Loans that are defaulted pursuant to the conditional default rate after the liquidation of currently delinquent loans represent defaults of currently performing loans. A conditional default rate is the outstanding principal amount of loans defaulting in a given month divided by the remaining outstanding amount of the whole pool of loans (or "collateral pool balance"). The collateral pool balance decreases over time as a result of scheduled principal payments, partial and whole principal repayments, and defaults.

        In order to derive collateral pool losses from the collateral pool defaults it has projected, the Company applies a loss severity. The loss severity is the amount of loss the transaction experiences on a defaulted loan after the application of net proceeds from the disposal of the underlying property. The Company projects loss severities by sector based on experience to date. Further detail regarding the assumptions and variables the Company used to project collateral losses in its U.S. RMBS portfolio may be found below in the sections "U.S. Second Lien RMBS Loss Projections: HELOCs and Closed-End Second Lien" and "U.S. First Lien RMBS Loss Projections: Alt-A, Option ARM, Subprime and Prime".

        The Company is in the process of enforcing, on behalf of RMBS issuers, claims for breaches of R&W regarding the characteristics of the loans included in the collateral pools. The Company calculates a credit to the RMBS issuer for such recoveries where the R&W were provided by an entity the Company believes to be financially viable and where the Company already has access or believes it will attain access to the underlying mortgage loan files. In second liens this credit is based on a factor of actual repurchase rates achieved, while in first liens this credit is estimated by reducing collateral losses projected by the Company to reflect a factor of the recoveries the Company believes it will achieve based on breaches identified to date. The first lien approach is different than the second lien approach because of the Company's first lien transactions have multiple tranches and a more complicated method is required to correctly allocate credit to each tranche. In each case, the credit is a function of the projected lifetime collateral losses in the collateral pool, so an increase in projected collateral losses increases the representation and warranty credit calculated by the Company for the RMBS issuer. Further detail regarding how the Company calculates these credits may be found under "Breaches of Representations and Warranties" below.

        The Company projects the overall future cash flow from a collateral pool by adjusting the payment stream from the principal and interest contractually due on the underlying mortgages for (a) the collateral losses it projects as described above, (b) assumed voluntary prepayments and (c) recoveries for breaches of R&W as described above. The Company then applies an individual model of the structure of the transaction to the projected future cash flow from that transaction's collateral pool to project the Company's future claims and claim reimbursements for that individual transaction. Finally, the projected claims and reimbursements are discounted to a present value using a risk free rate and compared to the unearned premium reserve for that transaction. As noted above, the Company runs several sets of assumptions regarding mortgage collateral performance, or scenarios, and probability weights them.

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December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

5. Financial Guaranty Contracts Accounted for as Insurance (Continued)

        The Company's RMBS projection methodology assumes that the housing and mortgage markets will eventually recover. So, to the extent it retains the shape of the curves and probability weightings used in the previous quarter, the Company essentially assumes the recovery in the housing and mortgage markets will be delayed by another three months.

        The scenarios used to project RMBS collateral losses in first quarter of 2010, with the exception of an increase to the subprime loss severity, were the same as those employed at year-end 2009. In the second quarter 2010 the Company changed how scenarios were run as compared to the first quarter 2010 to reflect the Company's view that it was observing the beginning of an improvement in the housing and mortgage markets. In the third and fourth quarters 2010 early stage delinquencies did not trend down as much as the Company had anticipated in the second quarter, so the Company adjusted its curves to reflect the observed early stage delinquencies. Additionally, in the fourth quarter 2010, due to the Company's concerns about the timing and strength of any recovery in the mortgage and housing markets, the probability weightings were adjusted to reflect a somewhat more pessimistic view. Also in the fourth quarter 2010 the Company increased its initial subprime loss severity assumption to reflect recent experience. Taken together, the changes in the assumptions between year-end 2009 and 2010 had the effect of (a) reflecting a slower recovery in the housing market than had been assumed at the beginning of the year, and (b) increasing the assumed initial loss severities for subprime transactions from 70% to 80%.

        The methodology the Company used to project RMBS losses prior to the AGMH Acquisition on July 1, 2009 was somewhat different that that used by AGMH. For the third quarter 2009 the Company adopted a methodology to project RMBS losses that was based on a combination of the approaches used by the Company and AGMH prior to the AGMH Acquisition, and so the methodology used prior to the third quarter 2009 was somewhat different than that described here. In addition, the methodology the Company used prior to the third quarter 2009 was applied to the smaller pre-acquisition RMBS portfolio. For these reasons, the results are not directly comparable. However, that Company's second lien methodology utilized many of the same assumptions as those used at year-end 2009 and year-end 2010, so the year-end 2008 second lien assumptions are provided below for comparative purposes.

        The Company also used generally the same methodology to project the credit received by the RMBS issuers for recoveries on R&W at year-end 2010 as it used at year-end 2009. Other than the impact of the increase in projected collateral defaults on the calculation of the credit, the primary difference relates to the population of transactions the Company included in its R&W credits. The Company added credits for four second lien transactions: two transactions where a capital infusion of the provider of the R&W made that company financially viable in the Company's opinion and another two transactions where the Company obtained loan files that it had not previously concluded were accessible. The Company added credits for four first lien transactions where it has obtained loan files that it had not previously concluded were accessible. The Company also refined some of the assumptions in the calculation of the amount of the credit to reflect actual experience.

        Prior to the AGMH Acquisition the Company used a similar approach to calculate a credit for recoveries on R&W, but on its smaller RMBS portfolio and based on its projected losses at the time. The credit at year-end 2008 related primarily to two second lien transactions.

U.S. Second Lien RMBS Loss Projections: HELOCs and Closed-End Second Lien

        The Company insures two types of second lien RMBS: those secured by HELOCs and those secured by closed end second lien mortgages. HELOCs are revolving lines of credit generally secured

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December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

5. Financial Guaranty Contracts Accounted for as Insurance (Continued)


by a second lien on a one to four family home. A mortgage for a fixed amount secured by a second lien on a one to four family home is generally referred to as a closed end second lien. Both first lien RMBS and second lien RMBS sometimes include a portion of loan collateral with a different priority than the majority of the collateral. The Company has material exposure to second lien mortgage loans originated and serviced by a number of parties, but the Company's most significant second lien exposure is to HELOCs originated and serviced by Countrywide, a subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation.

        The delinquency performance of HELOC and closed end second lien exposures included in transactions insured by the Company began to deteriorate in 2007, and such transactions, particularly those originated in the period from 2005 through 2007, continue to perform below the Company's original underwriting expectations. While insured securities benefit from structural protections within the transactions designed to absorb collateral losses in excess of previous historical high levels, in many second lien RMBS projected losses now exceed those structural protections.

        The Company believes the primary variables impacting its expected losses in second lien RMBS transactions are the amount and timing of future losses in the collateral pool supporting the transactions and the amount of loans repurchased for breaches of R&W. Expected losses are also a function of the structure of the transaction, the voluntary prepayment rate (typically also referred to as conditional prepayment rate of the collateral); the interest rate environment; and assumptions about the draw rate and loss severity. These variables are interrelated, difficult to predict and subject to considerable volatility. If actual experience differs from the Company's assumptions, the losses incurred could be materially different from the estimate. The Company continues to update its evaluation of these exposures as new information becomes available.

        The following table shows the Company's key assumptions used in its calculation of estimated expected losses for the Company's direct vintage 2004 - 2008 second lien U.S. RMBS as of December 31, 2010, December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008:


Assumptions in Base Case Expected Loss Estimates
Second Lien RMBS(1)

HELOC Key Variables
  As of
December 31, 2010
  As of
December 31, 2009
  As of
December 31, 2008

Plateau conditional default rate

  4.2 – 22.1%   10.7 – 40.0%   19.0 – 21.0%

Final conditional default rate trended down to

  0.4 – 3.2%   0.5 – 3.2%   1.0%

Expected period until final conditional default rate

  24 months   21 months   15 months

Initial conditional prepayment rate

  3.3 – 17.5%   1.9 – 14.9%   7.0% – 8.0%

Final conditional prepayment rate

  10%   10%   7.0% – 8.0%

Loss severity

  98%   95%   100%

Initial draw rate

  0.0 – 6.8%   0.1 – 2.0%   1.0 – 2.0%

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Closed end second lien Key Variables
  As of
December 31, 2010
  As of
December 31, 2009
  As of
December 31, 2008

Plateau conditional default rate

  7.3 – 27.1%   21.5 – 44.2%   34.0% – 36.0%

Final conditional default rate trended down to

  2.9 – 8.1%   3.3 – 8.1%   3.4% – 3.6%

Expected period until final conditional default rate achieved

  24 months   21 months   24 months

Initial conditional prepayment rate

  1.3 – 9.7%   0.8 – 3.6%   7.0%

Final conditional prepayment rate

  10%   10%   7%

Loss severity

  98%   95%   100%

(1)
Represents assumptions for most heavily weighted scenario (the "base case").

        In second lien transactions the projection of near-term defaults from currently delinquent loans is relatively straightforward because loans in second lien transactions are generally "charged off" (treated as defaulted) by the securitization's servicer once the loan is 180 days past due. Most second lien transactions report the amount of loans in five monthly delinquency categories (i.e., 30-59 days past due, 60-89 days past due, 90-119 days past due, 120-149 days past due and 150-179 days past due). The Company estimates the amount of loans that will default over the next five months by calculating current representative liquidation rates (the percent of loans in a given delinquency status that are assumed to ultimately default) from selected representative transactions and then applying an average of the preceding 12 months' liquidation rates to the amount of loans in the delinquency categories. The amount of loans projected to default in the first through fifth months is expressed as a conditional default rate. The first four months' conditional default rate is calculated by applying the liquidation rates to the current period past due balances (i.e., the 150-179 day balance is liquidated in the first projected month, the 120-149 day balance is liquidated in the second projected month, the 90-119 day balance is liquidated in the third projected month and the 60-89 day balance is liquidated in the fourth projected month). For the fifth month the conditional default rate is calculated using the average 30-59 day past due balances for the prior three months. The fifth month is then used as the basis for the plateau period that follows the embedded five months of losses.

        As of December 31, 2010, in the base scenario, the conditional default rate (the "plateau conditional default rate") was held constant for one month. (At year-end 2009 the plateau default rate was held constant for four months.) Once the plateau period has ended, the conditional default rate is assumed to gradually trend down in uniform increments to its final long-term steady state conditional default rate. In the base scenario, the time over which the conditional default rate trends down to its final conditional default rate is eighteen months (compared to twelve months at year-end 2009). Therefore, the total stress period for second lien transactions would be twenty-four months which is comprised of: five months of delinquent data, a one month plateau period and an eighteen month decrease to the steady state conditional default rate. This is three month longer than the 21 months used at year-end 2009.The long-term steady state conditional default rates are calculated as the constant conditional default rates that would have yielded the amount of losses originally expected at underwriting. When a second lien loan defaults, there is generally very low recovery. Based on current expectations of future performance, the Company reduced its loss recovery assumption to 2% from 5% (thus increasing its severity from 95% to 98%) in the third quarter of 2010.

        The rate at which the principal amount of loans is prepaid may impact both the amount of losses projected (which is a function of the conditional default rate and the loan balance over time) as well as the amount of excess spread (which is the excess of the interest paid by the borrowers on the underlying loan over the amount of interest and expenses owed on the insured obligations). In the base case, the current conditional prepayment rate is assumed to continue until the end of the plateau

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before gradually increasing to the final conditional prepayment rate over the same period the conditional default rate decreases. For transactions where the initial conditional prepayment rate is higher than the final conditional prepayment rate, the initial conditional prepayment rate is held constant. The final conditional prepayment rate is assumed to be 10% for both HELOC and closed end second lien transactions. This level is much higher than current rates, but lower than the historical average, which reflects the Company's continued uncertainty about performance of the borrowers in these transactions. This pattern is consistent with how the Company modeled the conditional prepayment rate at year-end 2009. To the extent that prepayments differ from projected levels it could materially change the Company's projected excess spread.

        The Company uses a number of other variables in its second lien loss projections, including the spread between relevant interest rate indices, and HELOC draw rates (the amount of new advances provided on existing HELOCs expressed as a percent of current outstanding advances). For HELOC transactions, the draw rate is assumed to decline from the current level to the final draw rate over a period of three months. The final draw rates were assumed to range from 0.0% to 3.4%.

        In estimating expected losses, the Company modeled and probability weighted three possible conditional default rate curves applicable to the period preceding the return to the long-term steady state conditional default rate. Given that draw rates have been reduced to levels below the historical average and that loss severities in these products have been higher than anticipated at inception, the Company believes that the level of the elevated conditional default rate and the length of time it will persist is the primary driver behind the likely amount of losses the collateral will suffer (before considering the effects of repurchases of ineligible loans). The Company continues to evaluate the assumptions affecting its modeling results.

        At year-end 2010, the Company's base case assumed a one month conditional default rate plateau and an 18 month ramp down. Increasing the conditional default rate plateau to 4 months and keeping the ramp down at 18 months would increase the expected loss by approximately $132.7 million for HELOC transactions and $18.2 million for closed end second lien transactions. On the other hand, keeping the conditional default rate plateau at one month but decreasing the length of the conditional default rate ramp down to the 12 month assumption used at year-end 2009 would decrease the expected loss by approximately $75.6 million for HELOC transactions and $10.4 million for closed end second lien transactions.

        First lien RMBS are generally categorized in accordance with the characteristics of the first lien mortgage loans on one to four family homes supporting the transactions. The collateral supporting "Subprime RMBS" transactions is comprised of first-lien residential mortgage loans made to subprime borrowers. A "subprime borrower" is one considered to be a higher risk credit based on credit scores or other risk characteristics. Another type of RMBS transaction is generally referred to as "Alt-A RMBS." The collateral supporting such transactions is comprised of first-lien residential mortgage loans made to "prime" quality borrowers who lack certain ancillary characteristics that would make them prime. When more than 66% of the loans originally included in the pool are mortgage loans with an option to make a minimum payment that has the potential to negatively amortize the loan (i.e., increase the amount of principal owed), the transaction is referred to as an "Option ARM." Finally, transactions may be primarily composed of loans made to prime borrowers. Both first lien RMBS and second lien RMBS sometimes include a portion of loan collateral with a different priority than the majority of the collateral.

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December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

5. Financial Guaranty Contracts Accounted for as Insurance (Continued)

        The performance of the Company's first lien RMBS exposures began to deteriorate in 2007 and such transactions, particularly those originated in the period from 2005 through 2007 continue to perform below the Company's original underwriting expectations. The Company currently projects first lien collateral losses many times those expected at the time of underwriting. While insured securities benefitted from structural protections within the transactions designed to absorb some of the collateral losses, in many first lien RMBS transactions, projected losses exceed those structural protections.

        The majority of projected losses in first lien RMBS transactions are expected to come from non-performing mortgage loans (those that are delinquent, in foreclosure or where the loan has been foreclosed and the RMBS issuer owns the underlying real estate). An increase in non-performing loans beyond that projected in the previous period is one of the primary drivers of loss development in this portfolio. In order to determine the number of defaults resulting from these delinquent and foreclosed loans, the Company applies a liquidation rate assumption to loans in each of various delinquency categories. The Company arrived at its liquidation rates based on data in loan performance and assumptions about how delays in the foreclosure process may ultimately affect the rate at which loans are liquidated. The following table shows the Company's liquidation assumptions for various delinquency categories as of December 31, 2010 and 2009. The liquidation rate is a standard industry measure that is used to estimate the number of loans in a given aging category that will default within a specified time period. The Company projects these liquidations to occur over two years.

 
  December 31,
2010
  December 31,
2009
 

30 – 59 Days Delinquent

             
 

Alt-A first lien

    45 %   45 %
 

Alt-A option ARM

    50     50  
 

Subprime

    50     50  

60 – 89 Days Delinquent

             
 

Alt-A first lien

    65     65  
 

Alt-A option ARM

    65     65  
 

Subprime

    65     65  

90 – Bankruptcy

             
 

Alt-A first lien

    70     70  
 

Alt-A option ARM

    75     75  
 

Subprime

    75     75  

Foreclosure

             
 

Alt-A first lien

    85     85  
 

Alt-A option ARM

    85     85  
 

Subprime

    85     85  

Real Estate Owned

             
 

Alt-A first lien

    100     100  
 

Alt-A option ARM

    100     100  
 

Subprime

    100     100  

        While the Company uses liquidation rates as described above to project defaults of non-performing loans, it projects defaults on presently current loans by applying a conditional default rate trend. The start of that conditional default rate trend is based on the defaults the Company projects will emerge from currently nonperforming loans. The total amount of expected defaults from the non-performing loans is translated into a constant conditional default rate (i.e., the conditional default rate plateau), which, if applied for each of the next 24 months, would be sufficient to produce approximately the amount of defaults that were calculated to emerge from the various delinquency categories. The

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December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

5. Financial Guaranty Contracts Accounted for as Insurance (Continued)


conditional default rate thus calculated individually on the collateral pool for each RMBS is then used as the starting point for the conditional default rate curve used to project defaults of the presently performing loans.

        In the base case, each transaction's conditional default rate is projected to improve over 12 months to an intermediate conditional default rate (calculated as 15% of its conditional default rate plateau); that intermediate conditional default rate is held constant for 36 months and then trails off in steps to a final conditional default rate of 5% of the conditional default rate plateau. Under the Company's methodology, defaults projected to occur in the first 24 months represent defaults that can be attributed to loans that are currently delinquent or in foreclosure, while the defaults projected to occur using the projected conditional default rate trend after the first 24 month period represent defaults attributable to borrowers that are currently performing.

        Another important driver of loss projections is loss severity, which is the amount of loss the transaction incurs on a loan after the application of net proceeds from the disposal of the underlying property. Loss severities experienced in first lien transactions have reached historical high levels and the Company is assuming that these historical high levels will continue for another year. The Company determines its initial loss severity based on actual recent experience. The Company then assumes that loss severities begin returning to levels consistent with underwriting assumptions beginning in December 2011, and in the base scenario decline over two years to 40%.

        The following table shows the Company's key assumptions used in its calculation of expected losses for the Company's direct vintage 2004 - 2008 first lien U.S. RMBS as of December 31 2010 and December 31, 2009. The Company was not projecting any losses for first lien RMBS deals as of December 31, 2008.

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December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

5. Financial Guaranty Contracts Accounted for as Insurance (Continued)


Key Assumptions in Base Case Expected Loss Estimates of First Lien RMBS Transactions

 
  As of
December 31, 2010
  As of
December 31, 2009

Alt-A First Lien

       
 

Plateau conditional default rate

  2.6% – 42.2%   1.5% – 35.7%
 

Intermediate conditional default rate

  0.4% – 6.3%   0.2% – 5.4%
 

Final conditional default rate

  0.1% – 2.1%   0.1% – 1.8%
 

Initial loss severity

  60%   60%
 

Initial conditional prepayment rate

  0.0% – 36.5%   0.0% – 20.5%
 

Final conditional prepayment rate

  10%   10%

Alt-A option ARM

       
 

Plateau conditional default rate

  11.7% – 32.7%   13.5% – 27.0%
 

Intermediate conditional default rate

  1.8% – 4.9%   2.0% – 4.1%
 

Final conditional default rate

  0.6% – 1.6%   0.7% – 1.4%
 

Initial loss severity

  60%   60%
 

Initial conditional prepayment rate

  0.0% – 17.7%   0.0% – 3.5%
 

Final conditional prepayment rate

  10%   10%

Subprime

       
 

Plateau conditional default rate

  9.0% – 34.6%   7.1% – 29.5%
 

Intermediate conditional default rate

  1.3% – 5.2%   1.1% – 4.4%
 

Final conditional default rate

  0.4% – 1.7%   0.4% – 1.5%
 

Initial loss severity

  80%   70%
 

Initial conditional prepayment rate

  0.0% – 13.5%   0.0% – 12.0%
 

Final conditional prepayment rate

  10%   10%

        The rate at which the principal amount of loans is prepaid may impact both the amount of losses projected (since that amount is a function of the conditional default rate and the loan balance over time) as well as the amount of excess spread (the amount by which the interest paid by the borrowers on the underlying loan exceeds the amount of interest owed on the insured obligations). The assumption for the conditional prepayment rate follows a similar pattern to that of the conditional default rate. The current level of voluntary prepayments is assumed to continue for the plateau period before gradually increasing over 12 months to the final conditional prepayment rate, which is assumed to be either 10% or 15% depending on the scenario run. For transactions where the initial conditional prepayment rate is higher than the final conditional prepayment rate, the initial conditional prepayment rate is held constant.

        The ultimate performance of the Company's first lien RMBS transactions remains highly uncertain and may be subject to considerable volatility due to the influence of many factors, including the level and timing of loan defaults, changes in housing prices and other variables. The Company will continue to monitor the performance of its RMBS exposures and will adjust the loss projections for those transactions based on actual performance and management's estimates of future performance.

        In estimating expected losses, the Company modeled and probability weighted sensitivities for first lien transactions by varying its assumptions of how fast recovery is expected to occur. The primary variable when modeling sensitivities was how quickly the conditional default rate returned to its modeled equilibrium, which was defined as 5% of the current conditional default rate. The Company also stressed conditional prepayment rates and the speed of recovery of loss severity rates. In a somewhat more stressful environment than that of the base case, where the conditional default rate

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recovery was more gradual and the final conditional prepayment rate was 15% rather than 10%, the Company's expected losses would increase by approximately $8.7 million for Alt-A first liens, $104.8 million for Option ARMs, $18.5 million for subprime and $0.1 million for prime transactions. In an even more stressful scenario where the conditional default rate plateau was extended 3 months (to be 27 months long) before the same more gradual conditional default rate recovery and loss severities were assumed to recover over 4 rather than 2 years (and subprime loss severities were assumed to recover only to 55%), the Company's expected losses would increase by approximately $35.5 million for Alt-A first liens, $191.3 million for Option ARMs, $204.6 million for subprime and $0.8 million for prime transactions. The Company also considered a scenario where the recovery was faster than in its base case. In this scenario, where the conditional default rate plateau was 3 months shorter (21 months, effectively assuming that liquidation rates would improve) and the conditional default rate recovery was more pronounced, the Company's expected losses would decrease by approximately $24.4 million for Alt-A first liens, $78.0 million for Option ARMs, $37.2 million for subprime and $0.5 million for prime transactions.

        The Company is pursuing reimbursements for breaches of R&W regarding loan characteristics. Performance of the collateral underlying certain first and second lien securitizations has substantially differed from the Company's original expectations. The Company has employed several loan file diligence firms and law firms as well as devoted internal resources to review the mortgage files surrounding many of the defaulted loans. As of December 31, 2010, the Company had performed a detailed review of approximately 37,500 second lien and 15,500 first lien defaulted loan files, representing nearly $2.8 billion in second lien and $5.7 billion in first lien outstanding par of defaulted loans underlying insured transactions. The Company identified approximately 33,100 second lien transaction loan files and approximately 14,500 first lien transaction loan files that breached one or more R&W regarding the characteristics of the loans, such as misrepresentation of income or employment of the borrower, occupancy, undisclosed debt and non-compliance with underwriting guidelines at loan origination. The Company continues to review new files as new loans default and as new loan files are made available to it. The Company generally obtains the loan files from the originators or servicers (including master servicers). In some cases, the Company requests loan files via the trustee, which then requests the loan files from the originators and/or servicers. On second lien loans, the Company requests loan files for all charged-off loans. On first lien loans, the Company requests loan files for all severely (60+ days) delinquent loans and all liquidated loans. Recently, the Company started requesting loan files for all the loans (both performing and non-performing) in certain deals to limit the number of requests for additional loan files as the transactions season and loans charge-off, become 60+ days delinquent or are liquidated. (The Company takes no repurchase credit for R&W breaches on loans that are expected to continue to perform.) Following negotiations with the providers of the R&W, as of December 31, 2010, the Company had reached agreement for providers to repurchase $323 million of second lien and $205 million of first lien loans. The $323 million for second lien loans represents the calculated repurchase price for 3,120 loans and the $205 million for first lien loans represents the calculated repurchase price for 547 loans. The repurchase proceeds are paid to the RMBS transactions and distributed in accordance with the payment priorities set out in the transaction agreements, so the proceeds are not necessarily allocated to the Company on a dollar-for-dollar basis. Proceeds projected to be reimbursed to the Company on transactions where the Company has already paid claims are viewed as a recovery on paid losses. For transactions where the Company has not already paid claims, projected recoveries reduce projected loss estimates. In either case, projected recoveries have no effect on the amount of the Company's exposure. These amounts reflect payments made pursuant to the negotiated transaction agreements and

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5. Financial Guaranty Contracts Accounted for as Insurance (Continued)

not payments made pursuant to legal settlements. See "Recovery Litigation" below for a description of the related legal proceedings the Company has commenced.

        The Company has included in its net expected loss estimates as of December 31, 2010 an estimated benefit from repurchases of $1.6 billion. The amount of benefit recorded as a reduction of expected losses was calculated by extrapolating each transaction's breach rate on defaulted loans to projected defaults. The Company did not incorporate any gain contingencies or damages paid from potential litigation in its estimated repurchases. The amount the Company will ultimately recover related to contractual R&W is uncertain and subject to a number of factors including the counterparty's ability to pay, the number and loss amount of loans determined to have breached R&W and, potentially, negotiated settlements or litigation recoveries. As such, the Company's estimate of recoveries is uncertain and actual amounts realized may differ significantly from these estimates. In arriving at the expected recovery from breaches of R&W, the Company considered the credit worthiness of the provider of the R&W, the number of breaches found on defaulted loans, the success rate in resolving these breaches with the provider of the R&W and the potential amount of time until the recovery is realized.

        The calculation of expected recovery from breaches of R&W involved a variety of scenarios which ranged from the Company recovering substantially all of the losses it incurred due to violations of R&W to the Company realizing very limited recoveries. The Company did not include any recoveries related to breaches of R&W in amounts greater than the losses it expected to pay under any given cash flow scenario. These scenarios were probability weighted in order to determine the recovery incorporated into the Company's reserve estimate. This approach was used for both loans that had already defaulted and those assumed to default in the future. In all cases, recoveries were limited to amounts paid or expected to be paid by the Company.

        The following table represents the Company's total estimated recoveries netted in expected loss to be paid, from defective mortgage loans included in certain first and second lien U.S. RMBS loan securitizations that it insures. The Company had $1.6 billion of estimated recoveries from ineligible loans as of December 31, 2010, of which $0.9 billion is reported in salvage and subrogation recoverable, $0.5 billion is netted in loss and LAE reserves and $0.2 billion is netted in unearned premium reserve. The Company had $1.2 billion of estimated recoveries from ineligible loans as of December 31, 2009 of which $0.3 billion was reported in salvage and subrogation recoverable, $0.6 billion netted in loss and LAE reserves and $0.3 billion included within the Company's unearned premium reserve portion of its stand-ready obligation reported on the Company's consolidated balance sheet.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

5. Financial Guaranty Contracts Accounted for as Insurance (Continued)


Rollforward of Estimated Benefit from Recoveries of Representation and Warranty Breaches,
Net of Reinsurance

 
  # of Insurance
Policies as of
December 31,
2010 with R&W
Benefit Recorded
  Outstanding Principal and Interest of Policies with R&W Benefit Recorded as of December 31, 2010   Future Net
R&W
Benefit at
December 31,
2009
  R&W
Development
and
Accretion of
Discount during
Year
  R&W
Recovered
During
2010(1)
  Future Net
R&W
Benefit at
December 31,
2010
 
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

Prime first lien

    1   $ 57.1   $   $ 1.1   $   $ 1.1  

Alt-A first lien

    17     1,882.8     64.2     16.8         81.0  

Alt-A option ARM

    11     1,909.8     203.7     166.6     61.0     309.3  

Subprime

    1     228.7         26.8         26.8  

Closed end second lien

    4     444.9     76.5     101.7         178.2  

HELOC

    13     2,969.8     828.7     303.5     128.1     1,004.1  
                           
 

Total

    47   $ 7,493.1   $ 1,173.1   $ 616.5   $ 189.1   $ 1,600.5  
                           

 

 
  # of Insurance
Policies as of
December 31,
2009 with
R&W
Benefit
Recorded
  Outstanding
Principal
and Interest
of Policies
with R&W Benefit
Recorded as of
December 31, 2009
  Future Net
R&W
Benefit at
December 31,
2008
  R&W
Development
and
Accretion of
Discount
during
Year
  R&W
Recovered
During
2009
  R&W
Benefit
from
AGMH
Acquisition
  Future Net
R&W
Benefit at
December 31,
2009
 
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

Prime first lien

      $   $   $   $   $   $  

Alt-A first lien

    17     1,821.5         64.2             64.2  

Alt-A option ARM

    9     2,437.5         41.2     16.7     179.2     203.7  

Subprime

                             

Closed end second lien

    2     224.0         76.5             76.5  

HELOC

    11     4,384.5     49.3     618.9     66.9     227.4     828.7  
                               
 

Total

    39   $ 8,867.5   $ 49.3   $ 800.8   $ 83.6   $ 406.6   $ 1,173.1  
                               

(1)
Gross amount recovered is $217.6 million.

        The following table provides a breakdown of the development and accretion amount in the rollforward of estimated recoveries associated with alleged breaches of R&W:

 
  As of
December 31, 2010
 
 
  (in millions)
 

Inclusion of new deals with breaches of R&W during period

  $ 170.5  

Change in recovery assumptions as the result of additional file review and recovery success

    253.5  

Estimated increase in defaults that will result in additional breaches

    188.1  

Accretion of discount on balance

    4.4  
       
 

Total

  $ 616.5  
       

        The $616.5 million R&W development and accretion of discount during 2010 in the above table primarily resulted from an increase in loan file reviews, increased success rates in putting back loans, and increased projected defaults on loans with breaches of R&W. This development primarily can be

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

5. Financial Guaranty Contracts Accounted for as Insurance (Continued)


broken down into changes in calculation inputs, changes in the timing and amounts of defaults and the inclusion of additional deals during the year for which the Company expects to obtain these benefits. The Company has reflected eight additional transactions during 2010 which resulted in approximately $170.5 million of the development. The remainder of the development primarily relates to changes in assumptions and additional projected defaults. The accretion of discount was not a primary driver of the development. Changes in assumptions generally relate to an increase in loan file reviews and increased success rates in putting back loans. The Company assumes that recoveries on HELOC and closed end second lien loans will occur in two to four years from the balance sheet date depending on the scenarios and that recoveries on Alt-A, Option ARM and Subprime loans will occur as claims are paid over the life of the transactions. The $800.8 million development and accretion of discount during 2009 in the above table primarily resulted from an increase in loan file reviews and extrapolation of expected recoveries. The Company assumes in the base case that recoveries on HELOC and CES loans will occur in two years from the balance sheet date and that recoveries on Alt-A, Option ARM and Subprime loans will occur as claims are paid over the life of the transactions.

        The Company has insured $2.1 billion of net par in "XXX" life insurance reserve securitization transactions based on discrete blocks of individual life insurance business. In these transactions the monies raised by the sale of the bonds insured by the Company were used to capitalize a special purpose vehicle that provides reinsurance to a life insurer or reinsurer. The monies are invested at inception in accounts managed by third-party investment managers. In order for the Company to incur an ultimate net loss on these transactions, adverse experience on the underlying block of life insurance policies and/or credit losses in the investment portfolio would need to exceed the level of credit enhancement built into the transaction structures. In particular, such credit losses in the investment portfolio could be realized in the event that circumstances arise resulting in the early liquidation of assets at a time when their market value is less than their intrinsic value.

        The Company's $2.1 billion net par of XXX life insurance transactions includes, as of December 31, 2010, includes a total of $882.5 million rated BIG, comprising Class A-2 Floating Rate Notes issued by Ballantyne Re p.l.c and Series A-1 Floating Rate Notes issued by Orkney Re II p.l.c ("Orkney Re II"). The Ballantyne Re and Orkney Re II XXX transactions had material amounts of their assets invested in U.S. RMBS transactions. Based on its analysis of the information currently available, including estimates of future investment performance provided by the current investment manager, and projected credit impairments on the invested assets and performance of the blocks of life insurance business at December 31, 2010, the Company's gross expected loss, prior to reinsurance or netting of unearned premium, for its two BIG XXX insurance transactions was $73.8 million and its net reserve was $57.7 million.

        The Company has insured $458.0 billion of public finance transactions across a number of different sectors. Within that category, $4.5 billion is rated BIG, and the company is projecting $88.9 million of expected losses across the portfolio. Of these losses, $25.8 million are expected in relation to eight student loan transactions with $592.4 million of net par outstanding. The largest of these losses was $18.5 million and related to a transaction backed by a pool of government-guaranteed student loans ceded to AG Re by another monoline insurer. The guaranteed bonds were issued as variable rate demand obligations that have since been "put" to the bank liquidity providers and now bear a high rate of interest. Further the underlying loan collateral has performed below expectations. The Company has estimated its losses based upon a weighting of potential outcomes.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

5. Financial Guaranty Contracts Accounted for as Insurance (Continued)

        The Company has also projected estimated losses of $33 million on its total net par outstanding of $513.2 million on Jefferson County Alabama Sewer Authority exposure. This estimate is based primarily on the Company's view of how much debt the Authority should be able to support under certain probability-weighted scenarios.

        The Company has $164.5 million of net par exposure to the city of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, of which $93.2 million is BIG. The Company has paid $2.9 million in net claims to date, and expects a full recovery.

        The Company continues to closely monitor other sectors and individual financial guaranty insurance transactions it feels warrant the additional attention, including, as of December 31, 2010, its commercial real estate exposure of $584.2 million of net par, its trust preferred securities ("TruPS") collateralized debt obligations ("CDOs") exposure of $1.1 billion, its insurance on a financing of 78 train sets (one train set being composed of eight cars) for an Australian commuter railway for $616.5 million net par and its U.S. health care exposure of $21.4 billion of net par.

        As of the date of this filing, the Company has filed lawsuits with regard to four second lien U.S. RMBS transactions insured by the Company, alleging breaches of R&W both in respect of the underlying loans in the transactions and the accuracy of the information provided to the Company, and failure to cure or repurchase defective loans identified by the Company to such persons. These transactions consist of the ACE Securities Corp. Home Equity Loan Trust, Series 2006-GP1, the ACE Securities Corp. Home Equity Loan Trust, Series 2007-SL2 and the ACE Securities Corp. Home Equity Loan Trust, Series 2007-SL3 transactions (in each of which the Company has sued DB Structured Products, Inc. and its affiliate ACE Securities Corp.) and the SACO I Trust 2005-GP1 transaction (in which the Company has sued JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s affiliate EMC Mortgage Corporation).

        The Company has also filed a lawsuit against UBS Securities LLC and Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc., as underwriters, as well as several named and unnamed control persons of IndyMac Bank, FSB and related IndyMac entities, with regard to two U.S. RMBS transactions that the Company had insured, alleging violations of state securities laws and breach of contract, among other claims. One of these transactions (referred to as IndyMac Home Equity Loan Trust 2007-H1) is a second lien transaction and the other (referred to as IndyMac IMSC Mortgage Loan Trust 2007-HOA-1) is a first lien transaction.

        In December 2008, the Company sued J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. ("JPMIM"), the investment manager in the Orkney Re II transaction, in New York Supreme Court ("Court") alleging that JPMIM engaged in breaches of fiduciary duty, gross negligence and breaches of contract based upon its handling of the investments of Orkney Re II. In January 2010, the Court ruled against the Company on a motion to dismiss filed by JPMIM, dismissing the Company's claims for breaches of fiduciary duty and gross negligence on the ground that such claims are preempted by the Martin Act, which is New York's blue sky law, such that only the New York Attorney General has the authority to sue JPMIM. The Company appealed and, in November 2010, the Appellate Division (First Department) issued a ruling, ordering the Court's order to be modified to reinstate the Company's claims for breach of fiduciary duty and gross negligence and certain of its claims for breach of contract, in each case for claims accruing on or after June 26, 2007. In December 2010, JPMIM filed a motion for permission to appeal to the Court of Appeals on the Martin Act issue; that motion was granted in February 2011.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

5. Financial Guaranty Contracts Accounted for as Insurance (Continued)

        In June 2010, the Company sued JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and JPMorgan Securities, Inc. (together, "JPMorgan"), the underwriter of debt issued by Jefferson County, in New York Supreme Court alleging that JPMorgan induced the Company to issue its insurance policies in respect of such debt through material and fraudulent misrepresentations and omissions, including concealing that it had secured its position as underwriter and swap provider through bribes to Jefferson County commissioners and others. In December 2010, the Court denied JPMorgan's motion to dismiss. The Company is continuing its risk remediation efforts for this exposure.

        In September 2010, the Company, together with TD Bank, National Association and Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company, filed a complaint in the Court of Common Pleas in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania against The Harrisburg Authority, The City of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (the "City"), and the Treasurer of the City in connection with certain Resource Recovery Facility bonds and notes issued by the Harrisburg Authority, alleging, among other claims, breach of contract by both the Harrisburg Authority and the City, and seeking remedies including an order compelling the Harrisburg Authority to pay all unpaid and past due principal and interest and to charge and collect sufficient rates, rental and other charges adequate to carry out its pledge of revenues and receipts; an order compelling the City to budget for, impose and collect taxes and revenues sufficient to satisfy its obligations; and the appointment of a receiver for the Harrisburg Authority.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

5. Financial Guaranty Contracts Accounted for as Insurance (Continued)

        The following table provides information on loss and LAE reserves net of reinsurance on the consolidated balance sheets.


Loss and LAE Reserve, Net of Reinsurance

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009  
 
  (in millions)
 

U.S. RMBS:

             
 

First lien:

             
   

Prime first lien

  $ 1.2   $  
   

Alt-A first lien

    39.2     25.5  
   

Alt-A option ARM

    223.3     51.2  
   

Subprime

    108.3     21.8  
           
     

Total first lien

    372.0     98.5  
 

Second lien:

             
   

Closed end second lien

    7.7     21.2  
   

HELOC

    7.1     18.2  
           
     

Total second lien

    14.8     39.4  
           

Total U.S. RMBS

    386.8     137.9  

Other structured finance

    119.7     67.7  

Public finance

    81.6     67.7  
           

Total financial guaranty

    588.1     273.3  

Other

    2.1     2.1  
           
   

Subtotal

    590.2     275.4  

Effect of consolidating financial guaranty VIEs

    (49.5 )    
           
   

Total(1)

  $ 540.7   $ 275.4  
           

(1)
The December 31, 2010 total consists of $563.0 million loss and LAE reserves net of $22.3 million of reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses. The December 31, 2009 total consists of $289.5 million loss and LAE reserves net of $14.1 million of reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

5. Financial Guaranty Contracts Accounted for as Insurance (Continued)

        The following table provides information on salvage and subrogation recoverable on financial guaranty insurance and reinsurance contracts recorded as an asset on the consolidated balance sheets.


Summary of Salvage and Subrogation

 
  As of December 31,
2010
  As of December 31,
2009
 
 
  (in millions)
 

U.S. RMBS:

             
 

First lien:

             
   

Alt-A first lien

  $ 2.7   $  
   

Alt-A option ARM

    71.0      
   

Subprime

    0.1     0.1  
           
     

Total first lien

    73.8     0.1  
 

Second lien:

             
   

Closed end second lien

    51.8     0.1  
   

HELOC

    956.8     416.6  
           
     

Total second lien

    1,008.6     416.7  
           

Total U.S. RMBS

    1,082.4     416.8  

Other structured finance

    1.4     1.0  

Public finance

    40.8     2.5  
           

Total

    1,124.6     420.3  

Effect of consolidating financial guaranty VIEs

    (92.2 )    
           
   

Total gross recoverable

    1,032.4     420.3  

Less: Ceded recoverable(1)

    129.4     42.1  
           
   

Net recoverable

  $ 903.0   $ 378.2  
           

(1)
Recorded in "reinsurance balances payable, net" on the consolidated balance sheets.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

5. Financial Guaranty Contracts Accounted for as Insurance (Continued)

        The following table presents the loss and LAE by sector for financial guaranty contracts accounted for as insurance that was recorded in the consolidated statements of operations. Amounts presented are net of reinsurance and net of the benefit for recoveries from breaches of R&W.

Loss and LAE Reported
on the Consolidated Statements of Operations

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   2008  
 
  (in millions)
 

Financial Guaranty:

                   
 

U.S. RMBS:

                   
   

First lien:

                   
     

Prime first lien

  $ 0.9   $   $ 0.1  
     

Alt-A first lien

    37.4     21.1     5.1  
     

Alt-A option ARM

    272.4     43.0     4.5  
     

Subprime

    85.9     13.1     9.3  
               
       

Total first lien

    396.6     77.2     19.0  
   

Second lien:

                   
     

Closed end second lien

    5.2     47.8     56.8  
     

HELOC

    (14.7 )   148.4     156.0  
               
       

Total second lien

    (9.5 )   196.2     212.8  
               
 

Total U.S. RMBS

    387.1     273.4     231.8  
 

Other structured finance

    62.4     21.1     14.2  
 

Public finance

    32.9     71.2     19.2  
               

Total financial guaranty

    482.4     365.7     265.2  

Other

    0.2     12.1     0.6  
               
   

Subtotal

    482.6     377.8     265.8  

Effect of consolidating financial guaranty VIEs

    (68.8 )        
               
   

Total loss and LAE

  $ 413.8   $ 377.8   $ 265.8  
               

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

5. Financial Guaranty Contracts Accounted for as Insurance (Continued)

Net Losses Paid on Financial Guaranty Insurance Contracts

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009(1)   2008  
 
  (in millions)
 

U.S. RMBS:

                   
 

First lien:

                   
   

Prime first lien

  $   $   $  
   

Alt-A first lien

    60.0     1.0      
   

Alt-A option ARM

    181.6     0.7      
   

Subprime

    3.4     2.6     1.8  
               
     

Total first lien

    245.0     4.3     1.8  
 

Second lien:

                   
   

Closed end second lien

    69.4     101.1     17.5  
   

HELOC

    512.8     528.1     220.3  
               
     

Total second lien

    582.2     629.2     237.8  
               

Total U.S. RMBS

    827.2     633.5     239.6  

Other structured finance

    8.6     0.8     2.5  

Public finance

    51.6     23.2     14.7  
               

Total financial guaranty

    887.4     657.5     256.8  

Other

    0.2     12.5     0.9  
               
     

Subtotal

    887.6     670.0     257.7  

Effect of consolidating financial guaranty VIEs

    (146.3 )        
               
     

Total

  $ 741.3   $ 670.0   $ 257.7  
               

(1)
Paid losses for AGM represent claim payments since the Acquisition Date.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

5. Financial Guaranty Contracts Accounted for as Insurance (Continued)

        The following table provides information on financial guaranty insurance and reinsurance contracts categorized as BIG as of December 31, 2010 and 2009:

Financial Guaranty Insurance BIG Transaction Loss Summary
December 31, 2010

 
  BIG Categories  
 
  BIG 1   BIG 2   BIG 3    
   
   
 
 
  Gross   Ceded   Gross   Ceded   Gross   Ceded   Total
BIG, Net(1)
  Effect of
Consolidating
VIEs
  Total  
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

Number of risks(2)

    120     (46 )   97     (41 )   115     (42 )   332         332  

Remaining weighted-average contract period (in years)

    11.7     15.9     8.5     8.0     8.8     6.0     9.6         9.6  

Outstanding exposure:

                                                       
 

Principal

  $ 6,246.5   $ (726.0 ) $ 5,825.8   $ (180.1 ) $ 7,954.5   $ (673.6 ) $ 18,447.1   $   $ 18,447.1  
 

Interest

    3,622.7     (581.3 )   2,578.5     (70.1 )   2,490.7     (186.3 )   7,854.2         7,854.2  
                                       
   

Total

  $ 9,869.2   $ (1,307.3 ) $ 8,404.3   $ (250.2 ) $ 10,445.2   $ (859.9 ) $ 26,301.3   $   $ 26,301.3  
                                       

Expected cash flows

  $ 303.9   $ (20.2 ) $ 2,019.8   $ (68.9 ) $ 2,256.6   $ (133.2 ) $ 4,358.0   $ (384.2 ) $ 3,973.8  

Less:

                                                       
 

Potential recoveries(3)

    375.2     (37.4 )   533.0     (16.6 )   2,543.6     (197.5 )   3,200.3     (354.8 )   2,845.5  
 

Discount

    21.0     5.5     610.4     (21.5 )   139.6     7.9     762.9     19.8     782.7  
                                       

Present value of expected cash flows

  $ (92.3 )   11.7   $ 876.4     (30.8 ) $ (426.6 )   56.4   $ 394.8   $ (49.2 ) $ 345.6  
                                       

Deferred premium revenue

  $ 169.9   $ (16.9 ) $ 569.8   $ (30.3 ) $ 995.9   $ (120.7 ) $ 1,567.7   $ (263.9 ) $ 1,303.8  

Reserves (salvage)(4)

  $ (112.9 ) $ 12.4   $ 413.0   $ (9.5 ) $ (815.9 ) $ 105.8   $ (407.1 ) $ 42.7   $ (364.4 )

Financial Guaranty Insurance BIG Transaction Loss Summary
December 31, 2009

 
  BIG Categories  
 
  BIG 1   BIG 2   BIG 3    
 
 
  Gross   Ceded   Gross   Ceded   Gross   Ceded   Total  
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

Number of risks(2)

    97     (54 )   161     (46 )   37     (27 )   295  

Remaining weighted-average contract period (in years)

    9.1     12.2     7.6     7.4     8.9     5.5     8.5  

Outstanding exposure:

                                           
 

Principal

  $ 4,651.1   $ (420.2 ) $ 7,116.3   $ (311.7 ) $ 7,455.0   $ (783.4 ) $ 17,707.1  
 

Interest

    1,644.8     (112.5 )   2,804.8     (119.7 )   1,924.4     (195.2 )   5,946.6  
                               
   

Total

  $ 6,295.9   $ (532.7 ) $ 9,921.1   $ (431.4 ) $ 9,379.4   $ (978.6 ) $ 23,653.7  
                               

Expected cash flows

  $ 35.8   $ (20.5 ) $ 1,948.8   $ (98.3 ) $ 2,569.8   $ (241.9 ) $ 4,193.7  

Less:

                                           
 

Potential recoveries(3)

    3.5         506.6     (15.7 )   2,312.0     (216.4 )   2,590.0  
 

Discount

    18.3     (11.3 )   419.8     (28.4 )   161.4     16.9     576.7  
                               

Present value of expected cash flows

  $ 14.0   $ (9.2 ) $ 1,022.4   $ (54.2 ) $ 96.4   $ (42.4 ) $ 1,027.0  
                               

Deferred premium revenue

  $ 49.3   $   $ 1,187.3   $ (14.5 ) $ 1,274.2   $ (141.9 ) $ 2,354.4  

Reserves (salvage)(4)(5)

  $ (0.1 ) $   $ 146.4   $ (4.6 ) $ (282.3 ) $ 27.6   $ (113.0 )

(1)
Includes BIG amounts relating to VIEs that the Company consolidates.

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

5. Financial Guaranty Contracts Accounted for as Insurance (Continued)

(2)
A risk represents the aggregate of the financial guarantee policies that share the same revenue source for purposes of making debt service payments.

(3)
Includes estimated future recoveries for breaches of R&W as well as excess spread, and draws on HELOCs.

(4)
See table "Components of net reserves (salvage)".

(5)
Excludes LAE.

Components of Net Reserves (Salvage)

 
  December 31,
2010
  December 31,
2009
 
 
  (in millions)
 

Loss and LAE reserve

  $ 563.0   $ 289.5  

Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses

    (22.3 )   (14.1 )

Salvage and subrogation recoverable

    (1,032.4 )   (420.3 )

Salvage and subrogation payable(1)

    129.4     42.1  
           
 

Total

    (362.3 )   (102.8 )

Less: other segment

    2.1     2.1  
           

Financial guaranty reserves, net of salvage and subrogation

  $ (364.4 ) $ (104.9 )
           

(1)
Recorded as a component of Reinsurance Balances Payable.

        A downgrade of one of the Company's insurance subsidiaries may result in increased claims under financial guaranties issued by the Company. In particular, with respect to variable rate demand obligations for which a bank has agreed to provide a liquidity facility, a downgrade of the insurer may provide the bank with the right to give notice to bondholders that the bank will terminate the liquidity facility, causing the bondholders to tender their bonds to the bank. Bonds held by the bank accrue interest at a "bank bond rate" that is higher than the rate otherwise borne by the bond (typically the prime rate plus 2.00% – 3.00%, often with a floor of 7%, and capped at the maximum legal limit). In the event that the bank holds such bonds for longer than a specified period of time, usually 90-180 days, the bank has the right additionally to demand accelerated repayment of bond principal, usually through payment of equal installments over a period of not less than five years. In the event that a municipal obligor is unable to pay interest accruing at the bank bond rate or to pay principal during the shortened amortization period, a claim could be submitted to the insurer under its financial guaranty. As of the date of this filing, the Company has insured approximately $1.2 billion of par of variable rate demand obligations issued by municipal obligors rated BBB- or lower pursuant to the Company's internal rating. For a number of such obligations, a downgrade of the insurer below A+, in the case of S&P, or below A1, in the case of Moody's, triggers the ability of the bank to notify bondholders of the termination of the liquidity facility and to demand accelerated repayment of bond principal over a period of five to ten years. The specific terms relating to the rating levels that trigger the bank's termination right, and whether it is triggered by a downgrade by one rating agency or a downgrade by all rating agencies then rating the insurer, vary depending on the transaction.


6. Fair Value Measurement

        The Company carries a portion of its assets and liabilities at fair value. Substantially all of such assets and liabilities are carried at fair value on a recurring basis.

        Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (i.e., exit price).

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

6. Fair Value Measurement (Continued)


The price represents the price available in the principal market for the asset or liability. If there is no principal market, then the price is based on the market that maximizes the value received for an asset or minimizes the amount paid for a liability (i.e., the most advantageous market).

        Fair value is based on quoted market prices, where available. If listed prices or quotes are not available, fair value is based on either internally developed models that primarily use, as inputs, market-based or independently sourced market parameters, including but not limited to yield curves, interest rates and debt prices or with the assistance of an independent third-party using a discounted cash flow approach and the third party's proprietary pricing models. In addition to market information, models also incorporate transaction details, such as maturity of the instrument and contractual features designed to reduce the Company's credit exposure such as collateral rights.

        Valuation adjustments may be made to ensure that financial instruments are recorded at fair value. These adjustments include amounts to reflect counterparty credit quality, the Company's creditworthiness, constraints on liquidity and unobservable parameters. Valuation adjustments are applied consistently over time. As markets and products develop and the pricing for certain products becomes more or less transparent, the Company continues to refine its methodologies. During 2010, no changes were made to the Company's valuation models that had or are expected to have, a material impact on the Company's consolidated balance sheets or statements of operations and comprehensive income.

        The Company's methods for calculating fair value may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future fair values. The use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different estimate of fair value at the reporting date.

        The fair value hierarchy is determined based on whether the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value are observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect Company estimates of market assumptions. The fair value hierarchy prioritizes model inputs into three broad levels as follows, with level 1 being the highest and level 3 the lowest. An asset or liability's categorization within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of significant input to its valuation.

        Transfers between levels 1, 2 and 3 in the investment portfolio are recognized at the beginning of the period when the transfer occurs. The Company reviews quarterly the classification between levels 1, 2 and 3 to determine, based on the definitions provided, whether a transfer is necessary.

        The following is a description of the valuation methodologies used by the Company to measure instruments at fair value.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

6. Fair Value Measurement (Continued)

Fixed Maturity Securities and Short-term Investments

        The fair value of bonds in the investment portfolio is generally based on quoted market prices received from third party pricing services or alternative pricing sources with reasonable levels of price transparency. Such quotes generally consider a variety of factors, including recent trades of the same and similar securities. If quoted market prices are not available, the valuation is based on pricing models that use dealer price quotations, price activity for traded securities with similar attributes and other relevant market factors as inputs, including security type, rating, vintage, tenor and its position in the capital structure of the issuer. The Company considers security prices from pricing services, index providers or broker-dealers to be Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. Prices determined based upon model processes where at least one significant model assumption or input is unobservable, are considered to be Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The Company used model processes to price 29 fixed maturity securities as of December 31, 2010 and these securities were classified as Level 3.

        Broker-dealer quotations obtained to price securities are generally considered to be indicative and are nonactionable (i.e., non-binding).

        After analyzing level 3 prices provided by a third party pricing service, the Company determined it was necessary to reduce the pricing on one security based on the Company's own cash flow analysis.

Committed Capital Securities

        The fair value of committed capital securities ("CCS") represents the difference between the present value of remaining expected put option premium payments under AGC's CCS (the "AGC CCS Securities") and AGM's Committed Preferred Trust Securities (the "AGM CPS Securities") agreements and the value of such estimated payments based upon the quoted price for such premium payments as of the reporting dates (see Note 15). Changes in fair value of the AGM CPS and AGC CCS securities are recorded in the consolidated statements of operations. The significant market inputs used are observable, therefore, the Company classified this fair value measurement as Level 2.

Financial Guaranty Contracts in Insurance Form

        The fair value of the Company's financial guaranty contracts accounted for as insurance was based on management's estimate of what a similarly rated financial guaranty insurance company would demand to acquire the Company's in-force book of financial guaranty insurance business. This amount was based on the pricing assumptions management has observed in recent portfolio transfers that have occurred in the financial guaranty market and included adjustments to the carrying value of unearned premium reserve for stressed losses, ceding commissions and return on capital. The significant inputs for these inputs were not readily observable.

        The Company accordingly classified this fair value measurement as Level 3.

Long-Term Debt

        The Company's long-term debt, excluding notes payable, is valued by broker-dealers using third party independent pricing sources and standard market conventions. The market conventions utilize market quotations, market transactions in comparable instruments, and various relationships between instruments, such as yield to maturity.

        The fair value of the notes payable that are recorded within long-term debt was determined by calculating the present value of the expected cash flows. The Company uses a market approach to determine discounted future cash flows using market driven discount rates and a variety of assumptions

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

6. Fair Value Measurement (Continued)


if applicable including London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") curve projections, prepayment and default assumptions, and AGM CDS spreads.

Financial Guaranty Contracts Accounted for as Credit Derivatives

        The Company's credit derivatives consist primarily of insured CDS contracts, and also include net interest margin securitizations and interest rate swaps that fall under derivative accounting standards requiring fair value accounting through the statement of operations. The Company does not typically terminate its credit derivative contracts, and there are no quoted prices for its instruments or for similar instruments. The Company determines the fair value of its credit derivative contracts primarily through modeling that uses various inputs to derive an estimate of the value of the Company's contracts in principal markets. Observable inputs other than quoted market prices exist; however, these inputs reflect contracts that do not contain terms and conditions similar to the credit derivative contracts issued by the Company. Therefore, the valuation of credit derivative contracts requires the use of models that contain significant, unobservable inputs. The Company accordingly believes the credit derivative valuations are in Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy discussed above.

        Inputs include expected contractual life and credit spreads, based on observable market indices and on recent pricing for similar contracts. Credit spreads capture the impact of recovery rates and performance of underlying assets, among other factors, on these contracts. The Company's pricing model takes into account not only how credit spreads on risks that it assumes affect pricing, but also how the Company's own credit spread affects the pricing of its deals. If credit spreads of the underlying obligations change, the fair value of the related credit derivative changes. Market liquidity could also impact valuations of the underlying obligations.

        The fair value of the Company's credit derivative contracts represents the difference between the present value of remaining expected net premiums the Company receives or pays for the credit protection and the estimated present value of premiums that a comparable credit-worthy financial guarantor would hypothetically charge or pay the Company for the same protection. The fair value of the Company's credit derivatives depends on a number of factors, including notional amount of the contract, expected term, credit spreads, changes in interest rates, the credit ratings of referenced entities, the Company's own credit risk and remaining contractual cash flows. The expected remaining contractual cash flows are the most readily observable inputs since they are based on the CDS contractual terms. These cash flows include net premiums and claims to be received or paid under the terms of the contract.

        Market conditions at December 31, 2010 were such that market prices of the Company's CDS contracts were not generally available. Since market prices were not available, the Company used proprietary valuation models that used both unobservable and observable market data inputs such as various market indices, credit spreads, the Company's own credit spread, and estimated contractual payments to estimate the fair value of its credit derivatives. These models are primarily developed internally based on market conventions for similar transactions.

        Management considers the non-standard terms of its credit derivative contracts in determining the fair value of these contracts. These terms differ from more standardized credit derivative contracts sold by companies outside the financial guaranty industry. The non-standard terms include the absence of collateral support agreements or immediate settlement provisions. In addition, the Company employs relatively high attachment points and does not exit derivatives it sells or purchases for credit protection purposes, except under specific circumstances such as novations upon exiting a line of business. Because of these terms and conditions, the fair value of the Company's credit derivatives may not reflect the same prices observed in an actively traded market of credit derivatives that do not contain

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

6. Fair Value Measurement (Continued)


terms and conditions similar to those observed in the financial guaranty market. The Company's models and the related assumptions are continuously reevaluated by management and enhanced, as appropriate, based upon improvements in modeling techniques and availability of more timely and relevant market information.

        Valuation models include management estimates and current market information. Management is also required to make assumptions on how the fair value of credit derivative instruments is affected by current market conditions. Management considers factors such as current prices charged for similar agreements, when available, performance of underlying assets, life of the instrument, and the nature and extent of activity in the financial guaranty credit derivative marketplace. The assumptions that management uses to determine the fair value may change in the future due to market conditions. Due to the inherent uncertainties of the assumptions used in the valuation models to determine the fair value of these credit derivative products, actual experience may differ from the estimates reflected in the Company's consolidated financial statements and the differences may be material.

Assumptions and Inputs

        Listed below are various inputs and assumptions that are key to the establishment of the Company's fair value for CDS contracts.

        The key assumptions used in the Company's internally developed model include the following:

        The premium the Company receives is referred to as the "net spread." The Company's own credit risk is factored into the determination of net spread based on the impact of changes in the quoted market price for credit protection bought on the Company, as reflected by quoted market prices on CDS referencing AGC or AGM. The cost to acquire CDS protection referencing AGC or AGM affects the amount of spread on CDS deals that the Company retains and, hence, their fair value. As the cost to acquire CDS protection referencing AGC or AGM increases, the amount of premium the Company retains on a deal generally decreases. As the cost to acquire CDS protection referencing AGC or AGM decreases, the amount of premium the Company retains on a deal generally increases. In the Company's valuation model, the premium the Company captures is not permitted to go below the

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

6. Fair Value Measurement (Continued)


minimum rate that the Company would currently charge to assume similar risks. This assumption can have the effect of mitigating the amount of unrealized gains that are recognized on certain CDS contracts.

        The Company determines the fair value of its CDS contracts by applying the difference between the current net spread and the contractual net spread for the remaining duration of each contract to the notional value of its CDS contracts. To the extent available, actual transactions executed in the market during the accounting period are used to validate the model results and to explain the correlation between various market indices and indicative CDS market prices.

        The Company's fair value model inputs are gross spread, credit spreads on risks assumed and credit spreads on the Company's name.

        Gross spread is an input into the Company's fair value model that is used to ultimately determine the net spread a comparable financial guarantor would charge the Company to transfer risk at the reporting date. The Company's estimate of the fair value represents the difference between the estimated present value of premiums that a comparable financial guarantor would accept to assume the risk from the Company on the current reporting date, on terms identical to the original contracts written by the Company and the contractual premium for each individual credit derivative contract. Gross spread was an observable input that the Company historically obtained for deals it had closed or bid on in the market place prior to the credit crisis. The Company uses these historical gross spreads as a reference point to estimate fair value in current reporting periods.

        The Company obtains credit spreads on risks assumed from market data sources published by third parties (e.g. dealer spread tables for the collateral similar to assets within the Company's transactions) as well as collateral- specific spreads provided by trustees or obtained from market sources. If observable market credit spreads are not available or reliable for the underlying reference obligations, then market indices are used that most closely resemble the underlying reference obligations, considering asset class, credit quality rating and maturity of the underlying reference obligations. As discussed previously, these indices are adjusted to reflect the non-standard terms of the Company's CDS contracts. Market sources determine credit spreads by reviewing new issuance pricing for specific asset classes and receiving price quotes from their trading desks for the specific asset in question. Management validates these quotes by cross-referencing quotes received from one market source against quotes received from another market source to ensure reasonableness. In addition, the Company compares the relative change in price quotes received from one quarter to another, with the relative change experienced by published market indices for a specific asset class. Collateral specific spreads obtained from third-party, independent market sources are un-published spread quotes from market participants or market traders who are not trustees. Management obtains this information as the result of direct communication with these sources as part of the valuation process.

        For credit spreads on the Company's name the Company obtains the quoted price of CDS contracts traded on AGC and AGM from market data sources published by third parties.

        The following is an example of how changes in gross spreads, the Company's own credit spread and the cost to buy protection on the Company affect the amount of premium the Company can demand for its credit protection. The assumptions used in these examples are hypothetical amounts.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

6. Fair Value Measurement (Continued)

Scenario 1 represents the market conditions in effect on the transaction date and Scenario 2 represents market conditions at a subsequent reporting date.

 
  Scenario 1   Scenario 2  
 
  bps   % of Total   bps   % of Total  

Original gross spread/cash bond price (in bps)

    185           500        

Bank profit (in bps)

    115     62 %   50     10 %

Hedge cost (in bps)

    30     16     440     88  

The Company premium received per annum (in bps)

    40     22     10     2  

        In Scenario 1, the gross spread is 185 basis points. The bank or deal originator captures 115 basis points of the original gross spread and hedges 10% of its exposure to AGC, when the CDS spread on AGC was 300 basis points (300 basis points × 10% = 30 basis points). Under this scenario the Company received premium of 40 basis points, or 22% of the gross spread.

        In Scenario 2, the gross spread is 500 basis points. The bank or deal originator captures 50 basis points of the original gross spread and hedges 25% of its exposure to AGC, when the CDS spread on AGC was 1,760 basis points (1,760 basis points × 25% = 440 basis points). Under this scenario the Company would receive premium of 10 basis points, or 2% of the gross spread.

        In this example, the contractual cash flows (the Company premium received per annum above) exceed the amount a market participant would require the Company to pay in today's market to accept its obligations under the CDS contract, thus resulting in an asset. This credit derivative asset is equal to the difference in premium rates discounted at the corresponding LIBOR over the weighted average remaining life of the contract. The expected future cash flows for the Company's credit derivatives were discounted at rates ranging from 0.26% to 4.19% at December 31, 2010. The expected future cash flows for the Company's credit derivatives were discounted at rates ranging from 0.25% to 4.5% at December 31, 2009.

        The Company corroborates the assumptions in its fair value model, including the amount of exposure to AGC and AGM hedged by its counterparties, with independent third parties each reporting period. The current level of AGC's and AGM's own credit spread has resulted in the bank or deal originator hedging a significant portion of its exposure to AGC and AGM. This reduces the amount of contractual cash flows AGC and AGM can capture for selling its protection.

        The amount of premium a financial guaranty insurance market participant can demand is inversely related to the cost of credit protection on the insurance company as measured by market credit spreads assuming all other assumptions remain constant. This is because the buyers of credit protection typically hedge a portion of their risk to the financial guarantor, due to the fact that contractual terms of financial guaranty insurance contracts typically do not require the posting of collateral by the guarantor. The widening of a financial guarantor's own credit spread increases the cost to buy credit protection on the guarantor, thereby reducing the amount of premium the guarantor can capture out of the gross spread on the deal. The extent of the hedge depends on the types of instruments insured and the current market conditions.

        A credit derivative asset on protection sold is the result of contractual cash flows on in-force deals in excess of what a hypothetical financial guarantor could receive if it sold protection on the same risk as of the current reporting date. If the Company were able to freely exchange these contracts (i.e., assuming its contracts did not contain proscriptions on transfer and there was a viable exchange market), it would be able to realize an asset representing the difference between the higher contractual premiums to which it is entitled and the current market premiums for a similar contract.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

6. Fair Value Measurement (Continued)

        Management does not believe there is an established market where financial guaranty insured credit derivatives are actively traded. The terms of the protection under an insured financial guaranty credit derivative do not, except for certain rare circumstances, allow the Company to exit its contracts. Management has determined that the exit market for the Company's credit derivatives is a hypothetical one based on its entry market. Management has tracked the historical pricing of the Company's deals to establish historical price points in the hypothetical market that are used in the fair value calculation.

        The following spread hierarchy is utilized in determining which source of gross spread to use, with the rule being to use CDS spreads where available. If not available, the Company either interpolates or extrapolates CDS spreads based on similar transactions or market indices.

        Over time the data inputs can change as new sources become available or existing sources are discontinued or are no longer considered to be the most appropriate. It is the Company's objective to move to higher levels on the hierarchy whenever possible, but it is sometimes necessary to move to lower priority inputs because of discontinued data sources or management's assessment that the higher priority inputs are no longer considered to be representative of market spreads for a given type of collateral. This can happen, for example, if transaction volume changes such that a previously used spread index is no longer viewed as being reflective of current market levels.

Information by Credit Spread Type

 
  As of December 31,  
 
  2010   2009  

Based on actual collateral specific spreads

    5 %   5 %

Based on market indices

    91 %   90 %

Provided by the CDS counterparty

    4 %   5 %
           
 

Total

    100 %   100 %
           

        The Company interpolates a curve based on the historical relationship between the premium the Company receives when a financial guaranty contract accounted for as CDS is closed to the daily closing price of the market index related to the specific asset class and rating of the deal. This curve indicates expected credit spreads at each indicative level on the related market index. For specific transactions where no price quotes are available and credit spreads need to be extrapolated, an alternative transaction for which the Company has received a spread quote from one of the first three sources within the Company's spread hierarchy is chosen. This alternative transaction will be within the same asset class, have similar underlying assets, similar credit ratings, and similar time to maturity. The Company then calculates the percentage of relative spread change quarter over quarter for the alternative transaction. This percentage change is then applied to the historical credit spread of the transaction for which no price quote was received in order to calculate the transactions' current spread. Counterparties determine credit spreads by reviewing new issuance pricing for specific asset classes and

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

6. Fair Value Measurement (Continued)


receiving price quotes from their trading desks for the specific asset in question. These quotes are validated by cross- referencing quotes received from one market source with those quotes received from another market source to ensure reasonableness. In addition, management compares the relative change experienced on published market indices for a specific asset class for reasonableness and accuracy.

Strengths and Weaknesses of Model

        The Company's credit derivative valuation model, like any financial model, has certain strengths and weaknesses.

        The primary strengths of the Company's CDS modeling techniques are:

        The primary weaknesses of the Company's CDS modeling techniques are:

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

6. Fair Value Measurement (Continued)

        Financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. As of December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 these contracts are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy since there is reliance on at least one unobservable input deemed significant to the valuation model, most significantly the Company's estimate of the value of the non-standard terms and conditions of its credit derivative contracts and of the Company's current credit standing.

Fair Value Option on Financial Guaranty VIEs' Assets and Liabilities

        The Company elected the Fair Value Option for financial guaranty VIEs' assets and liabilities upon consolidation of financial guaranty VIEs on January 1, 2010 under the new VIE consolidation accounting standard described in Note 8.

        The VIEs that are consolidated by the Company issued securities collateralized by HELOCs, first lien RMBS, Alt-A first and second lien RMBS, subprime automobile loans, and other loans and receivables. As the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement of these securities in its entirety was a Level 3 input (i.e. unobservable), management classified all such securities as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The securities were priced with the assistance of an independent third-party using a discounted cash flow approach and the third-party's proprietary pricing models. The models to price the VIEs' liabilities used, where appropriate, inputs such as estimated prepayment speeds; market values of the assets that collateralize the securities; estimated default rates (determined on the basis of an analysis of collateral attributes, recoveries from excess spread or salvage, historical collateral performance, borrower profiles and other features relevant to the evaluation of collateral credit quality); discount rates implied by market prices for similar securities; house price depreciation/appreciation rates based on macroeconomic forecasts and, for those liabilities insured by the Company, the benefit from the Company's insurance policy guaranteeing the timely payment of principal and interest for the VIE tranches insured by the Company, taking into account the Company's own credit rating.

        The Company is not primarily liable for the debt obligations issued by the VIEs. AGL's insurance company subsidiaries that insure the debt would only be required to make payments on these debt obligations in the event that the issuer of such debt obligations defaults on any principal or interest due. The Company's creditors do not have any rights with regard to the assets of the VIEs.

        Changes in fair value of the financial guaranty VIEs' assets and liabilities are included in net change in financial guaranty variable interest entities within the consolidated statement of operations. Except for credit impairment, the unrealized fair value adjustments related to the consolidated VIEs will reverse to zero over the terms of these financial instruments.

        The total unpaid principal balance for the VIEs' assets that were over 90 days or more past due was approximately $1,199.1 million. The change in the instrument-specific credit risk of the VIEs' assets for the year ended December 31, 2010 was a loss of approximately $1,151.9 million. The difference between the aggregate unpaid principal and aggregate fair value of the VIEs' liabilities was approximately $2,204.6 million at December 31, 2010.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

6. Fair Value Measurement (Continued)

Financial Instruments Carried at Fair Value

        Amounts recorded at fair value in the Company's financial statements are included in the tables below.

Fair Value Hierarchy of Financial Instruments
As of December 31, 2010

 
   
  Fair Value Hierarchy  
 
  Fair Value   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3  
 
  (in millions)
 

Assets:

                         

Investment portfolio, available-for-sale:

                         
 

Fixed maturity securities

                         
   

U.S. government and agencies

  $ 1,048.2   $   $ 1,048.2   $  
   

Obligations of state and political subdivisions

    4,959.9         4,959.9      
   

Corporate securities

    992.5         992.5      
   

Mortgage-backed securities:

                         
     

RMBS

    1,184.1         1,071.7     112.4  
     

CMBS

    379.1         379.1      
   

Asset-backed securities

    502.9         292.7     210.2  
   

Foreign government securities

    348.6         348.6      
                   
     

Total fixed maturity securities

    9,415.3         9,092.7     322.6  
 

Short-term investments

    1,031.6     253.4     778.2      
 

Other invested assets(1)

    33.3     0.2     21.4     11.7  
 

Credit derivative assets

    592.9             592.9  
 

Financial guaranty VIEs' assets, at fair value

    4,334.4             4,334.4  
 

Other assets

    44.4     25.7     18.7      
                   
   

Total assets carried at fair value

  $ 15,451.9   $ 279.3   $ 9,911.0   $ 5,261.6  
                   

Liabilities:

                         
 

Credit derivative liabilities

  $ 2,465.5   $   $   $ 2,465.5  
 

Financial guaranty VIEs' liabilities with recourse, at fair value

    2,927.0             2,927.0  
 

Financial guaranty VIEs' liabilities without recourse, at fair value

    2,014.1             2,014.1  
 

Other liabilities

    0.1         0.1      
                   
   

Total liabilities carried at fair value

  $ 7,406.7   $   $ 0.1   $ 7,406.6  
                   

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

6. Fair Value Measurement (Continued)

Fair Value Hierarchy of Financial Instruments
As of December 31, 2009

 
   
  Fair Value Hierarchy  
 
  Fair Value   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3  
 
  (in millions)
 

Assets:

                         

Investment portfolio, available-for-sale:

                         
 

Fixed maturity securities

                         
   

U.S. government and agencies

  $ 1,037.6   $   $ 1,037.6   $  
   

Obligations of state and political subdivisions

    5,039.5         5,039.5      
   

Corporate securities

    625.5         625.5        
   

Mortgage-backed securities:

                       
     

RMBS

    1,464.6         1,464.6      
     

CMBS

    227.2         227.2      
   

Asset-backed securities

    388.9         185.0     203.9  
   

Foreign government securities

    356.6         356.6      
                   
     

Total fixed maturity securities

    9,139.9         8,936.0     203.9  
 

Short-term investments

    1,668.3     437.2     1,231.1      
 

Other invested assets(1)

    34.4     1.8     21.3     11.3  
 

Credit derivative assets

    492.5             492.5  
 

Other assets

    32.4     22.9     9.5      
                   
   

Total assets carried at fair value

  $ 11,367.5   $ 461.9   $ 10,197.9   $ 707.7  
                   

Liabilities:

                         
 

Credit derivative liabilities

  $ 2,034.6   $   $   $ 2,034.6  
 

Other liabilities

    0.1         0.1      
                   
   

Total liabilities carried at fair value

  $ 2,034.7   $   $ 0.1   $ 2,034.6  
                   

(1)
Includes mortgage loans that are recorded at fair value on a non-recurring basis. At December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, such investments were carried at their market value of $9.4 million and $11.1 million, respectively. The mortgage loans are classified as Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy as there are significant unobservable inputs used in the valuation of such loans. An indicative dealer quote is used to price the non-performing portion of these mortgage loans. The performing loans are valued using management's determination of future cash flows arising from these loans, discounted at the rate of return that would be required by a market participant. This rate of return is based on indicative dealer quotes.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

6. Fair Value Measurement (Continued)

Changes in Level 3 Fair Value Measurements

        The table below presents a rollforward of the Company's financial instruments whose fair value included significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008.

Fair Value Level 3 Rollforward

 
   
   
   
  Year Ended December 31, 2010  
 
   
   
   
  Total Pre-tax
Realized/
Unrealized
Gains/
(Losses)(1)
Recorded in:
   
   
   
   
  Change in
Unrealized
Gains/
(Losses)
Related to
Financial
Instruments
Held at
December 31,
2010
 
 
  Fair
Value at
December 31,
2009
  Adoption
of New
Accounting
Standard
  Fair
Value at
January 1,
2010
  Purchases,
Issuances,
Settlements,
net
   
  Transfers
in and/or
out of
Level 3
  Fair
Value at
December 31,
2010
 
 
  Net
Income
(Loss)
  Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
  Consolidations,
Deconsolidations,
net
 
 
  (in millions)
 

Fixed maturity securities

  $ 203.9   $   $ 203.9   $ (14.7 )(2) $ (31.7 ) $ 91.2   $   $ 73.9   $ 322.6   $ (31.7 )

Other invested assets

    0.2         0.2       (4)   (0.5 )   2.6             2.3      

Financial guaranty VIEs' assets. at fair value

        1,925.3     1,925.3     84.8   (3)       (282.4 )   2,606.7         4,334.4     243.2  

Credit derivative asset (liability), net(5)

    (1,542.1 )       (1,542.1 )   (4.3 )(6)       (326.2 )           (1,872.6 )   (123.6 )

Financial guaranty VIEs' liabilities with recourse, at fair value

        (2,110.9 )   (2,110.9 )   (45.4 )(3)       359.2     (1,129.9 )       (2,927.0 )   (323.8 )

Financial guaranty VIEs' liabilities without recourse, at fair value

        (226.0 )   (226.0 )   (35.4 )(3)       91.7     (1,844.4 )       (2,014.1 )   (7.5 )

 

 
   
   
  Year Ended December 31, 2009  
 
   
   
  Total Pre-tax
Realized/
Unrealized
Gains/
(Losses)(1)
Recorded in:
   
   
   
  Change in
Unrealized
Gains/
(Losses)
Related to
Financial
Instruments
Held at
December 31,
2009
 
 
  Fair
Value at
December 31,
2008
   
  Purchases,
Issuances,
Settlements,
net
  Transfers
in and/or
out of
Level 3
  Fair
Value at
December 31,
2009
 
 
  AGMH
Acquisition
  Net
Income
(Loss)
  Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
 
 
  (in millions)
 

Fixed maturity securities

  $   $ 219.4   $ (0.7 )(2) $   $ (14.8 ) $   $ 203.9   $ (0.7 )

Other invested assets

            (4.3 )(4)       4.5         0.2     (4.4 )

Credit derivative asset (liability), net(5)

    (586.8 )   (622.8 )   (174.3 )(6)       (158.2 )       (1,542.1 )   (328.1 )

(1)
Realized and unrealized gains (losses) from changes in values of Level 3 financial instruments represent gains (losses) from changes in values of those financial instruments only for the periods in which the instruments were classified as Level 3.

(2)
Included in net realized investment gains (losses) and net investment income.

(3)
Included in net change in financial guaranty variable interest entities.

(4)
Recorded in other income.

(5)
Represents net position of credit derivatives. The consolidated balance sheet presents gross assets and liabilities based on net counterparty exposure.

(6)
Reported in net change in fair value of credit derivatives.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

6. Fair Value Measurement (Continued)

        The carrying amount and estimated fair value of the Company's financial instruments are presented in the following table:

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 
  As of
December 31, 2010
  As of
December 31, 2009
 
 
  Carrying
Amount
  Estimated
Fair Value
  Carrying
Amount
  Estimated
Fair Value
 
 
  (in millions)
 

Assets:

                         
 

Fixed maturity securities

  $ 9,415.3   $ 9,415.3   $ 9,139.9   $ 9,139.9  
 

Short-term investments

    1,031.6     1,031.6     1,668.3     1,668.3  
 

Credit derivative assets

    592.9     592.9     492.5     492.5  
 

Other invested assets

    259.8     269.7     154.4     162.1  
 

Financial guaranty VIEs' assets

    4,334.4     4,334.4          
 

Other assets

    44.4     44.4     32.4     32.4  

Liabilities:

                         
 

Financial guaranty insurance contracts(1)

    4,766.3     5,595.8     5,971.8     7,020.5  
 

Long-term debt

    1,052.9     1,074.5     1,066.5     1,076.3  
 

Credit derivative liabilities

    2,465.5     2,465.5     2,034.6     2,034.6  
 

Financial guaranty VIEs' liabilities with recourse

    2,927.0     2,927.0     762.7     762.7  
 

Financial guaranty VIEs' liabilities without recourse

    2,014.1     2,014.1          
 

Other liabilities

    0.1     0.1     0.1     0.1  

(1)
Includes the balance sheet amounts related to financial guaranty insurance contract premiums and losses, net of reinsurance.


7. Financial Guaranty Contracts Accounted for as Credit Derivatives

Accounting Policy

        Credit derivatives are recorded at fair value. Changes in fair value are recorded in "net change in fair value of credit derivatives" on the consolidated statement of operations. Realized gains and other settlements on credit derivatives include credit derivative premiums received and receivable for credit protection the Company has sold under its insured CDS contracts, premiums paid and payable for credit protection the Company has purchased, contractual claims paid and payable and received and receivable related to insured credit events under these contracts, ceding commissions (expense) income and realized gains or losses related to their early termination. Net unrealized gains (losses) on credit derivatives represent the adjustments for changes in fair value in excess of realized gains and other settlements that are recorded in each reporting period. Fair value of credit derivatives is reflected as either net assets or net liabilities determined on a contract by contract basis in the Company's consolidated balance sheets. See Note 6 for a discussion on the fair value methodology for credit derivatives.

Credit Derivatives

        The Company has a portfolio of financial guaranty contracts accounted for as derivatives (primarily CDS) that meet the definition of a derivative in accordance with GAAP. Management considers these agreements to be a normal part of its financial guaranty business. A loss payment is made only upon the occurrence of one or more defined credit events with respect to the referenced securities or loans. A credit event may be a non-payment event such as a failure to pay, bankruptcy or restructuring, as negotiated by the parties to the credit derivative transactions. Credit derivative transactions are governed by ISDA documentation and operate differently from financial guaranty contracts accounted

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

7. Financial Guaranty Contracts Accounted for as Credit Derivatives (Continued)


for as insurance. For example, the Company's control rights with respect to a reference obligation under a credit derivative may be more limited than when the Company issues a financial guaranty contract accounted for as insurance. In addition, while the Company's exposure under credit derivatives, like the Company's exposure under financial guaranty contracts accounted for as insurance, has been generally for as long as the reference obligation remains outstanding, unlike financial guaranty contracts, a credit derivative may be terminated for a breach of the ISDA documentation or other specific events. If events of default or termination events specified in the credit derivative documentation were to occur, the non-defaulting or the non-affected party, which may be either the Company or the counterparty, depending upon the circumstances, may decide to terminate a credit derivative prior to maturity. The Company may be required to make a termination payment to its swap counterparty upon such termination.

Credit Derivative Net Par Outstanding by Sector

        The estimated remaining weighted average life of credit derivatives was 4.9 years at December 31, 2010 and 6.0 years at December 31, 2009. The components of the Company's credit derivative net par outstanding as of December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 are:

Net Par Outstanding on Credit Derivatives

 
  As of December 31, 2010   As of December 31, 2009
Asset Type
  Original
Subordination(1)
  Current
Subordination(1)
  Net Par
Outstanding
  Weighted
Average
Credit
Rating(2)
  Original
Subordination(1)
  Current
Subordination(1)
  Net Par
Outstanding
  Weighted
Average
Credit
Rating(2)
 
  (dollars in millions)

Financial Guaranty Direct:

                                           
 

Pooled corporate obligations:

                                           
   

CLOs/CBOs

    32.2 %   30.4 % $ 45,953   AAA     31.1 %   27.4 % $ 49,447   AAA
   

Synthetic investment grade pooled corporate(3)

    19.2     17.6     14,905   AAA     19.2     17.7     14,652   AAA
   

Synthetic high yield pooled corporate

    39.4     34.6     7,316   AAA     36.7     34.4     11,040   AAA
   

TruPS CDOs

    46.8     32.0     5,757   BB+     46.6     37.3     6,041   BBB-
   

Market value CDOs of corporate obligations

    36.0     42.9     5,069   AAA     32.1     36.9     5,401   AAA
                                 
 

Total pooled corporate obligations

    31.7     29.3     79,000   AAA     30.9     27.9     86,581   AAA
 

U.S. RMBS:

                                           
   

Alt-A option ARMs and Alt-A first lien

    19.7     17.0     4,767   B+     20.3     22.0     5,662   BB
   

Subprime first lien (including net interest margin)

    27.9     50.4     4,460   A+     27.6     52.4     4,970   A+
   

Prime first lien

    10.9     10.3     468   B     10.9     11.1     560   BB
   

Closed end second lien and HELOCs(4)

            81   B             111   B
                                 
 

Total U.S. RMBS

    23.1     32.4     9,776   BBB-     22.9     34.6     11,303   BBB
 

CMBS

    29.8     31.3     6,751   AAA     28.5     30.9     7,191   AAA
 

Other

            12,612   A+             15,700   AA-
                                         

Total Financial Guaranty Direct

                108,139   AA+                 120,775   AA+

Financial Guaranty Reinsurance

                1,632   AA-                 1,642   AA-
                                         

Total

              $ 109,771   AA+               $ 122,417   AA+
                                         

(1)
Represents the sum of subordinate tranches and over-collateralization and does not include any benefit from excess interest collections that may be used to absorb losses.

(2)
Based on the Company's internal rating. The Company's rating scale is similar to that used by the NRSROs; however, the ratings in the above table may not be the same as ratings assigned by any such rating agency.

(3)
Increase in net par outstanding in the synthetic investment grade pooled corporate sector is due principally to the reassumption of a previously ceded book of business.

(4)
Many of the CES transactions insured by the Company have unique structures whereby the collateral may be written down for losses without a correspondence write-down of the obligations insured by the Company. Many of these transactions are currently under-collateralized, with the principal amount of collateral being less than the principal amount of the obligation insured by the Company. The Company is not required to pay principal shortfalls until legal maturity (rather than making timely principal payments), and takes the under-collateralization into account when estimating expected losses for these transactions.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

7. Financial Guaranty Contracts Accounted for as Credit Derivatives (Continued)

        The Company's exposure to pooled corporate obligations is highly diversified in terms of obligors and, except in the case of TruPS CDOs, industries. Most pooled corporate transactions are structured to limit exposure to any given obligor and industry. The majority of the Company's pooled corporate exposure consists of CLOs or synthetic pooled corporate obligations. Most of these CLOs have an average obligor size of less than 1% and typically restrict the maximum exposure to any one industry to approximately 10%. The Company's exposure also benefits from embedded credit enhancement in the transactions which allows a transaction to sustain a certain level of losses in the underlying collateral, further insulating the Company from industry specific concentrations of credit risk on these deals.

        The Company's TruPS CDO asset pools are generally less diversified by obligors and industries than the typical CLO asset pool. Also, the underlying collateral in TruPS CDOs consists primarily of subordinated debt instruments such as TruPS CDOs issued by banks, real estate investment trusts and insurance companies, while CLOs typically contain primarily senior secured obligations. Finally, TruPS CDOs typically contain interest rate hedges that may complicate the cash flows. However, to mitigate these risks TruPS CDOs were typically structured with higher levels of embedded credit enhancement than typical CLOs.

        The Company's exposure to "Other" CDS contracts is also highly diversified. It includes $3.4 billion of exposure to three pooled infrastructure transactions comprised of diversified pools of international infrastructure project transactions and loans to regulated utilities. These pools were all structured with underlying credit enhancement sufficient for the Company to attach at super senior AAA levels. The remaining $9.2 billion of exposure in "Other" CDS contracts is comprised of numerous deals typically structured with significant underlying credit enhancement and spread across various asset classes, such as commercial receivables, international RMBS securities, infrastructure, regulated utilities and consumer receivables.

        The following table summarizes net par outstanding by rating of the Company's direct credit derivatives as of December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009.

Distribution of Direct Credit Derivative Net Par Outstanding by Rating(1)

 
  December 31, 2010   December 31, 2009  
Ratings(1)
  Net Par
Outstanding
  % of Total   Net Par
Outstanding
  % of Total  
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

Super Senior

  $ 29,344     27.1 % $ 41,307     34.2 %

AAA

    49,751     46.0     40,065     33.2  

AA

    7,937     7.3     14,613     12.1  

A

    6,471     6.0     8,255     6.8  

BBB

    6,278     5.8     9,076     7.5  

BIG

    8,358     7.8     7,459     6.2  
                   
 

Total direct credit derivative net par outstanding

  $ 108,139     100.0 % $ 120,775     100.0 %
                   

(1)
Assured Guaranty's internal rating. The Company's ratings scale is similar to that used by the NRSROs; however, the ratings in the above table may not be the same as ratings assigned by any such rating agency. The super senior category, which is not generally used by rating agencies, is used by the Company in instances where Assured Guaranty's AAA-rated exposure on its internal rating scale has additional credit enhancement due to either (1) the existence of another security rated AAA that is subordinated to Assured Guaranty's exposure or (2) Assured Guaranty's exposure benefiting from a different form of credit enhancement that would pay any claims first in the event that any of the exposures incurs a loss, and such credit enhancement, in management's opinion, causes Assured Guaranty's attachment point to be materially above the AAA attachment point.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

7. Financial Guaranty Contracts Accounted for as Credit Derivatives (Continued)

        The following tables present additional details about the Company's unrealized U.S. RMBS CDS by vintage:

U.S. Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities

 
  December 31, 2010    
 
Vintage
  Original
Subordination(1)
  Current
Subordination(1)
  Net Par
Outstanding
(in millions)
  Weighted
Average Credit
Rating(2)
  Full Year 2010
Unrealized Gain (Loss)
(in millions)
 

2004 and Prior

    6.2 %   19.9 % $ 165   A   $ (0.5 )

2005

    27.2     55.6     3,086   AA-     (1.9 )

2006

    29.0     37.5     1,563   BBB     (13.7 )

2007

    18.7     14.7     4,962   B     (287.4 )

2008

                   

2009

                   

2010

                   
                           
 

Total

    23.1 %   32.4 % $ 9,776   BBB-   $ (303.5 )
                           

(1)
Represents the sum of subordinate tranches and over-collateralization and does not include any benefit from excess interest collections that may be used to absorb losses.

(2)
Based on the Company's internal rating. The Company's rating scale is similar to that used by the NRSROs; however, the ratings in the above table may not be the same as ratings assigned by any such rating agency.

        The following table presents additional details about the Company's CMBS transactions by vintage:

Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities

 
  December 31, 2010    
 
Vintage
  Original Subordination(1)   Current Subordination(1)   Net Par Outstanding
(in millions)
  Weighted Average Credit Rating(2)   Full Year 2010
Unrealized Gain (Loss)
(in millions)
 

2004 and Prior

    29.3 %   47.0 % $ 458   AAA   $ 0.1  

2005

    17.7     25.4     681   AAA     0.2  

2006

    28.0     28.5     4,197   AAA     5.8  

2007

    41.1     37.3     1,415   AAA     4.0  

2008

                   

2009

                   

2010

                   
                           
 

Total

    29.8 %   31.3 % $ 6,751   AAA   $ 10.1  
                           

(1)
Represents the sum of subordinate tranches and over-collateralization and does not include any benefit from excess interest collections that may be used to absorb losses.

(2)
Based on the Company's internal rating. The Company's rating scale is similar to that used by the NRSROs; however, the ratings in the above table may not be the same as ratings assigned by any such rating agency.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

7. Financial Guaranty Contracts Accounted for as Credit Derivatives (Continued)

Net Change in Fair Value of Credit Derivatives

        The following table disaggregates the components of net change in fair value of credit derivatives.

Net Change in Fair Value of Credit Derivatives

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   2008  
 
  (in millions)
 

Net credit derivative premiums received and receivable

  $ 206.8   $ 168.1   $ 118.1  

Net ceding commissions (paid and payable) received and receivable

    3.5     2.2     (0.9 )
               
 

Realized gains on credit derivatives

    210.3     170.3     117.2  
 

Net credit derivative losses (paid and payable) recovered and recoverable

    (56.8 )   (6.7 )   0.4  
               

Total realized gains and other settlements on credit derivatives

    153.5     163.6     117.6  

Total unrealized gains and other settlements on credit derivatives

    (157.8 )   (337.8 )   38.0  
               
 

Net change in fair value of credit derivatives

  $ (4.3 ) $ (174.2 ) $ 155.6  
               

        Changes in the fair value of credit derivatives occur primarily because of changes in interest rates, credit spreads, credit ratings of the referenced entities, realized gains and other settlements, and the issuing company's own credit rating, credit spreads and other market factors. Except for estimated credit impairments (i.e., net expected payments), the unrealized gains and losses on credit derivatives is expected to reduce to zero as the exposure approaches its maturity date. During 2010 and 2009, the Company made $44.1 million and $17.7 million in claim payments on credit derivatives, respectively. With considerable volatility continuing in the market, unrealized gains (losses) on credit derivatives may fluctuate significantly in future periods.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

7. Financial Guaranty Contracts Accounted for as Credit Derivatives (Continued)

Net Change in Unrealized Gains (Losses) in Credit Derivatives
By Sector

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
Asset Type
  2010   2009   2008  
 
  (in millions)
 

Financial Guaranty Direct:

                   
 

Pooled corporate obligations:

                   
   

CLOs/CBOs

  $ 2.1   $ 152.3   $ 263.3  
   

Synthetic investment grade pooled corporate

    (1.9 )   (24.0 )   3.8  
   

Synthetic high yield pooled corporate

    11.4     95.1      
   

TruPS CDOs

    59.1     (44.1 )   7.5  
   

Market value CDOs of corporate obligations

    (0.1 )   (0.6 )   48.7  
   

Commercial real estate

            7.5  
   

CDO of CDOs (corporate)

        6.3     (3.4 )
               
 

Total pooled corporate obligations

    70.6     185.0     327.4  
 

U.S. RMBS:

                   
   

Alt-A option ARMs and Alt-A first lien

    (283.1 )   (429.3 )   (194.9 )
   

Subprime first lien (including net interest margin)

    (10.1 )   4.9     185.4  
   

Prime first lien

    (8.3 )   (85.2 )   5.2  
   

Closed end second lien and HELOCs

    (2.0 )   11.6     0.3  
               
 

Total U.S. RMBS

    (303.5 )   (498.0 )   (4.0 )
 

CMBS

    10.1     (41.1 )   79.0  
 

Other(1)

    65.6     6.7     (336.7 )
               

Total Financial Guaranty Direct

    (157.2 )   (347.4 )   65.7  

Financial Guaranty Reinsurance

    (0.6 )   9.6     (27.7 )
               

Total

  $ (157.8 ) $ (337.8 ) $ 38.0  
               

(1)
"Other" includes all other U.S. and international asset classes, such as commercial receivables, international infrastructure, international RMBS securities, and pooled infrastructure securities.

        In 2010, U.S. RMBS unrealized fair value losses were generated primarily in the Alt-A option ARM and Alt-A first lien sector due to wider implied net spreads. The wider implied net spreads were a result of internal ratings downgrades on several of these Alt-A option ARM and Alt-A first lien policies. The unrealized fair value gain within the TruPS CDO and Other asset classes resulted from tighter implied spreads. These transactions were pricing above their floor levels (or the minimum rate at which the Company would consider assuming these risks based on historical experience); therefore when the cost of purchasing CDS protection on AGC and AGM increased, which management refers to as the CDS spread on AGC or AGM, the implied spreads that the Company would expect to receive on these transactions decreased. During 2010, AGC's and AGM's spreads widened. However, gains due to the widening of the Company's own CDS spreads were offset by declines in fair value resulting from price changes and the internal downgrades of several U.S. RMBS policies referenced above.

        In 2009, AGC's and AGM's credit spreads narrowed, however they remained relatively wide compared to pre-2007 levels. Offsetting the benefit attributable to AGC's and AGM's wide credit spread were declines in fixed income security market prices primarily attributable to widening spreads in certain markets as a result of the continued deterioration in credit markets and some credit rating downgrades. The higher credit spreads in the fixed income security market were primarily due to

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

7. Financial Guaranty Contracts Accounted for as Credit Derivatives (Continued)


continuing market concerns over the most recent vintages of Subprime RMBS and trust-preferred securities.

        The 2008 gain included an amount of $4.1 billion associated with the change in AGC's credit spread, which widened substantially from 180 basis points at December 31, 2007 to 1,775 basis points at December 31, 2008. Management believed that the widening of AGC's credit spread was due to the correlation between AGC's risk profile and that experienced currently by the broader financial markets and increased demand for credit protection against AGC as the result of its increased business volume. Offsetting the gain attributable to the significant increase in AGC's credit spread were declines in fixed income security market prices primarily attributable to widening spreads in certain markets as a result of the continued deterioration in credit markets and some credit rating downgrades, rather than from delinquencies or defaults on securities guaranteed by the Company. The higher credit spreads in the fixed income security market were due to the lack of liquidity in the high yield CDO and CLO markets as well as continuing market concerns over the most recent vintages of subprime RMBS and CMBS.

        The impact of changes in credit spreads will vary based upon the volume, tenor, interest rates, and other market conditions at the time these fair values are determined. In addition, since each transaction has unique collateral and structural terms, the underlying change in fair value of each transaction may vary considerably. The fair value of credit derivative contracts also reflects the change in the Company's own credit cost based on the price to purchase credit protection on AGC and AGM. The Company determines its own credit risk based on quoted CDS prices traded on the Company at each balance sheet date. Generally, a widening of the CDS prices traded on AGC and AGM has an effect of offsetting unrealized losses that result from widening general market credit spreads, while a narrowing of the CDS prices traded on AGC and AGM has an effect of offsetting unrealized gains that result from narrowing general market credit spreads. An overall narrowing of spreads generally results in an unrealized gain on credit derivatives for the Company and an overall widening of spreads generally results in an unrealized loss for the Company.

Effect of the Company's Credit Spread on Credit Derivatives Fair Value

 
  As of December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   2008  
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

Quoted price of CDS contract (in basis points):

                   
 

AGC

    804     634     1,775  
 

AGM

    650     541 (1)   N/A  

Fair value gain (loss) of credit derivatives:

                   
 

Before considering implication of the Company's credit spreads

  $ (5,543.9 ) $ (5,830.8 ) $ (4,734.4 )
 

After considering implication of the Company's credit spreads

  $ (1,872.6 ) $ (1,542.1 ) $ (586.8 )

(1)
The quoted price of CDS contract for AGM was 1,047 basis points at July 1, 2009.


Components of Credit Derivative Assets (Liabilities)

 
  As of December 31,  
 
  2010   2009  
 
  (in millions)
 

Credit derivative assets

  $ 592.9   $ 492.5  

Credit derivative liabilities

    (2,465.5 )   (2,034.6 )
           
 

Net fair value of credit derivatives

  $ (1,872.6 ) $ (1,542.1 )
           

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

7. Financial Guaranty Contracts Accounted for as Credit Derivatives (Continued)

        As of December 31, 2010, AGC's and AGM's credit spreads remained relatively wide compared to pre-2007 levels, as did general market spreads. The $5.5 billion liability as of December 31, 2010, which represents the fair value of CDS contracts before considering the implications of AGC's and AGM's credit spreads, is a direct result of continued wide credit spreads in the fixed income security markets, and ratings downgrades. The asset classes that remain most affected are recent vintages of Subprime RMBS and Alt-A deals, as well as trust-preferred securities. When looking at December 31, 2010 compared to December 31, 2009, there was tightening of general market spreads as well as a run-off in net par outstanding, resulting in a gain of approximately $287 million before taking into account AGC or AGM's credit spreads.

        Management believes that the trading level of AGC's and AGM's credit spreads are due to the correlation between AGC's and AGM's risk profile and that experienced currently by the broader financial markets and increased demand for credit protection against AGC and AGM as the result of its direct segment financial guaranty volume as well as the overall lack of liquidity in the CDS market. Offsetting the benefit attributable to AGC's and AGM's credit spread were declines in fixed income security market prices primarily attributable to widening spreads in certain markets as a result of the continued deterioration in credit markets and some credit rating downgrades. The higher credit spreads in the fixed income security market are due to the lack of liquidity in the high yield CDO and collateralized loan obligation ("CLO") markets as well as continuing market concerns over the most recent vintages of subprime RMBS.

Ratings Sensitivities of Credit Derivative Contracts

        Some of the Company's CDS have rating triggers that allow the CDS counterparty to terminate in the case of a rating downgrade. If the ratings of certain of the Company's insurance subsidiaries were reduced below certain levels and the Company's counterparty elected to terminate the CDS, the Company could be required to make a termination payment on certain of its credit derivative contracts, as determined under the relevant documentation. Under certain documents, the Company may have the right to cure the termination event by posting collateral, assigning its rights and obligations in respect of the transactions to a third party or seeking a third party guaranty of the obligations of the Company. The Company currently has three ISDA master agreements under which the applicable counterparty could elect to terminate transactions upon a rating downgrade of AGC: if AGC's ratings were downgraded to BBB- or Baa3, $90 million in par insured could be terminated by one counterparty; and if AGC's ratings were downgraded to BB+ or Ba1, approximately $2.8 billion in par insured could be terminated by the other two counterparties. None of AG Re, Assured Guaranty Re Overseas Ltd. ("AGRO") or AGM has any material CDS exposure subject to termination based on its rating. The Company does not believe that it can accurately estimate the termination payments it could be required to make if, as a result of any such downgrade, a CDS counterparty terminated its CDS contracts with the Company. These payments could have a material adverse effect on the Company's liquidity and financial condition.

        Under a limited number of other CDS contracts, the Company may be required to post eligible securities as collateral—generally cash or U.S. government or agency securities. For certain of such contracts, this requirement is based on a mark-to-market valuation, as determined under the relevant documentation, in excess of contractual thresholds that decline or are eliminated if the ratings of certain of the Company's insurance subsidiaries decline. Under other contracts, the Company has negotiated caps such that the posting requirement cannot exceed a certain amount. As of December 31, 2010, and without giving effect to thresholds that apply at current ratings, the amount of par that is subject to collateral posting is approximately $18.8 billion, for which the Company has agreed to post approximately $765.9 million of collateral. The Company may be required to post additional collateral

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

7. Financial Guaranty Contracts Accounted for as Credit Derivatives (Continued)


from time to time, depending on its ratings and on the market values of the transactions subject to the collateral posting. Counterparties have agreed that for approximately $18.0 billion of that $18.8 billion, the maximum amount that the Company could be required to post is capped at $635 million at current rating levels (which amount is included in the $765.9 million as to which the Company has agreed to post). Such cap increases by $50 million to $685 million in the event AGC's ratings are downgraded to A+ or A3.

Sensitivity to Changes in Credit Spread

        The following table summarizes the estimated change in fair values on the net balance of the Company's credit derivative positions assuming immediate parallel shifts in credit spreads on AGC and AGM and on the risks that they both assume:

 
  As of December 31, 2010  
Credit Spreads(1)
  Estimated Net
Fair Value
(Pre-Tax)
  Estimated Change
in Gain/(Loss)
(Pre-Tax)
 
 
  (in millions)
 

100% widening in spreads

  $ (3,964.4 ) $ (2,091.8 )

50% widening in spreads

    (2,926.0 )   (1,053.4 )

25% widening in spreads

    (2,401.9 )   (529.3 )

10% widening in spreads

    (2,086.8 )   (214.2 )

Base Scenario

    (1,872.6 )    

10% narrowing in spreads

    (1,709.6 )   163.0  

25% narrowing in spreads

    (1,465.2 )   407.4  

50% narrowing in spreads

    (1,062.5 )   810.1  

(1)
Includes the effects of spreads on both the underlying asset classes and the Company's own credit spread.


8. Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities

        The Company has not originated any VIEs nor acted as the servicer or collateral manager for any VIE deals that it insures. The Company provides financial guaranties with respect to debt obligations of special purpose entities, including VIEs. The transaction structure generally provides certain financial protections to the Company. This financial protection can take several forms, the most common of which are over-collateralization, first loss protection (or subordination) and excess spread. In the case of over-collateralization (i.e., the principal amount of the securitized assets exceeds the principal amount of the structured finance obligations guaranteed by the Company), the structure allows defaults of the securitized assets before a default is experienced on the structured finance obligation guaranteed by the Company. In the case of first loss, the financial guaranty insurance policy only covers a senior layer of losses of multiple obligations issued by special purpose entities, including VIEs. The first loss exposure with respect to the assets is either retained by the seller or sold off in the form of equity or mezzanine debt to other investors. In the case of excess spread, the financial assets contributed to special purpose entities, including VIEs, generate cash flows that are in excess of the interest payments on the debt issued by the special purpose entity. Such excess spread is typically distributed through the transaction's cash flow waterfall and may be used to create additional credit enhancement, applied to redeem debt issued by the special purpose entities, including VIEs (thereby, creating additional over-collateralization), or distributed to equity or other investors in the transaction.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

8. Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities (Continued)

Accounting Policy

        For all years presented, the Company has evaluated whether it was the primary beneficiary or control party of its VIEs. If the Company concludes that it is the primary beneficiary it is required to consolidate the entire VIE in the Company's financial statements. The accounting rules governing the criteria for determining the primary beneficiary or control party of VIEs changed effective January 1, 2010.

        Prior to January 1, 2010, the Company determined whether it was the primary beneficiary of a VIE by first performing a qualitative analysis of the VIE that included, among other factors, its capital structure, contractual terms, which variable interests create or absorb variability, related party relationships and the design of the VIE. The Company performed a quantitative analysis when qualitative analysis was not conclusive.

        Effective January 1, 2010, accounting standards now require the Company to perform an analysis to determine whether its variable interests give it a controlling financial interest in a VIE. This analysis identifies the primary beneficiary of a VIE as the enterprise that has both 1) the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the entity's economic performance; and 2) the obligation to absorb losses of the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE. Additionally, this guidance requires an ongoing reassessment of whether the Company is the primary beneficiary of a VIE.

        As part of the terms of its financial guarantee contracts, the Company obtains certain protective rights with respect to the VIE that are triggered by the occurrence of certain events, such as failure to be in compliance with a covenant due to poor deal performance or a deterioration in a servicer or collateral manager's financial condition. At deal inception, the Company typically is not deemed to control a VIE; however, once a trigger event occurs, the Company's control of the VIE typically increases. The Company continuously evaluates its power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of VIEs that have debt obligations insured by the Company and, accordingly, where the Company is obligated to absorb VIE losses that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The Company obtains protective rights under its insurance contracts that give the Company additional controls over a VIE if there is either deterioration of deal performance or in the financial health of the deal servicer. Under GAAP, the Company is deemed to be the control party typically when its protective rights give it the power to both terminate and replace the deal servicer.

        VIEs' liabilities insured by the Company are considered to be with recourse, since the Company guarantees the payment of principal and interest regardless of the performance of the related VIEs' assets. VIEs' liabilities not insured by the Company are considered to be non-recourse, since the payment of principal and interest of these liabilities is wholly dependent on the performance of the VIEs' assets.

Adoption of Consolidation of VIE Standard on January 1, 2010

        The new accounting mandated the accounting changes prescribed by the statement to be recognized by the Company as a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings on January 1, 2010. This cumulative effect was a $206.5 million after-tax decrease to the opening retained earnings balance

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

8. Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities (Continued)


due to the consolidation of 21 VIEs at fair value. The impact of adopting the new accounting guidance on the Company's balance sheet was as follows:

 
  As of
December 31,
2009
  Transition
Adjustment
  As of
January 1,
2010
 
 
  (in millions)
 

Assets:

                   
 

Premiums receivable, net of ceding commissions payable

  $ 1,418.2   $ (19.1 ) $ 1,399.1  
 

Deferred tax asset, net

    1,158.2     111.2     1,269.4  
 

Financial guaranty variable interest entities' assets

    762.3     1,163.0     1,925.3  
 

Total assets

    16,802.7     1,255.1     18,057.8  

Liabilities and shareholders' equity:

                   
 

Unearned premium reserve

    8,400.2     (129.9 )   8,270.3  
 

Loss and LAE reserve

    289.5     16.9     306.4  
 

Financial guaranty variable interest entities' liabilities with recourse

    762.7     1,348.2     2,110.9  
 

Financial guaranty variable interest entities' liabilities without recourse

        226.0     226.0  
 

Total liabilities

    13,282.6     1,461.2     14,743.8  
 

Retained earnings

    789.9     (206.5 )   583.4  
 

Total shareholders' equity attributable to Assured Guaranty Ltd. 

    3,520.5     (206.5 )   3,314.0  
 

Noncontrolling interest of financial guaranty variable interest entities

    (0.4 )   0.4      
 

Total shareholders' equity

    3,520.1     (206.1 )   3,314.0  
 

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

    16,802.7     1,255.1     18,057.8  

        At December 31, 2009, the Company consolidated four VIEs that had issued debt obligations insured by the Company. Under the new accounting standard effective January 1, 2010, consolidation was no longer required and, accordingly, the four VIEs were deconsolidated at fair value, which was approximately $791.9 million in VIEs' assets and $788.7 million in VIEs' liabilities. The impact of this deconsolidation is included in the "Transition Adjustment" amounts above.

        The Company is not primarily liable for the debt obligations issued by the VIEs it insures and would only be required to make payments on these debt obligations in the event that the issuer of such debt obligations defaults on any principal or interest due. The Company's creditors do not have any rights with regard to the assets of the VIEs.

Consolidated VIEs

        During the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company determined that based on the assessment of its control rights over servicer or collateral manager replacement, given that servicing/managing collateral were deemed to be the VIEs' most significant activities, ten additional VIEs required consolidated and two VIEs were required to be deconsolidated, bringing the total consolidated VIEs to 29 at December 31, 2010. This resulted in an increase in financial guaranty variable interest entities' assets net of $2,606.8 million, an increase in financial guaranty variable interest entities' liabilities of $2,974.4 million and a net loss on consolidation of $241.9 million, which was included in "net change in financial guaranty variable interest entities" in the consolidated statement of operations.

        The financial reports of the consolidated VIEs are prepared by outside parties and are not available within the time constraints that the Company requires to ensure the financial accuracy of the

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

8. Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities (Continued)


operating results. As such, the financial results of the VIEs are consolidated on a one quarter lag. Effective January 1, 2010, the Company has elected the fair value option for assets and liabilities classified as financial guaranty variable interest entities' assets and liabilities. Upon consolidation of financial guaranty VIEs on January 1, 2010, the Company elected the fair value option because the carrying amount transition method was not practical.

        The table below shows the carrying value of the consolidated VIEs' assets and liabilities in the Company's consolidated financial statements, segregated by the types of assets held by VIEs that collateralize their respective debt obligations:

Consolidated VIEs
By Type of Collateral

 
  As of
December 31, 2010
  As of
December 31, 2009
 
 
  Assets   Liabilities   Assets   Liabilities  
 
  (in millions)
 

HELOCs

  $ 857.1   $ 1,021.2   $   $  

First liens:

                         
 

Subprime

    528.7     612.7          
 

Option ARMs

    1,303.5     1,587.5          

Alt-A second liens

    747.4     822.0          

Automobile loans

    486.8     486.8          

Life insurance

    304.8     304.8          

Credit card loans

    106.1     106.1     233.4     233.1  

Health care receivables

            211.8     212.5  

Consumer loans

            199.2     199.2  

Gas pipeline tariffs

            117.9     117.9  
                   
 

Total

  $ 4,334.4   $ 4,941.1   $ 762.3   $ 762.7  
                   

        The table below shows the income statement activity of the consolidated VIEs:

Components of Net Change in Financial Guaranty VIEs

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009  
 
  (in millions)
 

Interest income

  $ 212.7   $ 7.8  

Interest expense

    (81.8 )   (7.6 )

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on assets

    (288.1 )    

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on liabilities with recourse

    41.5      

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on liabilities without recourse

    5.6      

Other income

    4.3     0.8  

Other expenses

    (77.3 )   (2.2 )
           
 

Net change in financial guaranty variable interest entities

  $ (183.1 ) $ (1.2 )
           

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

8. Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities (Continued)

Effect of Consolidating Financial Guaranty VIEs on Net Income
and Shareholders' Equity attributable to AGL

 
  Year Ended
December 31, 2010
 
 
  (in millions)
 

Net earned premiums

  $ (47.6 )

Net change in financial guaranty VIEs

    (183.1 )

Loss and LAE

    68.8  
       
 

Total pre-tax impact on GAAP net income

    (161.9 )

Less: tax provision (benefit)

    (56.7 )
       
 

Total impact on GAAP net income

  $ (105.2 )
       
 

Total impact on GAAP shareholders' equity attributable to AGL

 
$

(311.8

)
       

        In 2009, there was no VIE impact to net income or shareholders' equity attributable to AGL.

Non-Consolidated VIEs

        To date, the results of qualitative and quantitative analyses have indicated that the Company does not have a majority of the variability in any other VIEs and, as a result, are not consolidated in the Company's consolidated financial statements. The Company's exposure provided through its financial guaranties with respect to debt obligations of special purpose entities is included within net par outstanding in Note 4.


9. Investments

Accounting Policy

        Short-term investments, which are those investments with a maturity of less than one year at time of purchase, are carried at fair value and include amounts deposited in money market funds. All the Company's fixed maturity securities were classified as available-for-sale at the time of purchase, and therefore carried at fair value with change in fair value recorded in OCI, unless other than temporarily impaired. Changes in fair value for other than temporarily impaired securities are bifurcated between credit losses and non-credit changes in fair value. Credit losses on OTTI securities are recorded in the statement of operations and the non-credit component of OTTI securities are recorded in OCI. OTTI credit losses adjust the amortized cost of impaired securities. That new amortized cost basis is not adjusted for subsequent recoveries in fair value. However, the amortized cost basis is adjusted for accretion and amortization using the effective interest method and recorded in net investment income.

        Prior to April 1, 2009, if a security was deemed to be OTTI, the entire difference between fair value and the amortized cost of a debt security at the measurement date was recorded in the consolidated statement of operations as a realized loss. The previous amortized cost basis less the OTTI recognized in earnings was the new amortized cost basis of the investment. That new amortized cost basis was not adjusted for subsequent recoveries in fair value. However, if, based on cash flow estimates on the date of impairment, the recoverable value of the investment was greater than the new cost basis (i.e., the fair value on the date of impairment) of the investment, the difference was accreted into net investment income in future periods based upon the amount and timing of expected future cash flows of the security.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

9. Investments (Continued)

        Realized gains and losses on sales of investments are determined using the specific identification method. Realized loss includes amounts recorded for other than temporary impairments on debt securities.

        For mortgage-backed securities, and any other holdings for which there is prepayment risk, prepayment assumptions are evaluated and revised as necessary. Any necessary adjustments required due to the resulting change in effective yields and maturities are recognized in current income.

        Other invested assets includes assets acquired in refinancing transactions which are primarily comprised of franchise loans which are evaluated for impairment by assessing the probability of collecting expected cash flows. Any impairment is recorded in the consolidated statement of operations and any subsequent increases in expected cash flow are recorded as an increase in yield over the remaining life of the loans. Other invested assets also include equity securities, a 50% equity investment acquired in a restructuring of an insured CDS and other investments. Equity securities are carried at fair value with changes recorded in OCI. The Company's 50% equity investment is carried at its proportionate share of the underlying entity's equity value (See "Investment in Portfolio Funding Company LLC I" below).

Assessment for Other-Than Temporary Impairments

        Since April 1, 2009, if an OTTI has occurred, the amount of the OTTI recognized in earnings depends on whether an entity intends to sell the security or more likely than not will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis less any current-period credit loss. If an entity intends to sell the security or more likely than not will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis less any current-period credit loss, the OTTI is recognized in earnings equal to the entire difference between the investment's amortized cost basis and its fair value at the balance sheet date.

        If an entity does not intend to sell the security and it is not more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis less any current-period credit loss, the OTTI is separated into (1) the amount representing the credit loss and (2) the amount related to all other factors.

        The cumulative effect of the adoption of the OTTI standard on April 1, 2009 was a $62.2 million reclassification of losses from retained earnings to accumulated OCI ("AOCI").

        The Company has a formal review process for all securities in its investment portfolio, including a review for impairment losses. Factors considered when assessing impairment include:

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

9. Investments (Continued)

        For all debt securities in unrealized loss positions where the Company (1) does not have the intent to sell the debt security or (2) it is more likely than not the Company will not be required to sell the debt security before its anticipated recovery, the Company analyzes the ability to recover the amortized cost by comparing the net present value of projected future cash flows with the amortized cost of the security. If the net present value is less than the amortized cost of the investment, an OTTI loss is recorded. The net present value is calculated by discounting the Company's best estimate of projected future cash flows at the effective interest rate implicit in the debt security prior to impairment. The Company's estimates of projected future cash flows are driven by assumptions regarding probability of default and estimates regarding timing and amount of recoveries associated with a default. The Company develops these estimates using information based on historical experience, credit analysis of an investment, as mentioned above, and market observable data, such as industry analyst reports and forecasts, sector credit ratings and other data relevant to the collectability of the security. For mortgage-backed and asset backed securities, cash flow estimates also include prepayment assumptions and other assumptions regarding the underlying collateral including default rates, recoveries and changes in value. The determination of the assumptions used in these projections requires the use of significant management judgment.

        The Company's assessment of a decline in value included management's current assessment of the factors noted above. The Company also seeks advice from its outside investment managers. If that assessment changes in the future, the Company may ultimately record a loss after having originally concluded that the decline in value was temporary.

Fixed Maturity Securities and Short Term Investments

        As of the Acquisition Date, the fixed and short term maturity securities included assets acquired in the AGMH Acquisition with a fair value of $5.8 billion, which was the Company's cost basis. The difference between fair value at the Acquisition Date and par value is being amortized through net investment income over the estimated lives of each security. For the year ended December 31, 2010 net investment income included approximately $22.8 million in amortization of premium on the investment portfolio acquired as part of the AGMH Acquisition.


Net Investment Income

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   2008  
 
  (in millions)
 

Income from fixed maturity securities

  $ 359.7   $ 262.4   $ 154.5  

Income from short-term investments

    3.5     3.2     11.5  
               
 

Gross investment income

    363.2     265.6     166.0  

Investment expenses

    (8.5 )   (6.4 )   (3.4 )
               
 

Net investment income(1)

  $ 354.7   $ 259.2   $ 162.6  
               

(1)
2010 and 2009 amounts include $46.3 million and $22.0 million, respectively, of net amortization of premium, which is mainly comprised of amortization of premium on the acquired AGMH investment portfolio.

        The increases in net investment income in 2010 compared to 2009 and 2009 compared to 2008 were primarily due to increased average invested assets as a result of the acquisition of AGMH's $5.8 billion in invested assets on July 1, 2009. Accrued investment income was $97.9 million and $99.0 million as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

9. Investments (Continued)


Net Realized Investment Gains (Losses)

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   2008  
 
  (in millions)
 

Realized gains on investment portfolio

  $ 31.1   $ 28.3   $ 5.7  

Realized losses on investment portfolio

    (5.7 )   (15.2 )   (4.2 )

OTTI:

                   
 

Intent to sell

    (4.0 )   (13.4 )   (4.1 )
 

Credit component of OTTI securities

    (23.4 )   (32.4 )   (67.2 )
               
   

OTTI(1)

    (27.4 )   (45.8 )   (71.3 )
               

Net realized investment gains (losses)

  $ (2.0 ) $ (32.7 ) $ (69.8 )
               

(1)
OTTI recorded in the consolidated statement of operations for the full year 2010 and the last six months of 2009 includes only the credit component of unrealized fair value adjustments of impaired securities. The full unrealized loss was $44.7 million in 2010 and $74.0 million in 2009, as shown on the consolidated statement of operations.

        The following table presents the roll-forward of the credit losses of fixed maturity securities for which the Company has recognized OTTI and where the portion of the fair value adjustment related to other factors was recognized in OCI.


Rollforward of Credit Losses in the Investment Portfolio

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009  
 
  (in millions)
 

Balance, beginning of period

  $ 19.9   $ 0.6  

Additions for credit losses on securities for which an OTTI was not previously recognized

    7.3     13.6  

Reductions for securities sold during the period

        (0.1 )

Additions for credit losses on securities for which an OTTI was previously recognized

    0.1     6.1  

Reductions for credit losses now recognized in earnings due to intention to sell the security

        (0.3 )
           
 

Balance, end of period

  $ 27.3   $ 19.9  
           

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

9. Investments (Continued)


Fixed Maturity Securities and Short Term Investments
by Security Type

 
  As of December 31, 2010
Investments Category
  Percent
of
Total(1)
  Amortized
Cost
  Gross
Unrealized
Gains
  Gross
Unrealized
Losses
  Estimated
Fair
Value
  AOCI
Gain
(Loss) on
Securities
with
OTTI
  Weighted
Average
Credit
Quality(2)
 
  (dollars in millions)

Fixed maturity securities:

                                       

U.S. government and agencies

    10 % $ 1,000.3   $ 48.3   $ (0.4 ) $ 1,048.2   $   AAA

Obligations of state and political subdivisions

    48     4,922.0     99.9     (62.0 )   4,959.9     (1.4 ) AA

Corporate securities

    9     980.1     25.2     (12.8 )   992.5     0.2   AA-

Mortgage-backed securities(3):

                                       
 

RMBS

    11     1,173.6     56.4     (45.9 )   1,184.1     (8.6 ) AA
 

CMBS

    4     365.7     14.8     (1.4 )   379.1     2.5   AAA

Asset-backed securities

    5     498.2     9.9     (5.2 )   502.9     (4.1 ) BBB+

Foreign government securities

    3     349.5     5.3     (6.2 )   348.6       AA+
                             
 

Total fixed maturity securities

    90     9,289.4     259.8     (133.9 )   9,415.3     (11.4 ) AA

Short-term investments

    10     1,031.3     0.3         1,031.6       AAA
                             
 

Total investment portfolio

    100 % $ 10,320.7   $ 260.1   $ (133.9 ) $ 10,446.9   $ (11.4 ) AA
                             

 

 
  As of December 31, 2009
Investments Category
  Percent
of
Total(1)
  Amortized
Cost
  Gross
Unrealized
Gains
  Gross
Unrealized
Losses
  Estimated
Fair Value
  AOCI
Gain
(Loss) on
Securities
with
OTTI
  Weighted
Average
Credit
Quality(2)
 
  (dollars in millions)

Fixed maturity securities:

                                       

U.S. government and agencies

    9 % $ 1,014.2   $ 26.1   $ (2.7 ) $ 1,037.6   $   AAA

Obligations of state and political subdivisions

    46     4,881.6     164.7     (6.8 )   5,039.5       AA

Corporate securities

    6     617.1     12.8     (4.4 )   625.5       AA-

Mortgage-backed securities(3):

                                       
 

RMBS

    14     1,449.4     39.5     (24.3 )   1,464.6     (9.8 ) AA+
 

CMBS

    2     229.9     3.4     (6.1 )   227.2     (2.4 ) AA+

Asset-backed securities

    4     395.3     1.5     (7.9 )   388.9       BIG

Foreign government securities

    3     356.4     3.6     (3.4 )   356.6       AA+
                             
 

Total fixed maturity securities

    84     8,943.9     251.6     (55.6 )   9,139.9     (12.2 ) AA

Short-term investments

    16     1,668.3     0.7     (0.7 )   1,668.3       AAA
                             
 

Total investment portfolio

    100 % $ 10,612.2   $ 252.3   $ (56.3 ) $ 10,808.2   $ (12.2 ) AA
                             

(1)
Based on amortized cost.

(2)
Ratings in the table above represent the lower of the Moody's and S&P classifications except for bonds purchased for loss mitigation or risk management strategies which use internal ratings classifications. The Company's portfolio is comprised primarily of high-quality, liquid instruments.

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

9. Investments (Continued)

(3)
As of December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively, approximately 64% and 80% of the Company's total mortgage backed securities were government agency obligations.

        The Company continues to receive sufficient information to value its investments and has not had to modify its valuation approach due to the current market conditions. As of December 31, 2010, amounts, net of tax, in AOCI included a net unrealized loss of $5.6 million for securities for which the Company had recognized OTTI and a net unrealized gain of $114.6 million for securities for which the Company had not recognized OTTI. As of December 31, 2009, amounts, net of tax, in AOCI included an unrealized loss of $11.4 million for securities for which the Company had recognized OTTI and an unrealized gain of $150.4 million for securities for which the Company had not recognized OTTI.

        The following tables summarize, for all securities in an unrealized loss position as of December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the aggregate fair value and gross unrealized loss by length of time the amounts have continuously been in an unrealized loss position.


Fixed Maturity Securities
Gross Unrealized Loss by Length of Time

 
  As of December 31, 2010  
 
  Less than 12 months   12 months or more   Total  
 
  Fair
value
  Unrealized
loss
  Fair
value
  Unrealized
loss
  Fair
value
  Unrealized
loss
 
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

U.S. government and agencies

  $ 20.5   $ (0.4 ) $   $   $ 20.5   $ (0.4 )

Obligations of) state and political subdivisions

    1,694.5     (58.9 )   23.5     (3.1 )   1,718.0     (62.0 )

Corporate securities

    403.6     (12.8 )           403.6     (12.8 )

Mortgage-backed securities:

                                     
 

RMBS

    148.4     (32.8 )   45.3     (13.1 )   193.7     (45.9 )
 

CMBS

    92.6     (1.4 )           92.6     (1.4 )

Asset-backed securities

    228.3     (5.1 )   2.3     (0.1 )   230.6     (5.2 )

Foreign government securities

    245.3     (6.2 )           245.3     (6.2 )
                           
 

Total

  $ 2,833.2   $ (117.6 ) $ 71.1   $ (16.3 ) $ 2,904.3   $ (133.9 )
                           
 

Number of securities

          406           19           425  
                                 
 

Number of securities with OTTI

          10           3           13  
                                 

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

9. Investments (Continued)

 

 
  As of December 31, 2009  
 
  Less than 12 months   12 months or more   Total  
 
  Fair
value
  Unrealized
loss
  Fair
value
  Unrealized
loss
  Fair
value
  Unrealized
loss
 
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

U.S. government and agencies

  $ 292.5   $ (2.7 ) $   $   $ 292.5   $ (2.7 )

Obligations of state and political subdivisions

    407.4     (4.1 )   56.9     (2.7 )   464.3     (6.8 )

Corporate securities

    287.0     (3.9 )   8.2     (0.5 )   295.2     (4.4 )

Mortgage-backed securities:

                                     
 

RMBS

    361.4     (21.6 )   20.5     (2.7 )   381.9     (24.3 )
 

CMBS

    49.5     (2.4 )   56.4     (3.7 )   105.9     (6.1 )

Asset-backed securities

    126.1     (7.8 )   2.0     (0.1 )   128.1     (7.9 )

Foreign government securities

    270.4     (3.4 )           270.4     (3.4 )
                           
 

Total

  $ 1,794.3   $ (45.9 ) $ 144.0   $ (9.7 ) $ 1,938.3   $ (55.6 )
                           
 

Number of securities

          259           33           292  
                                 
 

Number of securities with OTTI

          13           2           15  
                                 

        The increase in gross unrealized losses was primarily due to the increase of unrealized losses attributable to municipal securities of $55.2 million, and to a lesser extent, $21.6 million attributable to RMBS transactions and $8.4 million of unrealized losses attributable to corporate bonds. The increase in gross unrealized losses during 2010 was due to the increase in U.S. Treasury yields during the fourth quarter of 2010. Of the securities in an unrealized loss position for 12 months or more as of December 31, 2010, seven securities had unrealized losses greater than 10% of book value. The total unrealized loss for these securities as of December 31, 2010 was $12.9 million. The Company has determined that these securities were not impaired as of December 31, 2010.

        The amortized cost and estimated fair value of available-for-sale fixed maturity securities by contractual maturity as of December 31, 2010 are shown below. Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.


Distribution of Fixed-Maturity Securities
by Contractual Maturity

 
  As of December 31, 2010  
 
  Amortized
Cost
  Estimated
Fair Value
 
 
  (in millions)
 

Due within one year

  $ 64.9   $ 65.8  

Due after one year through five years

    1,807.1     1,847.1  

Due after five years through ten years

    2,244.7     2,295.2  

Due after ten years

    3,633.4     3,644.0  

Mortgage-backed securities:

             
 

RMBS

    1,173.6     1,184.1  
 

CMBS

    365.7     379.1  
           

Total

  $ 9,289.4   $ 9,415.3  
           

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

9. Investments (Continued)

        Under agreements with its cedants and in accordance with statutory requirements, the Company maintains fixed maturity securities in trust accounts for the benefit of reinsured companies, $365.3 million and $325.1 million as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. In addition, to fulfill state licensing requirements the Company has placed on deposit eligible securities of $19.2 million and $20.6 million as of December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively, for the protection of the policyholders.

        Under certain derivative contracts, the Company is required to post eligible securities as collateral. The need to post collateral under these transactions is generally based on mark-to-market valuations in excess of contractual thresholds. The fair market value of the Company's pledged securities totaled $765.9 million and $649.6 million as of December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.

        The Company is not exposed to significant concentrations of credit risk within its investment portfolio.

        No material investments of the Company were non-income producing for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

        The Company may purchase securities that it has insured, and for which it has expected losses, in order to economically mitigate insured losses. These securities are purchased at a discount. As of December 31, 2010, securities purchased for loss mitigation purposes had a fair value of $155.9 million representing $528.1 million of gross par outstanding. Under the terms of certain credit derivative contracts, the Company has obtained the obligations referenced in the transactions and recorded such assets in fixed maturity securities in the consolidated balance sheets. Such amounts totaled $166.2 million, representing $251.8 million in gross par outstanding.

Other Invested Assets

Assets Acquired in Refinancing Transactions

        The Company has rights under certain of its financial guaranty insurance policies and indentures that allow it to accelerate the insured notes and pay claims under its insurance policies upon the occurrence of predefined events of default. To mitigate financial guaranty insurance losses, the Company may elect to purchase the outstanding insured obligation or its underlying collateral. Generally, refinancing vehicles reimburse AGM in whole for its claims payments in exchange for assignments of certain of AGM's rights against the trusts. The refinancing vehicles obtained their funds from the proceeds of AGM-insured GICs issued in the ordinary course of business by the Financial Products Companies. The refinancing vehicles are consolidated with the Company. The carrying value of assets acquired in refinancing transactions was $129.4 million and $152.4 million as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively and are primarily comprised of franchise loans. As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, assets acquired in refinancing transactions primarily consisted of securitized loans. The accretable yield on the securitized loans was $137.1 million and $141.1 million at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

        Income on assets acquired in refinancing transactions recorded in "other income" and was $6.7 million and $3.2 million for years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Investment in Portfolio Funding Company LLC I

        In the third quarter of 2010, as part of loss mitigation efforts under a CDS contract insured by the Company, the Company acquired a 50% interest in Portfolio Funding Company LLC I ("PFC"). PFC owns the distribution rights of a motion picture film library. The Company accounts for its interest in PFC as an equity investment. The value of the Company's investment in PFC as of December 31, 2010

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

9. Investments (Continued)


was $9.6 million. The Company's equity earnings in PFC are included in net change in fair value of credit derivatives, as these proceeds are used to offset the Company's payments under its CDS contract.


10. Insurance Company Regulatory Requirements

        Each of the Company's insurance companies' ability to pay dividends depends, among other things, upon their financial condition, results of operations, cash requirements and compliance with rating agency requirements, and is also subject to restrictions contained in the insurance laws and related regulations of their state of domicile and other states. Financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting practices prescribed or permitted by local insurance regulatory authorities differ in certain respects from GAAP.

        The Company's U.S. domiciled insurance companies prepare statutory financial statements in accordance with accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners ("NAIC") and their respective insurance departments. Prescribed statutory accounting practices are set forth in the NAIC Accounting Practices and Procedures Manual. There are no permitted accounting practices on a statutory basis.

        AG Re, a Bermuda regulated Class 3B insurer and Long-Term insurer, prepares its statutory financial statements in conformity with the accounting principles set forth in the Insurance Act 1978, amendments thereto and related regulations. The statutory capital and surplus of AG Re was $1,289 million and $1,196 million as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The statutory net income of AG Re was $71.9 million and $8.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, and 2009, respectively and net loss $31.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2008.

        GAAP differs in certain significant respects from statutory accounting practices, applicable to U.S. insurance companies, that are prescribed or permitted by insurance regulatory authorities. The principal differences result from the following statutory accounting practices:

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

10. Insurance Company Regulatory Requirements (Continued)


Insurance Regulatory Amounts Reported

 
  Policyholders' Surplus   Net Income (Loss)  
 
  As of December 31,   Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   2010   2009   2008  
 
  (in millions)
 

Assured Guaranty Corp(1). 

  $ 854.1   $ 1,223.7   $ (182.1 ) $ (243.1 ) $ 27.7  

Assured Guaranty Re Ltd. 

    1,289.0     1,195.7     71.9     8.5     (31.0 )

Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp. 

    992.7     909.4     401.8     (228.2 )    

(1)
In 2009, AGC issued a $300.0 million surplus note to AGM. Under accounting practices prescribed or permitted by insurance regulatory authorities, these surplus notes are accounted for as contributed capital, as opposed to debt under GAAP.

Dividend Restrictions and Capital Requirements

        AGC is a Maryland domiciled insurance company. Under Maryland's 1993 revised insurance law, AGC may not pay dividends out of earned surplus in any twelve- month period in an aggregate amount exceeding the lesser of (a) 10% of surplus to policyholders or (b) net investment income at the preceding December 31 (including net investment income which has not already been paid out as dividends for the three calendar years prior to the preceding calendar year) without prior approval of the Maryland Commissioner of Insurance. As of December 31, 2010, the amount available for distribution from the Company during 2011 with notice to, but without prior approval of, the Maryland Commissioner of Insurance under the Maryland insurance law is approximately $85.4 million. During the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, AGC declared and paid $50.0 million, $16.8 million and $16.5 million, respectively, in dividends to AGUS. Under Maryland insurance regulations, AGC is required at all times to maintain a minimum capital stock of $1.5 million and minimum surplus as regards policyholders of $1.5 million.

        AGM is a New York domiciled insurance company. Under the insurance laws of the State of New York (the "New York Insurance Law") and related requirements, AGM may pay dividends out of earned surplus, provided that, together with all dividends declared or distributed by AGM during the preceding 12 months, the dividends do not exceed the lesser of (a) 10% of policyholders' surplus as of its last statement filed with the Superintendent of Insurance of the State of New York (the "New York Superintendent") or (b) adjusted net investment income (net investment income at the preceding December 31, plus net investment income which has not already been paid out as dividends for the three calendar years prior to the preceding calendar year) during this period. Based on AGM's statutory statements for the year ended December 31, 2010, the maximum amount available for payment of dividends by AGM without regulatory approval over the 12 months following December 31, 2010, was approximately $92.7 million. However, in connection with the AGMH Acquisition, the

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

10. Insurance Company Regulatory Requirements (Continued)


Company has committed to the New York Insurance Department that AGM will not pay any dividends for a period of two years from the Acquisition Date without the written approval of the New York Insurance Department. Under New York insurance regulations, AGM is required at all times to maintain a minimum surplus of $66.5 million.

        AG Re's and AGRO's dividend distribution are governed by Bermuda law. Under Bermuda law, dividends may only be paid if there are reasonable grounds for believing that the Company is, or would after the payment be, able to pay its liabilities as they become due and if the realizable value of its assets would thereby not be less than the aggregate of its liabilities and issued share capital and share premium accounts. Distributions to shareholders may also be paid out of statutory capital, but are subject to a 15% limitation without prior approval of the Bermuda Monetary Authority. Dividends are limited by requirements that the subject company must at all times (i) maintain the minimum solvency margin required under the Insurance Act of 1978 and (ii) have relevant assets in an amount at least equal to 75% of relevant liabilities, both as defined under the Insurance Act of 1978. AG Re, as a Class 3B insurer, is prohibited from declaring or paying in any financial year dividends of more than 25% of its total statutory capital and surplus (as shown on its previous financial year's statutory balance sheet) unless it files (at least seven days before payment of such dividends) with the Authority an affidavit stating that it will continue to meet the required margins. The amount available at AG Re to pay dividends in 2010 in compliance with Bermuda law is $1,258 million. However, any distribution which results in a reduction of 15% of more of AG Re's total statutory capital, as set out in its previous year's financial statements, would require the prior approval of the Bermuda Monetary Authority. AG Re declared and paid $24.0 million to its parent, AGL. During 2009, AG Re declared $26.6 million and paid $30.3 million in dividends and during 2008, declared and paid $31.3 million to its parent, AGL.


11. Income Taxes

Accounting Policy

        The provision for income taxes consists of an amount for taxes currently payable and an amount for deferred taxes. Deferred income taxes are provided for the temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and tax bases of assets and liabilities, using enacted rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. A valuation allowance is recorded to reduce the deferred tax asset to that amount that is more likely than not to be realized.

        Non-interest-bearing tax and loss bonds are purchased to prepay the tax benefit that results from deducting contingency reserves as provided under Internal Revenue Code Section 832(e). The Company records the purchase of tax and loss bonds in deferred taxes.

        The Company recognizes tax benefits only if a tax position is "more likely than not" to prevail.

Provision for Income Taxes

        The Company and its Bermuda Subsidiaries, which include AG Re, AGRO, Assured Guaranty (Bermuda) Ltd. (formerly Financial Security Assurance International Ltd. ("AGBM")) and Cedar Personnel Ltd., are not subject to any income, withholding or capital gains taxes under current Bermuda law. The Company has received an assurance from the Minister of Finance in Bermuda that, in the event of any taxes being imposed, AGL and its Bermuda Subsidiaries will be exempt from taxation in Bermuda until March 28, 2016. The Company's U.S. and U.K. subsidiaries are subject to income taxes imposed by U.S. and U.K. authorities, respectively, and file applicable tax returns. In addition, AGRO, a Bermuda domiciled company and AGE, a U.K. domiciled company, have elected under Section 953(d) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code to be taxed as a U.S. domestic corporation.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

11. Income Taxes (Continued)

        In conjunction with the AGMH Acquisition, AGMH has joined the consolidated federal tax group of AGUS, AGC, and AG Financial Products Inc. ("AGFP"). For the periods beginning on July 1, 2009 and forward, AGMH will file a consolidated federal income tax return with AGUS, AGC, AGFP and AG Analytics Inc. ("AGUS consolidated tax group"). In addition a new tax sharing agreement was entered into effective July 1, 2009 whereby each company in the AGUS consolidated tax group will pay or receive its proportionate share of taxable expense or benefit as if it filed on a separate return basis. Assured Guaranty Overseas US Holdings Inc. ("AGOUS") and its subsidiaries AGRO, Assured Guaranty Mortgage Insurance Company and AG Intermediary Inc., have historically filed a consolidated federal income tax return. Each company, as a member of its respective consolidated tax return group, pays its proportionate share of the consolidated federal tax burden for its group as if each company filed on a separate return basis with current period credit for net losses to the extent used in consolidation.


Components of Income Tax Provision (Benefit)

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   2008  
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

Current tax (benefit) provision

  $ (25.2 ) $ 217.3   $ 0.3  

Deferred tax provision (benefit)

    111.8     (180.4 )   43.1  
               

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

  $ 86.6   $ 36.9   $ 43.4  
               

Effective tax rate

    13.6 %   27.7 %   38.7 %

        The effective tax rates reflect the proportion of income recognized by each of the Company's operating subsidiaries, with U.S. subsidiaries taxed at the U.S. marginal corporate income tax rate of 35%, U.K. subsidiaries taxed at the U.K. marginal corporate tax rate of 28%, and no taxes for the Company's Bermuda holding company and subsidiaries. Accordingly, the Company's overall corporate effective tax rate fluctuates based on the distribution of taxable income across these jurisdictions. In addition, during the year ended December 31, 2010, a net tax benefit of $55.8 million was recorded by the Company due to the filing of an amended tax return which included the AGMH and Subsidiaries tax group. The amended return filed in September 2010 was for a period prior to the AGMH Acquisition and consequently, the Company no longer has a deferred tax asset related to net operating losses ("NOL") or alternative minimum tax credits associated with the AGMH Acquisition. Instead, the Company has recorded additional deferred tax assets for loss reserves and foreign tax credits and has decreased its liability for uncertain tax positions. The event giving rise to this recognition occurred after the Measurement Period as defined by acquisition accounting and thus the amount is included in the year ended December 31, 2010 net income.

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

11. Income Taxes (Continued)

        A reconciliation of the difference between the provision for income taxes and the expected tax provision at statutory rates in taxable jurisdictions is presented below:


Effective Tax Rate Reconciliation

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   2008  
 
  (in millions)
 

Expected tax provision (benefit) at statutory rates in taxable jurisdictions

  $ 210.2   $ 116.7   $ 59.9  

Tax-exempt interest

    (61.4 )   (42.6 )   (16.3 )

True-up from tax return filings(1)

    (51.6 )        

Goodwill

        (51.5 )    

Change in liability for uncertain tax positions(1)

    (5.6 )   9.5     2.3  

Change in valuation allowance

    (7.0 )        

Other

    2.0     4.8     (2.5 )
               
 

Total provision (benefit) for income taxes

  $ 86.6   $ 36.9   $ 43.4  
               

(1)
Of the $55.8 million tax benefit related to an amended return for a period prior to the AGMH Acquisition, $9.2 million was related to a change in liability for uncertain tax positions.

        The deferred income tax asset (liability) reflects the tax effect of the following temporary differences:

 
  As of December 31,  
 
  2010   2009  
 
  (in millions)
 

Deferred tax assets:

             
 

Unrealized losses on credit derivative financial instruments, net

  $ 402.5   $ 336.9  
 

Unearned premium reserves, net

    641.6     844.4  
 

Reserves for losses and LAE

    67.3     4.8  
 

Tax and loss bonds

    56.7     31.0  
 

Net operating loss carry forward

    15.0     98.4  
 

Alternative minimum tax credit

    0.9     28.1  
 

Tax basis step-up

    6.7     7.6  
 

Foreign tax credit

    22.3      
 

Financial guaranty VIEs'

    167.5      
 

Other

    73.5     84.8  
           

Total deferred income tax assets

    1,454.0     1,436.0  
           

Deferred tax liabilities:

             
 

Deferred acquisition costs

    2.3     17.2  
 

Contingency reserves

    61.1     35.3  
 

Tax basis of public debt

    107.1     109.7  
 

Unrealized appreciation on investments

    17.7     82.5  
 

Unrealized gains on CCS

    6.6     3.3  
 

Other

    35.2     22.8  
           

Total deferred income tax liabilities

    230.0     270.8  
 

Less: valuation allowance

        7.0  
           

Net deferred income tax asset

  $ 1,224.0   $ 1,158.2  
           

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

11. Income Taxes (Continued)

        The deferred tax asset of the Company increased in 2009 due primarily to the AGMH Acquisition. The acquired deferred tax asset of AGMH was $363.4 million as of July 1, 2009 and primarily included deferred tax assets related to temporary differences for loss reserves, unearned premium reserves and the mark to market of CDS contracts. In addition, there was a deferred tax asset of $524.7 million recorded in conjunction with acquisition accounting for AGMH under GAAP. This asset primarily included temporary differences for unearned premium reserves and loss reserves related to acquisition accounting adjustments on financial guaranty contracts accounted for as insurance and mark to market of AGMH of public debt. These temporary differences will reverse as the purchased accounting adjustments for unearned premiums reserves, loss reserves and mark to market of AGMH public debt reverses.

        As of December 31, 2010, the Company had foreign tax credits carry forward of $22.3 million and alternative minimum tax credits of $0.9 million which expire in 2018, from its acquisition of AGMH. Internal Revenue Code limits the amounts of foreign tax credits and AMT credits the Company may utilize each year. Management believes sufficient future taxable income exists to realize the full benefit of these foreign tax credits.

        As of December 31, 2010, AGRO had a standalone NOL of $42.9 million, compared with $49.9 million as of December 31, 2009, which is available to offset its future U.S. taxable income. The Company has $22.2 million of this NOL available through 2017 and $20.7 million available through 2023. AGRO's stand alone NOL is not permitted to offset the income of any other members of AGRO's consolidated group. Under applicable accounting rules, the Company is required to establish a valuation allowance for NOLs that the Company believes are more likely than not to expire before being utilized. At December 31, 2009, the Company established a valuation allowance of $7.0 million. During 2010, management has reassessed the likelihood of realization of all of its deferred tax assets. Management now believes sufficient future taxable income exists to offset the AGRO NOLs and has released the $7 million valuation allowance.

Taxation of Subsidiaries

        The Company and its Bermuda subsidiaries are not subject to any income, withholding or capital gains taxes under current Bermuda law. The Company's U.S. and U.K. subsidiaries are subject to income taxes imposed by U.S. and U.K. authorities and file applicable tax returns. In addition, AGRO, a Bermuda domiciled company and Assured Guaranty Europe, a U.K. domiciled company, have elected under Section 953(d) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code to be taxed as a U.S. domestic corporation.

        The U.S. Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") has completed audits of all of the Company's U.S. subsidiaries' federal income tax returns for taxable years through 2004 except for AGMH which has been audited through 2006 and AGOUS, which includes Assured Guaranty Overseas US Holdings Inc., AGRO, Assured Guaranty Mortgage Insurance Company ("AGMIC") and AG Intermediary Inc., which has been audited through 2004. No significant findings and no cash settlements with the IRS resulted from the audit. In addition, AGUS was under IRS audit for tax years 2002 through the date of the initial public offering ("IPO") as part of an audit of ACE Limited ("ACE"), which had been the parent company of certain subsidiaries of the Company prior to the IPO. The Company is indemnified by ACE for any potential tax liability associated with the tax examination of AGUS as it relates to years prior to the IPO and as such this audit has been completed with no impact to AGUS. AGUS is currently under audit by the IRS for the 2006 through 2008 tax years. AGMH and subsidiaries are under audit for 2008 while members of the Dexia Holdings Inc. consolidated tax group. The Company is indemnified by Dexia for any potential liability associated with this audit of any periods prior to the AGMH. The Company's U.K. subsidiaries are not currently under examination.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

11. Income Taxes (Continued)

Uncertain Tax Positions

        The following table provides a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of the total liability for unrecognized tax benefits recorded under ASC 740-10-25. The Company does not believe it is reasonably possible that this amount will change significantly in the next twelve months.

 
  2010   2009   2008  
 
  (in millions)
 

Balance as of January 1,

  $ 23.9   $ 5.1   $ 2.8  

Impact from AGMH Acquisition

        9.3      

True-up from tax return filings

    (7.7 )        

Increase in unrecognized tax benefits as a result of position taken during the current period

    2.1     9.5     2.3  
               

Balance as of December 31,

  $ 18.3   $ 23.9   $ 5.1  
               

        The Company's policy is to recognize interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. At December 31, 2010, the Company has accrued $2.2 million in interest and penalties.

Liability For Tax Basis Step-Up Adjustment

        In connection with the IPO, the Company and ACE Financial Services Inc. ("AFS"), a subsidiary of ACE, entered into a tax allocation agreement, whereby the Company and AFS made a "Section 338 (h)(10)" election that has the effect of increasing the tax basis of certain affected subsidiaries' tangible and intangible assets to fair value. Future tax benefits that the Company derives from the election will be payable to AFS when realized by the Company.

        As a result of the election, the Company has adjusted its net deferred tax liability, to reflect the new tax basis of the Company's affected assets. The additional basis is expected to result in increased future income tax deductions and, accordingly, may reduce income taxes otherwise payable by the Company. Any tax benefit realized by the Company will be paid to AFS. Such tax benefits will generally be calculated by comparing the Company's affected subsidiaries' actual taxes to the taxes that would have been owed by those subsidiaries had the increase in basis not occurred. After a 15 year period, to the extent there remains an unrealized tax benefit, the Company and AFS will negotiate a settlement of the unrealized benefit based on the expected realization at that time.

        The Company initially recorded a $49.0 million reduction of its existing deferred tax liability, based on an estimate of the ultimate resolution of the Section 338(h)(10) election. Under the tax allocation agreement, the Company estimated that, as of the IPO date, it was obligated to pay $20.9 million to AFS and accordingly established this amount as a liability. The initial difference, which is attributable to the change in the tax basis of certain liabilities for which there is no associated step-up in the tax basis of its assets and no amounts due to AFS, resulted in an increase to additional paid-in capital of $28.1 million. As of December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the liability for tax basis step-up adjustment, which is included in the Company's balance sheets in "Other liabilities," was $8.0 million and $8.4 million, respectively. The Company has paid ACE and correspondingly reduced its liability by $0.4 million in 2010.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

11. Income Taxes (Continued)

Tax Treatment of CDS

        The Company treats the guaranty it provides on CDS as insurance contracts for tax purposes and as such a taxable loss does not occur until the Company expects to make a loss payment to the buyer of credit protection based upon the occurrence of one or more specified credit events with respect to the contractually referenced obligation or entity. The Company holds its CDS to maturity, at which time any unrealized mark to market loss in excess of credit- related losses would revert to zero.

        The tax treatment of CDS is an unsettled area of the law. The uncertainty relates to the IRS determination of the income or potential loss associated with CDS as either subject to capital gain (loss) or ordinary income (loss) treatment. In treating CDS as insurance contracts the Company treats both the receipt of premium and payment of losses as ordinary income and believes it is more likely than not that any CDS credit related losses will be treated as ordinary by the IRS. To the extent the IRS takes the view that the losses are capital losses in the future and the Company incurred actual losses associated with the CDS, the Company would need sufficient taxable income of the same character within the carryback and carryforward period available under the tax law.

Valuation Allowance

        The Company came to the conclusion that it is more likely than not that its net deferred tax asset will be fully realized after weighing all positive and negative evidence available as required under GAAP. The evidence that was considered included the following:

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

11. Income Taxes (Continued)

        After examining all of the available positive and negative evidence, the Company believes that no valuation allowance is necessary in connection with this deferred tax asset. The Company will continue to analyze the need for a valuation allowance on a quarter-to-quarter basis.


12. Reinsurance

        The Company assumes exposure on insured obligations ("Assumed Business") and cedes portions of its exposure on obligations it has insured ("Ceded Business") in exchange for premiums, net of ceding commissions. With respect to a significant portion of the Company's in-force financial guaranty Assumed Business, due to the downgrade of AG Re to A1, subject to the terms of each policy, the ceding company may have the right to recapture business ceded to AG Re and assets representing substantially all of the statutory unearned premium reserve net of loss reserves (if any) associated with that business. As of December 31, 2010, the statutory unearned premium reserve, which represents deferred revenue to the Company, subject to recapture was approximately $133.3 million. If this entire amount were recaptured, it would result in a corresponding one-time reduction to net income of approximately $13.0 million.

        In January 2009, AGC entered into an agreement with CIFG Assurance North America Inc. to assume a diversified portfolio of financial guaranty contracts totaling approximately $13.3 billion of net par outstanding. The Company received $75.6 million net of ceding commissions, and was entitled to approximately $12.2 million of future installments related to this transaction at that date.

        The Company ceded business to non-affiliated companies to limit its exposure to risk. In the event that any of the reinsurers are unable to meet their obligations, the Company would be liable for such defaulted amounts. The insured financial guaranty portfolio of the Acquired Companies used ceded reinsurance to a greater extent than Assured Guaranty has historically used. The Company's ceded contracts generally allow the Company to recapture Ceded Business after certain triggering events, such as reinsurer downgrades. Over the past two years, the Company has entered into several commutations in order to reassume books of business from BIG financial guaranty companies and its other reinsurers. The resulting commutation gains of $49.8 million and losses of $1.8 million for 2010 and 2009, respectively, were recorded in other income. While certain Ceded Business has been re-assumed, the Company still has significant Ceded Business with third parties.

        The effect of the Company's commutations and reassumptions of Ceded Business on ceded unearned premium reserve, and net par outstanding at the closing of the commutations described above, is summarized below in the "Ceded" columns. The effect of the commutation of Assumed Business, including both direct commutations between the ceding insurer and the Company and commutations by the ceding company to which the Company was not a party but which had the effect of terminating exposures retroceded to the Company, is summarized below in the "Assumed" columns.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

12. Reinsurance (Continued)


Effect of Commutations and Cancellations

 
  As of December 31  
 
  Commutations of Ceded
Reinsurance Contracts
  Cancellation of an Assumed Reinsurance Contract  
 
  Increase
(Decrease) in
Net Unearned
Premium Reserve
  Increase
(Decrease) in
Net Par
  Increase
(Decrease) in
Net Unearned
Premium Reserve
  Increase
(Decrease) in
Net Par
 
 
  (in millions)
 

2010

  $ (104.4 ) $ (15,378 ) $ 84.5   $ 3,097  

2009

    (65.1 )   (2,936 )   31.4     894  

2008

            20.8     2,072  
                   
 

Total

  $ (169.5 ) $ (18,314 ) $ 136.7   $ 6,063  
                   

        Direct, assumed, and ceded premium and loss and LAE amounts for years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 were as follows:

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   2008  
 
  (in millions)
 

Premiums Written:

                   
 

Direct

  $ 343.3   $ 485.8   $ 484.7  
 

Assumed(1)

    (120.9 )   70.6     133.5  
 

Ceded(2)

    100.5     37.8     (13.7 )
               
 

Net

  $ 322.9   $ 594.2   $ 604.5  
               

Premiums Earned:

                   
 

Direct

  $ 1,242.5   $ 870.5   $ 93.4  
 

Assumed

    72.9     136.4     176.3  
 

Ceded

    (128.7 )   (76.5 )   (8.3 )
               
 

Net

  $ 1,186.7   $ 930.4   $ 261.4  
               

Loss and LAE:

                   
 

Direct

  $ 400.9   $ 259.4   $ 199.0  
 

Assumed

    74.2     135.6     64.9  
 

Ceded

    (61.3 )   (17.2 )   1.9  
               
 

Net

  $ 413.8   $ 377.8   $ 265.8  
               

(1)
Amounts assumed by AG Re and AGC from AGMH in periods prior to the AGMH Acquisition are included in the assumed premiums written, premiums earned and loss and LAE amounts above for periods prior to the Acquisition Date reflecting the separate organizational structures in effect at the time.

(2)
Positive ceded premiums written were due to commutations and changes in expected debt service schedules.

        Ceded par outstanding represents the portion of insured risk ceded to other reinsurers. Under these relationships, the Company cedes a portion of its insured risk in exchange for a premium paid to the reinsurer. The Company remains primarily liable for all risks it directly underwrites and is required to pay all gross claims. It then seeks reimbursement from the reinsurer for its proportionate share of claims. The Company may be exposed to risk for this exposure if it were required to pay the gross claims and not be able to collect ceded claims from an assuming company experiencing financial distress. A number of the financial guaranty insurers to which the Company has ceded par have

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

12. Reinsurance (Continued)


experienced financial distress and been downgraded by the rating agencies as a result. In addition, state insurance regulators have intervened with respect to some of these insurers.

        Assumed par outstanding represents the amount of par assumed by the Company from other monolines. Under these relationships, the Company assumes a portion of the ceding company's insured risk in exchange for a premium. The Company may be exposed to risk in this portfolio in that the Company may be required to pay losses without a corresponding premium in circumstances where the ceding company is experiencing financial distress and is unable to pay premiums.

        In addition to assumed and ceded reinsurance arrangements, the company may also have exposure to some financial guaranty reinsurers (i.e., monolines) in other areas. Second-to-pay insured par outstanding represents transactions the Company has insured that were previously insured by other monolines. The Company underwrites such transactions based on the underlying insured obligation without regard to the primary insurer. Another area of exposure is in the investment portfolio where the Company holds fixed maturity securities that are wrapped by monolines and whose value may decline based on the rating of the monoline. At December 31, 2010, The Company had $899.2 million of fixed maturity securities in its investment portfolio wrapped by MBIA Insurance Corporation, $686.9 million by AMBAC Assurance Corp. and $67.6 million by other guarantors at fair value.


Exposure by Reinsurer

 
  Ratings at
February 23, 2011
  Par Outstanding as of December 31, 2010  
Reinsurer
  Moody's
Reinsurer
Rating
  S&P
Reinsurer
Rating
  Ceded Par
Outstanding(3)
  Second-to-
Pay Insured
Par
Outstanding
  Assumed Par
Outstanding
 
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

Radian Asset Assurance Inc. 

  Ba1   BB-   $ 21,829   $ 66   $  

Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. 

  Aa2(1)   AA-(1)     19,230         934  

RAM Reinsurance Co. Ltd. 

  WR(2)   WR(2)     13,367         24  

Syncora Guarantee Inc. 

  Ca   WR     4,252     2,666     880  

Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co. Ltd. 

  Aa3   AA-     2,452          

ACA Financial Guaranty Corp

  NR   WR     870     19     2  

Swiss Reinsurance Co. 

  A1   A+     515          

Financial Guaranty Insurance Co. 

  WR   WR     250     3,970     3,433  

Ambac Assurance Corporation

  Caa2   WR     109     8,039     24,816  

MBIA Insurance Corporation

  B3   B     108     11,684     11,740  

CIFG Assurance North America Inc. 

  WR   WR     73     259     11,223  

Berkshire Hathaway Assurance Corporation

  Aa1   AA+              

Multiple owner

                2,012      

Other

  Various   Various     1,062         114  
                       
 

Total

          $ 64,117   $ 28,715   $ 53,166  
                       

(1)
The Company has structural collateral agreements satisfying the triple-A credit requirement of S&P and/or Moody's.

(2)
Represents "Withdrawn Rating."

(3)
Includes $7,023 million in ceded par outstanding related to insured credit derivatives.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

12. Reinsurance (Continued)


Ceded Par Outstanding by Reinsurer and Credit Rating
As of December 31, 2010(1)

 
  Credit Rating  
Reinsurer
  Super Senior   AAA   AA   A   BBB   BIG   Total  
 
  (in millions)
 

Radian Asset Assurance Inc. 

  $ 193   $ 1,040   $ 9,668   $ 7,828   $ 2,777   $ 323   $ 21,829  

Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. 

    489     1,883     6,032     6,626     3,331     869     19,230  

RAM Reinsurance Co. Ltd. 

    393     2,347     4,726     3,641     1,849     411     13,367  

Syncora Guarantee Inc. 

        25     462     803     2,938     24     4,252  

Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co. Ltd. 

    8     153     898     895     416     82     2,452  

ACA Financial Guaranty Corp

            575     246     49         870  

Swiss Reinsurance Co. 

        10     108     215     99     83     515  

Financial Guaranty Insurance Co. 

                250             250  

Ambac Assurance Corporation

                109             109  

MBIA Insurance Corporation

            108                 108  

CIFG Assurance North America Inc. 

                        73     73  

Other

        0     224     743     94     1     1,062  
                               
 

Total

  $ 1,083   $ 5,458   $ 22,801   $ 21,356   $ 11,553   $ 1,866   $ 64,117  
                               

        In accordance with statutory accounting requirements and U.S. insurance laws and regulations, in order for the Company to receive credit for liabilities ceded to reinsurers domiciled outside of the U.S., such reinsurers must secure their liabilities to the Company. All of the unauthorized reinsurers in the table above post collateral for the benefit of the Company in an amount at least equal to the sum of their ceded unearned premium reserve, loss reserves and contingency reserves all calculated on a statutory basis of accounting. CIFG Assurance North America Inc. and Radian Asset Assurance Inc. are authorized reinsurers. Their collateral equals or exceeds their ceded statutory loss reserves. Collateral may be in the form of letters of credit or trust accounts. The total collateral posted by all non-affiliated reinsurers as of December 31, 2010 exceeds $1 billion.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

12. Reinsurance (Continued)


Second-to-Pay
Insured Par Outstanding by Rating
As of December 31, 2010(1)

 
  Public Finance   Structured Finance    
 
 
  AAA   AA   A   BBB   BIG   AAA   AA   A   BBB   BIG   Total  
 
  (in millions)
 

Radian Asset Assurance Inc. 

  $   $   $ 14   $ 40   $ 11   $ 1   $   $   $   $   $ 66  

Syncora Guarantee Inc. 

        3     443     704     328     349     167     109     245     318     2,666  

ACA Financial Guaranty Corp

        13         6                             19  

Financial Guaranty Insurance Co

        171     1,221     598     356     1,209     195     132     17     71     3,970  

Ambac Assurance Corporation

    12     2,350     2,963     1,113     355     254     1     295     100     596     8,039  

MBIA Insurance Corporation

    15     3,515     4,319     1,753     30     41     1,353     37     596     25     11,684  

CIFG Assurance North America Inc. 

        11     69     134     45                         259  

Multiple owner

            2,012                                 2,012  
                                               
 

Total

  $ 27   $ 6,063   $ 11,041   $ 4,348   $ 1,125   $ 1,854   $ 1,716   $ 573   $ 958   $ 1,010   $ 28,715  
                                               

(1)
Assured Guaranty's internal rating.


Amounts Due (To) From Reinsurers

 
  As of December 31, 2010  
 
  Assumed
Premium
Receivable, net of
Commissions
  Assumed
Expected
Loss and LAE
Payable
  Ceded
Expected
Loss and LAE
Receivable
 
 
  (in millions)
 

Radian Asset Assurance Inc. 

  $   $   $ 22.6  

Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. 

            (17.8 )

RAM Reinsurance Co. Ltd. 

            (10.2 )

Syncora Guarantee Inc. 

        (0.3 )   1.5  

Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co. Ltd. 

            (6.1 )

ACA Financial Guaranty Corp

             

Swiss Reinsurance Co. 

            (4.2 )

Financial Guaranty Insurance Co. 

    28.4     (35.1 )    

Ambac Assurance Corporation

    148.1     (107.2 )    

MBIA Insurance Corporation

    0.8     (13.1 )    

CIFG Assurance North America Inc. 

    7.1          

Berkshire Hathaway Assurance Corporation

             

Multiple owner

             
               
 

Total

  $ 184.4   $ (155.7 ) $ (14.2 )
               

AGMIC Settlement

        AGMIC insured a private mortgage insurer and agreed to cover the aggregate mortgage guaranty insurance losses in excess of a $25 million retention and subject to a $95 million limit. AGMIC notified the Reinsured it was terminating the Agreement because of the Reinsured's breach of the terms of the

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

12. Reinsurance (Continued)


Agreement. The matter went to arbitration and the majority of the arbitration panel concluded that the Reinsured breached a covenant in the Agreement. AGMIC and a private mortgage insurer executed a final settlement agreement on June 17, 2009 to settle the matter in full in exchange for a payment by AGMIC to the reinsurer of $10 million. The final settlement agreement resolves all disputes between the parties and concludes all remaining rights and obligations of the parties under the Agreement. The Company recognized the settlement in loss and LAE in the other segment.


13. Related Party Transactions

        The following table presents the ownership of each of the parties with whom the Company had related party transactions for the periods presented.


Related Parties' Equity Ownership

 
  December 31, 2010   December 31, 2009  
 
  Number of
Shares
  % Ownership   Number of
Shares
  % of Ownership  
 

Dexia(1)

        %   21,848,934     11.9 %
 

WLR Funds(2)

    16,023,984     8.7     16,016,396     8.7  
 

ACE(1)

            13,020,382     7.1  
 

Wellington Management Company, LLP

    18,181,544     9.9          
                   

Total

    34,205,528     18.6 %   50,885,712     27.7 %
                   

(1)
Previously related parties of the Company for the periods prior to March 31, 2010.

(2)
The WLR Funds are funds affiliated with Wilbur L. Ross, Jr., a director of AGL.

        ACE had been the parent company of certain of the Company's subsidiaries prior to the IPO of the Company in 2004 and received AGL common shares in connection with the IPO transactions. During 2009, as a result of AGL's equity offerings in June and December, AGL's issuance of common shares to Dexia for the AGMH Acquisition and sale by ACE of some of its AGL common shares, ACE's ownership of AGL was reduced to 7.1% as of December 31, 2009, and 3.1% as of January 31, 2010, according to a Schedule 13G amendment it filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Dexia received approximately 22.3 million AGL common shares as part of the purchase price for the AGMH Acquisition. On March 16, 2010, Dexia sold all of such AGL common shares in a secondary public offering. As a result of these transactions, ACE and Dexia are not considered related parties of the Company as of March 31, 2010.

Dexia

        The primary related party transactions between the Company and Dexia were as follows:

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December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

13. Related Party Transactions (Continued)

ACE

        The primary related party transactions with ACE are:

WLR Funds

        The primary related party transactions with WL Ross are:

Wellington Management Company, LLP ("Wellington")

        The primary related party transactions with Wellington were:

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13. Related Party Transactions (Continued)

        The following table summarizes the affiliated components of each balance sheet item, where applicable:

 
  As of December 31, 2009  
 
  (in millions)
 

Assets:

       

Ceded unearned premium reserve

       
 

ACE

  $  

Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses

       
 

ACE

    3.1  

Other assets

       
 

ACE

    0.1  

Liabilities:

       

Unearned premium reserves

       
 

ACE

    1.4  
 

Dexia

    35.5  

Loss and LAE reserve

       
 

ACE

    4.6  

Net credit derivative liabilities

       
 

Dexia

    333.0  

Notes payable(1)

       
 

Dexia

    149.1  

Other liabilities

       
 

ACE

    9.0  
 

Dexia

    0.3  

Other information:

       

Exposure

       

Gross par outstanding

       
 

Dexia(2)

    24,090  

(1)
Recorded within long-term debt on the consolidated balance sheets.

(2)
Includes $10.3 billion of net par outstanding related to AGM'S financial guaranties of GICs issued by AGMH's former financial products companies. This exposure is guaranteed by Dexia and by the French and Belgium governments.

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December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

13. Related Party Transactions (Continued)

        The following table summarizes the affiliated components of each statement of operations item, where applicable:

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   2008  
 
  (in millions)
 

Revenues:

                   

Net earned premiums

                   
 

ACE

  $   $ 1.2   $ (3.5 )
 

Dexia

    0.6     3.2      

Net investment income (expense)

                   
 

Wellington

    (1.8 )        

Net change in fair value of credit derivatives

                   
 

Dexia

    (76.4 )   17.6      

Expenses:

                   

Loss and LAE (recoveries)

                   
 

ACE

        1.3     4.0  

Interest expense from long-term debt

                   
 

Dexia

    1.9     4.4      

General and administrative services

                   
 

ACE

        0.1     0.1  
 

Dexia

    (0.5 )   (0.9 )    


14. Commitments and Contingencies

Leases

        AGL and its subsidiaries are party to various lease agreements accounted for as operating leases. In June 2008, the Company entered into a new five-year lease agreement for New York office space. Future minimum annual payments of $5.3 million for the first twelve month period and $5.7 million for subsequent twelve month periods commenced October 1, 2008 and are subject to escalation in building operating costs and real estate taxes. As a result of the AGMH Acquisition, during second quarter 2009 the Company decided not to occupy the office space described above and subleased it to two tenants for total minimum annual payments of approximately $3.7 million until October 2013. The Company wrote off related leasehold improvements and recorded a pre-tax loss on the sublease of $11.7 million in 2009, which is included in "AGMH acquisition-related expenses" and "other liabilities" in the consolidated statements of operations and balance sheets, respectively.

        The Company leases space in New York City through April 2026. In addition, AGL and its subsidiaries lease additional office space under non-cancelable operating leases which expire at various

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locations. Lease payments for each of the next five calendar years ending December 31, and thereafter are as follows:


Future Minimum Rental Payments

Year
  (in millions)  

2011

  $ 15.9  

2012

    15.1  

2013

    13.8  

2014

    8.0  

2015

    7.7  

Thereafter

    81.8  
       
 

Total

  $ 142.3  
       


Rent Expense

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   2008  
 
  (in millions)
 

Rent Expense

  $ 11.4   $ 10.6   $ 5.7  

Legal Proceedings

Litigation

        Lawsuits arise in the ordinary course of the Company's business. It is the opinion of the Company's management, based upon the information available, that the expected outcome of litigation against the Company, individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position or liquidity, although an adverse resolution of litigation against the Company could have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations in a particular quarter or fiscal year. In addition, in the ordinary course of their respective businesses, certain of the Company's subsidiaries assert claims in legal proceedings against third parties to recover losses paid in prior periods. For example, as described in Note 5 (Financial Guaranty Contracts Accounted for as Insurance—Loss Estimation Process—Recovery Litigation), as of the date of this filing, AGC and AGM have filed complaints against certain sponsors and underwriters of RMBS securities that AGC or AGM had insured, alleging, among other claims, that such persons had breached representations and warranties in the transaction documents, failed to cure or repurchase defective loans and/or violated state securities laws. The amounts, if any, the Company will recover in proceedings to recover losses are uncertain, and recoveries, or failure to obtain recoveries, in any one or more of these proceedings during any quarter or fiscal year could be material to the Company's results of operations in that particular quarter or fiscal year.

Proceedings Relating to the Company's Financial Guaranty Business

        The Company has received subpoenas duces tecum and interrogatories from the State of Connecticut Attorney General and the Attorney General of the State of California related to antitrust concerns associated with the methodologies used by rating agencies for determining the credit rating of municipal debt, including a proposal by Moody's to assign corporate equivalent ratings to municipal

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December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

14. Commitments and Contingencies (Continued)


obligations, and the Company's communications with rating agencies. The Company has satisfied or is in the process of satisfying such requests. It may receive additional inquiries from these or other regulators and expects to provide additional information to such regulators regarding their inquiries in the future.

        Beginning in December 2008, AGM and various other financial guarantors have been named in complaints filed in the Superior Court, San Francisco County, California. Since that time, plaintiffs' counsel has filed amended complaints and added additional plaintiffs. As of the date of this filing, the plaintiffs with complaints against AGM and AGC, among other financial guaranty insurers, are: (a) City of Los Angeles, acting by and through the Department of Water and Power; (b) City of Sacramento ; (c) City of Los Angeles; (d) City of Oakland; (e) City of Riverside; (f) City of Stockton ; (g) County of Alameda; (h) County of Contra Costa; (i) County of San Mateo; (j) Los Angeles World Airports; (k) City of Richmond; (l) Redwood City; (m) East Bay Municipal Utility District; (n) Sacramento Suburban Water District; (o) City of San Jose; (p) County of Tulare; (q) The Regents of the University of California; (r) The Redevelopment Agency of the City of Riverside; (s) The Public Financing Authority of the City of Riverside; (t) The Jewish Community Center of San Francisco; (u) The San Jose Redevelopment Agency; and (v) The Olympic Club. Complaints filed by the City and County of San Francisco and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District were subsequently dismissed against AGC and AGM.

        At a hearing on March 1, 2010, the court struck all of the plaintiffs' complaints with leave to amend. The court instructed plaintiffs to file one consolidated complaint. On October 13, 2010, plaintiffs' counsel filed three consolidated complaints, two of which also added the three major credit rating agencies as defendants in addition to the financial guaranty insurers. In November 2010, the credit rating agency defendants filed a motion to remove the cases to the Northern District of California and plaintiffs responded with a motion to remand the cases back to California state court. On January 31, 2011, the court for the Northern District of California granted plaintiffs' motion and the action was remanded to the Superior Court, San Francisco County, California.

        These complaints allege that the financial guaranty insurer defendants (i) participated in a conspiracy in violation of California's antitrust laws to maintain a dual credit rating scale that misstated the credit default risk of municipal bond issuers and created market demand for municipal bond insurance, (ii) participated in risky financial transactions in other lines of business that damaged each insurer's financial condition (thereby undermining the value of each of their guaranties), and (iii) failed to adequately disclose the impact of those transactions on their financial condition. In addition to their antitrust claims, various plaintiffs in these actions assert claims for breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, fraud, unjust enrichment, negligence, and negligent misrepresentation.

        The complaints in these lawsuits generally seek unspecified monetary damages, interest, attorneys' fees, costs and other expenses. The Company cannot reasonably estimate the possible loss or range of loss that may arise from these lawsuits.

        In August 2008, a number of financial institutions and other parties, including AGM and other bond insurers, were named as defendants in a civil action brought in the circuit court of Jefferson County, Alabama relating to the County's problems meeting its debt obligations on its $3.2 billion sewer debt: Charles E. Wilson vs. JPMorgan Chase & Co et al (filed the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Alabama), Case No. 01-CV-2008-901907.00, a putative class action. The action was brought on behalf of rate payers, tax payers and citizens residing in Jefferson County, and alleges conspiracy and fraud in connection with the issuance of the County's debt. The complaint in this lawsuit seeks equitable relief, unspecified monetary damages, interest, attorneys' fees and other costs. On January, 13, 2011, the circuit court issued an order denying a motion by the bond insurers and other defendants to dismiss the action. Defendants, including the bond insurers, have petitioned the Alabama Supreme

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14. Commitments and Contingencies (Continued)


Court for a writ of mandamus to the circuit court vacating such order and directing the dismissal with prejudice of plaintiffs' claims for lack of standing. The Company cannot reasonably estimate the possible loss or range of loss that may arise from this lawsuit.

        In September 2010, AGM, among others, was named as a defendant in an interpleader complaint filed by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trust administrator, in the United States District Court, Southern District of New York. The interpleader complaint relates to the MASTR Adjustable Rate Mortgages Trust 2006-OA2, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-OA2 RMBS transaction, in which AGM had insured certain classes of certificates. Certain holders of uninsured certificates have disputed payments made by the trust administrator to reimburse AGM for claims it had paid under its financial guaranty policy. The trust administrator seeks adjudication of the priority of AGM's reimbursements. The Company has submitted a motion for judgment on the pleadings that is being reviewed by the court. If the decision is adverse to AGM, total unreimbursed claims is uncertain but could be as much as approximately $144 million (on a gross undiscounted basis, without taking into account the benefit of R&W recoveries) over the life of the transaction. The Company intends to defend this action and to pursue its rights under the transaction documents vigorously.

Proceedings Related to AGMH's Former Financial Products Business

        The following is a description of legal proceedings involving AGMH's former Financial Products Business. Although the Company did not acquire AGMH's former Financial Products Business, which included AGMH's former GICs business, medium term notes business and portions of the leveraged lease businesses, certain legal proceedings relating to those businesses are against entities which the Company did acquire. While Dexia SA and DCL, jointly and severally, have agreed to indemnify the Company against liability arising out of the proceedings described below in this "—Proceedings Related to AGMH's Former Financial Products Business" section, such indemnification might not be sufficient to fully hold the Company harmless against any injunctive relief or criminal sanction that is imposed against AGMH or its subsidiaries.

        AGMH and/or AGM have received subpoenas duces tecum and interrogatories or civil investigative demands from the Attorney General of the States of Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, Texas and West Virginia relating to their investigations of alleged bid rigging of municipal GICs. AGMH is responding to such requests. AGMH may receive additional inquiries from these or other regulators and expects to provide additional information to such regulators regarding their inquiries in the future. In addition,

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December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

14. Commitments and Contingencies (Continued)

        Pursuant to the subpoenas, AGMH has furnished to the Department of Justice and SEC records and other information with respect to AGMH's municipal GICs business. The ultimate loss that may arise from these investigations remains uncertain.

        During 2008, nine putative class action lawsuits were filed in federal court alleging federal antitrust violations in the municipal derivatives industry, seeking damages and alleging, among other things, a conspiracy to fix the pricing of, and manipulate bids for, municipal derivatives, including GICs. These cases have been coordinated and consolidated for pretrial proceedings in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York as MDL 1950, In re Municipal Derivatives Antitrust Litigation, Case No. 1:08-cv-2516 ("MDL 1950").

        Five of these cases named both AGMH and AGM: (a) Hinds County, Mississippi v. Wachovia Bank, N.A.; (b) Fairfax County, Virginia v. Wachovia Bank, N.A.; (c) Central Bucks School District, Pennsylvania v. Wachovia Bank, N.A.; (d) Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, Maryland v. Wachovia Bank, N.A.; and (e) Washington County, Tennessee v. Wachovia Bank, N.A. In April 2009, the MDL 1950 court granted the defendants' motion to dismiss on the federal claims, but granted leave for the plaintiffs to file a second amended complaint. In June 2009, interim lead plaintiffs' counsel filed a Second Consolidated Amended Class Action Complaint. The complaints in these lawsuits generally seek unspecified monetary damages, interest, attorneys' fees and other costs. The Company cannot reasonably estimate the possible loss or range of loss that may arise from these lawsuits; although the Second Consolidated Amended Class Action Complaint currently describes some of AGMH's and AGM's activities, it does not name those entities as defendants. In March 2010, the MDL 1950 court denied the named defendants' motions to dismiss the Second Consolidated Amended Class Action Complaint.

        Four of the cases named AGMH (but not AGM) and also alleged that the defendants violated California state antitrust law and common law by engaging in illegal bid-rigging and market allocation, thereby depriving the cities or municipalities of competition in the awarding of GICs and ultimately resulting in the cities paying higher fees for these products: (f) City of Oakland, California v. AIG Financial Products Corp.; (g) County of Alameda, California v. AIG Financial Products Corp.; (h) City of Fresno, California v. AIG Financial Products Corp.; and (i) Fresno County Financing Authority v. AIG Financial Products Corp. When the four plaintiffs filed a consolidated complaint in September 2009, the plaintiffs did not name AGMH as a defendant. However, the complaint does describe some of AGMH's and AGM's activities. The consolidated complaint generally seeks unspecified monetary damages, interest, attorneys' fees and other costs. In April 2010, the MDL 1950 court granted in part and denied in part the named defendants' motions to dismiss this consolidated complaint.

        In 2008, AGMH and AGM also were named in five non-class action lawsuits originally filed in the California Superior Courts alleging violations of California law related to the municipal derivatives industry: (a) City of Los Angeles, California v. Bank of America, N.A.; (b) City of Stockton, California v. Bank of America, N.A.; (c) County of San Diego, California v. Bank of America, N.A.; (d) County of San Mateo, California v. Bank of America, N.A.; and (e) County of Contra Costa, California v. Bank of America, N.A. Amended complaints in these actions were filed in September 2009, adding a federal antitrust claim and naming AGM (but not AGMH) and AGUS, among other defendants. These cases have been transferred to the Southern District of New York and consolidated with MDL 1950 for pretrial proceedings.

        In late 2009, AGM and AGUS, among other defendants, were named in six additional non-class action cases filed in federal court, which also have been coordinated and consolidated for pretrial proceedings with MDL 1950: (f) City of Riverside, California v. Bank of America, N.A.; (g) Sacramento

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14. Commitments and Contingencies (Continued)


Municipal Utility District v. Bank of America, N.A.; (h) Los Angeles World Airports v. Bank of America, N.A.; (i) Redevelopment Agency of the City of Stockton v. Bank of America, N.A.; (j) Sacramento Suburban Water District v. Bank of America, N.A.; and (k) County of Tulare, California v. Bank of America, N.A.

        The MDL 1950 court denied AGM and AGUS's motions to dismiss these eleven complaints in April 2010. Amended complaints were filed in May 2010. On October 29, 2010, AGM and AGUS were voluntarily dismissed with prejudice from the Sacramento Municipal Utility District case only. The complaints in these lawsuits generally seek or sought unspecified monetary damages, interest, attorneys' fees, costs and other expenses. The Company cannot reasonably estimate the possible loss or range of loss that may arise from the remaining lawsuits.

        In May 2010, AGM and AGUS, among other defendants, were named in five additional non-class action cases filed in federal court in California: (a) City of Richmond, California v. Bank of America, N.A. (filed on May 18, 2010, N.D. California); (b) City of Redwood City, California v. Bank of America, N.A. (filed on May 18, 2010, N.D. California); (c) Redevelopment Agency of the City and County of San Francisco, California v. Bank of America, N.A. (filed on May 21, 2010, N.D. California); (d) East Bay Municipal Utility District, California v. Bank of America, N.A. (filed on May 18, 2010, N.D. California) ; and (e) City of San Jose and the San Jose Redevelopment Agency, California v. Bank of America, N.A (filed on May 18, 2010, N.D. California). These cases have also been transferred to the Southern District of New York and consolidated with MDL 1950 for pretrial proceedings. In September 2010, AGM and AGUS, among other defendants, were named in a sixth additional non-class action filed in federal court in New York, but which alleges violation of New York's Donnelly Act in addition to federal antitrust law: Active Retirement Community, Inc. d/b/a Jefferson's Ferry v. Bank of America, N.A. (filed on September 21, 2010, E.D. New York), which has also been transferred to the Southern District of New York and consolidated with MDL 1950 for pretrial proceedings. In late December 2010, AGM and AGUS, among other defendants, were named in a seventh additional non-class action filed in federal court in the Central District of California, Los Angeles Unified School District v. Bank of America, N.A., and in an eighth additional non-class action filed in federal court in the Southern District of New York, Kendal on Hudson, Inc. v. Bank of America, N.A. These cases also have been consolidated with MDL 1950 for pretrial proceedings. The complaints in these lawsuits generally seek unspecified monetary damages, interest, attorneys' fees, costs and other expenses. The Company cannot reasonably estimate the possible loss or range of loss that may arise from these lawsuits.

        In January 2011, AGM and AGUS, among other defendants, were named in an additional non-class action case filed in federal court in New York, which alleges violation of New York's Donnelly Act in addition to federal antitrust law: Peconic Landing at Southold, Inc. v. Bank of America, N.A. This case has been noticed as a tag-along action to MDL 1950. The complaint in this lawsuit generally seeks unspecified monetary damages, interest, attorneys' fees, costs and other expenses. The Company cannot reasonably estimate the possible loss or range of loss that may arise from this lawsuit.

        In September 2009, the Attorney General of the State of West Virginia filed a lawsuit (Circuit Ct. Mason County, W. Va.) against Bank of America, N.A. alleging West Virginia state antitrust violations in the municipal derivatives industry, seeking damages and alleging, among other things, a conspiracy to fix the pricing of, and manipulate bids for, municipal derivatives, including GICs. An amended complaint in this action was filed in June 2010, adding a federal antitrust claim and naming AGM (but not AGMH) and AGUS, among other defendants. This case has been removed to federal court as well as transferred to the S.D.N.Y. and consolidated with MDL 1950 for pretrial proceedings. The complaint in this lawsuit generally seeks civil penalties, unspecified monetary damages, interest, attorneys' fees, costs and other expenses. The Company cannot reasonably estimate the possible loss or range of loss that may arise from this lawsuit.

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14. Commitments and Contingencies (Continued)

Assumed Reinsurance

        The Company is party to reinsurance agreements as a reinsurer to other monoline financial guaranty insurance companies. The Company's facultative and treaty agreements are generally subject to termination:

        Upon termination under these conditions, the Company may be required (under some of its reinsurance agreements) to return to the primary insurer all statutory unearned premiums, less ceding commissions, attributable to reinsurance ceded pursuant to such agreements after which the Company would be released from liability with respect to the assumed business. Upon the occurrence of the conditions set forth in (a) above, whether or not an agreement is terminated, the Company may be required to obtain a letter of credit or alternative form of security to collateralize its obligation to perform under such agreement or it may be obligated to increase the level of ceding commission paid. See Note 12.


15. Long-Term Debt and Credit Facilities

Long-Term Debt Obligations

        The Company's long term debt has been issued by AGUS and AGMH and notes payable to the Financial Products Companies were issued by refinancing vehicles consolidated by AGM. With respect to the notes payable, the funds borrowed were used to finance the purchase of the underlying obligations of AGM-insured obligations which had breached triggers allowing AGM to exercise its right to accelerate payment of a claim in order to mitigate loss. The assets purchased are classified as assets acquired in refinancing transactions and recorded within "other invested assets" on the consolidated balance sheets. The terms of the notes payable match the terms of the assets. See Note 9.

        AGL fully and unconditionally guarantees the following debt obligations issued by AGUS: (1) 7.0% Senior Notes and (2) 8.50% Senior Notes. AGMH debt was assumed on July 1, 2009 as part of the AGMH Acquisition and AGL fully and unconditionally guarantees the following AGMH debt obligations: (1) 67/8% Quarterly Income Bonds Securities ("QUIBS"), (2) 6.25% Notes and (3) 5.60% Notes. In addition, AGL guarantees, on a junior subordinated basis, AGUS's Series A, Enhanced Junior Subordinated Debentures and the $300 million of AGMH's outstanding Junior Subordinated Debentures.

Accounting Policy

        Long term debt is recorded at principal amounts net of any unamortized original issue discount and unamortized Acquisition Date fair value adjustment for AGMH debt. Discount is accreted into interest expense over the life of the applicable debt.

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15. Long-Term Debt and Credit Facilities (Continued)

Debt Issued by AGUS

        7.0% Senior Notes.    On May 18, 2004, AGUS issued $200.0 million of 7.0% senior notes due 2034 ("7.0% Senior Notes") for net proceeds of $197.3 million. Although the coupon on the Senior Notes is 7.0%, the effective rate is approximately 6.4%, taking into account the effect of a cash flow hedge executed by the Company in March 2004.

        8.50% Senior Notes.    On June 24, 2009, AGL issued 3,450,000 equity units for net proceeds of approximately $166.8 million in a registered public offering. The net proceeds of the offering were used to pay a portion of the consideration for the AGMH Acquisition. Each equity unit consists of (i) a forward purchase contract and (ii) a 5% undivided beneficial ownership interest in $1,000 principal amount 8.50% senior notes due 2014 issued by AGUS. Under the purchase contract, holders are required to purchase, and AGL is required to issue, between 3.8685 and 4.5455 of AGL common shares for $50 no later than June 1, 2012. The actual number of shares purchased will be based on the average closing price of the common shares over a 20-trading day period ending three trading days prior to June 1, 2012. More specifically, if the average closing price per share for the relevant period (the "Applicable Market Value") is equal to or exceeds $12.93, the settlement rate will be 3.8685 shares. If the Applicable Market Value is less than or equal to $11.00, the settlement rate will be 4.5455 shares, and if it is between $11.00 and $12.93, the settlement rate will be equal to the quotient of $50.00 and the Applicable Market Value. The notes are pledged by the holders of the equity units to a collateral agent to secure their obligations under the purchase contracts. Interest on the notes is payable, initially, quarterly at the rate of 8.50% per year. The notes are subject to a mandatory remarketing between December 1, 2011 and May 1, 2012 (or, if not remarketed during such period, during a designated three business day period in May 2012). In the remarketing, the interest rate on the notes will be reset and certain other terms of the notes may be modified, including to extend the maturity date, to change the redemption rights (as long as there will be at least two years between the reset date and any new redemption date) and to add interest deferral provisions. If the notes are not successfully remarketed, the interest rate on the notes will not be reset and holders of all notes will have the right to put their notes to the Company on the purchase contract settlement date at a put price equal to $1,000 per note ($50 per equity unit) plus accrued and unpaid interest. The notes are redeemable at AGUS' option, in whole but not in part, upon the occurrence and continuation of certain events at any time prior to the earlier of the date of a successful remarketing and the purchase contract settlement date. The aggregate redemption amount for the notes is equal to an amount that would permit the collateral agent to purchase a portfolio of U.S. Treasury securities sufficient to pay the principal amount of the notes and all scheduled interest payment dates that occur after the special event redemption date to, and including the purchase contract settlement date; provided that the aggregate redemption amount may not be less than the principal amount of the notes. Other than in connection with certain specified tax or accounting related events, the notes may not be redeemed by AGUS prior to June 1, 2014.

        Series A Enhanced Junior Subordinated Debentures.    On December 20, 2006, AGUS issued $150.0 million of the Debentures due 2066 for net proceeds of $149.7 million. The Debentures pay a fixed 6.40% rate of interest until December 15, 2016, and thereafter pay a floating rate of interest, reset quarterly, at a rate equal to 3 month LIBOR plus a margin equal to 2.38%. AGUS may elect at one or more times to defer payment of interest for one or more consecutive periods for up to ten years. Any unpaid interest bears interest at the then applicable rate. AGUS may not defer interest past the maturity date.

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15. Long-Term Debt and Credit Facilities (Continued)

Debt Issued by AGMH

        67/8% QUIBS.    On December 19, 2001, AGMH issued $100.0 million face amount of 67/8% QUIBS due December 15, 2101, which are callable without premium or penalty.

        6.25% Notes.    On November 26, 2002, AGMH issued $230.0 million face amount of 6.25% Notes due November 1, 2102, which are callable without premium or penalty in whole or in part.

        5.60% Notes.    On July 31, 2003, AGMH issued $100.0 million face amount of 5.60% Notes due July 15, 2103, which are callable without premium or penalty in whole or in part.

        Junior Subordinated Debentures.    On November 22, 2006, AGMH issued $300.0 million face amount of Junior Subordinated Debentures with a scheduled maturity date of December 15, 2036 and a final repayment date of December 15, 2066. The final repayment date of December 15, 2066 may be automatically extended up to four times in five-year increments provided certain conditions are met. The debentures are redeemable, in whole or in part, at any time prior to December 15, 2036 at their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption or, if greater, the make-whole redemption price. Interest on the debentures will accrue from November 22, 2006 to December 15, 2036 at the annual rate of 6.40%. If any amount of the debentures remains outstanding after December 15, 2036, then the principal amount of the outstanding debentures will bear interest at a floating interest rate equal to one-month LIBOR plus 2.215% until repaid. AGMH may elect at one or more times to defer payment of interest on the debentures for one or more consecutive interest periods that do not exceed ten years. In connection with the completion of this offering, AGMH entered into a replacement capital covenant for the benefit of persons that buy, hold or sell a specified series of AGMH long-term indebtedness ranking senior to the debentures. Under the covenant, the debentures will not be repaid, redeemed, repurchased or defeased by AGMH or any of its subsidiaries on or before the date that is 20 years prior to the final repayment date, except to the extent that AGMH has received proceeds from the sale of replacement capital securities. The proceeds from this offering were used to pay a dividend to the shareholders of AGMH.

        Notes Payable represents debt, issued by VIEs consolidated by AGM, to the Financial Products Companies which were transferred to Dexia Holdings prior to the AGMH Acquisition. The funds borrowed were used to finance the purchase of the underlying obligations of AGM-insured obligations which had breached triggers allowing AGM to exercise its right to accelerate payment of a claim in order to mitigate loss. The assets purchased are classified as assets acquired in refinancing transactions and recorded in "other invested assets". The term of the notes payable matches the terms of the assets. On the Acquisition Date, the fair value of this note was $164.4 million, representing a premium of $9.5 million, which is amortized over the term of the debt.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

15. Long-Term Debt and Credit Facilities (Continued)

        The principal and carrying values of the Company's long-term debt issued by AGUS and AGMH were as follows:

Principal and Carrying Amounts of Debt

 
  As of December 31, 2010   As of December 31, 2009  
 
  Principal   Carrying
Value
  Principal   Carrying
Value
 
 
  (in millions)
 

AGUS:

                         
 

7.0% Senior Notes

  $ 200.0   $ 197.6   $ 200.0   $ 197.5  
 

8.50% Senior Notes

    172.5     171.0     172.5     170.1  
 

Series A Enhanced Junior Subordinated Debentures

    150.0     149.8     150.0     149.8  
                   
   

Total AGUS

    522.5     518.4     522.5     517.4  

AGMH:

                         
 

67/8% QUIBS

    100.0     67.0     100.0     66.7  
 

6.25% Notes

    230.0     135.0     230.0     133.9  
 

5.60% Notes

    100.0     53.0     100.0     52.6  
 

Junior Subordinated Debentures

    300.0     152.5     300.0     146.8  
 

Notes Payable

    119.3     127.0     140.1     149.1  
                   
   

Total AGMH

    849.3     534.5     870.1     549.1  
                   

Total

  $ 1,371.8   $ 1,052.9   $ 1,392.6   $ 1,066.5  
                   

        Principal payments due under the long-term debt are as follows:

Expected Maturity Schedule of Long Term Debt

Expected Withdrawal Date
  AGUS   AGMH   Total  
 
  (in millions)
 

2011

  $   $ 31.9   $ 31.9  

2012

        22.9     22.9  

2013

        21.8     21.8  

2014

    172.5     16.2     188.7  

2015

        9.5     9.5  

2016-2035

    200.0     17.0     217.0  

2036-2055

             

2056-2075

    150.0     300.0     450.0  

Thereafter(1)

        430.0     430.0  
               
 

Total

  $ 522.5   $ 849.3   $ 1,371.8  
               

(1)
Due dates are between 2101 and 2103.

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

15. Long-Term Debt and Credit Facilities (Continued)

Interest Expense

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   2008  
 
  (in millions)
 

AGUS:

                   
 

7.0% Senior Notes

  $ 13.5   $ 13.5   $ 13.5  
 

8.50% Senior Notes

    16.0     8.3      
 

Series A Enhanced Junior Subordinated Debentures

    9.8     9.8     9.8  
               

AGUS total

    39.3     31.6     23.3  

AGMH:

                   
 

67/8% QUIBS

    7.2     3.6      
 

6.25% Notes

    15.4     7.7      
 

5.60% Notes

    6.1     3.1      
 

Junior Subordinated Debentures

    24.9     12.4      
 

Notes Payable

    6.7     4.4      
               

AGMH total

    60.3     31.2      
               

Total

  $ 99.6   $ 62.8   $ 23.3  
               

Recourse Credit Facilities

2006 Credit Facility

        On November 6, 2006, AGL and certain of its subsidiaries entered into a $300.0 million five-year unsecured revolving credit facility (the "2006 Credit Facility") with a syndicate of banks. Under the 2006 Credit Facility, each of AGC, AGUK, AG Re, AGRO and AGL are entitled to request the banks to make loans to such borrower or to request that letters of credit be issued for the account of such borrower. Of the $300.0 million available to be borrowed, no more than $100.0 million may be borrowed by AGL, AG Re or AGRO, individually or in the aggregate, and no more than $20.0 million may be borrowed by AGUK. The stated amount of all outstanding letters of credit and the amount of all unpaid drawings in respect of all letters of credit cannot, in the aggregate, exceed $100.0 million. The 2006 Credit Facility also provides that Assured Guaranty may request that the commitment of the banks be increased an additional $100.0 million up to a maximum aggregate amount of $400.0 million. Any such incremental commitment increase is subject to certain conditions provided in the agreement and must be for at least $25.0 million.

        The proceeds of the loans and letters of credit are to be used for the working capital and other general corporate purposes of the borrowers and to support reinsurance transactions.

        At the effective date of the 2006 Credit Facility, AGC guaranteed the obligations of AGUK under the facility and AGL guaranteed the obligations of AG Re and AGRO under the facility and agreed that, if the Company consolidated assets (as defined in the related credit agreement) of AGC and its subsidiaries were to fall below $1.2 billion, it would, within 15 days, guarantee the obligations of AGC and AGUK under the facility. At the same time, AGOUS guaranteed the obligations of AGL, AG Re and AGRO under the facility, and each of AG Re and AGRO guaranteed the other as well as AGL.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

15. Long-Term Debt and Credit Facilities (Continued)

        The 2006 Credit Facility's financial covenants require that AGL:

        In addition, the 2006 Credit Facility requires that AGC maintain qualified statutory capital of at least 75% of its statutory capital as of the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2006. Furthermore, the 2006 Credit Facility contains restrictions on AGL and its subsidiaries, including, among other things, in respect of their ability to incur debt, permit liens, become liable in respect of guaranties, make loans or investments, pay dividends or make distributions, dissolve or become party to a merger, consolidation or acquisition, dispose of assets or enter into affiliate transactions. Most of these restrictions are subject to certain minimum thresholds and exceptions. The 2006 Credit Facility has customary events of default, including (subject to certain materiality thresholds and grace periods) payment default, failure to comply with covenants, material inaccuracy of representation or warranty, bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, change of control and cross-default to other debt agreements. A default by one borrower will give rise to a right of the lenders to terminate the facility and accelerate all amounts then outstanding. As of December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, Assured Guaranty was in compliance with all of the financial covenants.

        As of December 31, 2010, no amounts were outstanding under this facility, nor have there been any borrowings during the life of the 2006 Credit Facility.

        Letters of credit totaling approximately $2.9 million remained outstanding as of December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009. The Company obtained the letters of credit in connection with entering into a lease for new office space in 2008, which space was subsequently sublet.

2009 Strip Coverage Facility

        In connection with the AGMH Acquisition, AGM agreed to retain the risks relating to the debt and strip policy portions of the leveraged lease business. The liquidity risk to AGM related to the strip policy portion of the leveraged lease business is mitigated by the strip coverage facility described below.

        In a leveraged lease transaction, a tax-exempt entity (such as a transit agency) transfers tax benefits to a tax-paying entity by transferring ownership of a depreciable asset, such as subway cars. The tax-exempt entity then leases the asset back from its new owner.

        If the lease is terminated early, the tax-exempt entity must make an early termination payment to the lessor. A portion of this early termination payment is funded from monies that were pre-funded and invested at the closing of the leveraged lease transaction (along with earnings on those invested funds). The tax-exempt entity is obligated to pay the remaining, unfunded portion of this early termination payment (known as the "strip coverage") from its own sources. AGM issued financial guaranty insurance policies (known as "strip policies") that guaranteed the payment of these unfunded strip coverage amounts to the lessor, in the event that a tax-exempt entity defaulted on its obligation to pay this portion of its early termination payment. AGM can then seek reimbursement of its strip policy payments from the tax-exempt entity, and can also sell the transferred depreciable asset and reimburse itself from the sale proceeds.

        One event that may lead to an early termination of a lease is the downgrade of AGM, as the strip coverage provider, or the downgrade of the equity payment undertaker within the transaction, in each case, generally to a financial strength rating below double-A. Upon such downgrade, the tax exempt

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

15. Long-Term Debt and Credit Facilities (Continued)


entity is generally obligated to find a replacement credit enhancer within a specified period of time; failure to find a replacement could result in a lease default, and failure to cure the default within a specified period of time could lead to an early termination of the lease and a demand by the lessor for a termination payment from the tax exempt entity. However, even in the event of an early termination of the lease, there would not necessarily be an automatic draw on AGM's policy, as this would only occur to the extent the tax exempt entity does not make the required termination payment.

        AIG International Group, Inc. is one entity that has acted as equity payment undertaker in a number of transactions in which AGM acted as strip coverage provider. AIG was downgraded in the third quarter of 2008 and AGM was downgraded by Moody's in the fourth quarter of 2008. As a result of those downgrades, a number of leveraged lease transactions in which AGM acted as strip coverage provider breached either a ratings trigger related to AIG or a ratings trigger related to AGM. To date, none of the leveraged lease transactions which involve AGM has experienced an early termination due to a lease default and a claim on the AGM guaranty. It is difficult to determine the probability that the Company will have to pay strip provider claims or the likely aggregate amount of such claims.

        On July 1, 2009, AGM and DCL, acting through its New York Branch ("Dexia Crédit Local (NY)"), entered into a credit facility (the "Strip Coverage Facility"). Under the Strip Coverage Facility, Dexia Crédit Local (NY) agreed to make loans to AGM to finance all draws made by lessors on AGM strip policies that were outstanding as of November 13, 2008, up to the commitment amount. The commitment amount of the Strip Coverage Facility was $1 billion at closing of the AGMH Acquisition but is scheduled to amortize over time. As of December 31, 2010, the maximum commitment amount of the Strip Coverage Facility has amortized to $991.9 million. It may also be reduced in 2014 to $750 million, if AGM does not have a specified consolidated net worth at that time.

        Fundings under this facility are subject to certain conditions precedent, and their repayment is collateralized by a security interest that AGM granted to Dexia Crédit Local (NY) in amounts that AGM recovers—from the tax-exempt entity, or from asset sale proceeds—following its payment of strip policy claims. The Strip Coverage Facility will terminate upon the earliest to occur of an AGM change of control, the reduction of the commitment amount to $0, and January 31, 2042.

        The Strip Coverage Facility's financial covenants require that AGM and its subsidiaries maintain a maximum debt-to-capital ratio of 30% and maintain a minimum net worth of 75% of consolidated net worth as of July 1, 2009, plus, starting July 1, 2014, 25% of the aggregate consolidated net income (or loss) for the period beginning July 1, 2009 and ending on June 30, 2014 or, if the commitment amount has been reduced to $750 million as described above, zero. The Company is in compliance with all covenants as of the date of this filing.

        The Strip Coverage Facility contains restrictions on AGM, including, among other things, in respect of its ability to incur debt, permit liens, pay dividends or make distributions, dissolve or become party to a merger or consolidation. Most of these restrictions are subject to exceptions. The Strip Coverage Facility has customary events of default, including (subject to certain materiality thresholds and grace periods) payment default, bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings and cross-default to other debt agreements.

        As of December 31, 2010, no amounts were outstanding under this facility, nor have there been any borrowings during the life of this facility.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

15. Long-Term Debt and Credit Facilities (Continued)

Limited Recourse Credit Facilities

AG Re Credit Facility

        On July 31, 2007, AG Re entered into a limited recourse credit facility ("AG Re Credit Facility") with a syndicate of banks which provides up to $200.0 million for the payment of losses in respect of the covered portfolio. The AG Re Credit Facility expires in July 2014. The facility can be utilized after AG Re has incurred, during the term of the facility, cumulative municipal losses (net of any recoveries) in excess of the greater of $260 million or the average annual debt service of the covered portfolio multiplied by 4.5%. The obligation to repay loans under this agreement is a limited recourse obligation payable solely from, and collateralized by, a pledge of recoveries realized on defaulted insured obligations in the covered portfolio, including certain installment premiums and other collateral.

        As of December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 no amounts were outstanding under this facility nor have there been any borrowings during the life of this facility.

AGM Credit Facility

        On April 30, 2005, AGM entered into a limited recourse credit facility ("AGM Credit Facility") with a syndicate of international banks which provides up to $297.5 million for the payment of losses in respect of the covered portfolio. The AGM Credit Facility expires April 30, 2015. The facility can be utilized after AGM has incurred, during the term of the facility, cumulative municipal losses (net of any recoveries) in excess of the greater of $297.5 million or the average annual debt service of the covered portfolio multiplied by 5.0%. The obligation to repay loans under this agreement is a limited recourse obligation payable solely from, and collateralized by, a pledge of recoveries realized on defaulted insured obligations in the covered portfolio, including certain installment premiums and other collateral. The ratings downgrade of AGM by Moody's to Aa3 in November 2008 resulted in an increase to the commitment fee.

        As of December 31, 2010, no amounts were outstanding under this facility nor have there been any borrowings during the life of this facility.

Committed Capital Securities

        On April 8, 2005, AGC entered into separate agreements (the "Put Agreements") with four custodial trusts (each, a "Custodial Trust") pursuant to which AGC may, at its option, cause each of the Custodial Trusts to purchase up to $50.0 million of perpetual preferred stock of AGC (the "AGC Preferred Stock"). The custodial trusts were created as a vehicle for providing capital support to AGC by allowing AGC to obtain immediate access to new capital at its sole discretion at any time through the exercise of the put option. If the put options were exercised, AGC would receive $200.0 million in return for the issuance of its own perpetual preferred stock, the proceeds of which may be used for any purpose, including the payment of claims. The put options have not been exercised through the date of this filing. Initially, all of AGC CCS Securities were issued to a special purpose pass-through trust (the "Pass-Through Trust"). The Pass-Through Trust was dissolved in April 2008 and the AGC CCS Securities were distributed to the holders of the Pass-Through Trust's securities. Neither the Pass-Through Trust nor the custodial trusts are consolidated in the Company's financial statements.

        Income distributions on the Pass-Through Trust Securities and AGC CCS Securities were equal to an annualized rate of one-month LIBOR plus 110 basis points for all periods ending on or prior to April 8, 2008. Following dissolution of the Pass-Through Trust, distributions on the AGC CCS Securities are determined pursuant to an auction process. On April 7, 2008 this auction process failed, thereby

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

15. Long-Term Debt and Credit Facilities (Continued)


increasing the annualized rate on the AGC CCS Securities to One-Month LIBOR plus 250 basis points. Distributions on the AGC preferred stock will be determined pursuant to the same process.

        In June 2003, $200.0 million of "AGM CPS Securities," money market preferred trust securities, were issued by trusts created for the primary purpose of issuing the AGM CPS Securities, investing the proceeds in high-quality commercial paper and selling put options to AGM, allowing AGM to issue the trusts non-cumulative redeemable perpetual preferred stock (the "AGM Preferred Stock") of AGM in exchange for cash. There are four trusts, each with an initial aggregate face amount of $50 million. These trusts hold auctions every 28 days, at which time investors submit bid orders to purchase AGM CPS Securities. If AGM were to exercise a put option, the applicable trust would transfer the portion of the proceeds attributable to principal received upon maturity of its assets, net of expenses, to AGM in exchange for AGM Preferred Stock. AGM pays a floating put premium to the trusts, which represents the difference between the commercial paper yield and the winning auction rate (plus all fees and expenses of the trust). If an auction does not attract sufficient clearing bids, however, the auction rate is subject to a maximum rate of one-month LIBOR plus 200 basis points for the next succeeding distribution period. Beginning in August 2007, the AGM CPS Securities required the maximum rate for each of the relevant trusts. AGM continues to have the ability to exercise its put option and cause the related trusts to purchase AGM Preferred Stock. The trusts provide AGM access to new capital at its sole discretion through the exercise of the put options. The Company does not consider itself to be the primary beneficiary of the trusts because it does not retain the majority of the residual benefits or expected losses.

Committed Capital Securities

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   2008  
 
  (in millions)
 

AGC CCS:

                   
 

Put option premium (expense)

  $ 6.0   $ 6.0   $ 5.7  
 

Fair value gain (loss)

    7.1     (47.1 )   42.7  

AGM CPS:

                   
 

Put option premium (expense)

    3.7     2.3      
 

Fair value gain (loss)

    2.1     (75.8 )    


16. Shareholders' Equity

        The Company has an authorized share capital of $5.0 million divided into 500,000,000 shares, par value $0.01 per share. Except as described below, the Company's common shares have no preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for additional common shares, no rights of redemption, conversion or exchange and no sinking fund rights. In the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, the holders of the Company's common shares are entitled to share equally, in proportion to the number of common shares held by such holder, in the Company's assets, if any remain after the payment of all the Company's liabilities and the liquidation preference of any outstanding preferred shares. Under certain circumstances, the Company has the right to purchase all or a portion of the shares held by a shareholder at fair market value. All of the common shares are fully paid and non assessable. Holders of the Company's common shares are entitled to receive dividends as lawfully may be declared from time to time by the Company's Board of Directors.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

16. Shareholders' Equity (Continued)

        Subject to the Company's Bye-Laws and Bermuda law, the Company's Board of Directors has the power to issue any of the Company's unissued shares as it determines, including the issuance of any shares or class of shares with preferred, deferred or other special rights.

Issuance of Shares

 
  Number of
Shares
  Price per
Share
  Proceeds   Net
Proceeds
 
 
  (in millions)
 

December 4, 2009(1)

    27,512,600   $ 20.90   $ 575.0   $ 573.8  

June 24, 2009(1)(2)

    44,275,000     11.00     487.0     448.9  

April 8, 2008(3)

    10,651,896     23.47     250.0     249.0  

(1)
Includes over allotment. On December 8, 2009, $500 million was contributed to AGC in satisfaction of the external capital portion of the rating agency capital initiatives for AGC.

(2)
Concurrent with this common share offering, the Company sold equity units. See Note 15. Proceeds were used to fund the AGMH Acquisition.

(3)
Represents common shares purchased by funds managed by WL Ross. The Company contributed $150.0 million to AG Re and $100.0 million to AGUS, which contributed the same amount to AGC.

        Under the Company's Bye-Laws and subject to Bermuda law, if the Company's Board of Directors determines that any ownership of the Company's shares may result in adverse tax, legal or regulatory consequences to the Company, any of the Company's subsidiaries or any of its shareholders or indirect holders of shares or its Affiliates (other than such as the Company's Board of Directors considers de minimis), the Company has the option, but not the obligation, to require such shareholder to sell to the Company or to a third party to whom the Company assigns the repurchase right the minimum number of common shares necessary to avoid or cure any such adverse consequences at a price determined in the discretion of the Board of Directors to represent the shares' fair market value (as defined in the Company's Bye-Laws).

        On August 4, 2010, the Company's Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase program for up to 2.0 million common shares. Share repurchases will take place at management's discretion depending on market conditions. No shares were repurchased in 2010 under the 2010 share repurchase program.

        On November 8, 2007, the Company's Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program for up to 2.0 million common shares. During 2010, the Company paid $10.5 million to repurchase 0.7 million shares. During 2009, the Company paid $3.7 million to repurchase 1.0 million shares. No shares were repurchased during 2008.

        Any determination to pay cash dividends will be at the discretion of the Company's Board of Directors, and will depend upon the Company's results of operations and operating cash flows, its financial position and capital requirements, general business conditions, legal, tax, regulatory, rating agency and any contractual restrictions on the payment of dividends and any other factors the Company's Board of Directors deems relevant. For more information concerning regulatory constraints that will affect the Company's ability to pay dividends, see Note 10.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008


17. Employee Benefit Plans

Accounting Policy

        Stock compensation expense is based on the grant date fair value. Stock compensation expense for all share-based payments granted prior to, but not yet vested as of January 1, 2006, is based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with accounting standards in effect at that time.

        The expense for Performance Retention Plan awards is recognized over the requisite service period for each separately vesting tranche as though the award were, in substance, multiple awards, with the exception of retirement eligible employees. For retirement eligible employees, the expense is recognized immediately.

        For options granted before January 1, 2006, the Company amortizes the fair value on an accelerated basis. For options granted on or after January 1, 2006, the Company amortizes the fair value on a straight-line basis. All options are amortized over the requisite service periods of the awards, which are generally the vesting periods, with the exception of retirement-eligible employees. For retirement-eligible employees, options are amortized over the period through the date the employee first becomes eligible to retire and is no longer required to provide service to earn part or all of the award. The Company may elect to use different assumptions under the Black-Scholes option valuation model in the future, which could materially affect the Company's net income or earnings per share ("EPS").

Assured Guaranty Ltd. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan

        As of April 27, 2004, the Company adopted the Assured Guaranty Ltd. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended (the "Incentive Plan"). The number of common shares that may be delivered under the Incentive Plan may not exceed 10,970,000. In the event of certain transactions affecting the Company's common shares, the number or type of shares subject to the Incentive Plan, the number and type of shares subject to outstanding awards under the Incentive Plan, and the exercise price of awards under the Incentive Plan, may be adjusted.

        The Incentive Plan authorizes the grant of incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, and full value awards that are based on the Company's common shares. The grant of full value awards may be in return for a participant's previously performed services, or in return for the participant surrendering other compensation that may be due, or may be contingent on the achievement of performance or other objectives during a specified period, or may be subject to a risk of forfeiture or other restrictions that will lapse upon the achievement of one or more goals relating to completion of service by the participant, or achievement of performance or other objectives. Awards under the Incentive Plan may accelerate and become vested upon a change in control of the Company.

        The Incentive Plan is administered by a committee of the Board of Directors. The Compensation Committee of the Board serves as this committee except as otherwise determined by the Board. The Board may amend or terminate the Incentive Plan. As of December 31, 2010, 3,113,794 common shares were available for grant under the Incentive Plan.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

17. Employee Benefit Plans (Continued)

Stock Options

        Nonqualified or incentive stock options may be granted to employees and directors of the Company. Stock options are generally granted once a year with exercise prices equal to the closing price on the date of grant. To date, the Company has only issued nonqualified stock options. All stock options granted to employees vest in equal annual installments over a three-year period and expire 10 years from the date of grant. None of the Company's options have a performance or market condition. Following is a summary of the Company's options issued and outstanding for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008:

 
  Options for
Common Shares
  Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
  Weighted
Average Grant
Date Fair Value
  Number of
Exercisable
Options
  Year of
Expiration
 

Balance as of December 31, 2007

    3,703,231     21.44           2,186,761        

Options granted

    608,800     23.13     7.59           2018  

Options exercised

    (19,000 )   18.01                    

Options forfeited

    (66,528 )   24.41                    
                               

Balance as of December 31, 2008

    4,226,503     21.65           2,872,199        

Options granted

    669,098     10.11     5.15           2019  

Options exercised

    (10,667 )   22.91                    

Options forfeited

    (256,339 )   21.48                    
                               

Balance as of December 31, 2009

    4,628,595     19.99           3,480,355        

Options granted

    355,834     19.70     11.50           2020  

Options exercised

    (16,923 )   12.84                    

Options forfeited

    (63,736 )   18.47                    
                               

Balance as of December 31, 2010

    4,903,770     20.01           4,010,822        
                               

        As of December 31, 2010, the aggregate intrinsic value and weighted average remaining contractual term of options outstanding were $4.5 million and 5.5 years, respectively. As of December 31, 2010, the aggregate intrinsic value and weighted average remaining contractual term of exercisable options were $1.7 million and 4.8 years, respectively.

        The Company recorded $3.4 million in share based compensation related to stock options, after the effects of deferred acquisition costs, during the year ended December 31, 2010. As of December 31, 2010 the total unrecognized compensation expense related to outstanding nonvested stock options was $2.5 million, which will be adjusted in the future for the difference between estimated and actual forfeitures. The Company expects to recognize that expense over the weighted average remaining service period of 1.3 years.

        The fair value of options issued is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, with the following weighted average assumptions used for grants in 2010, 2009 and 2008:

 
  2010   2009   2008  

Dividend yield

    0.9 %   2.0 %   0.8 %

Expected volatility

    74.68     66.25     35.10  

Risk free interest rate

    2.4     2.1     2.8  

Expected life

    5 years     5 years     5 years  

Forfeiture rate

    4.5     6.0     6.0  

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

17. Employee Benefit Plans (Continued)

        These assumptions were based on the following:

        The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 was $0.2 million, $27 thousand and $45 thousand, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, $0.2 million, $0.2 million and $0.3 million, respectively, was received from the exercise of stock options and $28 thousand, $(17) thousand and $16 thousand, respectively, related tax benefit was recorded and included in the financing section in the statement of cash flows. In order to satisfy stock option exercises, the Company will issue new shares.

Restricted Stock Awards

        Under the Company's Incentive Plan 31,316, 50,990 and 20,443 restricted common shares were awarded during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively, to employees and non-employee directors of the Company. These shares vest at various dates through 2012.

        Restricted stock awards to employees generally vest in equal annual installments over a four-year period and restricted stock awards to outside directors vest in full in one year. Restricted stock awards are amortized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service periods of the awards, and restricted stock to outside directors vest in full in one year, which are generally the vesting periods, with the exception of retirement-eligible employees, discussed above.


Restricted Stock Award Activity

 
  Year Ended
December 31, 2010
 
Nonvested Shares
  Number of
Shares
  Weighted
Average
Grant-Date
Fair Value
 

Nonvested at December 31, 2009

    366,497   $ 24.03  

Granted

    31,316     19.00  

Vested

    (203,035 )   22.32  

Forfeited

    (3,200 )   23.92  
           

Nonvested at December 31, 2010

    191,578   $ 25.01  
           

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

17. Employee Benefit Plans (Continued)

        The Company recorded $1.0 million in share-based compensation, related to restricted stock awards, after the effects of deferred acquisition costs, during the year ended December 31, 2010.

        As of December 31, 2010 the total unrecognized compensation cost related to outstanding nonvested restricted stock awards was $0.5 million, which the Company expects to recognize over the weighted-average remaining service period of 0.5 years. The total fair value of shares vested during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 was $4.5 million, $7.6 million and $10.3 million, respectively.

Restricted Stock Units

        Under the Company's Incentive Plan 556,000, 469,550 and 275,493 restricted stock units were awarded during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively, to employees and non-employee directors of the Company. Restricted stock units are valued based on the closing price of the underlying shares at the date of grant. These restricted stock units have vesting terms similar to those of the restricted common shares and are delivered on the vesting date. The Company has granted restricted stock units to directors of the Company. These restricted stock units vest over a one-year period and are delivered after directors leave.


Restricted Stock Unit Activity
(Excluding Dividend Equivalents)

 
  Year Ended
December 31, 2010
 
Nonvested Stock Units
  Number of
Stock Units
  Weighted
Average
Grant-Date
Fair Value
 

Nonvested at December 31, 2009

    722,926   $ 14.51  

Granted

    556,000     19.78  

Delivered

    (171,319 )   13.45  

Forfeited

    (28,388 )   14.98  
           

Nonvested at December 31, 2010

    1,079,219   $ 17.31  
           

        The Company recorded $6.2 million ($5.0 million after tax) in share- based compensation related to restricted stock units, after the effects of DAC, during the year ended December 31, 2010. The compensation for restricted stock units is expensed on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. As of December 31, 2010, the total unrecognized compensation cost related to outstanding nonvested restricted stock units was $7.2 million, which the Company expects to recognize over the weighted-average remaining service period of 1.8 years. The total fair value of restricted stock units delivered during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 was $2.3 million, $1.4 million and $0.4, respectively.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

        In January 2005, the Company established the Assured Guaranty Ltd. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Stock Purchase Plan") in accordance with Internal Revenue Code Section 423. The Stock Purchase Plan was approved by shareholders at the 2005 Annual General Meeting. Participation in the Stock Purchase Plan is available to all eligible employees. Maximum annual purchases by participants are limited to the number of whole shares that can be purchased by an amount equal to 10 percent of the participant's compensation or, if less, shares having a value of $25,000. Participants may purchase

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

17. Employee Benefit Plans (Continued)


shares at a purchase price equal to 85 percent of the lesser of the fair market value of the stock on the first day or the last day of the subscription period. The Company reserved for issuance and purchases under the Stock Purchase Plan 350,000 shares of its common stock. Employees purchased the Company's shares for aggregate proceeds of $0.3 million, $0.4 million and $0.4 million in the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008. The Company recorded $0.3 million ($0.2 million after tax) in share-based compensation, after the effects of DAC, under the Stock Purchase Plan during the year ended December 31, 2010.

Share-Based Compensation Expense

        The following table presents stock based compensation costs by type of award and the effect of deferring such costs as policy acquisition costs, pre-tax. Amortization of previously deferred stock compensation costs is not shown in the table below.


Share-Based Compensation Expense Summary

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   2008  
 
  (in millions)
 

Share-Based Employee Cost

                   

Restricted Stock

                   
 

Recurring amortization

  $ 1.3   $ 2.8   $ 6.1  
 

Accelerated amortization for retirement eligible employees

        0.3     0.1  
               
   

Subtotal

    1.3     3.1     6.2  
               

Restricted Stock Units

                   
 

Recurring amortization

    2.4     1.6     1.2  
 

Accelerated amortization for retirement eligible employees

    3.8     1.4     1.6  
               
   

Subtotal

    6.2     3.0     2.8  
               

Stock Options

                   
 

Recurring amortization

    1.7     2.3     3.4  
 

Accelerated amortization for retirement eligible employees

    2.2     0.5     1.5  
               
   

Subtotal

    3.9     2.8     4.9  
               

ESPP

    0.4     0.2     0.1  
               

Total Share-Based Employee Cost

    11.8     9.1     14.0  
               

Share-Based Directors Cost

                   

Restricted Stock

    0.6     0.6     0.4  

Restricted Stock Units

        0.2     0.7  

Stock Options

    0.3     0.2      
               

Total Share-Based Directors Cost

    0.9     1.0     1.1  
               

Total Share-Based Cost

    12.7     10.1     15.1  
               

Less: Share-based compensation capitalized as deferred acquisition costs

    1.8     2.3     3.3  
               

Share-based compensation expense

  $ 10.9   $ 7.8   $ 11.8  
               

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

17. Employee Benefit Plans (Continued)

Defined Contribution Plan

        The Company maintains savings incentive plans, which are qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code. The U.S. savings incentive plan is available to eligible full-time employees upon hire. Eligible participants may contribute a percentage of their salary subject to a maximum of $16,500 for 2010. Contributions are matched by the Company at a rate of 100% up to 6% of participant's compensation, subject to IRS limitations. Any amounts over the IRS limits are contributed to and matched by the Company into a nonqualified supplemental executive retirement plan for employees eligible to participate in such nonqualified plan. The Company also makes a core contribution of 6% of the participant's compensation to the qualified plan, subject to IRS limitations, and the nonqualified supplemental executive retirement plan for eligible employees, regardless of whether the employee contributes to the plan(s). In addition, employees become fully vested in Company contributions after one year of service, as defined in the plan. Plan eligibility is immediate upon hire.

        In Bermuda the savings incentive plan qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code is available to eligible full-time employees upon their first date of employment. Eligible participants may contribute a percentage of their salary subject to a maximum of $16,500 for 2010. Contributions are matched by the Company at a rate of 100% up to 6% of the participant's compensation, subject to IRS limitations. Eligible participants also receive a Company core contribution equal to 6% of the participant's compensation, subject to IRS limitations, without requiring the participant to contribute to the plan. Participants generally vest in Company contributions upon the completion of one year of service. With respect to those employees who are Bermudian or spouses of Bermudians and who must participate in the Bermuda national pension scheme plan maintained by the Company, a portion of the foregoing contributions are made to the Bermuda national pension scheme plan. If employee or employer contributions in the Bermuda savings incentive plan are limited by the tax-qualification rules of Code section 401(a), then contributions in excess of those limits are allocated to a nonqualified plan for eligible employees. The Company may contribute an additional amount to eligible employees' Bermuda nonqualified plan accounts at the discretion of the Board of Directors. No such contribution was made for plan years 2010, 2009 or in 2008.

        The Company recognized defined contribution expenses of $11.4 million, $6.2 million and $5.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

        Employees of AGMH participated in the AGMH defined contribution plans in effect prior to the AGMH Acquisition through December 31, 2009. Effective January 1, 2010, all AGMH employees have joined the Company's defined contribution plans.

Cash-Based Compensation

        In February 2006, the Company established the Assured Guaranty Ltd. Performance Retention Plan ("PRP") which permits the grant of cash based awards to selected employees. PRP awards may be treated as nonqualified deferred compensation subject to the rules of Internal Revenue Code Section 409A, and the PRP was amended in 2007 to comply with those rules. The PRP was again amended in 2008 to be a sub-plan under the Company's Long-Term Incentive Plan (enabling awards under the plan to be performance based compensation exempt from the $1 million limit on tax deductible compensation). The revisions also give the Compensation Committee greater flexibility in establishing the terms of performance retention awards, including the ability to establish different performance periods and performance objectives.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

17. Employee Benefit Plans (Continued)

        The Company granted a limited number of PRP awards in 2007, which vest after four years of continued employment (or if earlier, on employment termination, if the participant's termination occurs as a result of death, disability, or retirement), and participants receive the designated award in a single lump sum when it vests, except that participants who vest as a result of retirement receive the bonus at the end of the four year period during which the award would have vested had the participant continued in employment. The value of the award paid is greater than the originally designated amount only if actual company performance, as measured by an increase in the company's adjusted book value, as defined in the PRP, improves during the four year performance period. For those participants who vest prior to the end of the four year period as a result of their termination of employment resulting from retirement, death or disability, the value of the award paid is greater than the originally designated amount only if actual company performance, as measured by an increase in the company's adjusted book value, improves during the period ending on the last day of the calendar quarter prior to the date of the participant's termination of employment.

        Beginning in 2008, the Company integrated PRP awards into its long term incentive compensation system and substantially increased the number and amount of these awards. Generally, each PRP award is divided into three installments, with 25% of the award allocated to a performance period that includes the year of the award and the next year, 25% of the award allocated to a performance period that includes the year of the award and the next two years, and 50% of the award allocated to a performance period that includes the year of the award and the next three years. Each installment of an award vests if the participant remains employed through the end of the performance period for that installment. Awards may vest upon the occurrence of other events as set forth in the plan documents. Payment for each performance period is made at the end of that performance period. One half of each installment is increased or decreased in proportion to the increase or decrease of per share adjusted book value during the performance period, and one half of each installment is increased or decreased in proportion to the operating return on equity during the performance period. Since 2008, a limited number of awards have cliff vesting in four or five years. Operating return on equity and adjusted book value are defined in each PRP award agreement.

        Under awards since 2008, a payment otherwise subject to the $1 million limit on tax deductible compensation, will not be made unless performance satisfies a minimum threshold.

        As described above, the performance measures used to determine the amounts distributable under the PRP are based on the Company's operating return on equity and growth in per share adjusted book value, or in the case of the 2007 awards growth in adjusted book value, as defined. The Compensation Committee believes that management's focus on achievement of these performance measures will lead to increases in the Company's intrinsic value. For PRP awards, the Compensation Committee uses the following methods to determine operating return on equity and adjusted book value.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

17. Employee Benefit Plans (Continued)

        The adjustments described above may be made by the AGL Compensation Committee at any time before distribution, except that, for certain senior executive officers, any adjustment made after the grant of the award may decrease but may not increase the amount of the distribution.

        In the event of a corporate transaction involving the Company, including, without limitation, any share dividend, share split, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, amalgamation, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, sale of assets or subsidiaries, combination or exchange of shares, the Compensation Committee may adjust the calculation of the Company's adjusted book value and operating return on equity as the Compensation Committee deems necessary or desirable in order to preserve the benefits or potential benefits of PRP awards.

        The Company recognized cash-based compensation as follows:

 
  2010   2009   2008  
 
  (in millions)
 

Performance Retention Plan expense, pre-tax

  $ 14.0   $ 9.0   $ 5.7  

Performance Retention Plan expense, after-tax

    9.5     7.1     4.5  

Performance Retention Plan expense for retirement eligible employees, pre-tax

    6.0     4.5     3.3  


18. Earnings Per Share

Accounting Policy

        Effective January 1, 2009, the Company adopted an accounting standard that stated share-based payment awards that entitle their holders to receive nonforfeitable dividends or dividend equivalents before vesting should be considered participating securities. Restricted stock awards granted prior to February 2008 are considered participating securities as they received non-forfeitable rights to dividends at the same rate as common stock. As participating securities, the Company includes these instruments in the calculation of basic EPS, and calculates basic EPS using the two-class method.

        Prior to January 1, 2009, restricted stock was included in the Company's dilutive EPS calculation using the treasury stock method. The two-class method of computing EPS is an earnings allocation formula that determines EPS for each class of common stock and participating security according to dividends declared (or accumulated) and participation rights in undistributed earnings. Basic EPS is then calculated by dividing net (loss) income available to common shareholders of Assured Guaranty by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS adjusts basic (loss) EPS for the effects of restricted stock, stock options, equity units and other potentially dilutive financial instruments ("dilutive securities"), only in the periods in which such effect is dilutive. The dilutive effect of the dilutive securities is reflected in diluted EPS by application of the more dilutive of (1) the treasury stock method or (2) the two-class method assuming nonvested shares are not converted into common shares. With respect to the equity units (see Note 15), in computing EPS, the treasury stock method is used. Basic EPS will not be affected until the equity forwards are satisfied and the holders thereof become common stock holders. Diluted EPS is not affected unless the Company's common stock price is over $12.93 per share. The Company has a single class of common stock. There was no impact on previously reported basic and diluted EPS for year ended December 31, 2008.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

18. Earnings Per Share (Continued)

        The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted EPS:

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   2008  
 
  (in millions, except per share amounts)
 

Basic EPS:

                   

Net income (loss) attributable to AGL

  $ 548.9   $ 97.2   $ 68.9  

Less: Distributed and undistributed income (loss) available to nonvested shareholders

    1.0     0.4     0.6  
               

Distributed and undistributed income (loss) available to common shareholders of AGL and subsidiaries

  $ 547.9   $ 96.8   $ 68.3  
               

Basic shares

    184.0     126.5     88.0  

Basic EPS

  $ 2.98   $ 0.77   $ 0.78  

Diluted EPS:

                   

Distributed and undistributed income (loss) available to common shareholders of AGL and subsidiaries

  $ 547.9   $ 96.8   $ 68.3  

Plus: Re-allocation of undistributed income (loss) available to nonvested shareholders of AGL and subsidiaries

             
               

Distributed and undistributed income (loss) available to common shareholders of AGL and subsidiaries

  $ 547.9   $ 96.8   $ 68.3  
               

Basic shares

    184.0     126.5     88.0  

Effect of dilutive securities:

                   
 

Options and restricted stock awards

    0.9     0.6     0.4  
 

Equity units

    4.0     2.0      
               

Diluted shares

    188.9     129.1     88.4  
               

Diluted EPS

  $ 2.90   $ 0.75   $ 0.77  

Potentially dilutive securities excluded from computation of EPS because of antidilutive effect

    3.0     4.4     2.4  


19. Segments

        The Company's business includes two principal segments: financial guaranty direct and financial guaranty reinsurance. The financial guaranty direct segment includes policies issued directly to the holders of insured obligations at time of issuance and those issued in the secondary market. The financial guaranty reinsurance segment includes assumed reinsurance contracts written to third parties. The Company's mortgage guaranty insurance business, which was previously as a separate segment and has had no new activity in recent years, and other lines of business that were 100% ceded upon Assured Guaranty's IPO in 2004, are shown as "other." Each segment is reported net of business ceded to external reinsurers. The financial guaranty segments include contracts accounted for as both insurance and credit derivatives. Financial guaranties of RMBS and CMBS are included in both the financial guaranty direct and reinsurance segments.

        Prior to the AGMH Acquisition, AG Re assumed business from AGM and it continues to do so. For periods prior to the AGMH Acquisition, the Company reported the business assumed from AGMH in the financial guaranty reinsurance segment, reflecting the separate organizational structures as of those reporting dates. As a result, prior period segment results are consistent with the amounts previously reported by segment. For periods subsequent to the AGMH Acquisition, the Company included all financial guaranty business written by AGMH in the financial guaranty direct segment and the AGMH business assumed by AG Re is eliminated from the financial guaranty reinsurance segment.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

19. Segments (Continued)

        The Other segment includes mortgage guaranty insurance whereby the Company provides protection against the default of borrowers on mortgage loans, and lines of business (including equity layer credit protection, trade credit reinsurance, title reinsurance and auto residual value reinsurance) in which the Company is no longer active.

        The Company does not segregate assets and liabilities at a segment level since management reviews and controls these assets and liabilities on a consolidated basis. The Company allocates operating expenses to each segment based on a comprehensive cost study and is based on departmental time estimates and headcount.

        The Company manages its business without regard to accounting requirements to consolidate certain VIEs. As a result, underwriting gain or loss includes results of operations as if consolidated VIEs were accounted for as insurance.

        Management uses underwriting gains and losses as the primary measure of each segment's financial performance. Underwriting gain is the measure used by management to measure and analyze the insurance operations of the Company calculated as pre-tax income excluding net investment income, realized investment gains and losses, non-credit impairment related unrealized gains and losses on credit derivatives, fair value gain (loss) on CCS, goodwill and settlement of pre-existing relationship, AGMH acquisition-related expenses, interest expense, and certain other expenses, which are not directly related to the underwriting performance of the Company's insurance operations but are included in net income.

        The following table summarizes the components of underwriting gain (loss) for each reporting segment:


Underwriting Gain (Loss) by Segment

 
  Year Ended December 31, 2010  
 
  Financial
Guaranty
Direct
  Financial
Guaranty
Reinsurance
  Other   Underwriting
Gain (Loss)
  Consolidation
of VIEs
  Total  
 
  (in millions)
 

Net earned premiums

  $ 1,161.7   $ 70.2   $ 2.4   $ 1,234.3   $ (47.6 ) $ 1,186.7  

Credit derivative revenues(1)

    210.9     (0.6 )       210.3         210.3  

Other income

    60.5             60.5         60.5  

Loss and loss adjustment (expenses) recoveries

    (406.7 )   (75.7 )   (0.2 )   (482.6 )   68.8     (413.8 )

Losses incurred on credit derivatives

    (200.5 )   (8.9 )       (209.4 )       (209.4 )

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs

    (16.6 )   (17.4 )   (0.1 )   (34.1 )       (34.1 )

Other operating expenses

    (171.3 )   (29.2 )   (1.3 )   (201.8 )       (201.8 )
                               

Underwriting gain (loss)

  $ 638.0   $ (61.6 ) $ 0.8   $ 577.2              
                               

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

19. Segments (Continued)

 

 
  Year Ended December 31, 2009  
 
  Financial
Guaranty
Direct
  Financial
Guaranty
Reinsurance
  Other   Total  
 
  (in millions)
 

Net earned premiums

  $ 793.1   $ 134.4   $ 2.9   $ 930.4  

Credit derivative revenues(1)

    168.2     2.0         170.2  

Other income

    31.3     0.1         31.4  

Loss and loss adjustment (expenses) recoveries

    (241.9 )   (123.8 )   (12.1 )   (377.8 )

Losses incurred on credit derivatives

    (238.1 )   (0.6 )       (238.7 )

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs

    (16.3 )   (37.1 )   (0.5 )   (53.9 )

Other operating expenses

    (136.4 )   (26.4 )   (3.0 )   (165.8 )
                   

Underwriting gain (loss)

  $ 359.9   $ (51.4 ) $ (12.7 ) $ 295.8  
                   

 

 
  Year Ended December 31, 2008  
 
  Financial
Guaranty
Direct
  Financial
Guaranty
Reinsurance
  Other   Total  
 
  (in millions)
 

Net earned premiums

  $ 90.0   $ 165.7   $ 5.7   $ 261.4  

Credit derivative revenues(1)

    113.8     3.4         117.2  

Other income

    0.5     0.2         0.7  

Loss and loss adjustment (expenses) recoveries

    (196.9 )   (68.4 )   (0.5 )   (265.8 )

Losses incurred on credit derivatives

    (38.3 )   (5.4 )   0.4     (43.3 )

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs

    (14.1 )   (46.6 )   (0.5 )   (61.2 )

Other operating expenses

    (61.6 )   (20.7 )   (2.6 )   (84.9 )
                   

Underwriting gain (loss)

  $ (106.6 ) $ 28.2   $ 2.5   $ (75.9 )
                   

(1)
Comprised of premiums and ceding commissions.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

19. Segments (Continued)


Reconciliation of Underwriting Gain (Loss)
to Income (Loss) before Income Taxes

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   2008  
 
  (in millions)
 

Total underwriting gain

  $ 577.2   $ 295.8   $ (75.9 )

Net investment income

    354.7     259.2     162.6  

Net realized investment gains (losses)

    (2.0 )   (32.7 )   (69.8 )

Unrealized gains on credit derivatives, excluding losses incurred on credit derivatives

    (5.2 )   (105.7 )   81.7  

Fair value gain (loss) on CCS

    9.2     (122.9 )   42.7  

Net change in financial guaranty VIEs

    (183.1 )   (1.2 )    

Other income(1)

    (20.4 )   27.1      

AGMH acquisition-related expenses

    (6.8 )   (92.3 )    

Interest expense

    (99.6 )   (62.8 )   (23.3 )

Goodwill and settlement of intercompany relationship

        (23.3 )    

CCS premium expense(2)

    (9.7 )   (8.3 )   (5.7 )

Elimination of insurance accounts for VIEs

    21.2          
               

Income (loss) before provision for income taxes

  $ 635.5   $ 132.9   $ 112.3  
               

(1)
Includes foreign exchange gain (loss) on revaluation of premium receivable and reinsurance cession of OTTI of investment assets associated with a BIG financial guaranty contract.

(2)
Recorded in other operating expenses.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

19. Segments (Continued)

        The following table provides the source from which each of the Company's segments derives their net earned premiums:


Net Earned Premiums By Segment

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2010   2009   2008  
 
  (in millions)
 

Financial guaranty direct:

                   
 

Public finance

  $ 437.4   $ 328.0   $ 34.6  
 

Structured finance

    724.3     465.0     55.4  
               
   

Total

    1,161.7     793.0     90.0  

Financial guaranty reinsurance:

                   
 

Public finance

    39.0     92.8     123.1  
 

Structured finance

    31.2     41.6     42.6  
               
   

Total

    70.2     134.4     165.7  

Other

    2.4     3.0     5.7  
               

Subtotal

    1,234.3     930.4     261.4  

Consolidation of VIEs

    (47.6 )        
               

Total net earned premiums

    1,186.7     930.4     261.4  

Net credit derivative premiums received and receivable

    206.8     168.1     118.1  
               
 

Total net earned premiums and credit derivative premiums received and receivable

  $ 1,393.5   $ 1,098.5   $ 379.5  
               

        The following table presents DAC, unearned premium reserves and loss and LAE reserves by segment as of December 31, 2010 and 2009.


Selected Balance Sheet Data
by Segment

 
  As of December 31,  
 
  2010   2009  
 
  Deferred
Acquisition
Cost
  Unearned
Premium
Reserves
  Loss and
LAE
Reserves
  Deferred
Acquisition
Cost
  Unearned
Premium
Reserves
  Loss and
LAE
Reserves
 
 
  (in millions)
 

Financial guaranty direct

  $ 133.7   $ 6,518.7   $ 418.4   $ 96.3   $ 7,759.7   $ 188.0  

Financial guaranty reinsurance

    105.9     443.8     140.9     145.4     627.8     96.3  

Other

    0.2     10.4     3.7     0.3     12.7     5.2  
                           
 

Total

  $ 239.8   $ 6,972.9   $ 563.0   $ 242.0   $ 8,400.2   $ 289.5  
                           

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008


20. Subsidiary Information

        The following tables present the condensed consolidated financial information for AGL, AGUS, of which AGC, AGMH and AGM are subsidiaries, and other subsidiaries of Assured Guaranty as of December 31, 2010 and 2009 and for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2010
(in millions)

 
   
  Assured Guaranty US Holdings Inc.    
   
   
 
 
  Assured
Guaranty Ltd.
(Parent)
  AGUS
(Parent)
  AGMH
(Consolidated)
  AGC and
Other
Subsidiaries
  Consolidating
Adjustments
  AGUS
(Consolidated)
  AG Re and
Other
Subsidiaries
  Consolidating
Adjustments
  Assured
Guaranty Ltd.
(Consolidated)
 

ASSETS

                                                       

Total investment portfolio and cash

  $ 22.5   $ 15.7   $ 5,503.0   $ 2,945.9   $   $ 8,464.6   $ 2,350.0   $   $ 10,837.1  

Investment in subsidiaries

    3,768.9     3,030.7             (3,030.7 )           (3,768.9 )    

Premiums receivable, net of ceding commissions payable

            729.2     269.5         998.7     348.1     (179.2 )   1,167.6  

Ceded unearned premium reserve

            1,494.4     388.5         1,882.9     0.5     (1,061.6 )   821.8  

Deferred acquisition costs

            (82.9 )   57.9         (25.0 )   375.4     (110.6 )   239.8  

Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses

            24.6     68.1         92.7     0.4     (70.8 )   22.3  

Credit derivative assets

            181.8     387.4     (2.7 )   566.5     103.5     (77.1 )   592.9  

Deferred tax asset, net

        (0.8 )   850.6     339.7     1.1     1,190.6     13.2     20.2     1,224.0  

Intercompany receivable

            300.0         (300.0 )                

Financial guaranty variable interest entities' assets, at fair value

            3,368.4     966.0         4,334.4             4,334.4  

Other assets

    19.2     3.8     942.1     295.8     (38.1 )   1,203.6     134.2     (125.4 )   1,231.6  
                                       
 

TOTAL ASSETS

  $ 3,810.6   $ 3,049.4   $ 13,311.2   $ 5,718.8   $ (3,370.4 ) $ 18,709.0   $ 3,325.3   $ (5,373.4 ) $ 20,471.5  
                                       

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

                                                       

Unearned premium reserves

  $   $   $ 5,321.3   $ 1,323.1   $   $ 6,644.4   $ 1,332.1   $ (1,003.6 ) $ 6,972.9  

Loss and LAE reserve

            243.0     231.1         474.1     178.4     (89.5 )   563.0  

Long-term debt

        518.4     534.5             1,052.9             1,052.9  

Intercompany payable

                300.0     (300.0 )                

Credit derivative liabilities

        0.2     592.8     1,506.0     (2.7 )   2,096.3     446.4     (77.2 )   2,465.5  

Financial guaranty variable interest entities' liabilities, at fair value

            3,921.9     1,019.2         4,941.1             4,941.1  

Other liabilities

    11.8     (24.3 )   754.4     252.0     (37.0 )   945.1     16.9     (296.5 )   677.3  
                                       
 

TOTAL LIABILITIES

    11.8     494.3     11,367.9     4,631.4     (339.7 )   16,153.9     1,973.8     (1,466.8 )   16,672.7  
                                       
 

TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY ATTRIBUTBLE TO ASSURED GUARANTY LTD. 

    3,798.8     2,555.1     1,943.3     1,087.4     (3,030.7 )   2,555.1     1,351.5     (3,906.6 )   3,798.8  

Noncontrolling interest of financial guaranty variable interest entities

                                     
                                       
 

TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

    3,798.8     2,555.1     1,943.3     1,087.4     (3,030.7 )   2,555.1     1,351.5     (3,906.6 )   3,798.8  
                                       
 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

  $ 3,810.6   $ 3,049.4   $ 13,311.2   $ 5,718.8   $ (3,370.4 ) $ 18,709.0   $ 3,325.3   $ (5,373.4 ) $ 20,471.5  
                                       

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

20. Subsidiary Information (Continued)


CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2009
(in millions)

 
   
  Assured Guaranty US Holdings Inc.    
   
   
 
 
  Assured
Guaranty Ltd.
(Parent)
  AGUS
(Parent)
  AGMH
(Consolidated)
  AGC and
Other
Subsidiaries
  Consolidating
Adjustments
  AGUS
(Consolidated)
  AG Re and
Other
Subsidiaries
  Consolidating
Adjustments
  Assured
Guaranty Ltd.
(Consolidated)
 

ASSETS

                                                       

Total investment portfolio and cash

  $ 52.5   $ 3.7   $ 5,957.6   $ 2,867.1   $   $ 8,828.4   $ 2,131.6   $   $ 11,012.5  

Investment in subsidiaries

    3,457.1     2,852.0             (2,852.0 )           (3,457.1 )    

Premiums receivable, net of ceding commissions payable

            787.4     349.7     (1.2 )   1,135.9     446.2     (163.9 )   1,418.2  

Ceded unearned premium reserve

            1,545.0     435.3         1,980.3     0.5     (900.3 )   1,080.5  

Deferred acquisition costs

            (27.0 )   45.2         18.2     342.0     (118.2 )   242.0  

Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses

            13.7     50.7         64.4     0.9     (51.2 )   14.1  

Credit derivative assets

            227.0     244.6         471.6     68.5     (47.6 )   492.5  

Deferred tax asset, net

        (0.4 )   879.2     242.0         1,120.8     9.7     27.7     1,158.2  

Intercompany receivable

            300.0         (300.0 )                

Financial guaranty variable interest entities' assets, at fair value

            762.3             762.3             762.3  

Other assets

    22.6     1.3     397.9     203.0     (0.5 )   601.7     83.4     (85.3 )   622.4  
                                       
 

TOTAL ASSETS

  $ 3,532.2   $ 2,856.6   $ 10,843.1   $ 4,437.6   $ (3,153.7 ) $ 14,983.6   $ 3,082.8   $ (4,795.9 ) $ 16,802.7  
                                       

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

                                                       

Unearned premium reserves

  $   $   $ 6,468.3   $ 1,451.6   $   $ 7,919.9   $ 1,301.5   $ (821.2 ) $ 8,400.2  

Loss and LAE reserve

            55.3     191.2         246.5     122.3     (79.3 )   289.5  

Long-term debt

        517.4     549.1             1,066.5             1,066.5  

Intercompany payable

                300.0     (300.0 )                

Credit derivative liabilities

        0.2     625.7     1,076.7         1,702.6     379.4     (47.4 )   2,034.6  

Financial guaranty variable interest entities' liabilities, at fair value

            762.7             762.7             762.7  

Other liabilities

    11.7     (15.6 )   761.4     187.1     (1.7 )   931.2     25.4     (239.2 )   729.1  
                                       
 

TOTAL LIABILITIES

    11.7     502.0     9,222.5     3,206.6     (301.7 )   12,629.4     1,828.6     (1,187.1 )   13,282.6  
                                       
 

TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY ATTRIBUTBLE TO ASSURED GUARANTY LTD

    3,520.5     2,354.6     1,621.0     1,231.0     (2,852.0 )   2,354.6     1,254.2     (3,608.8 )   3,520.5  

Noncontrolling interest of financial guaranty variable interest entities

            (0.4 )           (0.4 )           (0.4 )
                                       
 

TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

    3,520.5     2,354.6     1,620.6     1,231.0     (2,852.0 )   2,354.2     1,254.2     (3,608.8 )   3,520.1  
                                       
 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

  $ 3,532.2   $ 2,856.6   $ 10,843.1   $ 4,437.6   $ (3,153.7 ) $ 14,983.6   $ 3,082.8   $ (4,795.9 ) $ 16,802.7  
                                       

293


Table of Contents


Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

20. Subsidiary Information (Continued)


CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010
(in millions)

 
   
  Assured Guaranty US Holdings Inc.    
   
   
 
 
  Assured
Guaranty Ltd
(Parent)
  AGUS
(Parent)
  AGMH
(Consolidated)
  AGC and
Other
Subsidiaries
  Consolidating
Adjustments
  AGUS
(Consolidated)
  AG Re and
Other
Subsidiaries
  Consolidating
Adjustments
  Assured
Guaranty Ltd.
(Consolidated)
 

REVENUES

                                                       

Net earned premiums

  $   $   $ 907.8   $ 106.7   $   $ 1,014.5   $ 153.7   $ 18.5   $ 1,186.7  

Net investment income

            196.5     88.1     (15.0 )   269.6     85.1         354.7  

Net realized investment gains (losses)

            (11.9 )   2.4         (9.5 )   7.5         (2.0 )

Net change in fair value of credit derivatives:

                                                       
 

Realized gains and other settlements

            61.8     78.2         140.0     13.5         153.5  
 

Net unrealized gains (losses)

            (10.7 )   (139.1 )       (149.8 )   (8.0 )       (157.8 )
                                       
   

Net change in fair value of credit derivatives

            51.1     (60.9 )       (9.8 )   5.5         (4.3 )

Equity in earnings of subsidiaries

    573.3     511.3             (511.3 )           (573.3 )    

Other income(1)

            (129.4 )   12.7         (116.7 )   (16.0 )   (1.1 )   (133.8 )
                                       
 

TOTAL REVENUES

    573.3     511.3     1,014.1     149.0     (526.3 )   1,148.1     235.8     (555.9 )   1,401.3  
                                       

EXPENSES

                                                       

Loss and LAE

            191.5     111.2         302.7     106.2     4.9     413.8  

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs and other operating expenses

    24.4     1.0     75.1     99.0         175.1     55.0     (8.9 )   245.6  

Other(2)

        41.6     60.4     18.2     (15.0 )   105.2     1.2         106.4  
                                       
 

TOTAL EXPENSES

    24.4     42.6     327.0     228.4     (15.0 )   583.0     162.4     (4.0 )   765.8  
                                       

INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES

    548.9     468.7     687.1     (79.4 )   (511.3 )   565.1     73.4     (551.9 )   635.5  

Total provision (benefit) for income taxes

        (14.9 )   136.5     (40.1 )       81.5     (2.4 )   7.5     86.6  
                                       

NET INCOME (LOSS)

    548.9     483.6     550.6     (39.3 )   (511.3 )   483.6     75.8     (559.4 )   548.9  

Less: Noncontrolling interest of variable interest entities

                                     
                                       

NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO ASSURED GUARANTY LTD

  $ 548.9   $ 483.6   $ 550.6   $ (39.3 ) $ (511.3 ) $ 483.6   $ 75.8   $ (559.4 ) $ 548.9  
                                       

(1)
Includes fair value gain (loss) on CCS, net change in financial guaranty VIEs and other income.

(2)
Includes AGMH acquisition related expenses and interest expense.

294


Table of Contents


Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

20. Subsidiary Information (Continued)


CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009
(in millions)

 
   
  Assured Guaranty US Holdings Inc.    
   
   
 
 
  Assured
Guaranty Ltd
(Parent)
  AGUS
(Parent)
  AGMH
(Consolidated)
  AGC and
Other
Subsidiaries
  Consolidating
Adjustments
  AGUS
(Consolidated)
  AG Re and
Other
Subsidiaries
  Consolidating
Adjustments
  Assured
Guaranty Ltd.
(Consolidated)
 

REVENUES

                                                       

Net earned premiums

  $   $   $ 575.4   $ 138.7   $   $ 714.1   $ 181.1   $ 35.2   $ 930.4  

Net investment income

    0.1     0.5     92.3     76.6     (0.5 )   168.9     90.8     (0.6 )   259.2  

Net realized investment gains (losses)

            1.3     3.0         4.3     (37.3 )   0.3     (32.7 )

Net change in fair value of credit derivatives:

                                                       
 

Realized gains and other settlements

            63.5     90.8         154.3     9.3         163.6  
 

Net unrealized gains (losses)

            223.4     (481.6 )       (258.2 )   (79.6 )       (337.8 )
                                       
   

Net change in fair value of credit derivatives

            286.9     (390.8 )       (103.9 )   (70.3 )       (174.2 )

Equity in earnings of subsidiaries

    124.5     319.4             (319.4 )           (124.5 )    

Other income(1)

            (41.1 )   (41.3 )       (82.4 )   29.5     (12.7 )   (65.6 )
                                       
 

TOTAL REVENUES

  $ 124.6   $ 319.9   $ 914.8   $ (213.8 ) $ (319.9 ) $ 701.0   $ 193.8   $ (102.3 ) $ 917.1  
                                       

EXPENSES

                                                       

Loss and LAE

  $   $   $ 51.8   $ 192.9   $   $ 244.7   $ 133.6   $ (0.5 ) $ 377.8  

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs and other operating expenses

    20.2         69.9     72.5         142.4     67.0     (1.6 )   228.0  

Other(2)

    7.2     50.4     (161.9 )   110.6     (0.5 )   (1.4 )   2.1     170.5     178.4  
                                       
 

TOTAL EXPENSES

    27.4     50.4     (40.2 )   376.0     (0.5 )   385.7     202.7     168.4     784.2  
                                       

INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES

    97.2     269.5     955.0     (589.8 )   (319.4 )   315.3     (8.9 )   (270.7 )   132.9  

Total provision (benefit) for income taxes

        (15.8 )   231.5     (184.5 )       31.2         5.7     36.9  
                                       

NET INCOME (LOSS)

    97.2     285.3     723.5     (405.3 )   (319.4 )   284.1     (8.9 )   (276.4 )   96.0  

Less: Noncontrolling interest of variable interest entities

            (1.2 )           (1.2 )           (1.2 )
                                       

NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO ASSURED GUARANTY LTD

  $ 97.2   $ 285.3   $ 724.7   $ (405.3 ) $ (319.4 ) $ 285.3   $ (8.9 ) $ (276.4 ) $ 97.2  
                                       

(1)
Includes fair value gain (loss) on CCS, net change in financial guaranty VIEs and other income.

(2)
Includes AGMH acquisition-related expenses, interest expense, and goodwill and settlement of pre-existing relationship.

295



Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

20. Subsidiary Information (Continued)

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008
(in millions)

 
  Assured
Guaranty Ltd
(Parent)
  AGUS
(Consolidated)
  AG Re and
Other
Subsidiaries
  Consolidating
Adjustments
  Assured
Guaranty Ltd.
(Consolidated)
 

REVENUES

                               

Net earned premiums

  $   $ 92.0   $ 169.4   $   $ 261.4  

Net investment income

    0.5     73.7     88.4         162.6  

Net realized investment gains (losses)

        (14.7 )   (55.1 )       (69.8 )

Net change in fair value of credit derivatives:

                               
 

Realized gains and other settlements

        93.4     24.2         117.6  
 

Net unrealized gains (losses)

        126.2     (88.2 )       38.0  
                       
   

Net change in fair value of credit derivatives

        219.6     (64.0 )       155.6  

Equity in earnings of subsidiaries

    85.6             (85.6 )    

Other income(1)

        44.4         (1.0 )   43.4  
                       
 

TOTAL REVENUES

  $ 86.1   $ 415.0     138.7     (86.6 )   553.2  
                       

EXPENSES

                               

Loss and LAE

        149.5     116.3         265.8  

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs and other operating expenses

    17.2     77.8     56.8         151.8  

Other(2)

        23.3             23.3  
                       
 

TOTAL EXPENSES

    17.2     250.6     173.1         440.9  
                       

INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES

    68.9     164.4     (34.4 )   (86.6 )   112.3  

Total provision (benefit) for income taxes

        42.7     0.7         43.4  
                       

NET INCOME (LOSS)

    68.9     121.7     (35.1 )   (86.6 )   68.9  

Less: Noncontrolling interest of variable interest entities

                     
                       

NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO ASSURED GUARANTY LTD

  $ 68.9   $ 121.7   $ (35.1 ) $ (86.6 ) $ 68.9  
                       

(1)
Includes fair value gain (loss) on CCS and other income.

(2)
Includes interest expense.

296



Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

20. Subsidiary Information (Continued)

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010
(in millions)

 
   
  Assured Guaranty US Holdings Inc.    
   
   
 
 
  Assured
Guaranty Ltd.
(Parent)
  AGUS
(Parent)
  AGMH
(Consolidated)
  AGC and
Other
Subsidiaries
  Consolidating
Adjustments
  (Consolidated)   AG Re and
Other
Subsidiaries
  Consolidating
Adjustments
  Assured
Guaranty Ltd.
(Consolidated)
 

Net cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities

  $ 15.7   $ 11.8   $ (83.3 ) $ 42.0   $ (50.0 ) $ (79.5 ) $ 191.8   $ (24.0 ) $ 104.0  
                                       

Cash flows from investing activities

                                                       

Fixed maturity securities:

                                                       
 

Purchases

            (708.3 )   (877.6 )   4.3     (1,581.6 )   (890.3 )   10.2     (2,461.7 )
 

Sales

            518.7     245.1     (4.3 )   759.5     314.3     (10.2 )   1,063.6  
 

Maturities

            539.2     161.9         701.1     293.3         994.4  

Purchases of short-term investments, net

    30.0     1.1     (43.5 )   530.7         488.3     119.0         637.3  

Net proceeds from financial guaranty variable entities' assets

            410.2     13.8         424.0             424.0  

Other

            19.7             19.7             19.7  
                                       

Net cash flows used in investing activities

    30.0     1.1     736.0     73.9         811.0     (163.7 )       677.3  
                                       

Cash flows from financing activities

                                                       

Repurchases of common stock

    (10.5 )                               (10.5 )

Dividends paid

    (33.2 )           (50.0 )   50.0         (24.0 )   24.0     (33.2 )

Share activity under option and incentive plans

    (2.0 )                               (2.0 )

Net paydowns of financial guaranty variable entities' liabilities

            (605.6 )   (45.2 )       (650.8 )           (650.8 )

Payment of long-term debt

            (20.9 )           (20.9 )           (20.9 )
                                       

Net cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities

    (45.7 )       (626.5 )   (95.2 )   50.0     (671.7 )   (24.0 )   24.0     (717.4 )

Effect of exchange rate changes

            (0.6 )   (0.2 )       (0.8 )           (0.8 )
                                       

Increase (decrease) increase in cash

        12.9     25.6     20.5         59.0     4.1         63.1  

Cash at beginning of period

        0.1     26.1     6.2         32.4     11.7         44.1  
                                       

Cash at end of period

  $   $ 13.0   $ 51.7   $ 26.7   $   $ 91.4   $ 15.8   $   $ 107.2  
                                       

297



Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

20. Subsidiary Information (Continued)


CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009
(in millions)

 
   
  Assured Guaranty US Holdings Inc.    
   
   
 
 
  Assured
Guaranty Ltd.
(Parent)
  AGUS
(Parent)
  AGMH
(Consolidated)
  AGC and
Other
Subsidiaries
  Consolidating
Adjustments
  (Consolidated)   AG Re and
Other
Subsidiaries
  Consolidating
Adjustments
  Assured
Guaranty Ltd.
(Consolidated)
 

Net cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities

  $ 19.6   $ (23.9 ) $ (85.3 ) $ 304.3   $ (16.8 ) $ 178.3   $ 112.1   $ (30.8 ) $ 279.2  
                                       

Cash flows from investing activities

                                                       

Fixed maturity securities:

                                                       
 

Purchases

            (475.1 )   (1,064.7 )       (1,539.8 )   (747.9 )       (2,287.7 )
 

Sales

            385.7     594.0         979.7     539.6         1,519.3  
 

Maturities

            196.5     7.8         204.3     13.6         217.9  

Sales (purchases) of short-term investments, net

    (52.3 )   (3.5 )   221.9     (685.6 )       (467.2 )   122.4         (397.1 )

Capital contribution to subsidiary

    (962.9 )   (556.7 )           556.7         (512.0 )   1,474.9      

Acquisition of AGMH

        (546.0 )           87.0     (459.0 )           (459.0 )

Investment in subsidiary

            (300.0 )       300.0                  

Other

            9.4             9.4             9.4  
                                       

Net cash flows used in investing activities

    (1,015.2 )   (1,106.2 )   38.4     (1,148.5 )   943.7     (1,272.6 )   (584.3 )   1,474.9     (1,397.2 )
                                       

Cash flows from financing activities

                                                       

Net proceeds from issuance of common stock and equity units

    1,022.8     167.3                 167.3             1,190.1  

Capital contribution from parent

        962.9         556.7     (556.7 )   962.9     512.0     (1,474.9 )    

Dividends paid

    (22.8 )           (16.8 )   16.8         (30.3 )   30.8     (22.3 )

Repurchases of common stock

    (3.7 )                               (3.7 )

Share activity under option and incentive plans

    (0.7 )                               (0.7 )

Issuance of debt

                300.0     (300.0 )                

Payment of long-term debt

            (14.8 )           (14.8 )           (14.8 )
                                       

Net cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities

    995.6     1,130.2     (14.8 )   839.9     (839.9 )   1,115.4     481.7     (1,444.1 )   1,148.6  

Effect of exchange rate changes

            0.8     0.4         1.2             1.2  
                                       

Increase (decrease) in cash

        0.1     (60.9 )   (3.9 )   87.0     22.3     9.5         31.8  

Cash at beginning of period

            87.0     10.2     (87.0 )   10.2     2.1         12.3  
                                       

Cash at end of period

  $   $ 0.1   $ 26.1   $ 6.3   $   $ 32.5   $ 11.6   $   $ 44.1  
                                       

298



Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

20. Subsidiary Information (Continued)


CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008
(in millions)

 
  Assured
Guaranty Ltd.
(Parent)
  AGUS
(Consolidated)
  AG Re and
Other
Subsidiaries
  Consolidating
Adjustments
  Assured
Guaranty Ltd.
(Consolidated)
 

Net cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities

  $ 21.4   $ 271.0   $ 166.9   $ (32.3 ) $ 427.0  
                       

Cash flows from investing activities

                               

Fixed maturity securities:

                               
 

Purchases

        (495.8 )   (776.2 )       (1,272.0 )
 

Sales

        207.2     325.0         532.2  
 

Maturities

            11.7         11.7  

Sales (purchases) of short-term investments, net

    0.2     (76.1 )   154.4         78.5  

Capital contribution to subsidiary

    (250.0 )           250.0      
                       

Net cash flows used in investing activities

    (249.8 )   (364.7 )   (285.1 )   250.0     (649.6 )
                       

Cash flows from financing activities

                               

Net proceeds from issuance of common stock and equity units

    249.0                 249.0  

Capital contribution from parent

        100.0     150.0     (250.0 )    

Dividends paid

    (17.0 )       (31.3 )   32.3     (16.0 )

Share activity under option and incentive plans

    (3.6 )               (3.6 )
                       

Net cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities

    228.4     100.0     118.7     (217.7 )   229.4  

Effect of exchange rate changes

        (1.7 )   (0.8 )       (2.5 )
                       

Increase (decrease) in cash

        4.6     (0.3 )       4.3  

Cash at beginning of period

        5.6     2.4         8.0  
                       

Cash at end of period

  $   $ 10.2   $ 2.1   $   $ 12.3  
                       

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Table of Contents


Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008


21. Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited)

        A summary of selected quarterly statement of operations information follows:

2010
  First
Quarter
  Second
Quarter
  Third
Quarter
  Fourth
Quarter
  Full
Year
 
 
  (dollars in millions, except per share data)
 

Revenues

                               
 

Net earned premiums

  $ 319.6   $ 292.1   $ 288.7   $ 286.3   $ 1,186.7  
 

Net investment income

    84.3     90.9     85.6     93.9     354.7  
 

Net realized investment gains (losses)

    9.4     (8.4 )   (2.4 )   (0.6 )   (2.0 )
 

Net change in fair value of credit derivatives

    278.8     73.5     (232.5 )   (124.1 )   (4.3 )
 

Fair value gain (loss) on CCS

    (1.3 )   12.6     (5.5 )   3.4     9.2  
 

Net change in financial guaranty VIEs

    (10.6 )   0.5     203.2     (376.2 )   (183.1 )
 

Other income

    (12.9 )   (13.5 )   33.8     32.7     40.1  

Expenses

                               
 

Loss and LAE

    130.5     71.2     109.1     103.0     413.8  
 

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs

    8.2     6.9     8.0     11.0     34.1  
 

AGMH acquisition-related expenses

    4.0     2.8             6.8  
 

Interest expense

    25.1     24.9     24.9     24.7     99.6  
 

Goodwill and settlement of pre-existing relationship

                     
 

Other operating expenses

    62.6     47.4     52.2     49.3     211.5  
 

Income (loss) before provision for income taxes

    436.9     294.5     176.7     (272.6 )   635.5  
 

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

    114.9     91.0     (4.2 )   (115.1 )   86.6  
 

Net income (loss)

    322.0     203.5     180.9     (157.5 )   548.9  
 

Net income (loss) attributable to Assured Guaranty Ltd. 

    322.0     203.5     180.9     (157.5 )   548.9  
 

Earnings (loss) per share(1):

                               
   

Basic

  $ 1.74   $ 1.10   $ 0.98   $ (0.86 ) $ 2.98  
   

Diluted

  $ 1.69   $ 1.08   $ 0.96   $ (0.86 ) $ 2.90  
 

Dividends per share

  $ 0.045   $ 0.045   $ 0.045   $ 0.045   $ 0.18  

 

2009
  First
Quarter
  Second
Quarter
  Third
Quarter
  Fourth
Quarter
  Full
Year
 
 
  (dollars in millions, except per share data)
 

Revenues

                               
 

Net earned premiums

  $ 148.5   $ 78.6   $ 330.0   $ 373.3   $ 930.4  
 

Net investment income

    43.6     43.3     84.7     87.6     259.2  
 

Net realized investment gains (losses)

    (17.1 )   (4.9 )   (6.1 )   (4.6 )   (32.7 )
 

Net change in fair value of credit derivatives

    47.6     (226.5 )   (133.6 )   138.3     (174.2 )
 

Fair value gain (loss) on CCS

    19.7     (60.6 )   (53.1 )   (28.9 )   (122.9 )
 

Net change in financial guaranty VIEs

            (5.3 )   4.1     (1.2 )
 

Other income

    0.9     0.5     57.0     0.1     58.5  

Expenses

                               
 

Loss and LAE

    79.8     38.0     133.3     126.7     377.8  
 

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs

    23.5     16.5     1.3     12.6     53.9  
 

AGMH acquisition-related expenses

    4.7     24.2     51.3     12.1     92.3  
 

Interest expense

    5.8     6.5     25.2     25.3     62.8  
 

Goodwill and settlement of pre-existing relationship

            23.3         23.3  
 

Other operating expenses

    29.3     26.5     67.3     51.0     174.1  
 

Income (loss) before provision for income taxes

    100.1     (281.3 )   (28.1 )   342.2     132.9  
 

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

    14.6     (111.3 )   12.2     121.4     36.9  
 

Net income (loss)

    85.5     (170.0 )   (40.3 )   220.8     96.0  
 

Net income (loss) attributable to Assured Guaranty Ltd. 

    85.5     (170.0 )   (35.0 )   216.7     97.2  
 

Earnings (loss) per share(1):

                               
   

Basic

  $ 0.94   $ (1.82 ) $ (0.22 ) $ 1.31   $ 0.77  
   

Diluted

  $ 0.93   $ (1.82 ) $ (0.22 ) $ 1.27   $ 0.75  
 

Dividends per share

  $ 0.045   $ 0.045   $ 0.045   $ 0.045   $ 0.18  

(1)
Per share amounts for the quarters and the full years have each been calculated separately. Accordingly, quarterly amounts may not add to the annual amounts because of differences in the average common shares outstanding during each period and, with regard to diluted per share amounts only, because of the inclusion of the effect of potentially dilutive securities only in the periods in which such effect would have been dilutive.

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Table of Contents

ITEM 9.    CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

        None.

ITEM 9A.    CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

        Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.    Assured Guaranty's management, with the participation of Assured Guaranty Ltd.'s President and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of Assured Guaranty Ltd.'s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a 15(e) and 15d 15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on this evaluation, Assured Guaranty Ltd.'s President and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the end of such period, Assured Guaranty Ltd.'s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in recording, processing, summarizing and reporting, on a timely basis, information required to be disclosed by Assured Guaranty Ltd. (including its consolidated subsidiaries) in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act. The Company's management report on internal control over financial reporting and PricewaterhouseCooper LLP's report of independent registered public accounting firm are included in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

        There has been no change in the Company's internal controls over financial reporting during the Company's quarter ended December 31, 2010, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal controls over financial reporting.

ITEM 9B.    OTHER INFORMATION

        None.

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Table of Contents


PART III

ITEM 10.    DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

        Information pertaining to this item is incorporated by reference to the sections entitled "Proposal No. 1: Election of Directors", "Corporate Governance—Did our insiders comply with Section 16(a) beneficial ownership reporting in 2010?", "Corporate Governance—How are directors nominated?" and "Corporate Governance—The committees of the Board—The Audit Committee" of the definitive proxy statement for the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, which involves the election of directors and will be filed with the SEC not later than 120 days after the close of the fiscal year pursuant to regulation 14A.

        Information about the executive officers of AGL is set forth at the end of Part I of this Form 10-K and is hereby incorporated by reference.

Code of Conduct

        The Company has adopted a Code of Conduct, which sets forth standards by which all employees, officers and directors of the Company must abide as they work for the Company. The Code of Conduct is available at www.assuredguaranty.com by selecting "Investor Information/Corporate Governance". The Company intends to disclose on its internet site any amendments to, or waivers from, its Code of Conduct that are required to be publicly disclosed pursuant to the rules of the SEC or the NYSE.

ITEM 11.    EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

        This item is incorporated by reference to the section entitled "Executive Compensation", "Corporate Governance—Compensation Committee interlocking and insider participation" and "Corporate Governance—How are the directors compensated?" of the definitive proxy statement for the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, which will be filed with the SEC not later than 120 days after the close of the fiscal year pursuant to regulation 14A.

ITEM 12.    SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

        The following table summarizes our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2010:

Plan category
  Number of securities to be
issued upon exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
(a)
  Weighted average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
(b)
  Number of securities remaining
available for future issuance under
equity compensation plans
(excluding securities reflected in
column(a))
(c)
 

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

    4,903,770 (1)   20.01     3,270,639 (2)

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

    N/A     N/A     N/A  
               

Total

    4,903,770     20.01     3,270,639  
               

(1)
Includes common shares to be issued upon exercise of stock options granted under the Assured Guaranty Ltd. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan.

(2)
Includes 156,845 common shares reserved for issuance under the Assured Guaranty Ltd. Employee Stock Purchase Plan and 3,113,794 common shares available for future stock options granted, restricted stock awards and restricted stock units reserved for future issuance under the Assured Guaranty Ltd. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan. The grants of dividend equivalents of restricted stock units have been excluded from the number of shares available for future issuance.

        Additional information is incorporated by reference to the section entitled "Information about our Common Share Ownership" of the definitive proxy statement for the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, which will be filed with the SEC not later than 120 days after the close of the fiscal year pursuant to regulation 14A.

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ITEM 13.    CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

        This item is incorporated by reference to the sections entitled "Corporate Governance—What is our related person transactions approval policy and what procedures do we use to implement it?", "Corporate Governance—What related person transactions do we have?" and "Corporate Governance—Director independence" of the definitive proxy statement for the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, which will be filed with the SEC not later than 120 days after the close of the fiscal year pursuant to regulation 14A.

ITEM 14.    PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

        This item is incorporated by reference to the section entitled "Proposal No. 5: Ratification of Appointment of Independent Auditors—Independent Auditor Fee Information" and "Proposal No. 5: Ratification of Appointment of Independent Auditors—Pre-Approval Policy of Audit and Non-Audit Services" of the definitive proxy statement for the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, which will be filed with the SEC not later than 120 days after the close of the fiscal year pursuant to regulation 14A.

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PART IV

ITEM 15.    EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

1. Financial Statements

        The following financial statements of Assured Guaranty Ltd. have been included in Item 8 hereof:

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

    158  

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2010 and 2009

    159  

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

    160  

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

    161  

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

    162  

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

    164  

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

    165  

2. Financial Statement Schedules

        The financial statement schedules are omitted because they are not applicable or the required information is shown in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.

3. Exhibits*

Exhibit
Number
  Description of Document
3.1   Certificate of Incorporation and Memorandum of Association of the Registrant, as amended by Certificate of Incorporation on Change of Name dated March 30, 2004 and Certificate of Deposit of Memorandum of Increase of Capital dated April 21, 2004 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009)

3.2

 

First Amended and Restated Bye-laws of the Registrant (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Form 8-K filed on May 10, 2010)

4.1

 

Specimen Common Share Certificate (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Form S-1 (#333-111491))

4.2

 

Certificate of Incorporation and Memorandum of Association of the Registrant, as amended by Certificate of Incorporation on Change of Name dated March 30, 2004 and Certificate of Deposit of Memorandum of Increase of Capital dated April 21, 2004 (See Exhibit 3.1)

4.3

 

Bye-laws of the Registrant (See Exhibit 3.2)

4.4

 

Indenture, dated as of May 1, 2004, among the Company, Assured Guaranty U.S. Holdings Inc. and The Bank of New York, as trustee (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2004)

4.5

 

Indenture, dated as of December 1, 2006, entered into among Assured Guaranty Ltd., Assured Guaranty U.S. Holdings Inc. and The Bank of New York, as trustee (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Form 8-K filed on December 20, 2006)

4.6

 

First Supplemental Subordinated Indenture, dated as of December 20, 2006, entered into among Assured Guaranty Ltd., Assured Guaranty U.S. Holdings Inc. and The Bank of New York, as trustee (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Form 8-K filed on December 20, 2006)

304


Table of Contents

Exhibit
Number
  Description of Document
4.7   Replacement Capital Covenant, dated as of December 20, 2006, between Assured Guaranty U.S. Holdings Inc. and Assured Guaranty Ltd., in favor of and for the benefit of each Covered Debtholder (as defined therein) (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Form 8-K filed on December 20, 2006)

4.8

 

Amended and Restated Trust Indenture dated as of February 24, 1999 between Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. and the Senior Debt Trustee (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd.'s Registration Statement to Form S-3 (#333-74165))

4.9

 

Form of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings Inc., formerly known as Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. 67/8% Quarterly Interest Bond Securities due 2101 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2010)

4.10

 

Form of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings Inc., formerly known asFinancial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. 6.25% Notes due November 1, 2102 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2010)

4.11

 

Form of Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings Inc., formerly known as Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. 5.60% Notes due July 15, 2103 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2010)

4.12

 

Supplemental indenture, dated as of August 26, 2009, between Assured Guaranty Ltd., Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to Form 8-K filed on September 1, 2009)

4.13

 

Indenture, dated as of November 22, 2006, between Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. and The Bank of New York, as Trustee (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd.'s Form 8-K filed on November 28, 2006)

4.14

 

Form of Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. Junior Subordinated Debenture, Series 2006-1 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd.'s Form 8-K filed on November 25, 2002)

4.15

 

Supplemental indenture, dated as of August 26, 2009, between Assured Guaranty Ltd., Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to Form 8-K filed on September 1, 2009)

4.16

 

Form of First Supplemental Indenture, to be dated as of June 24, 2009, between Assured Guaranty US Holdings Inc., Assured Guaranty Ltd. and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee (including the form of 8.50% Senior Note due 2014 of Assured Guaranty US Holdings Inc.) (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Form 8-K filed on June 23, 2009)

4.17

 

Form of Purchase Contract and Pledge Agreement, to be dated as of June 24, 2009, among Assured Guaranty Ltd., The Bank of New York Mellon, as Purchase Contract Agent, and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Collateral Agent, Custodial Agent and Securities Intermediary (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Form 8-K filed on June 23, 2009)

4.18

 

Form of Senior Indenture, among Assured Guaranty Ltd., Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings Inc. and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.13 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Form S-3 (#333-152892))

4.19

 

Form of Subordinated Indenture, among Assured Guaranty Ltd., Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings Inc. and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.14 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Form S-3 (#333-152892))

10.1

 

Assured Guaranty Ltd. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended and restated as of May 7, 2009 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2009)*

305


Table of Contents

Exhibit
Number
  Description of Document
10.2   Master Separation Agreement dated April 27, 2004, among the Company, ACE Limited, ACE Financial Services Inc. and ACE Bermuda Insurance Ltd. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Form S-1 (#333-111491))

10.3

 

Transition Services Agreement, dated April 27, 2004, between the Company and ACE Limited (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Form S-1 (#333-111491))

10.4

 

Registration Rights Agreement, dated April 27, 2004, among the Company, ACE Limited and ACE Bermuda Insurance Ltd. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Form S-1 (#333-111491))

10.5

 

Tax Allocation Agreement, dated April 27, 2004, among the Company, ACE Financial Services Inc., ACE Prime Holdings, Inc., Assured Guaranty US Holdings Inc., Assured Guaranty Corp., AGR Financial Products Inc. and ACE Risk Assurance Company (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Form S-1 (#333-111491))

10.6

 

Credit Agreement with Deutsche Bank AG, as Agent, as amended (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to Form S-1 (#333-111491))

10.7

 

Retrocession Agreement between Assured Guaranty Re Overseas Ltd. and ACE American Insurance Company (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.29 to Form S-1 (#333-111491))

10.8

 

Guaranty by Assured Guaranty Re International Ltd. in favor of Assured Guaranty Re Overseas Ltd. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.31 to Form S-1 (#333-111491))

10.9

 

Guaranty by Assured Guaranty Re Overseas Ltd. in favor of Assured Guaranty Mortgage Insurance Company (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.32 to Form S-1 (#333-111491))

10.10

 

Retrocessional Memorandum between ACE Bermuda Insurance Ltd. and Assured Guaranty Re International Ltd. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.34 to Form S-1 (#333-111491))

10.11

 

Quota Share Reinsurance Agreement between Assured Guaranty Re Overseas Ltd. and JCJ Insurance Company (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.35 to Form S-1 (#333-111491))

10.12

 

Quota Share Retrocession Agreement between Assured Guaranty Re Overseas Ltd. and ACE INA Overseas Insurance Company Ltd. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.37 to Form S-1 (#333-111491))

10.13

 

Quota Share Retrocession Agreement between Assured Guaranty Re Overseas Ltd. and ACE American Insurance Company (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.38 to Form S-1 (#333-111491))

10.14

 

Assignment and Indemnification Agreement between Assured Guaranty Re Overseas Ltd. and ACE INA Overseas Insurance Company Ltd. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.41 to Form S-1 (#333-111491))

10.15

 

UK Title Quota Share Reinsurance Agreement between ACE European Markets Insurance Ltd. and Assured Guaranty Re International Ltd. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.45 to Form S-1 (#333-111491))

10.16

 

Aggregate Loss Portfolio Reinsurance Agreement between Commercial Guaranty Assurance, Ltd. and Assured Guaranty Re Overseas Ltd. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.49 to Form S-1 (#333-111491))

10.17

 

Quota Share Retrocession Agreement, dated April 28, 2004, between Assured Guaranty Re Overseas Ltd. and ACE Tempest Re USA, Inc. for and on behalf of ACE American Insurance Company (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004)

306


Table of Contents

Exhibit
Number
  Description of Document
10.18   Quota Share Retrocession Agreement, dated April 28, 2004, between Assured Guaranty Corp. and ACE Tempest Re USA, Inc. for and on behalf of ACE American Insurance Company (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004)

10.19

 

Quota Share Retrocession Agreement, dated April 28, 2004, between Assured Guaranty Re Overseas Ltd. and ACE INA Overseas Insurance Company Ltd. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004)

10.20

 

Commutation and Release Agreement, dated April 28, 2004, between Westchester Fire Insurance Company and Assured Guaranty Re Overseas Ltd. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004)

10.21

 

Assignment and Termination Agreement, dated April 28, 2004, among Assured Guaranty Re International Ltd., ACE Bermuda Insurance Ltd. and ACE Capital Title Reinsurance Company (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004)

10.22

 

Assignment Agreement, dated April 28, 2004, among Assured Guaranty Re Overseas Ltd., ACE European Markets Insurance Limited and ACE Bermuda Insurance Ltd. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004)

10.23

 

Assignment Agreement, dated April 15, 2004, among Assured Guaranty Re Overseas Ltd., ACE Bermuda Insurance Ltd. and ACE Capital Title Reinsurance Company (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004)

10.24

 

Summary of Annual Compensation*

10.25

 

Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement under Assured Guaranty Ltd. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan to be used with employment agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.34 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005)*

10.26

 

Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement under Assured Guaranty Ltd. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.35 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005)*

10.27

 

Restricted Stock Agreement for Outside Directors under Assured Guaranty Ltd. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2006)*

10.28

 

Restricted Stock Unit Agreement for Outside Directors under Assured Guaranty Ltd. 2004 Long Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.37 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005)*

10.29

 

Restricted Stock Agreement under Assured Guaranty Ltd. 2004 Long Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.38 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005)*

10.30

 

Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under Assured Guaranty Ltd. 2004 Long Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.39 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005)*

10.31

 

Assured Guaranty Ltd. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2009)*

10.32

 

Form of Indemnification Agreement between the Company and its executive officers and directors (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.42 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005)*

10.33

 

Put Agreement between Assured Guaranty Corp. and Woodbourne Capital Trust [I][II][III][IV] (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2005)

10.34

 

Custodial Trust Expense Reimbursement Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2005)

307


Table of Contents

Exhibit
Number
  Description of Document
10.35   Assured Guaranty Corp. Articles Supplementary Classifying and Designating Series of Preferred Stock as Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series D Perpetual Preferred Stock (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2005)

10.36

 

Assured Guaranty Corp. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan Highlights Booklet 2006 Plan Year (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed on December 29, 2005)*

10.37

 

Assured Guaranty Ltd. Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan, as amended through the second amendment (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Form 8-K filed on December 29, 2005)*

10.38

 

Assured Guaranty Ltd. Performance Retention Plan (As Amended and Restated as of February 14, 2008 for Awards Granted during 2007) (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.50 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007)*

10.39

 

Five Year Cliff Vest Restricted Stock Agreement under Assured Guaranty Ltd. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006)*

10.40

 

Employment agreement dated as of October 5, 2006, between Assured Guaranty Ltd., Assured Guaranty Corp. and Robert Bailenson (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006)*

10.41

 

Share Purchase Agreement, dated December 7, 2006, between Assured Guaranty US Holdings Inc. and ACE Bermuda Insurance Ltd. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to Form 8-K filed on December 13, 2006)

10.42

 

$300.0 million five-year unsecured revolving credit facility, dated as of November 6, 2006, for which ABN AMRO Incorporated and Bank of America Securities LLC acted as lead arrangers, between Assured Guaranty Ltd. Assured Guaranty Corp., Assured Guaranty (UK) Ltd., Assured Guaranty Re Ltd, and Assured Guaranty Re Overseas Ltd., as amended through the second amendment (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009)

10.43

 

Assured Guaranty Corp. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan—Amendment No. 1 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2007)*

10.44

 

Restricted Stock Unit Agreement for Outside Directors under Assured Guaranty Ltd. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2007)*

10.45

 

$200.0 million soft-capital credit facility (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2007)

10.46

 

Assured Guaranty Ltd. Performance Retention Plan (As Amended and Restated as of February 14, 2008) (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.58 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007)*

10.47

 

Terms of Performance Retention Award Five Year Cliff Vest Granted on February 14, 2008 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.59 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007)*

10.48

 

Form of Award Letter for Performance Retention Award Five Year Cliff Vest Granted on February 14, 2008 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.60 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007)*

10.49

 

Terms of Performance Retention Award Four Year Installment Vesting Granted on February 14, 2008 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.61 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007)*

308


Table of Contents

Exhibit
Number
  Description of Document
10.50   Form of Award Letter for Performance Retention Award Four Year Installment Vesting Granted on February 14, 2008 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.62 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007)*

10.51

 

2007 Restricted Stock Agreement for Outside Directors under Assured Guaranty Ltd. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.63 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007)*

10.52

 

Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under Assured Guaranty Ltd. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan to be used with employment agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.64 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007)*

10.53

 

Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under Assured Guaranty Ltd. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.65 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007)*

10.54

 

Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement under Assured Guaranty Ltd. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan to be used with employment agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.66 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007)*

10.55

 

Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement under Assured Guaranty Ltd. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.67 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007)*

10.56

 

Investment Agreement dated as of February 28, 2008 between Assured Guaranty Ltd. and WLR Recovery Fund IV, L.P. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.68 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007)

10.57

 

Director Compensation (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2010)*

10.58

 

Restricted Stock Unit Agreement for Outside Directors under Assured Guaranty Ltd. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2008)*

10.59

 

Restricted Stock Agreement for Outside Directors under Assured Guaranty Ltd. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009)*

10.60

 

Form of amendment to Restricted Stock Unit Awards for Outside Directors (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2008)*

10.61

 

Assured Guaranty Ltd. Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan, as Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2009 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.62 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008)*

10.62

 

Assured Guaranty Corp. Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan, as Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2009 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.63 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008)*

10.63

 

Employment Agreement between Dominic J. Frederico and the Registrant (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.64 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008)*

10.64

 

Employment Agreement between Michael J. Schozer and the Registrant (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.65 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008)*

10.65

 

Employment Agreement between Robert B. Mills and the Registrant (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.66 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008)*

10.66

 

Employment Agreement between James M. Michener and the Registrant (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.67 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008)*

10.67

 

Employment Agreement between Robert A. Bailenson and the Registrant (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.68 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008)*

309


Table of Contents

Exhibit
Number
  Description of Document
10.68   Assured Guaranty Ltd. Executive Officer Recoupment Policy (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.69 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008)*

10.69

 

Form of Acknowledgement of Assured Guaranty Ltd. Executive Officer Recoupment Policy (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.70 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008)*

10.70

 

Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement under Assured Guaranty Ltd. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan to be used with employment agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.71 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008)*

10.71

 

Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under Assured Guaranty Ltd. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan to be used with employment agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.72 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008)*

10.72

 

Terms of Performance Retention Award Four Year Installment Vesting Granted on February 5, 2009 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.73 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008)*

10.73

 

Approval dated September 16, 2008 pursuant to Investment Agreement dated as of February 28, 2008 with WLR Recovery Fund IV, L.P. Pursuant to the Investment Agreement, WLR Recovery Fund IV, L.P. and other funds affiliated with WL Ross & Co. LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed on September 19, 2008)

10.74

 

Purchase Agreement among Dexia Holdings Inc., Dexia Credit Local S.A. and the Company dated as of November 14, 2008 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to Form 8-K filed on November 17, 2008)

10.75

 

Amendment to Investment Agreement dated as of November 13, 2008 between the Company and WLR Recovery Fund IV, L.P. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to Form 8-K filed on November 17, 2008)

10.76

 

Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of June 30, 2009 among FSA Asset Management LLC, Dexia Crédit Local S.A. and Dexia Bank Belgium S.A. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed on July 8, 2009)

10.77

 

Master Repurchase Agreement (September 1996 Version) dated as of June 30, 2009 between Dexia Crédit Local S.A. and FSA Asset Management LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2.1 to Form 8-K filed on July 8, 2009)

10.78

 

Annex I—Committed Term Repurchase Agreement Annex dated as of June 30, 2009 between Dexia Crédit Local S.A. and FSA Asset Management LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2.2 to Form 8-K filed on July 8, 2009)

10.79

 

ISDA Master Agreement (Multicurrency—Cross Border) dated as of June 30, 2009 among Dexia SA, Dexia Crédit Local S.A. and FSA Asset Management LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3.1 to Form 8-K filed on July 8, 2009)

10.80

 

Schedule to the 1992 Master Agreement, Guaranteed Put Contract, dated as of June 30, 2009 among Dexia Crédit Local S.A., Dexia SA and FSA Asset Management LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3.2 to Form 8-K filed on July 8, 2009)

10.81

 

Put Option Confirmation, Guaranteed Put Contract, dated June 30, 2009 to FSA Asset Management LLC from Dexia SA and Dexia Crédit Local S.A. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3.3 to Form 8-K filed on July 8, 2009)

10.82

 

ISDA Credit Support Annex (New York Law) to the Schedule to the ISDA Master Agreement, Guaranteed Put Contract, dated as of June 30, 2009 between Dexia Crédit Local S.A. and Dexia SA and FSA Asset Management LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3.4 to Form 8-K filed on July 8, 2009)

10.83

 

ISDA Master Agreement (Multicurrency—Cross Border) dated as of June 30, 2009 among Dexia SA, Dexia Crédit Local S.A. and FSA Asset Management LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4.1 to Form 8-K filed on July 8, 2009)

310


Table of Contents

Exhibit
Number
  Description of Document
10.84   Schedule to the 1992 Master Agreement, Non-Guaranteed Put Contract, dated as of June 30, 2009 among Dexia Crédit Local S.A., Dexia SA and FSA Asset Management LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4.2 to Form 8-K filed on July 8, 2009)

10.85

 

Put Option Confirmation, Non-Guaranteed Put Contract, dated June 30, 2009 to FSA Asset Management LLC from Dexia SA and Dexia Crédit Local S.A. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4.3 to Form 8-K filed on July 8, 2009)

10.86

 

ISDA Credit Support Annex (New York Law) to the Schedule to the ISDA Master Agreement, Non-Guaranteed Put Contract, dated as of June 30, 2009 between Dexia Crédit Local S.A. and Dexia SA and FSA Asset Management LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4.4 to Form 8-K filed on July 8, 2009)

10.87

 

First Demand Guarantee Relating to the "Financial Products" Portfolio of FSA Asset Management LLC issued by the Belgian State and the French State and executed as of June 30, 2009 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to Form 8-K filed on July 8, 2009)

10.88

 

Guaranty, dated as of June 30, 2009, made jointly and severally by Dexia SA and Dexia Crédit Local S.A., in favor of Financial Security Assurance Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to Form 8-K filed on July 8, 2009)

10.89

 

Indemnification Agreement (GIC Business) dated as of June 30, 2009 by and among Financial Security Assurance Inc., Dexia Crédit Local S.A. and Dexia SA (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to Form 8-K filed on July 8, 2009)

10.90

 

Pledge and Administration Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2009, among Dexia SA, Dexia Crédit Local S.A., Dexia Bank Belgium SA, Dexia FP Holdings Inc., Financial Security Assurance Inc., FSA Asset Management LLC, FSA Portfolio Asset Limited, FSA Capital Markets Services LLC, FSA Capital Markets Services (Caymans) Ltd., FSA Capital Management Services LLC and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, National Association (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to Form 8-K filed on July 8, 2009)

10.91

 

Separation Agreement, dated as of July 1, 2009, among Dexia Crédit Local S.A., Financial Security Assurance Inc., Financial Security Assurance International, Ltd., FSA Global Funding Limited and Premier International Funding Co. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to Form 8-K filed on July 8, 2009)

10.92

 

Funding Guaranty, dated as of July 1, 2009, made by Dexia Crédit Local S.A. in favor of Financial Security Assurance Inc. and Financial Security Assurance International, Ltd. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to Form 8-K filed on July 8, 2009)

10.93

 

Reimbursement Guaranty, dated as of July 1, 2009, made by Dexia Crédit Local S.A. in favor of Financial Security Assurance Inc. and Financial Security Assurance International, Ltd. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to Form 8-K filed on July 8, 2009)

10.94

 

Strip Coverage Liquidity and Security Agreement, dated as of July 1, 2009, between Financial Security Assurance Inc. and Dexia Crédit Local S.A. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to Form 8-K filed on July 8, 2009)

10.95

 

Indemnification Agreement (FSA Global Business), dated as of July 1, 2009, by and between Financial Security Assurance Inc., Assured Guaranty Ltd. and Dexia Crédit Local S.A. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to Form 8-K filed on July 8, 2009)

10.96

 

Pledge and Administration Annex Amendment Agreement dated as of July 1, 2009 among Dexia SA, Dexia Crédit Local S.A., Dexia Bank Belgium SA, Dexia FP Holdings Inc., Financial Security Assurance Inc., FSA Asset Management LLC, FSA Portfolio Asset Limited, FSA Capital Markets Services LLC, FSA Capital Markets Services (Caymans) Ltd., FSA Capital Management Services LLC and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, National Association (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to Form 8-K filed on July 8, 2009)

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Exhibit
Number
  Description of Document
10.97   Put Confirmation Annex Amendment Agreement dated as of July 1, 2009 among Dexia SA and Dexia Crédit Local S.A. and FSA Asset Management LLC and Financial Security Assurance Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to Form 8-K filed on July 8, 2009)

10.98

 

Settlement Agreement and Plan by and between Financial Security Assurance Holdings, Ltd., Assured Guaranty Ltd., Dexia Holdings, Inc., Dexia Crédit Local, S.A. and Sean W. McCarthy (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to Form S-8 (#333-160367))*

10.99

 

Employment Agreement dated as of July 1, 2009 between Assured Guaranty US Holdings, Inc. and Sean McCarthy (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to Form 8-K filed on July 8, 2009)*

10.100

 

Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement for Outside Directors under Assured Guaranty Ltd. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009)*

10.101

 

Master Repurchase Agreement between FSA Capital Management Services LLC and FSA Capital Markets Services LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009)

10.102

 

Confirmation to Master Repurchase Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009)

10.103

 

Master Repurchase Agreement Annex I (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009)

10.104

 

First Amendment to Assured Guaranty Ltd. Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan Furnished herewith (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to Form S-8 (#333-160008))*

10.105

 

Second Amendment to Assured Guaranty Ltd. Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to Form S-8 (#333-160008))*

10.106

 

First Amendment to Assured Guaranty Corp. Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.8 to Form S-8 (#333-160008))*

10.107

 

Second Amendment to Assured Guaranty Corp. Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.9 to Form S-8 (#333-160008))*

10.108

 

Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. 1989 Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (amended and restated as of December 17, 2004) (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd.'s Form 8-K filed on December 17, 2004)*

10.109

 

Amendment to the Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. 1989 Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.29 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009)*

10.110

 

Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. 2004 Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, dated as of December 17, 2004 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd.'s Form 8-K filed on December 17, 2004)*

10.111

 

Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. 2004 Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, as amended on May 18, 2006 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd.'s Form 8-K filed on May 22, 2006)*

10.112

 

Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. 2004 Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, as amended on February 14, 2008 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd.'s Form 8-K filed on February 15, 2008)*

10.113

 

Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. Amended and Restated 1993 Equity Participation Plan (amended and restated as of May 17, 2001) (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd.'s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2001)*

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Exhibit
Number
  Description of Document
10.114   Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. 2004 Equity Participation Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd.'s Form 8-K filed on November 23, 2004)*

10.115

 

Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. 2004 Equity Participation Plan, as amended on September 15, 2005 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd.'s Form 8-K filed on September 16, 2005)*

10.116

 

Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. 2004 Equity Participation Plan, as amended on February 16, 2006 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd.'s Form 8-K filed on February 17, 2006)*

10.117

 

Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. 2004 Equity Participation Plan, as amended on February 14, 2008 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd.'s Form 8-K filed on February 15, 2008)*

10.118

 

Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. 2004 Equity Participation Plan, as amended and restated on May 21, 2008 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd.'s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2008)*

10.119

 

Form of Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. Agreement Evidencing an Award of Dexia Restricted Stock (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd.'s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2005)*

10.120

 

Form of Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. Agreement Evidencing an Award of Dexia Restricted Stock, as amended on February 16, 2006 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd.'s Form 8-K filed on February 17, 2006)*

10.121

 

Form of Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. Agreement Evidencing an Award of Dexia Restricted Stock, as amended on February 14, 2008 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6F to Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd.'s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007)*

10.122

 

Form of Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. Agreement Evidencing an Award of Dexia Restricted Stock, as amended on February 14, 2007 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6E to Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd.'s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006)*

10.123

 

Form of Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. Agreement Evidencing an Award of Performance Shares (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd.'s Form 8-K filed on February 23, 2005)*

10.124

 

Form of Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. Agreement Evidencing an Award of Performance Shares, as amended on February 16, 2006 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd.'s Form 8-K filed on February 17, 2006)*

10.125

 

Form of Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. Agreement Evidencing an Award of Performance Shares, as amended on February 14, 2008 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd.'s Form 8-K filed on February 15, 2008)*

10.126

 

Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. Severance Policy for Senior Management (amended and restated as of November 13, 2003) (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd.'s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003)*

10.127

 

Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. Severance Policy for Senior Management, as amended on May 18, 2006 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd.'s Form 8-K filed on May 22, 2006)*

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Exhibit
Number
  Description of Document
10.128   Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. Severance Policy for Senior Management, as amended on February 14, 2008 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd.'s Form 8-K filed on February 15, 2008)*

10.129

 

Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. Severance Policy for Senior Management, as amended and restated on May 21, 2008 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd.'s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2008)*

10.130

 

Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of April 30, 2005, among Financial Security Assurance Inc., FSA Insurance Company, the Banks party thereto from time to time and Bayerische Landesbank, acting through its New York Branch, as Agent (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd.'s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2005)

10.131

 

First Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of June 16, 2009, among Financial Security Assurance Inc., FSA Insurance Company, the Banks party thereto from time to time and Bayerische Landesbank, acting through its New York Branch, as Agent (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6.2 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2009)

10.132

 

Pledge and Intercreditor Agreement, among Dexia Crédit Local, Dexia Bank Belgium S.A., Financial Security Assurance Inc. and FSA Asset Management LLC, dated November 13, 2008 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd.'s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2008)

10.133

 

Amended and Restated Pledge and Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of February 20, 2009, between Dexia Crédit Local, Dexia Bank Belgium S.A., Financial Security Assurance Inc., FSA Asset Management LLC, FSA Capital Markets Services LLC and FSA Capital Management Services LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd.'s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008)

10.134

 

Put Option Agreement, dated as of June 23, 2003 by and between FSA and Sutton Capital Trust I (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.5 to Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd.'s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003)

10.135

 

Put Option Agreement, dated as of June 23, 2003 by and between FSA and Sutton Capital Trust II (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.6 to Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd.'s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003)

10.136

 

Put Option Agreement, dated as of June 23, 2003 by and between FSA and Sutton Capital Trust III (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.7 to Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd.'s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003)

10.137

 

Put Option Agreement, dated as of June 23, 2003 by and between FSA and Sutton Capital Trust IV (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.8 to Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd.'s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003)

10.138

 

Contribution Agreement, dated as of November 22, 2006, between Dexia S.A. and Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd.'s Form 8-K filed on November 28, 2006)

10.139

 

Replacement Capital Covenant, dated as of November 22, 2006, by Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd.'s Form 8-K filed on November 28, 2006)

10.140

 

Agreement and Amendment between Dexia Holdings Inc., Dexia Credit Local S.A. and the Company dated as of June 9, 2009 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed on June 12, 2009)

10.141

 

Second Amendment to Investment Agreement dated as June 10, 2009 between the Company and WLR Recovery Fund IV, L.P. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Form 8-K filed on June 12, 2009)

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Table of Contents

Exhibit
Number
  Description of Document
10.142   Letter Agreement dated December 7, 2009 between Michael J. Schozer and Assured Guaranty Corp. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed on December 8, 2009)*

10.143

 

Restricted Stock Agreement for Outside Directors under Assured Guaranty Ltd. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2008)*

10.144

 

2010 Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under Assured Guaranty Ltd. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan to be used with employment agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2010)*

10.145

 

2010 Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under Assured Guaranty Ltd. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan to be used without employment agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2010)*

10.146

 

2010 Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement under Assured Guaranty Ltd. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan to be used with employment agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2010)*

10.147

 

2010 Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement under Assured Guaranty Ltd. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan for use without employment agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2010)*

10.148

 

Terms of Performance Retention Award, Four Year Installment Vesting Granted on February 25, 2010 for participants subject to $1 million limit (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2010)*

21.1

 

Subsidiaries of the registrant

23.1

 

Accountants Consent

31.1

 

Certification of CEO Pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13A-14 and 15D-14, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

31.2

 

Certification of CFO Pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13A-14 and 15D-14, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

32.1

 

Certification of CEO Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes- Oxley Act of 2002

32.2

 

Certification of CFO Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes- Oxley Act of 2002

101.1

 

The following financial information from Assured Guaranty Ltd.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language) interactive data files pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T: (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2010 and 2009; (ii) Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008; (iii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008; (iv) Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008; (v)  Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008; and (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

*
Management contract or compensatory plan

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Table of Contents


SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


 

 

ASSURED GUARANTY LTD.

 

 

By:

 

/s/ DOMINIC J. FREDERICO

Name: Dominic J. Frederico
Title:   
President and Chief Executive Officer

Date: February 28, 2011

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Name
 
Position
 
Date

 

 

 

 

 
/s/ WALTER A. SCOTT

Walter A. Scott
  Chairman of the Board; Director   February 28, 2011

/s/ DOMINIC J. FREDERICO

Dominic J. Frederico

 

President and Chief Executive Officer; Director

 

February 28, 2011

/s/ ROBERT B. MILLS

Robert B. Mills

 

Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Duly Authorized Officer)

 

February 28, 2011

/s/ ROBERT A. BAILENSON

Robert A. Bailenson

 

Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)

 

February 28, 2011

/s/ NEIL BARON

Neil Baron

 

Director

 

February 28, 2011

/s/ FRANCISCO L. BORGES

Francisco L. Borges

 

Director

 

February 28, 2011

/s/ G. LAWRENCE BUHL

G. Lawrence Buhl

 

Director

 

February 28, 2011

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Table of Contents

Name
 
Position
 
Date

 

 

 

 

 
/s/ STEPHEN A. COZEN

Stephen A. Cozen
  Director   February 28, 2011

/s/ PATRICK W. KENNY

Patrick W. Kenny

 

Director

 

February 28, 2011

/s/ DONALD H. LAYTON

Donald H. Layton

 

Director

 

February 28, 2011

/s/ ROBIN MONRO-DAVIES

Robin Monro-Davies

 

Director

 

February 28, 2011

/s/ MICHAEL T. O'KANE

Michael T. O'Kane

 

Director

 

February 28, 2011

/s/ WILBUR L. ROSS, JR.

Wilbur L. Ross, Jr.

 

Director

 

February 28, 2011

317