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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)    

ý

 

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

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2008

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: 1-12644

Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

New York
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  13-3261323
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

31 West 52 nd  Street
New York, New York 10019
(Address of principal executive offices)

(212) 826-0100
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

        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 is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer  o   Accelerated filer  o   Non-accelerated filer  ý
(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 Act). Yes  o     No  ý

        At November 10, 2008, there were 33,345,993 outstanding shares of Common Stock of the registrant (excludes 172,002 shares of treasury stock).



INDEX

 
   
  Page

PART I.

 

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

   

Item 1.

 

Financial Statements

   

 

    Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

   

 

    Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. and Subsidiaries

   

 

    Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited)

  1

 

    Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (unaudited)

  2

 

    Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders' Equity (unaudited)

  3

 

    Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)

  4

 

    Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

  5

Item 2.

 

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

 
65

 

    Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

  65

 

    Executive Overview

  65

 

    Financial Guaranty Segment

  75

 

    Financial Products Segment

  97

 

    Other Operating Expenses and Amortization of Deferred Acquisition Costs

  101

 

    Taxes

  102

 

    Exposure to Monolines

  104

 

    Liquidity and Capital Resources

  106

 

    Non-GAAP Measures

  129

 

    Forward-Looking Statements

  134

Item 3.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 
136

Item 4T.

 

Controls and Procedures

 
136

PART II.

 

OTHER INFORMATION

   

Item 1.

 

Legal Proceedings

 
137

Item 1A.

 

Risk Factors

 
138

Item 5.

 

Other Information

 
147

Item 6.

 

Exhibits

 
148

SIGNATURES

 
149


Part I—Financial Information

ITEM 1. Financial Statements.

FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited)
(in thousands, except share data)

 
  At
September 30,
2008
  At
December 31,
2007
 

ASSETS

             

General investment portfolio, available for sale:

             
 

Bonds at fair value (amortized cost of $5,378,454 and $4,891,640)

  $ 5,232,370   $ 5,054,664  
 

Equity securities at fair value (cost of $1,364 and $40,020)

    815     39,869  
 

Short-term investments (cost of $609,763 and $96,263)

    608,393     97,366  

Financial products segment investment portfolio:

             
 

Available-for-sale bonds at fair value (amortized cost of $16,188,453 and $18,334,417)

    12,242,377     16,936,058  
 

Short-term investments (at cost which approximates fair value)

    607,220     1,927,347  
 

Trading portfolio at fair value

    258,354     349,822  

Assets acquired in refinancing transactions (includes $168,831 and $22,433 at fair value)

    184,684     229,264  
           
   

Total investment portfolio

    19,134,213     24,634,390  

Cash

    537,892     26,551  

Deferred acquisition costs

    308,571     347,870  

Prepaid reinsurance premiums

    1,040,931     1,119,565  

Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses

    229,585     76,478  

Deferred tax asset

    1,837,833     412,170  

Other assets (includes $1,236,986 and $1,104,600 at fair value) (See Note 13)

    1,959,656     1,714,456  
           
 

TOTAL ASSETS

  $ 25,048,681   $ 28,331,480  
           

LIABILITIES, MINORITY INTEREST AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

             

Deferred premium revenue

  $ 3,150,301   $ 2,870,648  

Losses and loss adjustment expenses

    1,249,528     274,556  

Financial products segment debt (includes $7,742,843 at fair value at September 30, 2008)

    18,707,775     21,400,207  

Notes payable

    730,000     730,000  

Other liabilities and minority interest (includes $1,328,296 and $802,194 at fair value) (See Note 13)

    1,838,487     1,478,255  
           
 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND MINORITY INTEREST

    25,676,091     26,753,666  
           

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

             

Common stock (200,000,000 shares authorized; 33,517,995 issued; par value of $.01 per share)

    335     335  

Additional paid-in capital

    1,714,084     909,800  

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of deferred tax (benefit) provision of $(1,432,918) and $(430,778)

    (2,661,133 )   (799,914 )

Accumulated earnings

    319,304     1,467,593  

Deferred equity compensation

    14,137     19,663  

Less treasury stock at cost (172,002 and 244,395 shares held)

    (14,137 )   (19,663 )
           
 

TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

    (627,410 )   1,577,814  
           
 

TOTAL LIABILITIES, MINORITY INTEREST AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

  $ 25,048,681   $ 28,331,480  
           

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of the Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited).

1



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (unaudited)

(in thousands)

 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
  2008   2007   2008   2007  

REVENUES

                         
 

Net premiums written

  $ 176,624   $ 130,078   $ 639,383   $ 296,686  
                   
 

Net premiums earned

  $ 123,742   $ 72,446   $ 280,915   $ 232,079  
 

Net investment income from general investment portfolio

    67,078     60,472     199,336     176,298  
 

Net realized gains (losses) from general investment portfolio

    475     (994 )   (1,727 )   (3,052 )
 

Net change in fair value of credit derivatives:

                         
   

Realized gains (losses) and other settlements

    29,925     27,000     98,764     72,400  
   

Net unrealized gains (losses)

    (194,196 )   (293,718 )   (467,905 )   (352,511 )
                   
     

Net change in fair value of credit derivatives

    (164,271 )   (266,718 )   (369,141 )   (280,111 )
 

Net interest income from financial products segment

    165,802     288,389     523,515     799,990  
 

Net realized gains (losses) from financial products segment

    (417,419 )   125     (1,459,832 )   1,867  
 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments

    25,184     (43,923 )   181,704     (11,293 )
 

Net unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value

    320,804     10,115     947,390     16,433  
 

Income from assets acquired in refinancing transactions

    3,104     5,182     9,067     16,498  
 

Other income

    2,564     5,863     6,261     27,366  
                   

TOTAL REVENUES

    127,063     130,957     317,488     976,075  
                   

EXPENSES

                         
 

Losses and loss adjustment expenses

    327,633     10,060     1,230,904     19,128  
 

Interest expense

    11,584     11,584     34,752     34,752  
 

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs

    19,004     13,583     51,435     47,589  
 

Foreign exchange (gains) losses from financial products segment

    (15,521 )   13,304     1,134     43,957  
 

Net interest expense from financial products segment

    182,030     260,014     608,486     750,138  
 

Other operating expenses

    40,064     33,474     55,754     102,496  
                   

TOTAL EXPENSES

    564,794     342,019     1,982,465     998,060  
                   

INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES

    (437,731 )   (211,062 )   (1,664,977 )   (21,985 )
 

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

    (104,250 )   (89,253 )   (579,420 )   (48,199 )
                   

NET INCOME (LOSS)

    (333,481 )   (121,809 )   (1,085,557 )   26,214  

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS), NET OF TAX

                         

Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities arising during the period, net of deferred income tax provision (benefit) of $(499,149), $(121,376), $(1,511,114) and $(185,705)

    (926,990 )   (221,001 )   (2,806,456 )   (340,469 )

Less: reclassification adjustment for gains (losses) included in net income (loss), net of deferred income tax provision (benefit) of $(146,014), $844, $(508,974) and $2,911

    (271,168 )   1,567     (945,237 )   5,405  
                   

Other comprehensive income (loss)

    (655,822 )   (222,568 )   (1,861,219 )   (345,874 )
                   

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

  $ (989,303 ) $ (344,377 ) $ (2,946,776 ) $ (319,660 )
                   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

2



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (unaudited)

(in thousands, except share data)

 
  Common Stock    
  Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
   
   
  Treasury Stock    
 
 
  Additional
Paid-In-
Capital
  Accumulated
Earnings
  Deferred
Equity
Compensation
  Total
Shareholders'
Equity
 
 
  Shares   Amount   Shares   Amount  

BALANCE, December 31, 2007

    33,517,995   $ 335   $ 909,800   $ (799,914 ) $ 1,467,593   $ 19,663     244,395   $ (19,663 ) $ 1,577,814  

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of deferred income tax provision (benefit) of $(15,683)

                            (29,126 )                     (29,126 )
                                       

Balance at beginning of the year, adjusted

    33,517,995     335     909,800     (799,914 )   1,438,467     19,663     244,395     (19,663 )   1,548,688  

Net income (loss) for the year

                            (1,085,557 )                     (1,085,557 )

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of deferred income tax provision (benefit) of $(1,002,140)

                      (1,861,219 )                           (1,861,219 )

Dividends paid on common stock

                            (33,606 )                     (33,606 )

Cost of shares acquired

                                  (5,526 )   (72,393 )   5,526      

Capital contribution

                804,284                                   804,284  
                                       

BALANCE, September 30, 2008

    33,517,995   $ 335   $ 1,714,084   $ (2,661,133 ) $ 319,304   $ 14,137     172,002   $ (14,137 ) $ (627,410 )
                                       

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of the Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited).

3



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited)

(in thousands)

 
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
  2008   2007  

Cash flows from operating activities:

             
 

Premiums received, net

  $ 548,775   $ 282,246  
 

Credit derivative fees received, net

    73,927     67,911  
 

Other operating expenses paid, net

    (212,982 )   (173,150 )
 

Losses and loss adjustment expenses paid, net

    (436,459 )   (3,494 )
 

Net investment income received from general investment portfolio

    192,407     173,765  
 

Federal income taxes paid

    (8,406 )   (83,444 )
 

Interest paid on notes payable

    (29,738 )   (31,010 )
 

Interest paid on financial products segment debt

    (428,350 )   (529,995 )
 

Interest received on financial products segment investment portfolio

    484,895     720,960  
 

Financial products segment net derivative receipts

    130,731     (76,375 )
 

Purchases of trading portfolio securities in financial products segment

        (216,404 )
 

Income received from assets acquired in refinancing transactions

    9,844     14,679  
 

Other

    41,953     9,001  
           
   

Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities

    366,597     154,690  
           

Cash flows from investing activities:

             
 

General Investment Portfolio:

             
   

Proceeds from sales of bonds

    3,630,622     2,649,188  
   

Proceeds from maturities of bonds

    488,251     142,438  
   

Purchases of bonds

    (4,582,900 )   (2,956,595 )
   

Net (increase) decrease in short-term investments

    (505,704 )   (19,685 )
 

FP Segment Investment Portfolio:

             
   

Proceeds from sales of bonds

        3,021,662  
   

Proceeds from maturities of bonds

    1,384,922     2,949,605  
   

Purchases of bonds

    (593,971 )   (7,734,700 )
   

Change in securities under agreements to resell

    152,875     100,000  
   

Net (increase) decrease in short-term investments

    1,320,127     (365,343 )
 

Other:

             
   

Net purchases of property, plant and equipment

    (2,313 )   (689 )
   

Paydowns of assets acquired in refinancing transactions

    29,326     73,468  
   

Proceeds from sales of assets acquired in refinancing transactions

    4,932     4,339  
   

Other investments

    (896 )   11,860  
           
   

Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities

    1,325,271     (2,124,452 )
           

Cash flows from financing activities:

             
 

Capital contribution

    804,284      
 

Dividends paid

    (33,606 )   (91,504 )
 

Proceeds from issuance of financial products segment debt

    1,992,766     3,535,832  
 

Repayment of financial products segment debt

    (3,937,120 )   (1,458,372 )
 

Other

    (3,408 )   (764 )
           
   

Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities

    (1,177,084 )   1,985,192  
           

Effect of changes in foreign exchange rates on cash balances

    (3,443 )   1,021  
           

Net (decrease) increase in cash

    511,341     16,451  

Cash at beginning of period

    26,551     32,471  
           

Cash at end of period

  $ 537,892   $ 48,922  
           

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of the Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited).

4



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

1.    ORGANIZATION AND OWNERSHIP

        Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. ("FSA Holdings") is a holding company incorporated in the State of New York. The Company, through its insurance company subsidiaries, engages in providing financial guaranty insurance on public finance obligations in domestic and international markets including Europe, the Asia Pacific region and elsewhere in the Americas. The Company's principal insurance company subsidiary is Financial Security Assurance Inc. ("FSA"), a wholly owned New York insurance company. Prior to August 2008, the Company provided financial guaranty insurance on both public finance and asset-backed obligations. On August 6, 2008, the Company announced that it would cease providing financial guaranty insurance on asset-backed obligations and instead participate exclusively in the global public finance financial guaranty business. References to the "Company" are to Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. together with its subsidiaries.

        In addition, the Company offers FSA-insured guaranteed investment contracts and other investment agreements ("GICs") through consolidated entities in its financial products ("FP") segment.

Ownership

        FSA Holdings is a direct subsidiary of Dexia Holdings, Inc. ("Dexia Holdings"), which, in turn, is owned 90% by Dexia Crédit Local S.A. ("Dexia Crédit Local") and 10% by Dexia. Dexia is a Belgian corporation whose shares are traded on the NYSE Euronext Brussels and NYSE Euronext Paris markets, as well as on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. Dexia Crédit Local is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dexia S.A. ("Dexia").

        At September 30, 2008, Dexia Holdings owned over 99% of outstanding FSA Holdings shares; the only other holders of FSA Holdings common stock were directors of FSA Holdings who owned shares of FSA Holdings common stock or economic interests therein under the Company's Director Share Purchase Program. On September 30, 2008, Dexia announced that it was receiving a €6.4 billion (approximately $8.8 billion) investment from the governments of Belgium, France, and Luxembourg, as well as existing shareholders, which was followed by changes in Dexia senior management.

        On November 14, 2008, Dexia announced that Dexia and Assured Guaranty Ltd. ("Assured Guaranty") have entered into a purchase agreement for Assured Guaranty to acquire all of Dexia's shares of the Company (the "Acquisition"), subject to the satisfaction of specified closing conditions, including receipt of regulatory and Assured Guaranty shareholder approvals and confirmation from S&P, Moody's and Fitch that the acquisition of the Company would not have a negative impact on the financial strength ratings of Assured's insurance company subsidiaries or the Company's insurance company subsidiaries. The Company cannot estimate whether or when such closing conditions will be satisfied, whether the Acquisition will be completed and, if completed, whether it will be structured as currently contemplated, or what the effects of such a change in control will be on the Company and its results of operations. If the Acquisition is not carried out, Dexia may explore other options with respect to the Company, including selling the Company or some of its operations to a third party, which may have a material effect on the Company.

Financial Guaranty

        The financial strength of the Company's insurance company subsidiaries have historically been rated "Triple-A" by the major securities rating agencies and obligations insured by them have

5



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

1.    ORGANIZATION AND OWNERSHIP (Continued)


historically been generally awarded "Triple-A" ratings by reason of such insurance. During the third quarter of 2008, the rating agencies took various ratings actions regarding the Company:

    On July 21, 2008, Moody's Investors Service Inc. ("Moody's") placed the Triple-A rating of the Company's insurance company subsidiaries on "review for downgrade." In announcing the review for possible downgrade, Moody's stated that it had re-estimated expected and stress loss projections on FSA's aggregate insured portfolio.

    On October 8, 2008, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services ("S&P") placed the Company's insurance company subsidiaries' Triple-A ratings on "negative credit watch." On November 6, 2008, S&P reported that FSA surpassed its Triple-A minimum capital requirement with a margin of safety of 1.3 - 1.4 times, taking into consideration S&P's updated loss projections for the Company's residential mortgage-backed securities ("RMBS") portfolio.

    On October 9, 2008, Fitch Ratings ("Fitch") also placed the Company's insurance company subsidiaries' Triple-A ratings on "negative credit watch."

        The ratings agencies stated that their actions regarding FSA were based in part upon rating agency concerns regarding the prospects for new business originations by financial guarantors, as well as uncertainty about future support for FSA under Dexia's new ownership and management, rather than the fundamental credit strength of the insurance company.

        The impact of recent developments on the Company, including the ratings agency announcements and the Company's August 2008 decision to cease providing financial guaranty insurance on asset-backed obligations, as well as the impact of recent developments on the financial guaranty insurance industry as a whole, remains uncertain, and could include a long term decrease in demand in the global economy for financial guaranty insurance, as well as increases in the requirements for conducting, or restrictions on the types of business conducted by, financial guaranty insurers.

        Financial guaranty insurance written by the Company typically guarantees schedule payments on financial obligations. Upon a payment default on an insured obligation, FSA is generally required to pay the principal, interest or other amounts due in accordance with the obligation's original payment schedule or may, at its option, pay such amounts on an accelerated basis. FSA's underwriting policy is to insure obligations that would otherwise be investment grade without the benefit of FSA's insurance.

        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.

        Asset-backed obligations insured by the Company were generally issued in structured transactions and 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. The Company insured synthetic asset-backed obligations that generally took the form of credit default swap ("CDS") obligations or credit-linked notes that reference asset-backed securities ("ABS") or pools of securities

6



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

1.    ORGANIZATION AND OWNERSHIP (Continued)


or other obligations, with a defined deductible to cover credit risks associated with the referenced securities or loans.

        The Company has refinanced certain poorly performing transactions by employing refinancing vehicles to raise funds, prepay the claim obligations and take control of the assets. These refinancing vehicles are consolidated with the Company and considered part of the financial guaranty segment. Management believes that the assets held by the refinancing vehicles are beyond the reach of the Company and its creditors, even in bankruptcy or other receivership.

Financial Products

        The Company conducts its GIC operations through its consolidated affiliates FSA Capital Management Services LLC ("FSACM"), FSA Capital Markets Services (Caymans) Ltd. and, prior to April 2003, FSA Capital Markets Services LLC (collectively, the "GIC Subsidiaries"). FSACM has conducted substantially all of the Company's GIC operations since April 2003, following the receipt of an exemption from the requirements of the Investment Company Act of 1940. The GIC Subsidiaries lend the proceeds from their sales of GICs to FSA Asset Management LLC ("FSAM"), which invests the funds in obligations that satisfy the Company's investment criteria. FSAM wholly owns FSA Portfolio Asset Limited ("FSA-PAL"), a U.K. Company that invests in non-U.S. securities.

        In the third quarter, to address FP segment liquidity requirements, Dexia provided the Company a $5 billion committed, unsecured, standby line of credit (the "$5 Billion Line of Credit"). As of November 14, 2008, the Company had drawn $550 million on the $5 Billion Line of Credit. In addition, on November 13, 2008, the Company entered into two new agreements with Dexia and its affiliates in support of its FP business, which provide additional protection through a $3.5 billion collateral swap facility and a $500 million capital facility to cover economic losses beyond the $316.5 million of pre-tax loss estimated at the end of June 2008.

        The Company consolidates the results of certain variable interest entities ("VIEs"), which include FSA Global Funding Limited ("FSA Global") and Premier International Funding Co. ("Premier"). FSA Global is a special purpose funding vehicle partially owned by a subsidiary of FSA Holdings. FSA Global issues FSA-insured medium term notes and generally invests the proceeds from the sale of its notes in FSA-insured GICs or other FSA-insured obligations with a view to realizing the yield difference between the notes issued and the obligations purchased with the note proceeds. Premier is principally engaged in debt defeasance for finance lease transactions. The GIC Subsidiaries, FSAM, FSA-PAL, FSA Global and Premier are collectively referred to as the "FP segment."

        The Company's management believes that the assets held by FSA Global and Premier, including those that are eliminated in consolidation, are beyond the reach of the Company and its creditors, even in bankruptcy or other receivership. Substantially all of the assets of FSA Global are pledged to secure the repayment, on a pro rata basis, of FSA Global's notes and its other obligations.

2.    BASIS OF PRESENTATION

        The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") for interim financial statements and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the financial position, results of

7



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

2.    BASIS OF PRESENTATION (Continued)


operations and cash flows as of and for the period ended September 30, 2008 and for all periods presented. These Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements have not been audited by an independent registered public accounting firm in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). The December 31, 2007 consolidated balance sheet was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP. The results of operations for the periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the full year. Certain prior-year balances have been reclassified to conform to the 2008 presentation.

        The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make extensive estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the Company's consolidated balance sheets at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the reported amounts of revenues and expenses in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income during the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Such estimates and assumptions include, but are not limited to, losses and loss adjustment expenses, fair value of financial instruments, the determination of other-than-temporary impairment ("OTTI"), the amortization of discount on securities that have been other-than-temporarily impaired and the deferral and amortization of policy acquisition costs and taxes. Actual results may differ from those estimates.

3.    FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT

        The Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 157, "Fair Value Measurements" ("SFAS 157"), effective January 1, 2008. SFAS 157 addresses how companies should measure fair value when required to use fair value measures under GAAP. SFAS 157:

    defines fair value 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, and establishes a framework for measuring fair value;

    establishes a three-level hierarchy for fair value measurements based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date;

    nullifies the guidance in Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 02-03, "Issues Involved in Accounting for Derivative Contracts Held for Trading Purposes and Contracts Involved in Energy Trading and Risk Management Activities" ("EITF 02-03"), which required the deferral of profit at inception of a transaction involving a derivative financial instrument in the absence of observable data supporting the valuation technique;

    requires consideration of a company's creditworthiness when valuing liabilities; and

    expands disclosure requirements about instruments measured at fair value.

        In February 2007 the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued SFAS No. 159, "The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities" ("SFAS 159"). SFAS 159 provides an option to elect fair value as an alternative measurement for selected financial assets and financial liabilities not previously recorded at fair value. The Company adopted SFAS 159 on January 1, 2008

8



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

3.    FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT (Continued)


and elected fair value accounting for certain FP segment debt and certain assets acquired in refinancing FSA-insured transactions not previously carried at fair value. See Note 4.

        The Company applied its valuation methodologies for its assets and liabilities measured at fair value to all of the assets and liabilities carried at fair value effective January 1, 2008, whether those instruments are carried at fair value as a result of the adoption of SFAS 159 or in compliance with other authoritative accounting guidance. The Company has fair value committees to review and approve valuations and assumptions used in its models. These committees meet quarterly prior to issuing quarterly financial statements.

        Fair value is based upon pricing received from dealer quotes or alternative pricing sources with reasonable levels of price transparency, internally developed estimates that employ credit-spread algorithms or models that use market-based or independently sourced market data inputs, including yield curves, interest rates, volatilities, debt prices, foreign exchange rates and credit curves. In addition to market information, models also incorporate instrument-specific data, such as maturity date.

        Considerable judgment is necessary to interpret the data to develop the estimates of fair value. The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies may have a material effect on the estimated fair-value amounts.

        The transition adjustment in connection with the adoption of SFAS 157 was an increase of $26.6 million after-tax to beginning retained earnings, which relates to day one gains that had been deferred under EITF 02-03.

9



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

3.    FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT (Continued)

        The following table summarizes the components of the fair-value adjustments included in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income:

 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
  2008   2007   2008   2007  
 
  (in thousands)
 

REVENUES

                         
 

Net change in fair value of credit derivatives (See Note 11)

  $ (164,271 ) $ (266,718 ) $ (369,141 ) $ (280,111 )
                   
 

Net interest income from financial products segment(1):

                         
   

Fair-value adjustments on FP segment investment portfolio

  $ 43,099   $   $ 50,684   $  
   

Fair-value adjustments on FP segment derivatives

    (46,129 )       (52,870 )    
                   
     

Net interest income from financial products segment

  $ (3,030 ) $   $ (2,186 ) $  
                   
 

Net realized gains (losses) from financial products segment:

                         
   

Fair-value adjustments attributable to impairment charges in FP investment portfolio

  $ (417,457 ) $ (11,100 ) $ (1,459,876 ) $ (11,100 )
                   
 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments:

                         
   

FP segment derivatives(2) (See Note 12)

  $ 25,163   $ (44,083 ) $ 181,613   $ (11,885 )
   

Other financial guaranty segment derivatives

    21     160     91     592  
                   
       

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments

  $ 25,184   $ (43,923 ) $ 181,704   $ (11,293 )
                   
 

Net unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value:

                         
   

Financial guaranty segment:

                         
     

Assets acquired in refinancing transactions

  $ (4,090 ) $   $ (7,296 ) $  
     

Committed preferred trust put options

    22,000         78,000      
                   
         

Net unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value in the financial guaranty segment

    17,910         70,704      
                   
   

FP segment:

                         
     

Assets designated as trading portfolio

    2,834     10,115     (91,469 )   16,433  
     

Fixed-rate FP segment debt:

                         
       

Fair-value adjustments other than the Company's own credit risk

    39,531         (55,207 )    
       

Fair-value adjustments attributable to the Company's own credit risk

    260,529         1,023,362      
                   
         

Net unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value in the FP segment

    302,894     10,115     876,686     16,433  
                   
           

Net unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value

  $ 320,804   $ 10,115   $ 947,390   $ 16,433  
                   

EXPENSES

                         
 

Other income(3)

  $ (15,403 ) $ (3,321 ) $ (32,041 ) $ 1,791  
 

Net interest expense from financial products segment(4):

                         
   

Fair-value adjustments on FP segment debt

  $   $ 112,333   $   $ 143  
   

Fair-value adjustments on FP segment derivatives

        (134,014 )       1,468  
                   
     

Net interest expense from financial products segment

  $   $ (21,681 ) $   $ 1,611  
                   

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS), NET OF TAX

                         
 

General Investment Portfolio (See Note 5)

  $ (132,926 ) $ 36,397   $ (202,883 ) $ (22,974 )
 

Assets acquired in refinancing transactions

    (4 )   (1,271 )   (2,320 )   (869 )
 

FP Segment Investment Portfolio:

                         
     

FP Investment Portfolio (See Note 6)

    (480,000 )   (269,392 )   (1,613,310 )   (333,461 )
     

VIE Investment Portfolio

    (42,892 )   11,698     (42,706 )   11,430  
                   
       

Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

  $ (655,822 ) $ (222,568 ) $ (1,861,219 ) $ (345,874 )
                   

(1)
There was no hedge accounting in 2007.

(2)
Represents derivatives not in designated fair-value hedging relationships.

(3)
Represents fair-value adjustments on the assets that economically defease the Company's liability for deferred compensation plans ("DCP") and supplemental executive retirement plans ("SERP") and fair value adjustments in assets acquired in refinancing transactions portfolio.

(4)
There is no hedge accounting in 2008.

10



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

3.    FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT (Continued)

Valuation Hierarchy

        SFAS 157 establishes a three-level valuation hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements. The valuation hierarchy is based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date. The three levels are defined as follows:

    Level 1 —inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

    Level 2 —inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model- derived valuations in which all significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets.

    Level 3 —inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant drivers of the fair value measurement.

        A financial instrument's categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

Inputs to Valuation Techniques

        Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants use in pricing assets or liabilities, including assumptions about risk. Inputs may be observable or unobservable.

    Observable inputs are inputs that reflect assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, developed based on market data obtained from independent sources.

    Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the assumptions management makes about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, developed based on the best information available in the circumstances.

Valuation Techniques

        Valuation techniques used for assets and liabilities accounted for at fair value are generally categorized into three types:

    The market approach uses prices and other relevant information from market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities. Valuation techniques consistent with the market approach often use market multiples derived from a set of comparables or matrix pricing. Market multiples might lie in ranges with a different multiple for each comparable. The selection of where within the range the appropriate multiple falls requires judgment, considering both quantitative and qualitative factors specific to the measurement. Matrix pricing is a mathematical technique used principally to value certain securities without relying exclusively on quoted prices for the specific securities but comparing the securities to benchmark or comparable securities.

11



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

3.    FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT (Continued)

    The income approach converts future amounts, such as cash flows or earnings, to a single present amount, or a discounted amount. Income approach techniques rely on current market expectations of future amounts. Examples of income approach valuation techniques include present value techniques, option-pricing models that incorporate present value techniques, and the multi-period excess earnings method.

    The cost approach is based upon the amount that currently would be required to replace the service capacity of an asset, or the current replacement cost. That is, from the perspective of a market participant (seller), the price that would be received for the asset is determined based on the cost to a market participant (buyer) to acquire or construct a substitute asset of comparable utility.

        The Company uses valuation techniques that it concludes are appropriate in the specific circumstances and for which sufficient data are available. In selecting the valuation technique to apply, management considers the definition of an exit price and considers the nature of the asset or liability being valued.

Financial Instruments Carried at Fair Value

        The following is a description of the valuation methodologies the Company uses for financial instruments measured at fair value, including the general classification of such instruments within the valuation hierarchy.

General Investment Portfolio

        The fair value of bonds in the portfolio of investments supporting the financial guaranty segment (excluding assets acquired in refinancing transactions) (the "General Investment Portfolio") is generally based on quoted market prices received from dealer quotes 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. Assets in this category are primarily categorized as Level 2.

        As of September 30, 2008, the Company's equity securities were comprised of common stock of Dexia. The fair value of the common stock is based upon quoted prices and is categorized as Level 1.

        For short-term investments in the General Investment Portfolio, which are those investments with a maturity of less than one year at time of purchase, the carrying amount approximates fair value. These short-term investments include money-market funds and other highly liquid short-term investments, which are categorized as Level 1 on the valuation hierarchy, and foreign government and agency securities, which are categorized as Level 2.

12



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

3.    FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT (Continued)

FP Segment Investment Portfolio

        The "FP Investment Portfolio" is comprised of investments made with the proceeds of FSA-insured GICs. Together with the portfolio of securities owned by the VIEs (the "VIE Investment Portfolio"), it forms the "FP Segment Investment Portfolio." The available-for-sale FP Investment Portfolio is broadly comprised of short-term investments, non-agency RMBS, securities issued or guaranteed by U.S. government sponsored agencies, taxable municipal bonds, securities issued by utilities, infrastructure-related securities, collateralized debt obligations ("CDOs"), and other asset-backed securities. In addition to its available-for-sale portfolio, the FP Investment Portfolio includes foreign currency denominated securities classified as "trading."

        The fair value of bonds in the FP Segment Investment Portfolio is generally based on quoted market prices received from dealer quotes 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. For assets not valued by quoted market prices received from dealer quotes or alternative pricing sources, fair value is based on either internally developed models using market based inputs or based on broker quotes for identical or similar assets. Valuation results, particularly those derived from valuation models and quotes on certain mortgage and asset-backed securities, could differ materially from amounts that would actually be realized in the market. Non-agency mortgage-backed and other asset-backed investments are generally categorized as Level 3 due to the reduced liquidity that exists for such assets, which increases use of unobservable inputs.

        For short-term investments in the FP Segment Investment Portfolio, which are those investments with a maturity of less than one year at time of purchase, the carrying amount is fair value. These short-term investments include overnight federal funds and money market funds, which are categorized as Level 1 on the valuation hierarchy.

        The trading portfolio is comprised of Sterling-denominated inflation-linked bonds for which fair value is based on broker quotes that are derived from an internally developed model that uses observable market inputs. The market inputs for the longer duration bonds in this portfolio (over 30 years) are not observable; therefore they are classified as Level 3 in the valuation hierarchy, whereas the shorter duration bonds are classified as Level 2.

Assets Acquired in Refinancing Transactions

        For certain assets acquired in refinancing transactions, fair value is either the present value of expected cash flows or a quoted market price as of the reporting date. This portfolio is comprised primarily of bonds, securitized loans, common stock, mortgage loans, real estate and short term investments, of which bonds, common stocks and certain securitized loans are carried at fair value. Mortgage loans are accounted for at fair value when lower than cost. The majority of the assets in this portfolio are categorized as Level 3 in the valuation hierarchy, except for the short-term investments, which are categorized as Level 2.

13



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

3.    FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT (Continued)

Credit Derivatives in the Insured Portfolio

        The Company's insured portfolio includes contracts accounted for as derivatives, namely,

    CDS contracts in which the Company sells protection to various financial credit institutions, and in certain cases, purchases back-to-back credit protection on all or a portion of the risk written, primarily from reinsurance companies,

    insured interest rate ("IR") swaps entered into by the issuer in connection with the issuance of certain public finance obligations, which guaranty the municipality's performance under the IR swap to the IR swap counterparty,

    insured net interest margin ("NIM") securitizations and other financial guarantee contracts that guarantee risks other than credit risk, such as interest rate basis risk ("FG contracts with embedded derivatives") issued after January 1, 2007.

        The Company considers all such agreements to be a normal part of its financial guaranty insurance business but, for accounting purposes, these contracts are deemed to be derivative instruments and therefore must be recorded at fair value, with changes in fair value recorded in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income in the line item "net change in fair value of credit derivatives."

    Credit Default Swap Contracts

        In the case of CDS contracts, a trust that is consolidated by the Company writes a derivative contract that provides for payments to be made if certain credit events occur related to certain specified reference obligations, in exchange for a fee. The need to interpose a trust is a regulatory requirement imposed by the New York State Insurance Department as an exception to its general rule, in order to allow the financial guarantors to sell credit protection by entering into credit derivative contracts (albeit indirectly by guaranteeing the trust), while other types of insurance enterprises may neither directly enter into such credit derivative contracts, nor provide such guarantees to a trust. The trust's obligation on the CDS contracts it writes are guaranteed by a financial guaranty contract written by FSA that provides payments to the insured if the trust defaults on its payments under the derivative contract. In these transactions, FSA is considered the counterparty to a financial guaranty contract that is defined as a derivative. The credit event is typically based upon failure to pay or the insolvency of a referenced obligation. In such cases, the claim represents payment for the shortfall amount.

        The Company's accounting policy regarding CDS contract valuations is a "critical accounting policy and estimate" due to the valuation's significance to the financial statements since it requires management to make numerous complex and subjective judgments relating to amounts that are inherently uncertain. CDS contracts are valued using proprietary models because such instruments are unique, complex and are typically highly customized transactions. Valuation models and the related assumptions are continuously reevaluated by management and enhanced, as appropriate, based on market developments and improvements in modeling techniques and the availability of market observable data. Due to the significance of unobservable inputs required to value CDS contracts, they are considered to be Level 3 under the SFAS 157 fair value hierarchy.

        The assumed credit quality of the underlying referenced obligations, the assumed credit spread attributable to credit risk of the underlying referenced obligations exclusive of funding costs, the

14



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

3.    FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT (Continued)


appropriate reference credit index or price source and credit spread attributable to the Company's own credit risk are significant assumptions that, if changed, could result in materially different fair values. Market perceptions of credit deterioration of the underlying referenced obligation would result in an increase in the expected exit value (amount required to be paid to exit the transaction due to wider credit spreads).

    Fair Value of CDS Contracts in which the Company Sells Protection

Determination of Current Exit Value Premium:     The estimation of the current exit value premium is derived using a unique credit-spread algorithm for each defined CDS category that utilizes various publicly available credit indices, depending on the types of assets referenced by the CDS contract and the duration of the contract. The "exit price" derived is technically an "entry price" and not an "exit price", i.e., the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability that is required under SFAS 157. This is because a monoline insurer cannot observe "exit prices" for the CDS contract that it writes in a principal market since these contracts are not transferable. While SFAS 157 provides that the transaction (entry) price and the exit price may not be equal if the transaction price includes transaction costs, the Company believes those transaction costs would be the same in an "entry" market and a hypothetical "exit" market and thus it would be inappropriate to record a day one gain when using the estimated "entry price" to determine the exit value premium.

        Management applies judgment when developing these estimates and considers factors such as current prices charged for similar agreements, performance of underlying assets, changes in internal credit assessments or rating agency-based shadow ratings, and the level at which the deductible has been set. Estimates generated from the Company's valuation process may differ materially from values that may be realized in market transactions.

        In a financial guaranty insurance policy, a deductible is the portion of a loss under that policy that is not covered by the policy, or in other words, the amount of the loss for which the insurer is not responsible. In a CDS contract, the deductible is quoted as a percentage of the contract's notional amount, and is also referred to as the contract's attachment point. For example, for a CDS with a $1 billion notional amount and a 15% deductible, the Company would only be obligated to make a claim payment after the insured incurred more than $150 million (15% of $1 billion) of losses (net of recoveries). The attachment points for each of the Company's CDS contracts vary, as the deductibles are negotiated on a contract-by-contract basis.

        In the ordinary course, the Company does not post collateral to the counterparty as security for the Company's obligation under CDS contracts. As a result, the Company receives a smaller fee than it would for a CDS contract that required the posting of collateral. In order to calculate the exit value premium for CDS that do not require collateral to be posted, the Company applies a factor (the "non-collateral posting factor") to the indicated market premium for CDS contracts that require collateral to be posted. The factor was 62% for the quarter ended September 30, 2008.

        The Company calculates the non-collateral posting factor quarterly based in part on observable market inputs. In the market where transactions are executed, the Company has observed since the beginning of 2008 that when a collateral posting counterparty executes a CDS contract purchasing protection from a non-collateral posting counterparty, it will hold back a minimum of 20% of the CDS premium it charged to provide the CDS protection. The Company believes that the non-collateral posting factor has the effect of adjusting the fair value of these contracts for the Company's credit

15



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

3.    FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT (Continued)


quality in addition to adjusting the contract to a collateral posting basis. Accordingly, the Company adds to the 20% minimum an additional amount to reflect the market price of CDS protection on FSA. The Company estimated the additional amount as of September 30, 2008 to be 42% using an algorithm that uses as an input FSA's current annual five-year CDS credit spread, which was approximately 1,110 basis points as of September 30, 2008. The Company uses the current five-year CDS credit spread based on its observation that the five-year instrument is the standard contract used to hedge counterparty credit risk.

        Below is an explanation of how the Company determines the current exit value for each of the following types of CDS contracts:

    Pooled Corporate CDS Contracts:

    investment grade pooled corporate CDS;

    high yield pooled corporate CDS; and

    CDS of funded CDOs and collateralized loan obligations ("CLOs").

        For each of these types of CDS contracts, the price the Company charges when entering into such contract sometimes differs from the fair value determined by the Company's fair value model at the time when the Company enters into the CDS contract. The Company refers to this difference as the "initial model adjustment," and is not an indicator of a day one gain. The initial model adjustment is needed because of differences between the CDS contract being valued and the reference index. The initial model adjustment is calculated at the inception of a CDS contract in order to calibrate the indicated model fair value of the CDS contract to the contractual premium rate on the trade date.

         Pooled Corporate CDS Contracts :    A pooled corporate CDS contract insures the default risk of a pool of referenced corporate entities. As there is no observable exchange trading of bespoke pooled corporate CDS, the Company values these contracts using an internal pricing model that uses the mid-point of the bid and ask prices (the "mid-market price") of dealer quotes on specific indexes as inputs to its pricing model, principally the Dow Jones CDX for domestic corporate CDS ("DJ CDX") and iTraxx for European corporate CDS ("iTraxx"). The mid-market price is a practical expedient for the fair-value measurement within a bid-ask spread. For those pooled corporate CDS contracts that include both domestic and foreign reference entities, the Company applies the iTraxx price in proportion to the pool of applicable foreign reference entities comprising the pool by calculating a weighted average of the DJ CDX and iTraxx quoted prices.

        The Company's valuation process for pooled corporate CDS involves stratifying the pools into either investment grade credits or high-yield credits and then by remaining term to maturity, consistent with the reference indexes. Within maturity bands, further distinction is made for contracts that have higher attachment points. Both the DJ CDX and iTraxx indices provide quoted prices for standard attachment and detachment points (or "tranches") for contracts with maturities of three, five, seven and ten years.

        Prices quoted for these tranches do not represent perfect pricing references, but are the only relevant market-based information available for this type of non-traded contract. The recent market volatility in the index tranches has had a significant impact on the estimated fair value of the Company's portfolio of pooled corporate CDS.

16



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

3.    FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT (Continued)

         Investment-Grade Pooled Corporate CDS Contracts:     The Company uses quoted prices related to its investment-grade pooled corporate CDS contracts ("IG CDS") by stratifying its IG CDS contracts into four maturity bands: less than 3.5 years; 3.5 to 5.5 years; 5.5 to 7.5 years; and 7.5 to 10 years. Within the maturity bands, further distinction is made for contracts that have a significantly higher starting attachment point (usually 30% or higher).

        The CDX North America IG Index ("CDX IG Index") is comprised of prices sourced from 125 North American investment grade CDS quoted (each, an "Index CDS") and is supported by at least 10 of the largest CDS dealers. In addition to the full capital structure, the CDX IG Index also provides price quotes for various tranches delineated by attachment and detachment points: 0 to 3%; 3 to 7%; 7 to10%; 10 to 15%; 15 to 30% and 30 to 100%. Approximately every six months, a new "series" of the CDX IG Index is published ("on-the-run") based on a new grouping of 125 Index CDS, which changes the composition of the 125 Index CDS of older ("off-the-run") series. Each quarter, the Company compares the composition of the 125 Index CDS in both the on-the-run and off-the run series of the CDX IG index to the CDS pool referenced by the Company's IG CDS contracts (the "reference CDS pool") and uses the average of the series of the CDX IG and iTraxx indices that most closely relates to the credit characteristics of the Company's IG CDS contracts. The Company also remodels each of its contracts to determine if the credit quality remains Super Triple-A and compares the Weighted-Average Rating Factor ("WARF") of the index to the WARF of each of the Company's IG CDS contracts. A "Super Triple-A" credit rating indicates a level of first-loss protection generally exceeding 1.3 times the level required by a rating agency for a Triple-A rating. WARF is a 10,000 point scale developed by Moody's that is used as an indicator of collateral pool risk. A higher WARF indicates a lower average collateral rating.

        The Company calibrates the quoted index price to the approximate attachment points for its IG CDS contracts by calculating the weighted average of the given quoted tranche prices for IG CDS of a given maturity using the CDX IG Index and iTraxx quoted tranche widths. The relevant widths of the quoted tranches used by the two indices differ. DJ CDX uses tranches of 10 to 15%, 15 to 30%, and 30 to 100%, resulting in tranche widths of five, 15 and 70 percentage points, whereas iTraxx uses tranches of 9 to 12%, 12 to 22% and 22 to 100%, resulting in tranche widths of three, 10 and 78 percentage points.

        The Company's IG CDS contracts typically attach at 10% or higher. The following table indicates FSA's typical attachment points and total tranche widths:

Portfolio Classification
  Index Quoted
Duration
  FSA's Typical
Attachment Point
  FSA's Total
Tranche Width
 
 
  (in years)
   
   
 

Less than 3.5 Yrs

    3     10 %   90  

3.5 to 5.5 Yrs

    5     10 %   90  

5.5 to 7.5 Yrs:

                   
 

Lower attachment

    7     15 %   85  
 

Higher attachment

    7     30 %   70  

7.5 to 10 Yrs:

                   
 

Lower attachment

    10     15 %   85  
 

Higher attachment

    10     30 %   70  

17



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

3.    FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT (Continued)

        To calculate the weighted average price for the entire tranche width of the Company's IG CDS (the "total tranche width"), a price is obtained for each quoted tranche comprising the total tranche width, and the sum of the weighted average prices is divided by the total tranche width. The price for each quoted tranche is the mid-market of the quoted price for that tranche, weighted by the width of that tranche. The following table illustrates the calculation of the weighted-average price of the Company's IG CDS contracts with a maturity of up to 3.5 years, given quoted CDX IG tranche prices of 131 basis points, 99.5 basis points and 39.5 basis points for the 10 to 15%, 15 to 30%, and 30 to 100% tranches, respectively.

 
  CDX IG Mid-market Price Multiplied by the Tranche Width    
   
 
 
  Total
Tranche
Width
  Weighted
Average
Price
 
FSA Portfolio Classification
  10 to 15%   15 to 30%   30 to 100%   Total  
Attachment/Detachment
 

Less than 3.5 Yrs

    131 bps × 5 = 655.0     99.5 bps × 15 = 1,492.5     39.5 bps × 70 = 2,765.0     4,912.5     90     54.6 bps  

        The Company's Transaction Oversight Department reviews the pooled corporate CDS portfolio regularly and no less than quarterly and factors in any rating changes. Any new reported credit events under a given CDS contract are factored into the contract's deductible level. As such credit events occur, the contract's attachment point is recalculated based on the revised deductible amount to determine if the attachment point for each contract in the portfolio continues to be at a "Super Triple-A" credit rating. At September 30, 2008, there was one IG CDS contract that was determined to be below the "Super Triple-A" credit rating. This contract was determined to have a credit rating considered investment grade as of that date. Accordingly, the Company applies the calculated pricing to all IG CDS in the portfolio consistent with its credit rating.

        To arrive at the exit value premium applied to each of the Company's IG CDS contracts, the Company:

    (a)
    determines the weighted average of the mid-market prices for the applicable tranches by (1) multiplying the mid-market price for each tranche by the tranche width and (2) dividing the total amount derived by the total tranche width, using CDX IG and iTraxx quoted prices; and then

    (b)
    applies the non-collateral posting factor to the weighted-average market price determined for each maturity band.

        Below is an example of the pricing algorithm that is applied to the Company's domestic IG CDS contracts with durations of 3.5 to 5.5 years to determine the exit premium value as of September 30, 2008:

Index
Duration
  Unadjusted
Quoted Price
  Non-collateral
Posting Factor
  Adjusted to Non-
collateral Posting
Contract Value
 

5 yrs

    53.9 bps     62.0 %   20.5 bps  

         High-Yield Pooled Corporate CDS Contracts:     In order to estimate the market price for high-yield pooled corporate CDS contracts ("HY CDS"), the Company uses the average of the dealer mid-market prices obtained for the most senior quoted of the respective three year, five-year and seven-year tranches of the CDX North America High Yield Index ("CDX HY Index"). The CDX HY Index is

18



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

3.    FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT (Continued)


comprised of prices sourced from 100 of the most liquid North American high yield CDS quoted (each, an "Index CDS") and is supported by more than 10 of the largest CDS dealers. In addition to the full capital structure, the CDX HY Index also provides price quotes for various tranches delineated by attachment and detachment points: 0 to 10%; 10 to 15%; 15 to 25%; 25 to 35%; and 35 to 100%. The Company uses an average of the dealer mid-market quotes of the index because the Company believes that dealer price quotes have historically been indicative of where trades have been executed in the high yield market.

        The Company applies a factor to the quoted prices (the "calibration factor"). The calibration factor is intended to calibrate the index price to each of the Company's pooled corporate high-yield CDS contracts, which reference pools of entities that are typically of higher average credit quality than those reflected in the CDX HY index. The calibration factor is determined for each HY CDS contract by calibrating the WARF of the index so that it approximately equals the WARF of each HY CDS contract. To do so, the Company recalculates the index price after removing from the index the reference obligations that have the highest spreads and are not in the relevant HY CDS contract. This recalculated index price is then divided by the unadjusted index to arrive at the calibration factor. As of September 30, 2008, the calibration factor applied to the Company's HY CDS contracts ranged from 65% to 100% of the WARF of the index.

        Approximately every six months, a new "series" of the CDX HY Index is published ("on-the-run") based on a new grouping of 100 Index CDS, which changes the composition of the 100 Index CDS of older ("off-the-run") series. The Company compares the composition of the 100 Index CDS in both the on-the-run and off-the run series of the CDS HY index to the CDS pool referenced by the Company's HY CDS contracts (the "reference CDS pool"). Based on that comparison, the Company determines which of the actively quoted series most closely relates to the credit characteristics of the Company's HY CDS contracts, and then uses the average of dealer quotes of that series. The Company also remodels each of its contracts to determine if the credit quality remains Super Triple-A and compares the WARF of the index to the WARF of each of the Company's HY CDS contracts.

        To arrive at the exit value premium that is applied to each of the Company's CDS contracts in a given maturity band, the non-collateral posting factor is applied to the weighted-average market price determined for that maturity band.

    For purposes of this calculation, the Company's HY CDS contracts are stratified into three maturity bands: less than 3.5 years; 3.5 to 5.5 years; and 5.5 to 7.5 years.

    Each quarter, the average of the series of the CDX HY or iTraxx that most closely relates to the credit characteristics of the CDS contracts in the Company's portfolio is used. In some cases it may be the most recently published series of those indices, but in other cases, it may be the previously published series to the extent that it is still being published.

    The appropriate calibration factor and a 62% non-collateral posting factor adjustment are applied to the average of the quotes received as of September 30, 2008.

19



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

3.    FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT (Continued)

        Below is an example of the pricing algorithm that is applied to the Company's domestic HY CDS contracts with durations of 3.5 to 5.5 years, assuming an average calibration factor of 85% to determine the exit premium value as of September 30, 2008:

Index
Duration
  Unadjusted
Quoted Price
  After
Calibration
Factor(1)
  Adjusted to Non-
collateral Posting
Contract Value
 

5 yrs

    173.86 bps     147.78 bps     56.2 bps  

    (1)
    Based on an average calibration factor of 85% for all high yield trades in the portfolio. Individual factors that were used ranged from 65% to 100%.

         CDS of Funded CDOs and CLOs :    As with pooled corporate CDS, there is no observable exchange trading of CDS of funded CDOs and CLOs. The price of protection charged by a CDS writer is based on the "credit spread component" of the "all-in credit spread" of funded CLOs, as quoted by underwriter participants. As the all-in credit spread for a given CLO may not always be observable in the market, the CDS writer often utilizes an index, published by an underwriter participant, such as the "all-in" London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") spread for Triple-A rated cash-funded CLOs (the "Triple-A CLO Funded Rate") as published by J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. The Triple-A CLO Rate is an all-in credit spread that includes both a funding and credit spread component.

        The CDS protection of a CLO provided by the Company is priced to capture only the credit spread component, as the CDS writer is not providing funding for the CLO, only credit protection. The Company determines the exit value premium for all these CDS contracts in its portfolio that are rated Triple-A with reference to the Triple-A CLO Funded Rate, which was 375 bps as of September 30, 2008. The Company applies a credit component factor to the Triple-A CLO Funded Rate as a means of estimating the fair value of its Triple-A rated contract, which only refers to the credit component. The credit and funding components have been considered consistent at 50% each. The components are determined judgmentally based on estimates provided to the Company by external market participants. The credit component factor was 50% as of September 30, 2008.

        To arrive at the exit value premium that is applied to each of the Company' CDO and CLO CDS contracts, the non-collateral posting factor is applied to the weighted-average market price determined for each maturity band.

        The determination of the exit value premium is summarized as follows:

 
  Triple A CLO Funded Rate   After Credit Component Factor   After Non-collateral Posting Factor  

Rate

    375 bps     187.5 bps     71.3 bps  

         Other Structured Obligations Valuation:     For CDS for which observable market value information is not available, management applies its best judgment to estimate the appropriate current exit value premium, and takes into consideration the Company's estimation of the price at which the Company would currently charge to provide similar protection, and other factors such as the nature of the underlying reference credit, the Company's attachment point, and the tenor of the CDS contract.

20



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

3.    FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT (Continued)

    Fair Value of CDS Contracts in which the Company Purchases Protection

        The Company generally utilizes reinsurance to purchase protection for CDS contracts it writes in the same way that it employs reinsurance in respect of other financial guaranty insurance policies. The Company's uses of reinsurance to mitigate risk exposures for CDS contracts and financial guaranty insurance policies are nearly identical as they involve the same reinsurers, the same underwriting process evaluating the reinsurers and the same credit risk management and surveillance processes supporting the reinsurance function. The Company enters into reinsurance agreements on CDS contracts primarily on a quota share basis. Under a quota share reinsurance agreement with a reinsurer, the Company cedes to the assuming reinsurer a proportionate share of the risk and premium.

        The determination of the hypothetical exit market is a key factor in determining the fair value of protection purchased (the "ceded" or "reinsurance" contract) with respect to a CDS contract written by a financial guarantor (the "direct contract"). SFAS 157 requires that the valuation premise, used to measure the fair value of an asset, must consider the asset's "highest and best use" from the perspective of market participants. Generally, the valuation premise used for a financial asset is "in-exchange" since this type of asset provides maximum value to market participants on a stand-alone basis. The maximum value of a ceded contract to the CDS writer's exit market participants is in combination with the CDS writer's direct contract. Therefore the appropriate valuation premise to use for a ceded contract is the "in-use" premise.

        The Company determines the fair value of a CDS contract in which it purchases protection from a reinsurer (the "ceded CDS contract") as the proportionate percentage of the fair value of the related written CDS contract, adjusted for any ceding commission and consideration of counterparty risk. In quota share reinsurance agreements, the assuming reinsurer typically pays a ceding commission periodically over the life of the CDS contract to the ceding company that is intended to defray the ceding company's costs for the services it provides to the reinsurer, such as risk selection, underwriting activities and ongoing servicing and reporting. As an element of the fair value of the ceded CDS contract, the ceding commission paid to the ceding company represents the ceding company's profit on the ceded CDS contract after considering counterparty credit risk and servicing costs, i.e., the difference between (a) the price of the protection the ceding company purchased from the reinsurer, which is net of the ceding commission, and (b) the price that the ceding company would receive to exit the ceded CDS contract in its principal market, which is comprised of other ceding insurers of comparable credit standing. The Company applies a credit valuation adjustment to the fair value of a ceded CDS contract due from a reinsurer if the reinsurer's credit quality (as determined by CDS price if available, or if not, its credit rating) is less than that of the Company's based upon the premise that the exit market for these contracts would be another monoline financial guarantee insurer that has similar credit rating or spread as the Company.

    Insured Interest Rate Swaps and Financial Guarantee Contracts Deemed to be Derivatives

        The Company insures IR swaps entered into in connection with the issuance of certain public finance obligations. Because the financial guaranty contract insures a derivative, the financial guaranty contract is deemed to be a derivative. Therefore, the contract is required to be carried at fair value, with the change in fair value being recorded in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income. As there is no observable market for these policies, the fair value of these

21



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

3.    FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT (Continued)

contracts is determined by using an internally developed model. They are therefore classified as Level 3 in the valuation hierarchy.

        Insured NIM securitizations issued in connection with certain mortgage-backed security financings and FG contracts with embedded derivatives are deemed to be hybrid instruments that contain an embedded derivative if they were issued after January 1, 2007. The Company elected to record these financial instruments at fair value under SFAS No. 155, "Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments." Changes in the fair value of these contracts are recorded in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. As there is no observable market for these policies, the fair value of these contracts is based on internally derived estimates and they are therefore classified as Level 3 in the valuation hierarchy.

FP Segment Derivatives

        All of the derivatives used in the FP segment, except for those used to hedge the VIE debt, are valued using a pricing model that uses observable market inputs, such as interest rate curves, foreign exchange rates and inflation indices. These derivatives are therefore classified as Level 2 in the valuation hierarchy, except for exchange traded futures contracts, which are classified as Level 1, or Level 3 if any of the significant model inputs were not observable in the market. On the date of adoption, all derivatives used to hedge VIE debt were valued by obtaining prices from brokers or counterparties, and accordingly were classified as Level 3 in the valuation hierarchy. At September 30, 2008, these derivatives were valued using a pricing model that uses observable market inputs such as interest rate curves, foreign exchange rates and inflation indices. Therefore these derivatives are classified as Level 2 in the valuation hierarchy at September 30, 2008, provided all of the significant model inputs were observable in the market, or Level 3 if not observable in the market.

Committed Preferred Trust Put Options

        As there is no observable market for the Company's committed preferred trust put options, fair value is based on internally derived estimates and therefore these put options are categorized as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

        The Company determined the fair value of the committed preferred trust put options by estimating the fair value of a floating rate security with an estimated market yield reflective of the underlying committed preferred security structure and the relevant coupon based on the capped auction rate.

FP Segment Debt

        The fair value of the FP segment debt for which the Company elected the fair value option as described in Note 4 (the "fair-valued liabilities") is determined based on a discounted cash flow model. Fair value calculated by these models includes assumptions for interest rate curves based on selected benchmark securities and weighted average expected lives. In addition, the valuation of the fair-valued liabilities includes an adjustment to reflect the credit quality of the Company that represents the impact of changes in market credit spreads on these liabilities. The fair-valued liabilities are categorized as Level 3 in the valuation hierarchy.

22



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

3.    FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT (Continued)

        The following table presents the financial instruments carried at fair value at September 30, 2008, by caption on the consolidated balance sheet and by SFAS 157 valuation hierarchy.

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

 
  At September 30, 2008  
 
  Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Assets:

                         

General investment portfolio, available for sale:

                         
 

Bonds

  $   $ 5,176,620   $ 55,750   $ 5,232,370  
 

Equity securities

    815             815  
 

Short-term investments

    103,236     505,157         608,393  

Financial products segment investment portfolio:

                         
 

Available-for sale bonds

        2,336,324     9,906,053     12,242,377  
 

Short-term investments

    607,220             607,220  
 

Trading portfolio

        90,388     167,966     258,354  

Assets acquired in refinancing transactions

        21,530     132,418     153,948  

Other assets:

                         
 

FP segment derivatives

    24,221     794,029     16,679     834,929  
 

Credit derivatives

            211,943     211,943  
 

DCP and SERP

    112,023     91         112,114  
 

Committed preferred trust put option

            78,000     78,000  
                   
   

Total assets at fair value

  $ 847,515   $ 8,924,139   $ 10,568,809   $ 20,340,463  
                   

Liabilities:

                         

FP segment debt

  $   $   $ 7,742,843   $ 7,742,843  

Other liabilities:

                         
 

FP segment derivatives

        89,129     47,677     136,806  
 

Credit derivatives

            1,191,409     1,191,409  
 

Other financial guarantee segment derivatives

        81           81  
                   
   

Total liabilities at fair value

  $   $ 89,210   $ 8,981,929   $ 9,071,139  
                   

Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurements

        Mortgage loans in the portfolio of assets acquired in refinancing transactions are carried at the lower of cost or market on an aggregate basis. As of September 30, 2008, such investments were carried at their fair-value of $14.9 million. 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.

23



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

3.    FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT (Continued)

Changes in Level 3 Recurring Fair Value Measurements

        The table below includes a rollforward of the balance sheet amounts for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 for financial instruments classified by the Company within Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy. When a determination is made to classify a financial instrument within Level 3, the determination is based upon the significance of the unobservable data to the overall fair value measurement. However, Level 3 financial instruments may include, in addition to the unobservable or Level 3 components, observable components. Accordingly, the gains and losses in the table below include changes in fair value due in part to observable factors that are part of the valuation methodology. Level 3 assets were 42.2% of total assets at September 30, 2008. Level 3 liabilities were 35.0% of total liabilities at September 30, 2008.

Level 3 Rollforward

 
   
  Three Months Ended September 30, 2008  
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Change in
Unrealized
Gains/(Losses)
Related to
Financial
Instruments
Held at
September 30,
2008
 
 
   
  Total Pre-tax Realized/ Unrealized Gains/(Losses)(1) Recorded in:    
   
   
 
 
  Fair Value
at
June 30,
2008
  Purchases,
Issuances,
Settlements,
net
  Transfers
in and/or
out of
Level 3(2)
  Fair
Value at
September 30,
2008
 
 
  Net
Income
(Loss)
  Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
 
 
  (in thousands)
 

General investment portfolio, available for sale:

                                           
 

Bonds

  $ 61,801   $   $ (3,408 ) $ (2,643 ) $   $ 55,750   $  
 

Equity securities

    1,000     1,925 (3)       (2,925 )            

FP segment available-for sale bonds

    11,409,238     (364,257 )(4)   (772,509 )   (366,419 )       9,906,053     (364,257 )

FP trading portfolio

    168,962     (996 )(5)               167,966     (996 )

Assets acquired in refinancing transactions

    142,979     (4,090 )(6)   2     (6,473 )       132,418     (4,090 )

FP segment debt

    (8,207,447 )   244,238 (7)       220,366         (7,742,843 )   215,645  

Net FP segment derivatives(8)

    (39,289 )   8,291 (9)               (30,998 )   8,291  

Committed preferred trust put options

    56,000     22,000 (5)               78,000     22,000  

Net credit derivatives(8)

    (807,646 )   (164,271 )(10)       (7,549 )       (979,466 )   (164,734 )

(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)
Transfers are assumed to be made at the beginning of the period.

(3)
Included in net realized gains (losses) from general investment portfolio.

(4)
Reported in net interest income from financial products segment if designated in a qualifying fair-value hedging relationship, or net realized gains (losses) from financial products segment if determined to be OTTI.

(5)
Reported in net unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value.

(6)
Reported in net unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value.

(7)
Unrealized gains are reported in net unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value and interest expense is recorded in net interest expense from financial products segment.

(8)
Represents net position of derivatives. The consolidated balance sheets present gross assets and liabilities based on net counterparty exposure.

(9)
Reported in net interest income from financial products segment if designated in a qualifying fair-value hedging relationship, or net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments if not so designated.

(10)
Reported in net change in fair value of credit derivatives.

24



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

3.    FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT (Continued)

 
   
  Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008  
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Change in
Unrealized
Gains/(Losses)
Related to
Financial
Instruments
Held at
September 30,
2008
 
 
   
  Total Pre-tax Realized/ Unrealized Gains/(Losses)(1) Recorded in:    
   
   
 
 
   
  Purchases,
Issuances,
Settlements,
net
  Transfers
in and/or
out of
Level 3(2)
  Fair
Value at
September 30,
2008
 
 
  Fair Value
at January 1,
2008
  Net
Income
(Loss)
  Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
 
 
  (in thousands)
 

General investment portfolio, available for sale:

                                           
 

Bonds

  $ 60,273   $   $ (4,979 ) $ 456   $   $ 55,750   $  
 

Equity securities

    39,000     (36,075 )(3)       (2,925 )            

FP segment available-for sale bonds

    14,764,502     (1,401,441 )(4)   (2,356,189 )   (1,100,819 )       9,906,053     (1,401,441 )

FP trading portfolio

    250,575     (82,609 )(5)               167,966     (82,609 )

Assets acquired in refinancing transactions

    170,492     (7,296 )(6)   (3,561 )   (27,217 )       132,418     (7,296 )

FP segment debt

    (9,367,135 )   850,793 (7)       773,499         (7,742,843 )   825,296  

Net FP segment derivatives(8)

    591,325     (39,854 )(9)           (582,469 )   (30,998 )   (26,700 )

Committed preferred trust put options

        78,000 (5)               78,000     78,000  

Net credit derivatives(8)

    (537,321 )   (369,141 )(10)       (73,004 )       (979,466 )   (377,384 )

(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)
Transfers are assumed to be made at the beginning of the period.

(3)
Included in net realized gains (losses) from general investment portfolio.

(4)
Reported in net interest income from financial products segment if designated in a qualifying fair-value hedging relationship, or net realized gains (losses) from financial products segment if determined to be OTTI.

(5)
Reported in net unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value.

(6)
Reported in net unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value.

(7)
Unrealized gains are reported in net unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value and interest expense is recorded in net interest expense from financial products segment.

(8)
Represents net position of derivatives. The consolidated balance sheet presents gross assets and liabilities based on net counterparty exposure.

(9)
Reported in net interest income from financial products segment if designated in a qualifying fair-value hedging relationship, or net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments if not so designated.

(10)
Reported in net change in fair value of credit derivatives.

25



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

4.    FAIR VALUE OPTION

        In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS 159, which is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company adopted SFAS 159 effective January 1, 2008. SFAS 159 provides an option to elect fair value as an alternative measurement for selected financial assets and financial liabilities not previously carried at fair value. The fair-value option may be applied to single eligible instruments, is irrevocable and is applied only to entire instruments and not to portions of instruments. For a discussion of the Company's valuation methodologies, see Note 3.

        The Company's fair value elections were intended to mitigate the volatility in earnings that had been created by recording financial instruments and the related risk management instruments on a different basis of accounting, to eliminate the operational complexities of applying hedge accounting or to conform to the fair value elections made by the Company in 2006 under its International Financial Reporting Standards reporting to Dexia. The requirement, under SFAS 157, to incorporate a reporting entity's own credit risk in the valuation of liabilities which are carried at fair value, has created additional volatility in earnings as credit risk is not hedged. The following table provides detail regarding the Company's elections by consolidated balance sheet line as of January 1, 2008.

 
  Carrying Value of
Financial
Instruments
  Transition
Gain/(Loss)
Recorded in
Retained
Earnings
  Adjusted Carrying
Value
of Financial
Instruments
 
 
  (in thousands)
 

Assets acquired in refinancing transactions

  $ 163,285   $ 2,537 (1) $ 165,822  

FP segment debt

    (9,470,797 )   (88,310 )   (9,559,107 )
                   
 

Pretax cumulative effect of adoption of SFAS 159

          (85,773 )      

Deferred income taxes

          30,021        
                   
 

Cumulative effect of adoption of SFAS 159

        $ (55,752 )      
                   

(1)
Includes the reversal of $0.7 million of valuation allowances.

Elections

        On January 1, 2008, the Company elected to record the following at fair value:

    Certain FP segment debt instruments including fixed-rate GICs and VIE liabilities for which interest rate risk is hedged using interest rate derivatives in accordance with the Company's risk management strategies. The fair value election enabled the Company to record GICs hedged with IR swaps and/or foreign exchange rate swaps at fair value without having to designate them in a fair value hedge relationship under SFAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities," ("SFAS 133"), as it had previously.

    Certain fixed-rate assets in the portfolio of assets acquired in refinancing transactions. The fair value election enabled the Company to record those assets that are economically hedged with derivatives at fair value without having to designate them in a fair value hedge relationship under SFAS 133.

26



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

4.    FAIR VALUE OPTION (Continued)

Changes in Fair Value under the Fair Value Option Election

        The following table presents the pre-tax changes in fair value included in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, for items for which the SFAS 159 fair value election was made.

Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Financial Instruments at Fair Value

 
  Three Months Ended
September 30, 2008
  Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2008
 
 
  (in thousands)
 

Assets acquired in refinancing transactions

  $ (4,090 ) $ (7,296 )

FP segment debt

    300,060     968,155  

        Included in the amounts in the table above are gains of approximately $260.6 million and $1,023.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 that are attributable to widening in the Company's own credit spread.

Aggregate Fair Value and Aggregate Remaining Contractual Principal Balance Outstanding

        The following table reflects the aggregate fair value and the aggregate remaining contractual principal balance outstanding at September 30, 2008, for certain assets acquired in refinancing transactions and FP segment debt for which the SFAS 159 fair value option has been elected.

 
  At September 30, 2008  
 
  Remaining
Aggregate
Contractual
Principal Amount
Outstanding
  Fair Value  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Assets acquired in refinancing transactions

  $ 137,825 (1) $ 132,400  

FP segment debt(2)

    (8,442,509 )   (7,742,843 )

(1)
Includes $33.0 million of loans that are 90 days or more past due.

(2)
The fair-value adjustment for FP segment debt considers interest rate, foreign exchange rates and the Company's own credit risk. The Company economically hedges interest and foreign exchange rate risk through the use of derivatives. The fair-value adjustments on these derivatives are recorded in net unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. See Note 12.

27



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

5.    GENERAL INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO

        The credit quality of fixed-income securities in the General Investment Portfolio based on amortized cost was as follows:

General Investment Portfolio Fixed-Income Securities by Rating

 
  At
September 30, 2008
Percent of Bonds
 

Rating(1)

       
 

AAA(2)

    49.3 %
 

AA

    36.7  
 

A

    13.5  
 

BBB

    0.3  
 

Not Rated

    0.2  
       
   

Total

    100.0 %
       

      (1)
      Ratings are based on the lower of Moody's or S&P ratings available at September 30, 2008.

      (2)
      Includes U.S. Treasury obligations which comprised 1.4% of the portfolio as of September 30, 2008.

        The General Investment Portfolio includes bonds insured by FSA ("FSA-Insured Investments"). Of the bonds included in the General Investment Portfolio at September 30, 2008, 6.7% were Triple-A by virtue of insurance provided by FSA, and 29.0% were insured by other monolines (see Note 17). 100% of the FSA-Insured Investments were investment grade without giving effect to the FSA insurance. The average shadow rating of the FSA-Insured Investments, which is the rating without giving effect to the FSA insurance, was in the Single-A range.

28



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

5.    GENERAL INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO (Continued)

        The amortized cost and fair value of the securities in the General Investment Portfolio were as follows:

General Investment Portfolio by Security Type

 
  At September 30, 2008  
Investment Category
  Amortized
Cost
  Gross
Unrealized
Gains
  Gross
Unrealized
Losses
  Fair
Value
 
 
  (in thousands)
 

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies

  $ 85,860   $ 1,098   $ (723 ) $ 86,235  

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

    4,386,720     52,170     (168,898 )   4,269,992  

Mortgage-backed securities

    427,362     4,486     (5,634 )   426,214  

Corporate securities

    184,388     1,525     (9,531 )   176,382  

Foreign securities(1)

    267,157     56     (20,555 )   246,658  

Asset-backed securities

    26,967     42     (120 )   26,889  
                   
 

Total bonds

    5,378,454     59,377     (205,461 )   5,232,370  

Short-term investments

    609,763     13     (1,383 )   608,393  
                   
 

Total fixed-income securities

    5,988,217     59,390     (206,844 )   5,840,763  

Equity securities

    1,364         (549 )   815  
                   
 

Total General Investment Portfolio

  $ 5,989,581   $ 59,390   $ (207,393 ) $ 5,841,578  
                   

 

 
  At December 31, 2007  
Investment Category
  Amortized
Cost
  Gross
Unrealized
Gains
  Gross
Unrealized
Losses
  Fair
Value
 
 
  (in thousands)
 

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies

  $ 97,335   $ 4,201   $ (87 ) $ 101,449  

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

    3,920,509     149,893     (5,837 )   4,064,565  

Mortgage-backed securities

    404,334     5,161     (1,698 )   407,797  

Corporate securities

    198,379     3,943     (1,133 )   201,189  

Foreign securities(1)

    248,006     8,584     (285 )   256,305  

Asset-backed securities

    23,077     286     (4 )   23,359  
                   
 

Total bonds

    4,891,640     172,068     (9,044 )   5,054,664  

Short-term investments

    96,263     2,260     (1,157 )   97,366  
                   
 

Total fixed-income securities

    4,987,903     174,328     (10,201 )   5,152,030  

Equity securities

    40,020     4     (155 )   39,869  
                   
 

Total General Investment Portfolio

  $ 5,027,923   $ 174,332   $ (10,356 ) $ 5,191,899  
                   

(1)
The majority of foreign securities are government issues and are denominated primarily in British pounds.

29



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

5.    GENERAL INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO (Continued)

        The following table shows the gross unrealized losses and fair value of bonds in the General Investment Portfolio, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position:

Aging of Unrealized Losses of Bonds in General Investment Portfolio

 
  At September 30, 2008  
Aging Categories
  Number
of
Securities
  Amortized
Cost
  Unrealized
Losses
  Fair
Value
  Unrealized
Loss as a
Percentage of
Amortized Cost
 
 
  (dollars in thousands)
 

Less than Six Months(1)

                               
 

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies

        $ 211   $ (2 ) $ 209     (0.9 )%
 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

          1,965,526     (83,582 )   1,881,944     (4.3 )
 

Mortgage-backed securities

          74,237     (1,719 )   72,518     (2.3 )
 

Corporate securities

          92,900     (5,683 )   87,217     (6.1 )
 

Foreign securities

          249,941     (18,841 )   231,100     (7.5 )
 

Asset-backed securities

          2,762     (64 )   2,698     (2.3 )
                           
   

Total

    632     2,385,577     (109,891 )   2,275,686     (4.6 )

More than Six Months but Less than 12 Months(2)

                               
 

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies

          60,912     (699 )   60,213     (1.1 )
 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

          458,769     (48,440 )   410,329     (10.6 )
 

Mortgage-backed securities

          39,324     (2,867 )   36,457     (7.3 )
 

Corporate securities

          18,417     (2,538 )   15,879     (13.8 )
 

Foreign securities

          14,817     (1,714 )   13,103     (11.6 )
 

Asset-backed securities

                       
                           
   

Total

    197     592,239     (56,258 )   535,981     (9.5 )

12 Months or More(3)

                               
 

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies

          358     (22 )   336     (6.1 )
 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

          297,924     (36,876 )   261,048     (12.4 )
 

Mortgage-backed securities

          21,621     (1,048 )   20,573     (4.8 )
 

Corporate securities

          8,879     (1,310 )   7,569     (14.8 )
 

Foreign securities

                       
 

Asset-backed securities

          984     (56 )   928     (5.7 )
                           
   

Total

    166     329,766     (39,312 )   290,454     (11.9 )

Total

                               
 

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies

          61,481     (723 )   60,758     (1.2 )
 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

          2,722,219     (168,898 )   2,553,321     (6.2 )
 

Mortgage-backed securities

          135,182     (5,634 )   129,548     (4.2 )
 

Corporate securities

          120,196     (9,531 )   110,665     (7.9 )
 

Foreign securities

          264,758     (20,555 )   244,203     (7.8 )
 

Asset-backed securities

          3,746     (120 )   3,626     (3.2 )
                         
   

Total

    995   $ 3,307,582   $ (205,461 ) $ 3,102,121     (6.2 )%
                         

(1)
The largest unrealized loss on an individual investment, in terms of absolute dollars, was $1.9 million, or 8.5% of its amortized cost.

(2)
The largest unrealized loss on an individual investment, in terms of absolute dollars, was $3.0 million, or 12.4% of its amortized cost.

(3)
The largest unrealized loss on an individual investment, in terms of absolute dollars, was $2.8 million, or 27.9% of its amortized cost.

30



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

5.    GENERAL INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO (Continued)

 
  At December 31, 2007  
Aging Categories
  Number
of
Securities
  Amortized
Cost
  Unrealized
Losses
  Fair
Value
  Unrealized
Loss as a
Percentage of
Amortized Cost
 
 
  (dollars in thousands)
 

Less than Six Months(1)

                               
 

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies

        $ 17,043   $ (17 ) $ 17,026     (0.1 )%
 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

          87,782     (1,247 )   86,535     (1.4 )
 

Mortgage-backed securities

          220     (0 )   220     (0.0 )
 

Corporate securities

          4,652     (23 )   4,629     (0.5 )
 

Foreign securities

          37,836     (285 )   37,551     (0.8 )
 

Asset-backed securities

                       
                           
   

Total

    53     147,533     (1,572 )   145,961     (1.1 )

More than Six Months but Less than 12 Months(2)

                               
 

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies

                       
 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

          326,960     (4,132 )   322,828     (1.3 )
 

Mortgage-backed securities

          158     (6 )   152     (3.8 )
 

Corporate securities

          12,669     (442 )   12,227     (3.5 )
 

Foreign securities

                       
 

Asset-backed securities

                       
                           
   

Total

    121     339,787     (4,580 )   335,207     (1.3 )

12 Months or More(3)

                               
 

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies

          2,099     (70 )   2,029     (3.3 )
 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

          11,324     (458 )   10,866     (4.0 )
 

Mortgage-backed securities

          110,896     (1,692 )   109,204     (1.5 )
 

Corporate securities

          28,226     (668 )   27,558     (2.4 )
 

Foreign securities

                       
 

Asset-backed securities

          2,985     (4 )   2,981     (0.1 )
                           
   

Total

    180     155,530     (2,892 )   152,638     (1.9 )

Total

                               
 

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies

          19,142     (87 )   19,055     (0.5 )
 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

          426,066     (5,837 )   420,229     (1.4 )
 

Mortgage-backed securities

          111,274     (1,698 )   109,576     (1.5 )
 

Corporate securities

          45,547     (1,133 )   44,414     (2.5 )
 

Foreign securities

          37,836     (285 )   37,551     (0.8 )
 

Asset-backed securities

          2,985     (4 )   2,981     (0.1 )
                         
   

Total

    354   $ 642,850   $ (9,044 ) $ 633,806     (1.4 )%
                         

(1)
The largest unrealized loss on an individual investment, in terms of absolute dollars, was $0.2 million, or 7.7% of its amortized cost.

(2)
The largest unrealized loss on an individual investment, in terms of absolute dollars, was $0.5 million, or 6.9% of its amortized cost.

(3)
The largest unrealized loss on an individual investment, in terms of absolute dollars, was $0.3 million, or 4.5% of its amortized cost.

31



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

5.    GENERAL INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO (Continued)

        In the second quarter of 2008, the Company recorded $38.0 million in OTTI on its investment in Syncora Guarantee Re Ltd. ("SGR") preferred stock. In the third quarter of 2008, the Company sold this investment, recognizing a $1.9 million gain. The realized loss was $36.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008. Management has determined that the unrealized loss on Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. corporate bonds was OTTI at September 30, 2008 and as a result wrote the balance down to fair value of $0.5 million resulting in a charge of $5.9 million, which was recorded as a realized loss.

        Management has determined that the remaining unrealized losses in fixed-income securities at September 30, 2008 are primarily attributable to the current interest rate environment and has concluded that these unrealized losses are temporary in nature based upon (a) the lack of principal or interest payment defaults on these securities, (b) the creditworthiness of the issuers, and (c) the Company's ability and current intent to hold these securities until a recovery in fair value or maturity. As of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, 99.6% and 100%, respectively, of the securities that were in a gross unrealized loss position were rated investment grade. Management has based its conclusions on current facts and circumstances. Events could occur in the future that could change management conclusions about its ability and intent to hold such securities.

        The amortized cost and fair value of fixed-income investments in the General Investment Portfolio as of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, by contractual maturity, are shown below. Actual maturities could differ from contractual maturities because borrowers have the right to call or prepay certain obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

Distribution of Fixed-Income Securities in General Investment Portfolio
by Contractual Maturity

 
  September 30, 2008   December 31, 2007  
 
  Amortized
Cost
  Fair
Value
  Amortized
Cost
  Fair
Value
 
 
  (in thousands)
 

Due in one year or less

  $ 708,369   $ 708,822   $ 155,988   $ 158,007  

Due after one year through five years

    1,074,759     1,093,070     1,354,829     1,425,246  

Due after five years through ten years

    807,668     797,712     818,382     853,861  

Due after ten years

    2,943,092     2,788,056     2,231,293     2,283,760  

Mortgage-backed securities(1)

    427,362     426,214     404,334     407,797  

Asset-backed securities(2)

    26,967     26,889     23,077     23,359  
                   
 

Total fixed-income securities in General Investment Portfolio

  $ 5,988,217   $ 5,840,763   $ 4,987,903   $ 5,152,030  
                   

(1)
Stated maturities for mortgage-backed securities of three to 30 years at September 30, 2008 and of four to 30 years at December 31, 2007.

(2)
Stated maturities for asset-backed securities of one to 15 years at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007.

32



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

6.    FP INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO

        The FP Investment Portfolio is broadly comprised of short-term investments, agency and non-agency RMBS, securities issued or guaranteed by U.S. government sponsored agencies, taxable municipal bonds, securities issued by utilities, infrastructure-related securities, CDOs of asset-backed securities ("CDOs of ABS"), and other asset-backed securities. In addition to its available-for-sale portfolio, the FP Investment Portfolio includes foreign currency denominated securities classified as "trading," with fair value adjustments recorded as net unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. The Company economically hedges, through the use of derivatives, interest rate and foreign exchange rate risk in the FP Investment Portfolio.

Portfolio Credit Quality

        The following table sets forth the FP Investment Portfolio fixed income securities based on ratings:

FP Investment Portfolio Fixed Income Securities by Rating

 
  At
September 30, 2008
Percentage of
FP Investment
Portfolio
 

Rating(1)

       
 

AAA

    54.3 %
 

AA

    18.7  
 

A

    9.1  
 

BBB

    8.0  
 

Below investment grade

    9.9  
       
   

Total

    100.0 %
       

      (1)
      Ratings are based on the lower of Moody's or S&P ratings available at September 30, 2008. Rating agencies continue to monitor the ratings on the residential mortgage-backed securities closely, and future adverse rating actions on these securities may occur.

        The FP Investment Portfolio includes FSA-insured investments. Of the bonds included in the FP Investment Portfolio at September 30, 2008, 4.4% were rated Triple-A by virtue of insurance provided by FSA. As of that date, 98.8% of the FSA-insured investments were investment grade without giving effect to the FSA insurance. The average shadow rating of the FSA-insured investments, which is the rating without giving effect to the FSA insurance, was in the Triple-B range. Of the bonds included in the FP Investment Portfolio, 19.0% were insured by other monoline guarantors (see Note 17).

Trading Securities

        In the third quarter of 2008, the Company recorded unrealized gains of $2.8 million in income related to the assets in the trading portfolio, compared with $10.1 million in the third quarter of 2007. Comparable amounts for the first nine months of 2008 were unrealized losses of $91.5 million compared with unrealized gains of $16.4 million for the first nine months of 2007.

33



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

6.    FP INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO (Continued)

Available-for-sale Securities

        The following tables present the amortized cost and fair value of available-for-sale bonds and short-term investments held in the FP Investment Portfolio:

Available-for-Sale Securities in the FP Investment Portfolio by Security Type

 
  At September 30, 2008  
 
  Amortized
Cost
  Gross
Unrealized
Gains
  Gross
Unrealized
Losses
  Fair Value  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

  $ 574,511   $   $ (78,087 ) $ 496,424  

Mortgage-backed securities

    11,993,931     16,097     (3,296,694 )   8,713,334  

Corporate securities

    526,434     8,941     (92,912 )   442,463  

Other securities (primarily asset-backed)

    1,963,926     11,034     (468,962 )   1,505,998  
                   
 

Total available-for-sale bonds

    15,058,802     36,072     (3,936,655 )   11,158,219  

Short-term investments

    600,000             600,000  
                   
 

Total available-for-sale bonds and short-term investments

  $ 15,658,802   $ 36,072   $ (3,936,655 ) $ 11,758,219  
                   

 

 
  At December 31, 2007  
 
  Amortized
Cost
  Gross
Unrealized
Gains
  Gross
Unrealized
Losses
  Fair Value  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

  $ 556,241   $ 5,608   $ (6,367 ) $ 555,482  

Mortgage-backed securities

    14,080,222     8,998     (1,316,493 )   12,772,727  

Corporate securities

    521,727     15,569     (18,074 )   519,222  

Other securities (primarily asset-backed)

    2,056,868     10,963     (118,772 )   1,949,059  
                   
 

Total available-for-sale bonds

    17,215,058     41,138     (1,459,706 )   15,796,490  

Short-term investments

    1,918,729             1,918,729  
                   
 

Total available-for-sale bonds and short-term investments

  $ 19,133,787   $ 41,138   $ (1,459,706 ) $ 17,715,219  
                   

        Of the securities whose fair value was recorded in accumulated comprehensive income as of September 30, 2008, 226 had been in a continuous unrealized loss position of 20% or more of amortized cost for six months or longer.

        The following tables show the gross unrealized losses recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income and fair values of the available-for-sale bonds in the FP Investment Portfolio,

34



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

6.    FP INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO (Continued)


aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position:

Aging of Unrealized Losses of Available-for-Sale Bonds
in the FP Investment Portfolio

 
  At September 30, 2008  
Aging Categories
  Number
of
Securities
  Amortized
Cost
  Unrealized
Losses
  Fair
Value
  Unrealized
Loss as a
Percentage of
Amortized Cost
 
 
  (dollars in thousands)
 

Less than Six Months(1)

                               
 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

        $ 206,207   $ (39,186 ) $ 167,021     (19.0 )%
 

Mortgage-backed securities

          710,307     (35,238 )   675,069     (5.0 )
 

Corporate securities

          270,000     (57,855 )   212,145     (21.4 )
 

Other securities (primarily asset-backed)

          144,826     (30,426 )   114,400     (21.0 )
                           
   

Total

    43     1,331,340     (162,705 )   1,168,635     (12.2 )

More than Six Months but Less than 12 Months(2)

                               
 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

          300,717     (31,536 )   269,181     (10.5 )
 

Mortgage-backed securities

          1,213,717     (141,668 )   1,072,049     (11.7 )
 

Corporate securities

                       
 

Other securities (primarily asset-backed)

          622,283     (114,359 )   507,924     (18.4 )
                           
   

Total

    103     2,136,717     (287,563 )   1,849,154     (13.5 )

12 Months or More(3)

                               
 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

          67,587     (7,365 )   60,222     (10.9 )
 

Mortgage-backed securities

          9,248,668     (3,119,788 )   6,128,880     (33.7 )
 

Corporate securities

          147,155     (35,057 )   112,098     (23.8 )
 

Other securities (primarily asset-backed)

          904,235     (324,177 )   580,058     (35.9 )
                           
   

Total

    597     10,367,645     (3,486,387 )   6,881,258     (33.6 )

Total

                               
 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

          574,511     (78,087 )   496,424     (13.6 )
 

Mortgage-backed securities

          11,172,692     (3,296,694 )   7,875,998     (29.5 )
 

Corporate securities

          417,155     (92,912 )   324,243     (22.3 )
 

Other securities (primarily asset-backed)

          1,671,344     (468,962 )   1,202,382     (28.1 )
                         
   

Total

    743   $ 13,835,702   $ (3,936,655 ) $ 9,899,047     (28.5 )%
                         

(1)
The largest unrealized loss on an individual investment, in terms of absolute dollars, was $57.9 million, or 21.4% of its amortized cost.

(2)
The largest unrealized loss on an individual investment, in terms of absolute dollars, was $35.2 million, or 22.7% of its amortized cost.

(3)
The largest unrealized loss on an individual investment, in terms of absolute dollars, was $53.2 million, or 64.7% of its amortized cost.

35



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

6.    FP INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO (Continued)

 
  At December 31, 2007  
Aging Categories
  Number
of
Securities
  Amortized
Cost
  Unrealized
Losses
  Fair
Value
  Unrealized Loss
as a Percentage
of Amortized
Cost
 
 
  (dollars in thousands)
 

Less than Six Months(1)

                               
 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

        $ 159,215   $ (3,958 ) $ 155,257     (2.5 )%
 

Mortgage-backed securities

          7,913,682     (723,166 )   7,190,516     (9.1 )
 

Corporate securities

          335,000     (14,412 )   320,588     (4.3 )
 

Other securities (primarily asset-backed)

          1,324,000     (90,845 )   1,233,155     (6.9 )
                           
   

Total

    533     9,731,897     (832,381 )   8,899,516     (8.6 )

More than Six Months but Less than 12 Months(2)

                               
 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

                       
 

Mortgage-backed securities

          5,232,805     (568,375 )   4,664,430     (10.9 )
 

Corporate securities

          82,161     (3,662 )   78,499     (4.5 )
 

Other securities (primarily asset-backed)

          211,025     (26,231 )   184,794     (12.4 )
                           
   

Total

    223     5,525,991     (598,268 )   4,927,723     (10.8 )

12 Months or More(3)

                               
 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

          64,087     (2,409 )   61,678     (3.8 )
 

Mortgage-backed securities

          282,554     (24,952 )   257,602     (8.8 )
 

Corporate securities

                       
 

Other securities (primarily asset-backed)

          57,826     (1,696 )   56,130     (2.9 )
                           
   

Total

    39     404,467     (29,057 )   375,410     (7.2 )

Total

                               
 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

          223,302     (6,367 )   216,935     (2.9 )
 

Mortgage-backed securities

          13,429,041     (1,316,493 )   12,112,548     (9.8 )
 

Corporate securities

          417,161     (18,074 )   399,087     (4.3 )
 

Other securities (primarily asset-backed)

          1,592,851     (118,772 )   1,474,079     (7.5 )
                         
   

Total

    795   $ 15,662,355   $ (1,459,706 ) $ 14,202,649     (9.3 )%
                         

(1)
The largest unrealized loss on an individual investment, in terms of absolute dollars, was $32.2 million, or 30.1% of its amortized cost.

(2)
The largest unrealized loss on an individual investment, in terms of absolute dollars, was $21.3 million, or 32.1% of its amortized cost.

(3)
The largest unrealized loss on an individual investment, in terms of absolute dollars, was $6.3 million, or 18.0% of its amortized cost.

36



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

6.    FP INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO (Continued)

        Through September 30, 2008, management has recorded OTTI on a total of 120 securities, 86 of which were either initially impaired or further impaired in the third quarter. The OTTI charge in the third quarter in the FP Investment Portfolio was $417.5 million and was recorded in net realized gains (losses) from financial products segment. For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the OTTI charge was $1,459.9 million. The amount of the OTTI charge recorded in the statement of operations and comprehensive income is not necessarily indicative of management's estimate of economic loss, but instead represents the write-down to current fair-value. The amount of OTTI and the estimate of economic loss are based on the Company's ability and intent to hold these assets to maturity. Events could occur in the future that could change management conclusions about its ability and intent to hold such securities. Management has determined that the unrealized losses in the remainder of the available-for-sale portfolio are attributable primarily to the current market environment for mortgage-backed securities, and has concluded that these unrealized losses are temporary in nature on the basis of (a) the absence of principal or interest payment defaults on these securities; (b) its analysis of the creditworthiness of the issuers and guarantors, if applicable; (c) its expectation that all payments of principal and interest will be made as contractually required, based on the market-based assumptions previously described; and (d) the Company's ability and intent to hold these securities until a recovery in their fair value or maturity.

        The table below provides the composition of the OTTI charge by asset class.

Other-Than-Temporary Impairment Charge

 
  Three Months Ended
September 30, 2008
  Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2008
  At
September 30, 2008
Number of
Securities
 
 
  (dollars in thousands)
 

Non-agency U.S. RMBS:

                   
 

Subprime

  $ 81,760   $ 364,243     31  
 

Alt-A first-lien

    178,368     768,592     55  
 

Option ARM

    141,037     184,677     19  
 

Alt-A CES

    5,154     59,429     4  
 

HELOCs

    10,143     55,169     6  
 

NIMs

    765     765     3  

Collateral bond obligations, CDO, CLO:

                   
 

CDOs of ABS

    230     27,001     2  
               
   

Total

  $ 417,457   $ 1,459,876     120  
               

Review of FP Investment Portfolio for Other-than-temporary Impairment

        In its evaluation of securities in the FP Investment Portfolio for OTTI, management uses judgment in reviewing the specific facts and circumstances of individual securities and uses estimates and assumptions of expected default rates, liquidation rates, loss severity rates and prepayment speeds to determine declines in fair value that are other-than-temporary. The Company uses both proprietary and third-party cash flow models to analyze the underlying collateral of ABS and the cash flows generated

37



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

6.    FP INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO (Continued)


by the collateral to determine whether a security's performance is consistent with the expectation that all payments of principal and interest will be made as contractually required. The Company evaluates each security in the FP Investment Portfolio for OTTI on a quarterly basis.

        For securities for which the cash flow model projected a shortfall in contractual payments of the security, the Company recorded an OTTI charge. The following assumptions are used in the Company's cash flow models.

First-lien subprime, Alt-A and Option ARM

        For first-lien subprime, Alt-A and option adjustable rate mortgage loan ("Option ARM") securities, the Company applied liquidation rates to each of the delinquency categories over an 18 month liquidation horizon starting at 50% for delinquencies between 30 and 59 days overdue and increasing to 100% for collateral repossessed. "Alt-A" refers to borrowers whose credit quality falls between prime and subprime. Upon liquidation, loss severity rates were assumed to be 40% initially for Alt-A and Option ARM securities, increasing linearly over 18 months, beginning June 30, 2008, to 50%, where they were assumed to remain constant for the remaining life. For first-lien subprime securities, the loss severity rate was assumed to start at 50% and increase linearly to 60% over the same 18 month period, where it was assumed to remain constant for the remaining life.

HELOC and CES

        All of the home equity line of credit ("HELOC") securities and all but three of the closed-end second-lien mortgage ("CES") securities in the FP Investment Portfolio are insured by other monolines. The HELOC and CES securities that are insured by below investment grade financial guarantors were modeled giving 50% benefit to the insurance policy. The Company used assumptions (liquidation rates, expected default rates, prepayment rates and loss severity rates) consistent with those used in the loss reserving process for the Company's insured portfolio of HELOC and CES securities.

CDOs of ABS

        The sole CDO of ABS in the FP Investment Portfolio is wrapped by a below investment grade financial guarantor. The concentrations of lower-quality RMBS collateral of this security and the assumption that only 50% benefit was given to the below investment grade financial guarantor insurance led the Company to assume that not all contractual payments due under the investment will be made. As a result the Company recorded an OTTI charge.

        The amortized cost and fair value of the available-for-sale securities in the FP Investment Portfolio are shown below by contractual maturity. Actual maturities could differ from contractual maturities because borrowers have the right to call or prepay certain obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

38



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

6.    FP INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO (Continued)

Distribution of Available-for-Sale Securities
in the FP Investment Portfolio by Contractual Maturity

 
  September 30, 2008   December 31, 2007  
 
  Amortized
Cost
  Fair
Value
  Amortized
Cost
  Fair
Value
 
 
  (in thousands)
 

Due in one year or less

  $ 600,000   $ 600,000   $ 1,918,729   $ 1,918,729  

Due after ten years

    1,359,206     1,150,758     1,317,809     1,316,947  

Mortgage-backed securities(1)

    11,993,931     8,713,334     14,080,222     12,772,727  

Asset-backed and other securities(2)

    1,705,665     1,294,127     1,817,027     1,706,816  
                   
 

Total available-for-sale bonds and short-term investments

  $ 15,658,802   $ 11,758,219   $ 19,133,787   $ 17,715,219  
                   

(1)
Stated maturities for mortgage-backed securities of one to 39 years at September 30, 2008 and of two to 39 years at December 31, 2007.

(2)
Stated maturities for asset-backed and other securities of four to 44 years at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007.

Securities Pledged to Note Holders

        In the normal course of business, the Company may hold securities purchased under agreements to resell. A portion of these securities may be pledged to the Company's investment agreement counterparties (including counterparties with agreements structured as investment repurchase agreements). However, such securities generally may not be rehypothecated by the investment agreement counterparty. The Company also pledges investments held in the FP Investment Portfolio to investment agreement counterparties. At September 30, 2008, $7,049.7 million of the assets held in the FP Investment Portfolio, together with related accrued interest, were pledged as collateral to investment agreement counterparties.

7.    LOSSES AND LOSS ADJUSTMENT EXPENSES

        The Company establishes loss and loss adjustment expense ("LAE") liabilities based on its estimate of specific and non-specific losses. LAE consists of the estimated cost of settling claims, including legal and other fees and expenses associated with administering the claims process.

        The Company calculates case reserves based upon identified risks inherent in its insured portfolio. If an individual policy risk has a reasonably estimable and probable loss as of the balance sheet date, a case reserve is established. For the remaining policy risks in the portfolio, a non-specific reserve is calculated to account for the statistically estimated inherent credit losses.

        The following table presents the activity in non-specific and case reserves for the nine months ended September 30, 2008. Adjustments to reserves represent management's estimate of the amount required to cover the present value of the net cost of claims, based on statistical provisions for new originations. In order to determine the reasonableness of the non-specific reserve, management uses a methodology that references a calculation of expected loss for risks that are below-investment-grade

39



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

7.    LOSSES AND LOSS ADJUSTMENT EXPENSES (Continued)


according to the Company's ratings. In the third quarter of 2008, this reasonableness test required a higher non-specific reserve than the statistical calculation in order to account for the significant deterioration in internal credit ratings for certain first-lien RMBS risks that did not require case basis reserves but which resulted in a need for an increased non-specific reserve.

Reconciliation of Net Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses

 
  Non-Specific   Case   Total  
 
  (in thousands)
 

December 31, 2007 balance

  $ 99,999   $ 98,079   $ 198,078  
 

Incurred

    300,429         300,429  
 

Transfers

    (354,137 )   354,137      
 

Payments and other decreases

        (97,384 )   (97,384 )
               

March 31, 2008 balance

    46,291     354,832     401,123  
 

Incurred

    602,842         602,842  
 

Transfers

    (615,438 )   615,438      
 

Payments and other decreases

        (149,991 )   (149,991 )
               

June 30, 2008 balance

    33,695     820,279     853,974  
 

Incurred

    327,633         327,633  
 

Transfers

    (252,581 )   252,581      
 

Payments and other decreases

        (161,664 )   (161,664 )
               

September 30, 2008 balance

  $ 108,747   $ 911,196   $ 1,019,943  
               

Case Reserve Summary

 
  September 30, 2008  
 
  Gross Par
Outstanding
  Net Par
Outstanding
  Gross Case
Reserve(1)
  Net Case
Reserve(1)
  Number
of Risks
 
 
  (dollars in thousands)
 

Asset-backed—HELOCs

  $ 5,210,736   $ 4,157,011   $ 486,641   $ 389,696     10  

Asset-backed—Alt-A CES

    1,006,954     961,506     195,015     185,871     5  

Asset-backed—Option ARM

    630,982     574,792     166,134     153,058     6  

Asset-backed—Alt-A first-lien

    1,081,662     983,857     64,216     55,983     8  

Asset-backed—NIMs

    103,981     98,975     19,865     19,623     4  

Asset-backed—Subprime

    321,589     292,172     26,205     12,419     7  

Asset-backed—other

    50,823     47,979     6,121     5,830     3  

Public finance

    1,407,993     805,942     176,584     88,716     5  
                       
 

Total

  $ 9,814,720   $ 7,922,234   $ 1,140,781   $ 911,196     48  
                       

(1)
The amount of the discount at September 30, 2008 for the gross and net case reserves was $424.3 million and $393.1 million, respectively.

40



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

7.    LOSSES AND LOSS ADJUSTMENT EXPENSES (Continued)

 
  December 31, 2007  
 
  Gross Par
Outstanding
  Net Par
Outstanding
  Gross Case
Reserve(1)
  Net Case
Reserve(1)
  Number
of Risks
 
 
  (dollars in thousands)
 

Asset-backed—HELOCs

  $ 1,803,340   $ 1,442,657   $ 69,633   $ 56,913     5  

Asset-backed—Subprime

    22,280     18,335     3,399     1,583     2  

Asset-backed—other

    24,905     22,219     4,890     4,684     2  

Public finance

    1,164,248     560,610     96,635     34,899     4  
                       
 

Total

  $ 3,014,773   $ 2,043,821   $ 174,557   $ 98,079     13  
                       

(1)
The amount of the discount at December 31, 2007 for the gross and net case reserves was $14.5 million and $3.3 million, respectively.

        The table below presents certain assumptions inherent in the calculations of the case and non-specific reserves:

Assumptions for Case and Non-Specific Reserves

 
  September 30,
2008
  December 31,
2007

Case reserve discount rate

  1.93%–5.90%   3.13%–5.90%

Non-specific reserve discount rate

  1.20%–7.95%   1.20%–7.95%

Current experience factor

  13.1   2.0

        In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, loss and loss adjustment expenses were $327.6 million and $1,230.9 million, respectively. The increase for the nine months was driven primarily by deteriorating credit performance in HELOCs, Alt-A CES, Option ARMs, Alt-A first lien and public finance transactions. In addition, the non-specific reserves increased by $75.0 million and $8.7 million for the three and nine month periods, respectively. Management's current reserve estimates assume loss levels for transactions backed by second-lien mortgage products will remain at their peaks until mid-2009 and slowly recover to more normal rates by mid-2010. For first-lien mortgage transactions, where losses take longer to develop than in second-lien mortgage transactions, peak conditional default rates are assumed to continue until mid-2010 and then decline linearly over 12 months to 25% of the peak, remain there for three years and then taper down to 5% of peak rates over several years.

        The increase in losses paid is driven by payments on HELOC transactions. Generally, once the overcollateralization is exhausted on an insured HELOC transaction, the Company pays a claim if losses in a period exceed excess spread for the period, and to the extent excess spread exceeds losses, the Company is reimbursed for any losses paid to date. In the third quarter of 2008, the Company paid net claims of $184.9 million on HELOC transactions. This brought the inception to date net claim payments on HELOC transactions to $439.6 million. There were no claims paid on most other classes of insured transactions through September 30, 2008. Most Alt-A CES claims will not be due until 2037. Option ARM claim payments are expected to occur beginning in 2010.

        The Company assigns each insured credit to one of five designated surveillance categories to facilitate the appropriate allocation of resources to monitoring, loss mitigation efforts and rating the credit condition of each risk exposure. Such categorization is determined in part by the risk of loss and

41



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

7.    LOSSES AND LOSS ADJUSTMENT EXPENSES (Continued)


in part by the level of routine involvement required. The surveillance categories are organized as follows:

    Categories I and II represent fundamentally sound transactions requiring routine monitoring, with Category II indicating that routine monitoring is more frequent, due, for example, to the sector or a need to monitor triggers.

    Category III represents transactions with some deterioration in asset performance, financial health of the issuer or other factors, but for which losses are deemed unlikely. Active monitoring and intervention is employed for Category III transactions.

    Category IV reflects transactions demonstrating sufficient deterioration to indicate that material credit losses are possible even though not yet probable.

    Category V reflects transactions where losses are probable. This category includes (1) risks where claim payments have been made and where ultimate losses, net of recoveries, are expected, and (2) risks where claim payments are probable but none have yet been made and ultimate losses, net of recoveries, are expected. Category IV and Category V transactions are subject to intense monitoring and intervention.

        The table below presents the gross and net par and interest outstanding and deferred premium revenue in the insured portfolio for risks classified as described above:

Par and Interest Outstanding

 
  September 30, 2008  
 
  Gross
Par(1)
  Gross
Interest(1)
  Net
Par(1)
  Net
Interest(1)
  No. of
risks
  Weighted
Avg Life
  Gross
Deferred
Premium
Revenue(2)
  Net
Deferred
Premium
Revenue(2)
 
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

Categories I and II

  $ 525,359   $ 291,821   $ 405,748   $ 208,057     11,558     12.3   $ 3,002   $ 2,035  

Category III

    9,958     4,994     6,767     2,580     93     9.3     102     47  

Category IV

    2,296     582     2,209     559     10     4.7     0     0  

Category V no claim payments

    5,663     2,167     4,749     1,712     37     8.0     42     25  

Category V with claim payments

    5,225     897     4,085     661     18     3.8     4     2  
                                     
 

Total

  $ 548,501   $ 300,461   $ 423,558   $ 213,569     11,716     12.0   $ 3,150   $ 2,109  
                                     

(1)
Includes credit derivatives.

(2)
Excludes credit derivatives.

Case Reserves

 
  September 30, 2008   December 31, 2007  
 
  Gross   Net   Gross   Net  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Category V no claim payments

  $ 539,749   $ 473,915   $ 112,629   $ 64,430  

Category V with claim payments

    601,032     437,281     61,928     33,649  
                   
 

Total

  $ 1,140,781   $ 911,196   $ 174,557   $ 98,079  
                   

42



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

7.    LOSSES AND LOSS ADJUSTMENT EXPENSES (Continued)

 
  At September 30, 2008  
 
  Category V  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Gross undiscounted cash outflows expected in future

  $ 2,613,764  

Less: Gross estimated recoveries (S&S) in future

    1,048,996  
       
 

Subtotal

    1,564,768  

Less: Discount taken on subtotal

    423,987  
       
 

Gross case reserve

    1,140,781  
 

Less: Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses

    229,585  
       
 

Net case reserve

  $ 911,196  
       

        Management periodically evaluates its estimates for losses and LAE and establishes reserves that management believes are adequate to cover the present value of the ultimate net cost of claims. The Company will continue, on an ongoing basis, to monitor these reserves and may periodically adjust such reserves, upward or downward, based on the Company's actual loss experience, its mix of business and economic conditions. However, because of the uncertainty involved in developing these estimates, the ultimate liability may differ materially from current estimates.

        Management is aware that there are differences regarding the method of defining and measuring both case reserves and non-specific reserves among participants in the financial guaranty industry. Other financial guarantors may establish case reserves only after a default and use different techniques to estimate probable loss. Other financial guarantors may establish the equivalent of non-specific reserves, but refer to these reserves by various terms, such as, but not limited to, "unallocated losses," "active credit reserves" and "portfolio reserves," or may use different statistical techniques from those used by the Company to determine loss at a given point in time.

8.    FINANCIAL PRODUCTS SEGMENT DEBT

        FP segment debt consists of GIC and VIE debt. The obligations under GICs issued by the GIC Subsidiaries may be called at various times prior to maturity based on certain agreed-upon events. At September 30, 2008, interest rates were between 1.19% and 8.71% per annum on outstanding GICs and between 1.98% and 6.22% per annum on VIE debt. Payments due under GICs are based on expected withdrawal dates, which are subject to change, and include accretion of $930.2 million. VIE debt includes $989.0 million of future interest accretion on zero-coupon obligations. The following table presents the combined principal amounts due under GIC and VIE debt for the remainder of 2008, each of the next four calendar years ending December 31, and thereafter:

 
  Principal
Amount
 
 
  (in thousands)
 

2008

  $ 2,810,431  

2009

    4,152,805  

2010

    2,132,126  

2011

    786,604  

2012

    1,285,005  

Thereafter

    10,159,990  
       
 

Total

  $ 21,326,961  
       

43



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

9.    OUTSTANDING EXPOSURE

        The Company's insurance policies typically guarantee the scheduled payments of principal and interest on public finance and asset-backed (including credit derivatives in the insured portfolio) obligations. The gross amount of financial guaranties in force (principal and interest) was $849.0 billion at September 30, 2008 and $833.2 billion at December 31, 2007. The net amount of financial guaranties in force was $637.1 billion at September 30, 2008 and $598.3 billion at December 31, 2007.

        The Company seeks to limit its exposure to losses from writing financial guarantees by underwriting investment-grade obligations, diversifying its portfolio and maintaining rigorous collateral requirements on asset-backed obligations, as well as through reinsurance.

        The par outstanding of insured obligations in the public finance insured portfolio includes the following amounts by type of issue:

Summary of Public Finance Insured Portfolio

 
  Gross Par Outstanding   Ceded Par Outstanding   Net Par Outstanding  
Types of Issues
  September 30,
2008
  December 31,
2007
  September 30,
2008
  December 31,
2007
  September 30,
2008
  December 31,
2007
 
 
  (in millions)
 

Domestic obligations

                                     
 

General obligation

  $ 156,372   $ 146,883   $ 29,961   $ 32,427   $ 126,411   $ 114,456  
 

Tax-supported

    74,649     69,409     18,438     19,453     56,211     49,956  
 

Municipal utility revenue

    64,483     57,913     13,470     13,610     51,013     44,303  
 

Health care revenue

    23,900     25,843     10,483     11,796     13,417     14,047  
 

Housing revenue

    9,614     9,898     1,927     2,187     7,687     7,711  
 

Transportation revenue

    33,019     29,189     11,394     11,782     21,625     17,407  
 

Education/University

    9,607     7,178     1,668     1,710     7,939     5,468  
 

Other domestic public finance

    2,879     2,773     685     900     2,194     1,873  
                           
   

Subtotal

    374,523     349,086     88,026     93,865     286,497     255,221  

International obligations

    45,767     49,224     18,026     21,925     27,741     27,299  
                           
 

Total public finance obligations

  $ 420,290   $ 398,310   $ 106,052   $ 115,790   $ 314,238   $ 282,520  
                           

44



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

9.    OUTSTANDING EXPOSURE (Continued)

        The par outstanding of insured obligations in the asset-backed insured portfolio includes the following amounts by type of collateral:

Summary of Asset-Backed Insured Portfolio

 
  Gross Par Outstanding   Ceded Par Outstanding   Net Par Outstanding  
Types of Collateral
  September 30,
2008
  December 31,
2007
  September 30,
2008
  December 31,
2007
  September 30,
2008
  December 31,
2007
 
 
  (in millions)
 

Domestic obligations

                                     
 

Residential mortgages

  $ 20,183   $ 22,882   $ 2,511   $ 3,108   $ 17,672   $ 19,774  
 

Consumer receivables

    10,552     12,401     1,004     1,060     9,548     11,341  
 

Pooled corporate

    64,968     69,317     8,959     10,110     56,009     59,207  
 

Other domestic asset-backed

    3,710     4,000     1,768     2,024     1,942     1,976  
                           
   

Subtotal

    99,413     108,600     14,242     16,302     85,171     92,298  

International obligations

    28,798     37,281     4,649     5,642     24,149     31,639  
                           
 

Total asset-backed obligations

  $ 128,211   $ 145,881   $ 18,891   $ 21,944   $ 109,320   $ 123,937  
                           

10.    FEDERAL INCOME TAXES

        The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007 was $15.1 million and $19.2 million, respectively. If recognized, the entire amount would favorably affect the effective tax rate. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as part of income taxes. For the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, the Company accrued $1.2 million and $0.4 million, respectively, of benefits related to interest and penalties. For the nine months ended September 2008, the Company recognized $0.7 million of benefit related to interest and penalties. For the nine months ended September 2007, the Company accrued $0.3 million of expenses related to interest and penalties. Cumulative interest and penalties of $1.5 million and $2.3 million have been accrued on the Company's balance sheet at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively.

        The Company files consolidated income tax returns in the United States as well as separate tax returns for certain of its subsidiaries in various state, local and foreign jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom, Japan and Australia. With limited exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to income tax examinations for its 2004 and prior tax years for U.S. federal, state, local, or non-U.S. jurisdictions.

        Within the next 12 months, it is reasonably possible that unrecognized tax benefits for tax positions taken on previously filed tax returns will become recognized as a result of the expiration of the statute of limitations for the 2005 tax year, which, absent any extension, will close in September 2009.

        In the third quarter of 2008, the Company recognized a tax benefit of $5.6 million, which includes the benefit of $1.4 million of interest from the expiration of the statute of limitations for the 2004 tax year.

45



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

10.    FEDERAL INCOME TAXES (Continued)

        The 2008 and 2007 effective tax rates differ from the statutory rate of 35% as follows:

 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
  2008   2007   2008   2007  

Tax provision (benefit) at statutory rate

    (35.0 )%   (35.0 )%   (35.0 )%   (35.0 )%

Tax-exempt investments

    (3.4 )   (6.4 )   (2.7 )   (181.4 )

Fair-value adjustment for committed preferred trust put options

    (1.7 )       (1.7 )    

State income taxes

    0.2     0.4     0.2     11.1  

Tax contingencies

    (1.2 )   (2.2 )   (0.3 )   (18.0 )

Valuation allowance

    16.4         4.4      

Other

    0.7     0.9     0.3     4.1  
                   
 

Total tax provision (benefit)

    (24.0 )%   (42.3 )%   (34.8 )%   (219.2 )%
                   

        For the first nine months of 2008 and 2007, the Company's effective tax rate benefit was 34.8% and 219.2%, respectively. The 2008 effective tax rate reflects a lower than expected benefit of 35% due to the establishment of valuation allowance of $72.8 million, offset by benefits from tax-exempt interest income and the tax-exempt fair value adjustments related to the Company's committed preferred securities. The 2007 rate differs from the statutory rate of 35% due primarily to tax-exempt interest. The 2007 rate reflects an unusually high benefit due to the disproportionately low amount of pre-tax income to tax-exempt interest. The additional losses from the insured RMBS-related transactions led to a distorted budgeted effective tax rate. The Company, therefore, believes it is unable to make a reliable estimate using the effective rate method and has used the actual tax calculated for the period ended September 30, 2008.

Tax Provision (Benefit)

 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
  2008   2007   2008   2007  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Current tax provision (benefit)

  $ (16,296 ) $ 16,534   $ (171,581 ) $ 63,902  

Deferred tax provision (benefit)

    (87,954 )   (105,787 )   (407,839 )   (112,101 )
                   
 

Total tax provision (benefit)

  $ (104,250 ) $ (89,253 ) $ (579,420 ) $ (48,199 )
                   

        The Company established a valuation allowance of $72.8 million in the third quarter of 2008. This amount is the tax benefit from the estimated additional economic OTTI of $207.8 million incurred on the FP Investment Portfolio during the third quarter. Since OTTI losses are expected to be capital in nature, the Company would need sufficient future capital gains to offset these losses in order to realize the tax benefit. The Company has already anticipated approximately $103.0 million of future capital gains in offsetting the second quarter OTTI incurred on the FP Investment Portfolio. Management believes it is more likely than not that anticipating additional future capital gains would be imprudent and therefore established a valuation allowance of $72.8 million in the period ending September 30, 2008.

        Management believes that it is more likely than not that all of the benefit of the deferred tax assets will be realized, except for the $72.8 million valuation allowance, based on the following factors: (1) the Company has the ability and intent to hold the assets in its FP Investment Portfolio to maturity, (2) the Company has approximately $3.3 billion in the future earnings streams from its in force business and (3) the Company has historically never allowed net operating losses, tax credits or other tax benefits to expire unutilized.

46



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

11.    CREDIT DERIVATIVES IN THE INSURED PORTFOLIO

        Management views credit derivatives contracts as part of its financial guarantee business, under which the Company intends to hold its written and purchased positions for the entire term of the related contracts. The Company's credit derivative portfolio is comprised of (a) CDS contracts that are accounted for at fair value since they do not qualify for the financial guarantee scope exception under SFAS 133 and (b) financial guarantees of other derivative contracts that are required to be marked to market, primarily insured interest rate swaps entered into in connection with the issuance of certain public finance obligations and insured NIM securitizations issued in connection with certain RMBS financings.

        In consultation with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), members of the financial guaranty industry have collaborated to develop a presentation of credit derivatives issued by financial guaranty insurers that is more consistent with that of non-insurers. The tables below illustrate the current required presentation with prior-period balances reclassified to conform to the current presentation. The reclassifications do not affect net income or equity, although they do affect various revenue, asset and liability line items. Changes in fair value are recorded in "Net change in fair value of credit derivatives" in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. The "realized gains (losses) and other settlements" component of this income statement line includes primarily premiums received and receivable on written CDS contracts and premiums paid and payable on purchased contracts. If a credit event occurred that required a payment under the contract terms, this line item would also include losses paid and payable to CDS contract counterparties due to the credit event and losses recovered and recoverable on purchased contracts.

        The components of net change in fair value of credit derivatives are shown in the table below:

Summary of Net Change in Fair Value of Credit Derivatives

 
  Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30,  
 
  2008   2007   2008   2007  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Net change in fair value of credit derivatives:

                         
 

Realized gains (losses) and other settlements(1)

  $ 29,925   $ 27,000   $ 98,764   $ 72,400  
 

Net unrealized gains (losses):

                         
   

CDS:

                         
     

Pooled corporate CDS:

                         
       

Investment grade

    47,106     (49,108 )   19,079     (65,348 )
       

High yield

    (70,463 )   (31,476 )   (133,858 )   (66,860 )
                   
         

Total pooled corporate CDS

    (23,357 )   (80,584 )   (114,779 )   (132,208 )
     

Funded CLOs and CDOs

    (204,000 )   (191,062 )   (263,915 )   (196,092 )
     

Other structured obligations

    34,212     (19,469 )   (71,589 )   (19,910 )
                   
           

Total CDS

    (193,145 )   (291,115 )   (450,283 )   (348,210 )
   

IR swaps and FG contracts with embedded derivatives

    (1,051 )   (2,603 )   (17,622 )   (4,301 )
                   
 

Subtotal

    (194,196 )   (293,718 )   (467,905 )   (352,511 )
                   

Net change in fair value of credit derivatives

  $ (164,271 ) $ (266,718 ) $ (369,141 ) $ (280,111 )
                   

(1)
Includes amounts that in prior periods were classified as premiums earned.

47



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

11.    CREDIT DERIVATIVES IN THE INSURED PORTFOLIO (Continued)

        The fair value of credit derivatives are reported in the balance sheet as "other assets" or "other liabilities and minority interest" based on the net gain or loss position with each counterparty. The unrealized component includes the market appreciation or depreciation of the derivative contracts, as discussed in Note 3.

Unrealized Gains (Losses) of Credit Derivative Portfolio(1)

 
  At
September 30,
2008
  At
December 31,
2007
 
 
  (in thousands)
 

Pooled corporate CDS:

             
 

Investment grade

  $ (71,414 ) $ (116,482 )
 

High yield(2)

    (266,116 )   (151,228 )
           
     

Total pooled corporate CDS

    (337,530 )   (267,710 )

Funded CLOs and CDOs

    (519,146 )   (269,204 )

Other structured obligations(2)

    (99,098 )   (34,883 )
           
   

Total CDS

    (955,774 )   (571,797 )

IR swaps and FG contracts with embedded derivatives(2)

    (23,692 )   (6,485 )
           
   

Total credit derivatives

  $ (979,466 ) $ (578,282 )
           

      (1)
      Upon the adoption of SFAS 157, $40.9 million pre-tax, or $26.6 million after tax, was recorded as an adjustment to beginning retained earnings related to credit derivatives.

      (2)
      Two insured CDS and three NIM securitizations had credit impairment totaling $115.5 million in 2008.

        Prior to the adoption of SFAS 157 on January 1, 2008 (the "Adoption Date"), the Company followed EITF 02-03. Under EITF 02-03, the Company was prohibited from recognizing a profit at the inception of its CDS contracts (referred to as "day one" gains) because the fair value of those derivatives is based on a valuation technique that incorporated unobservable inputs. Accordingly, the Company deferred approximately $40.9 million pre-tax of day one gains related to the fair value of CDS contracts purchased that were not permitted to be recognized under EITF 02-03. As SFAS 157 nullified the guidance in EITF 02-03, on the Adoption Date the Company recognized in beginning retained earnings as a transition adjustment $40.9 million of previously deferred day one gains (pre-tax). See Note 3 for further discussion of the Company's adoption of SFAS 157.

        The negative fair-value adjustments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 were a result of continued widening of credit spreads in the insured CDS portfolio, offset in part by the positive income effects of the Company's own credit spread widening. Despite the structural protections associated with CDS contracts written by FSA, the significant widening of credit spreads on pooled corporate CDS and funded CDOs and CLOs, as with other structured credit products, resulted in a decline in the fair value of these contracts compared with December 31, 2007.

48



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

11.    CREDIT DERIVATIVES IN THE INSURED PORTFOLIO (Continued)

        As the fair value of a CDS contract incorporates all the remaining future payments to be received over the life of the CDS contract, the fair value of that contract will change, in part, solely from the passage of time as fees are received.

        The Company's typical CDS contract is different from CDS contracts entered into by parties that are not financial guarantors because:

    CDS contracts written by FSA are neither held for trading purposes (i.e., a short-term duration contract written for the purpose of generating trading gains) nor used as hedging instruments. Instead, they are written with the intent to provide protection for the stated duration of the contract, similar to the Company's intent with regard to a financial guaranty contract.

    FSA is not entitled to terminate its CDS contracts and realize a profit on a position that is "in the money." A counterparty to a CDS contract written by FSA generally is not able to force FSA to terminate a CDS contract that is "out of the money."

    The liquidity risk present in most CDS contracts sold outside the financial guaranty industry, i.e. the risk that the CDS writer would be required to make cash payments, is not present in a CDS contract written by a financial guarantor. Terms of the CDS contracts are designed to replicate the payment provisions of financial guaranty contracts in that (a) losses, if any, are generally paid over time, and (b) the financial guarantor is not required to post collateral to secure its obligation under the CDS contract.

        CDS contracts in the asset-backed portfolio represent 67.7% of total asset-backed par outstanding. The tables below summarize the credit rating, net par outstanding and remaining weighted average lives for the primary components of the Company's CDS portfolio. Net par outstanding in the table below is also included in the tables in Note 9.

Selected Information for CDS Portfolio

 
  At September 30, 2008  
 
  Credit Ratings    
   
 
 
   
  Remaining
Weighted
Average
Life
 
 
  Triple-A*(1)   Triple-A   Double-A   Other
Investment
Grades(2)
  Below
Investment
Grade(3)
  Net Par
Outstanding
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
  (in millions)
  (in years)
 

Pooled Corporate CDS:

                                           
 

Investment grade

    99 %   1 %   %   %   % $ 17,826     4.3  
 

High yield

    86     9             5     15,188     2.7  

Funded CDOs and CLOs

    28     65 (4)   6     1         32,517     2.8  

Other structured obligations(5)

    52     17 (4)   12     17     2     8,517     2.9  
                                           
   

Total

    60     33     4     2     1   $ 74,048     3.1  
                                           

49



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

11.    CREDIT DERIVATIVES IN THE INSURED PORTFOLIO (Continued)

Selected Information for CDS Portfolio

 
  At December 31, 2007  
 
  Credit Ratings    
   
 
 
   
  Remaining
Weighted
Average
Life
 
 
  Triple-A*(1)   Triple-A   Double-A   Other
Investment
Grades(2)
  Below
Investment
Grade
  Net Par
Outstanding
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
  (in millions)
  (in years)
 

Pooled Corporate CDS:

                                           
 

Investment grade

    91 %   1 %   8 %   %   % $ 22,883     4.1  
 

High yield

    95             5         14,765     3.3  

Funded CDOs and CLOs

    28     72 (4)               33,000     3.4  

Other structured obligations(5)

    62     36 (4)   1     1         13,529     2.1  
                                           
   

Total

    62     34     3     1       $ 84,177     3.4  
                                           

(1)
Triple-A*, also referred to as "Super Triple-A," indicates a level of first-loss protection generally exceeding 1.3 times the level required by a rating agency for a Triple-A rating.

(2)
Various investment grades below Double-A minus.

(3)
Amount includes one CDS with Double-B underlying rating and one CDS with Single-B underlying rating.

(4)
Amounts include transactions previously wrapped by other monolines.

(5)
Primarily infrastructure obligations and European mortgage-backed securities. Also includes $398.0 million and $223.9 million at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively, in U.S. RMBS net par outstanding. All U.S. RMBS exposures were rated Double-A or higher.

12.    FINANCIAL PRODUCTS SEGMENT DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

        The Company enters into derivative contracts to manage interest rate and foreign currency exposure in its FP Segment Investment Portfolio and FP segment debt. All gains and losses from changes in the fair value of derivatives are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income whether designated in fair-value hedging relationships or not. These derivatives generally include futures, interest rate and currency swap agreements, which are primarily utilized to convert fixed-rate debt and investments into U.S.-dollar floating rate debt and investments. Hedge accounting is applied to fair-value hedges provided certain criteria are met.

        As a result of interest rate fluctuations, fixed-rate assets and liabilities appreciate or depreciate in market value. Gains or losses on the derivative instruments that are linked to the fixed-rate assets and liabilities being hedged are expected to substantially offset this unrealized appreciation or depreciation relating to the risk being hedged.

        The Company uses foreign currency contracts to manage the foreign exchange risk associated with certain foreign currency-denominated assets and liabilities. Gains or losses on the derivative instruments that are linked to the foreign currency denominated assets or liabilities being hedged are expected to substantially offset this variability.

50



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

12.    FINANCIAL PRODUCTS SEGMENT DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS (Continued)

        In order for a derivative to qualify for hedge accounting, it must be highly effective at reducing the risk associated with the exposure being hedged. In order for a derivative to be designated as a hedge, there must be documentation of the risk management objective and strategy, including identification of the hedging instrument, the hedged item and the risk exposure, and how effectiveness is to be assessed prospectively and retrospectively. To assess effectiveness, the Company uses analysis of the sensitivity of fair values to changes in the risk being hedged, as well as dollar value comparisons of the change in the fair value of the derivative to the change in the fair value of the hedged item that is attributable to the risk being hedged. The extent to which a hedging instrument has been and is expected to continue to be effective at achieving offsetting changes in fair value must be assessed and documented at least quarterly. Any ineffectiveness must be reported in current-period earnings. If it is determined that a derivative is not highly effective at hedging the designated exposure, hedge accounting is discontinued.

        An effective fair-value hedge is defined as one whose periodic change in fair value is 80% to 125% correlated with the change in fair value of the hedged item. The difference between a perfect hedge (i.e., the change in fair value of the hedge and hedged item offset one another so that there is zero effect on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, referred to as being "100% correlated") and the actual correlation within the 80% to 125% effectiveness range is the ineffective portion of the hedge. A failed hedge is one whose correlation falls outside of the 80% to 125% effectiveness range. The table below presents the net gain (loss) related to the ineffective portion of the Company's fair-value hedges.

Hedging Ineffectiveness

 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
  2008   2007   2008   2007  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Ineffective portion of fair-value hedges(1)

  $ (1,506 ) $ (742 ) $ (272 ) $ 4,353  

(1)
Includes the changes in value of hedging instruments related to the passage of time, which have been excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness.

Changes in Hedge Accounting Designations

        In 2007, the Company designated certain interest rate swaps, which economically hedged FP segment GIC liabilities, as being in fair value hedging relationships. All derivative income, expense and fair value adjustments were reflected in the caption "Net interest expense from financial products segment" in order to offset interest expense and fair value adjustments on the hedged interest rate risk of the GICs, which were also recorded in that caption. With the adoption of SFAS 159 on January 1, 2008, the Company elected to discontinue hedge accounting for these GICs and elected the fair value option for certain liabilities in the FP segment debt portfolio, as described in Note 4. The fair value option allows the fair value adjustment on these liabilities to be recorded in earnings without hedge documentation and effectiveness testing requirements prescribed under SFAS 133. However, when the fair value option is elected, the fair value adjustment of liabilities must incorporate all components of fair value, including valuation adjustments related to the reporting entity's own credit risk. Under hedge accounting, only the component of fair value attributable to the hedged risk (i.e. interest rate risk) was recorded in earnings.

51



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

12.    FINANCIAL PRODUCTS SEGMENT DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS (Continued)

        As of January 1, 2008, fixed-rate assets in the available-for-sale FP Segment Investment Portfolio that are economically hedged with interest rate swaps were designated in fair value hedging relationships. Prior to January 1, 2008, changes in the fair value of these economically hedged assets were recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income, whereas the corresponding changes in fair value of the related hedging instrument were recorded in earnings. Under fair value hedge accounting, the fair value adjustments related to the hedged risk are recorded in earnings and adjust the amortized cost basis of the related assets. The interest and fair value adjustments on the derivatives and the interest income and fair value adjustment on the assets attributable to the hedged interest rate risk are recorded in "Net interest income from financial products segment" in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, thereby offsetting each other and reflecting economic inefficiency on the hedging relationship in earnings. The Company does not seek to apply hedge accounting to all of its economic hedges.

Other Derivatives

        The Company enters into various other derivative contracts that do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment. These derivatives may include swaptions, caps and other derivatives, which are used principally as protection against large interest rate movements. Gains and losses on these derivatives are reflected in "net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on other derivative instruments" in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.

13.    OTHER ASSETS AND OTHER LIABILITIES AND MINORITY INTEREST

        The detailed balances that comprise other assets and other liabilities and minority interest at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007 are as follows:

Other Assets

 
  At
September 30,
2008
  At
December 31,
2007
 
 
  (in thousands)
 

Other assets:

             
 

FP segment derivatives at fair value

  $ 834,929   $ 837,676  
 

Credit derivatives at fair value

    211,943     124,282  
 

VIE other invested assets

    25,069     24,091  
 

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

        152,875  
 

DCP and SERP at fair value

    112,114     142,642  
 

Tax and loss bonds

    155,352     153,844  
 

Accrued interest in FP segment investment portfolio

    33,260     52,776  
 

Accrued interest income on general investment portfolio

    69,912     63,546  
 

Salvage and subrogation recoverable

    7,600     39,669  
 

Committed preferred trust put options at fair value

    78,000      
 

Federal income tax receivable

    178,596      
 

Other assets

    252,881     123,055  
           

Total other assets

  $ 1,959,656   $ 1,714,456  
           

52



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

13.    OTHER ASSETS AND OTHER LIABILITIES AND MINORITY INTEREST (Continued)

Other Liabilities and Minority Interest

 
  At
September 30,
2008
  At
December 31,
2007
 
 
  (in thousands)
 

Other liabilities and minority interest:

             
 

FP segment derivatives at fair value

  $ 136,806   $ 99,457  
 

Credit derivatives at fair value

    1,191,409     702,564  
 

DCP and SERP payable

    112,114     142,653  
 

Accrued interest on FP segment debt

    160,707     186,854  
 

Equity participation plan

        112,151  
 

Payable for securities purchased

    32,160      
 

Other liabilities and minority interest

    205,291     234,576  
           

Total other liabilities and minority interest

  $ 1,838,487   $ 1,478,255  
           

14.    SEGMENT REPORTING

        The Company operates in two business segments: financial guaranty and financial products. The financial guaranty segment is primarily in the business of providing financial guaranty insurance, which it has historically provided for both public finance and asset-backed obligations. The FP segment includes the GIC operations of the Company, which issues GICs to municipalities and other market participants, and the VIEs' operations. See Note 1 for description of business. The following tables summarize the financial information by segment on a pre-tax basis, as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007.

Financial Information Summary by Segment

 
  Three Months Ended September 30, 2008  
 
  Financial
Guaranty
  Financial
Products
  Intersegment
Eliminations
  Total  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Revenues:

                         
 

External

  $ 50,966   $ 76,097   $   $ 127,063  
 

Intersegment

    (1,137 )   4,608     (3,471 )    

Expenses:

                         
 

External

    (393,879 )   (170,915 )       (564,794 )
 

Intersegment

    (2,779 )   (692 )   3,471      
                   

Income (loss) before income taxes

    (346,829 )   (90,902 )       (437,731 )

GAAP income to operating earnings adjustments

    110,863     (102,396 )       8,467  
                   

Pre-tax segment operating earnings (losses)

  $ (235,966 ) $ (193,298 ) $   $ (429,264 )
                   

Segment assets

  $ 9,165,101   $ 16,084,056   $ (200,476 ) $ 25,048,681  

53



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

14.    SEGMENT REPORTING (Continued)

 
  Three Months Ended September 30, 2007  
 
  Financial
Guaranty
  Financial
Products
  Intersegment
Eliminations
  Total  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Revenues:

                         
 

External

  $ (122,972 ) $ 253,929   $   $ 130,957  
 

Intersegment

    766     3,718     (4,484 )    

Expenses:

                         
 

External

    (62,195 )   (279,824 )       (342,019 )
 

Intersegment

    (3,718 )   (766 )   4,484      
                   

Income (loss) before income taxes

    (188,119 )   (22,943 )       (211,062 )

GAAP income to operating earnings adjustments

    290,333     41,112         331,445  
                   

Pre-tax segment operating earnings (losses)

  $ 102,214   $ 18,169   $   $ 120,383  
                   

Segment assets

  $ 7,356,402   $ 20,653,532   $ (247,586 ) $ 27,762,348  

 

 
  Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008  
 
  Financial
Guaranty
  Financial
Products
  Intersegment
Eliminations
  Total  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Revenues:

                         
 

External

  $ 196,751   $ 120,737   $   $ 317,488  
 

Intersegment

    (411 )   11,994     (11,583 )    

Expenses:

                         
 

External

    (1,366,511 )   (615,954 )       (1,982,465 )
 

Intersegment

    (9,391 )   (2,192 )   11,583      
                   

Income (loss) before income taxes

    (1,179,562 )   (485,415 )       (1,664,977 )

GAAP income to operating earnings adjustments

    258,524     11,521         270,045  
                   

Pre-tax segment operating earnings (losses)

  $ (921,038 ) $ (473,894 ) $   $ (1,394,932 )
                   

 

 
  Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007  
 
  Financial
Guaranty
  Financial
Products
  Intersegment
Eliminations
  Total  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Revenues:

                         
 

External

  $ 170,976   $ 805,099   $   $ 976,075  
 

Intersegment

    2,512     12,019     (14,531 )    

Expenses:

                         
 

External

    (185,662 )   (812,398 )       (998,060 )
 

Intersegment

    (12,019 )   (2,512 )   14,531      
                   

Income (loss) before income taxes

    (24,193 )   2,208         (21,985 )

GAAP income to operating earnings adjustments

    356,358     51,048         407,406  
                   

Pre-tax segment operating earnings (losses)

  $ 332,165   $ 53,256   $   $ 385,421  
                   

54



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

14.    SEGMENT REPORTING (Continued)

Reconciliations of Segments' Pre-Tax Operating Earnings (Losses) to Net Income (Loss)

 
  Three Months Ended September 30, 2008  
 
  Financial
Guaranty
  Financial
Products
  Intersegment
Eliminations
  Total  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Pretax operating earnings (losses)

  $ (235,966 ) $ (193,298 ) $   $ (429,264 )

Operating earnings to GAAP income adjustments

    (110,863 )   102,396         (8,467 )

Tax (provision) benefit

                      104,250  
                         

Net income (loss)

                    $ (333,481 )
                         

 

 
  Three Months Ended September 30, 2007  
 
  Financial
Guaranty
  Financial
Products
  Intersegment
Eliminations
  Total  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Pretax operating earnings (losses)

  $ 102,214   $ 18,169   $   $ 120,383  

Operating earnings to GAAP income adjustments

    (290,333 )   (41,112 )       (331,445 )

Tax (provision) benefit

                      89,253  
                         

Net income (loss)

                    $ (121,809 )
                         

 

 
  Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008  
 
  Financial
Guaranty
  Financial
Products
  Intersegment
Eliminations
  Total  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Pretax operating earnings (losses)

  $ (921,038 ) $ (473,894 ) $   $ (1,394,932 )

Operating earnings to GAAP income adjustments

    (258,524 )   (11,521 )       (270,045 )

Tax (provision) benefit

                      579,420  
                         

Net income (loss)

                    $ (1,085,557 )
                         

 

 
  Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007  
 
  Financial
Guaranty
  Financial
Products
  Intersegment
Eliminations
  Total  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Pretax operating earnings (losses)

  $ 332,165   $ 53,256   $   $ 385,421  

Operating earnings to GAAP income adjustments

    (356,358 )   (51,048 )       (407,406 )

Tax (provision) benefit

                      48,199  
                         

Net income (loss)

                    $ 26,214  
                         

        The intersegment assets consist primarily of intercompany notes issued by FSA and held within the FP Investment Portfolio. The intersegment revenues and expenses relate to interest income and interest expense on intercompany notes and premiums paid by FSA Global on FSA-insured notes.

        GAAP income to operating earnings adjustments are primarily comprised of fair-value adjustments deemed to be non-economic. Such adjustments relate to (1) non-economic fair-value adjustments for credit derivatives in the insured portfolio, (2) non-economic impairment charges on investments,

55



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

14.    SEGMENT REPORTING (Continued)


(3) fair-value adjustments for instruments with economically hedged risks and (4) fair-value adjustments attributable to the Company's own credit risk. Management believes that by making such adjustments the measure more closely reflects the underlying economic performance of segment operations.

        The GIC Subsidiaries and VIEs in the FP segment pay premiums to FSA, which is in the financial guaranty segment. In addition, management of FSA provides management, oversight and administrative support services ("indirect FP expenses") to the entities in the FP segment. The Company's management evaluates the FP segment based on the separate results of operation of the GIC Subsidiaries and FSAM, excluding the premium paid to FSA and including the indirect FP expenses. For the VIEs, the premium paid approximates the indirect expenses incurred by FSA.

15.    RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

        In September 2008, the FASB issued Final FASB Staff Position ("FSP") FAS No. 133-1 and FIN 45-4, "Disclosures about Credit Derivatives and Certain Guarantees: An Amendment of FASB Statement No. 133 and FASB Interpretation No. 45; and Clarification of the Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 161" ("FSP 133-1 and FIN 45-4"). FSP 133-1 and FIN 45-4 amend the disclosure requirements of SFAS 133 to require the seller of credit derivatives, including hybrid financial instruments with embedded credit derivatives, to disclose additional information regarding, among other things, the nature of the credit derivative, information regarding the facts and circumstances that may require performance or payment under the credit derivative, and the nature of any recourse provisions the seller can use for recovery of payments made under the credit derivative. FSP 133-1 and FIN 45-4 also amend the disclosure requirements in FASB Interpretation No. 45, "Guarantor's Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others" ("FIN 45") to require additional disclosure about the payment/performance risk of a guarantee. The Company will adopt FSP 133 and FIN 45-4 for its financial statements prepared as of December 31, 2008. As FSP 133 and FIN 45-4 only requires additional disclosure concerning credit derivatives and guarantees, the adoption of FSP 133 and FIN 45-4 will not affect the Company's consolidated financial position and result of operations or cash flows.

        In May 2008 the FASB issued SFAS No. 163, "Accounting for Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts—an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 60" ("SFAS 163"). This statement addresses accounting standards applicable to existing and future financial guaranty insurance and reinsurance contracts issued by insurance companies under GAAP, including accounting for claims liability measurement and recognition and premium recognition and related disclosures. SFAS 163 requires the Company to recognize a claim liability when there is an expectation that a claim loss will exceed the unearned premium revenue (liability) on a policy basis based on the present value of expected net cash flows. The premium earnings methodology under SFAS 163 will be based on a constant rate methodology. SFAS 163 does not apply to financial guarantee insurance contracts accounted for as derivatives within the scope of SFAS 133. SFAS 163 also requires the Company to provide expanded disclosures relating to factors affecting the recognition and measurement of financial guaranty contracts. SFAS 163 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, except for the presentation and disclosure requirements related to claim liabilities which are effective for financial statements prepared as of September 30, 2008. The cumulative effect of initially applying SFAS 163 is required to be recognized as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. The Company is currently assessing the impact of SFAS 163 on the Company's consolidated financial position and results of operations.

56



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

15.    RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS (Continued)

        In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, "Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, an amendment of SFAS 133" ("SFAS 161"). This statement amends and expands the disclosure requirements for derivative instruments and hedging activities by requiring companies to provide enhanced disclosures about (a) how and why an entity uses derivative instruments, (b) how derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for under SFAS 133 and its related interpretations, and (c) how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect an entity's financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. This statement is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008. Since SFAS 161 requires only additional disclosures concerning derivatives and hedging activities, adoption of SFAS 161 will not affect the Company's consolidated financial position and results of operations or cash flows.

        In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, "Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements" ("SFAS 160"). SFAS 160 will change the accounting for minority interests, which will be recharacterized as noncontrolling interests and classified by the parent company as a component of equity. This statement is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2008, with early adoption prohibited. Upon adoption, SFAS 160 requires retroactive adoption of the presentation and disclosure requirements for existing minority interests and prospective adoption for all other requirements. The Company is currently assessing the impact of SFAS 160 on the Company's consolidated financial position and results of operations.

16.    COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

        In the ordinary course of business, the Company and certain subsidiaries are parties to litigation.

        On November 15, 2006, the Company received a subpoena from the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice issued in connection with an ongoing criminal investigation of bid rigging of awards of municipal GICs. On November 16, 2006, FSA received a subpoena from the SEC related to an ongoing industry-wide investigation concerning the bidding of municipal GICs. The subpoenas requested that the Company furnish to the DOJ and SEC records and other information with respect to the Company's municipal GIC business.

        On February 4, 2008, the Company received a "Wells Notice" from the staff of the Philadelphia Regional Office of the SEC relating to the SEC's investigation concerning the bidding of municipal GICs. 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 the Company, alleging violations of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Rule 10b-5 thereunder and Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

        As previously disclosed, between March and July 2008 seven putative class action lawsuits were filed in federal court alleging antitrust violations in the municipal derivatives industry; an eighth was filed later in July, 2008. Five of these cases name both the Company and FSA:

    (a)
    Hinds County, Mississippi v. Wachovia Bank, N.A.     (filed on or about March 13, 2008 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York ("S.D.N.Y."), Case No. 1:08-cv-2516);

    (b)
    Fairfax County, Virginia v. Wachovia Bank, N.A.     (filed on or about March 12, 2008 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Case No. 1:08-cv-432; transferred to the S.D.N.Y. as Case No. 1:08-cv-5492);

57



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

16.    COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Continued)

    (c)
    Central Bucks School District, Pennsylvania v. Wachovia Bank N.A.     (filed on or about June 4, 2008 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Case No. 1:08-cv-956, transferred to the S.D.N.Y. as Case No. 1:08-cv-6342);

    (d)
    Mayor & City Counsel of Baltimore, Maryland v. Wachovia Bank N.A.     (filed on or about July 3, 2008 in the S.D.N.Y., Case No. 1:08-cv-6142); and

    (e)
    Washington County, Tennessee v. Wachovia Bank N.A.     (filed on or about July 14, 2008 in the S.D.N.Y., Case No. 1:08-cv-6304).

        Three of the cases name the Company only: (a)  City of Oakland, California, v. AIG Financial Products Corp. (filed on or about April 23, 2008 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ("N.D. Cal."), Case No. 3:08-cv-2116, transferred to the S.D.N.Y. as Case No. 1:08-cv-6340); (b)  County of Alameda, California v. AIG Financial Products Corp. (filed on or about July 8, 2008 in the N.D. Cal., Case No. 3:08-cv-3278, transferred to the S.D.N.Y. as Case No. 1:08-cv-7034); and (c)  City of Fresno, California v. AIG Financial Products Corp. (filed on or about July 17, 2008 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, Case No. 1.08-cv-1045, transferred to the S.D.N.Y. as Case No. 1:08-cv-7355).

        These cases have been coordinated and consolidated for pretrial proceedings in the S.D.N.Y. as MDL 1950, In re Municipal Derivatives Antitrust Litigation, Case No. 1:08-cv-2516 ("MDL 1950"). Interim lead counsel for the MDL 1950 plaintiffs filed a Consolidated Class Action Complaint ("Consolidated Complaint") in August 2008 alleging violations of the federal antitrust laws. Defendants filed motions to dismiss the Consolidated Complaint. Plaintiffs Oakland, Alameda, and Fresno also allege violations under California law, and the MDL 1950 court has determined that it will handle federal claims alleged in the Consolidated Complaint before addressing state claims. 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.

        The Company and FSA also are named in five non-class actions originally filed in the California Superior Courts alleging violations of California law related to the municipal derivatives industry:

    (a)
    City of Los Angeles v. Bank of America, N.A.     (filed on or about July 23, 2008 in the Superior Court of the State of California in and for the County of Los Angeles, Case No. BC 394944, removed to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California ("C.D. Cal.") as Case No. 2:08-cv-5574);

    (b)
    City of Stockton v. Bank of America, N.A.     (filed on or about July 23, 2008 in the Superior Court of the State of California in and for the County of San Francisco, Case No. CGC-08-477851, removed to the N.D. Cal. as Case No. 3:08-cv-4060);

    (c)
    County of San Diego v. Bank of America, N.A.     (filed on or about August 28, 2008 in the Superior Court of the State of California in and for the County of Los Angeles, Case No. SC 99566, removed to C.D. Cal. as Case No. 2:08-cv-6283);

    (d)
    County of San Mateo v. Bank of America, N.A.     (filed on or about October 7, 2008 in the Superior Court of the State of California in and for the County of San Francisco, Case No.CGC-08-480664, removed to N.D. Cal. as Case No. 3:08-cv-4751); and

58



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

16.    COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Continued)

    (e)
    County of Contra Costa v. Bank of America, N.A.     (filed on or about October 8, 2008 in the Superior Court of the State of California in and for the County of San Francisco, Case No. CGC-08-480733 , removed to N.D. Cal. as Case No. 4:08-cv-4752).

        These five cases have been removed to federal court, and plaintiffs have filed motions to remand all five actions to the state courts in which the cases were filed. The first hearing on a motion to remand has occurred, but the court has not yet issued a ruling. Defendants have noticed each of the removed cases as a tag-along action to MDL 1950, and the parties have completed briefing plaintiffs' opposition to the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation's ("JPML") conditional transfer of the Los Angeles and Stockton actions to MDL 1950 in the S.D.N.Y. These conditional transfer motions and plaintiffs' oppositions to them are scheduled to be addressed at a JPML hearing session in November. 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 FSA, were named as defendants in two civil actions 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: (i)  Charles E. Wilson vs. JPMorgan Chase & Co et al (filed on or about August 8, 2008 in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Alabama), Case No. 01-CV-2008-901907.00, a putative class action; and State of Alabama, ex. rel. Fowler, et al vs. Blount, Parrish & Roton, et al (filed on or about August 28, 2008 in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Alabama), Case No. 01-CV-2008-002780.00. The actions were brought on behalf of rate payers, tax payers and citizens residing in Jefferson County, as well as, in the Fowler action, Citizens for Sewer Accountability, Inc., a not for profit corporation. The first action alleges conspiracy and fraud, and the second alleges corruption and bribery, both in connection with the issuance of the County's debt. The complaints in these lawsuits seek unspecified monetary damages, interest, attorneys' fees and other costs, as well as, in the Fowler matter, a revocation of FSA's charter. The Company cannot reasonably estimate the possible loss or range of loss that may arise from these lawsuits.

        The Company has also received various regulatory inquiries and requests for information. These include subpoenas duces tecum and interrogatories from the State of Connecticut Attorney General related to antitrust concerns associated with the municipal rating scales employed by Moody's and a proposal by Moody's to assign corporate equivalent ratings to municipal obligations.

17.    EXPOSURE TO MONOLINES

        The tables below summarize the exposure to each financial guaranty monoline insurer by exposure category and the underlying ratings of the Company's insured risks.

59



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

17.    EXPOSURE TO MONOLINES (Continued)

Summary of Exposure to Monolines

 
  At September 30, 2008  
 
  Insured Portfolios   Investment Portfolios  
 
  FSA
Insured Par
Outstanding(1)
  Ceded Par
Outstanding
  General
Investment
Portfolio(2)
  FP Segment
Investment
Portfolio(2)
 
 
  (in millions)
  (in thousands)
 

Assured Guaranty Re Ltd

  $ 997   $ 33,713   $ 84,233   $ 194,080  

Radian Asset Assurance Inc. 

    97     25,187     1,941     257,616  

RAM Reinsurance Co. Ltd. 

        12,159          

Syncora Guarantee Inc. 

    1,444     4,797     33,713     365,010  

CIFG Assurance North America Inc. 

    199     1,977     25,882     100,607  

Ambac Assurance Corporation

    5,055     1,218     621,579     905,291  

ACA Financial Guaranty Corporation

    20     949          

Financial Guaranty Insurance Company

    5,513     282     385,993     394,278  

MBIA Insurance Corporation

    4,198         582,704     824,442  
                   
 

Total

  $ 17,523   $ 80,282   $ 1,736,045   $ 3,041,324  
                   

(1)
Represents transactions with second-to-pay FSA insurance that were previously insured by other monolines. Based on net par outstanding. Includes credit derivatives in the insured portfolio.

(2)
Based on amortized cost, which includes write-down of securities that were deemed to be OTTI.

60



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

17.    EXPOSURE TO MONOLINES (Continued)

Exposures to Monolines
and Ratings of Underlying Risks

 
  At September 30, 2008  
 
  Insured Portfolios(1)   Investment Portfolios  
 
  FSA
Insured Par
Outstanding(2)
  Ceded Par
Outstanding
  General
Investment
Portfolio(3)
  FP Segment
Investment
Portfolio(1)
 
 
  (dollars in millions)
  (dollars in thousands)
 

Assured Guaranty Re Ltd.

                         
 

Exposure(4)

  $ 997   $ 33,713   $ 84,233   $ 194,080  
   

Triple-A

    %   6 %   2 %   %
   

Double-A

    10     40         22  
   

Single-A

    27     36     81     71  
   

Triple-B

    22     16     17      
   

Below Investment Grade

    41     2         7  

Radian Asset Assurance Inc.

                         
 

Exposure(4)

  $ 97   $ 25,187   $ 1,941   $ 257,616  
   

Triple-A

    4 %   8 %   %   %
   

Double-A

        42     100      
   

Single-A

    14     39          
   

Triple-B

    57     10          
   

Below Investment Grade

    25     1         100  

RAM Reinsurance Co. Ltd.

                         
 

Exposure(4)

  $   $ 12,159   $   $  
   

Triple-A

    %   14 %   %   %
   

Double-A

        41          
   

Single-A

        32          
   

Triple-B

        11          
   

Below Investment Grade

        2          

Syncora Guarantee Inc.

                         
 

Exposure(4)

  $ 1,444   $ 4,797   $ 33,713   $ 365,010  
   

Triple-A

    29 %   %   %   2 %
   

Double-A

        12     17      
   

Single-A

    24     37     80     13  
   

Triple-B

    24     51         71  
   

Below Investment Grade

    23             14  
   

Not Rated

            3      

CIFG Assurance North America Inc.

                         
 

Exposure(4)

  $ 199   $ 1,977   $ 25,882   $ 100,607  
   

Triple-A

    %   2 %   %   %
   

Double-A

    2     27         26  
   

Single-A

    9     36     100     30  
   

Triple-B

    89     31          
   

Below Investment Grade

        4         44  

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FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

17.    EXPOSURE TO MONOLINES (Continued)

Exposures to Monolines
and Ratings of Underlying Risks (Continued)

 
  At September 30, 2008  
 
  Insured Portfolios(1)   Investment Portfolios  
 
  FSA
Insured Par
Outstanding(2)
  Ceded Par
Outstanding
  General
Investment
Portfolio(3)
  FP Segment
Investment
Portfolio(1)
 
 
  (dollars in millions)
  (dollars in thousands)
 

Ambac Assurance Corporation

                         
 

Exposure(4)

  $ 5,055   $ 1,218   $ 621,579   $ 905,291  
   

Triple-A

    6 %   %   %   16 %
   

Double-A

    41     8     41     6  
   

Single-A

    33     37     54     32  
   

Triple-B

    13     55     4     38  
   

Below Investment Grade

    7         1     8  

ACA Financial Guaranty Corporation

                         
 

Exposure(4)

  $ 20   $ 949   $   $  
   

Triple-A

    %   %   %   %
   

Double-A

    65     73          
   

Single-A

        26          
   

Triple-B

    10     1          
   

Below Investment Grade

    25              

Financial Guaranty Insurance Company

                         
 

Exposure(4)

  $ 5,513   $ 282   $ 385,993   $ 394,278  
   

Triple-A

    %   %   %   %
   

Double-A

    32         32     2  
   

Single-A

    57     100     65     38  
   

Triple-B

    9         3     45  
   

Below Investment Grade

    2             15  

MBIA Insurance Corporation

                         
 

Exposure(4)

  $ 4,198   $   $ 582,704   $ 824,442  
   

Triple-A

    %   %   %   %
   

Double-A

    53         45     27  
   

Single-A

    13         48     20  
   

Triple-B

    34         5     39  
   

Below Investment Grade

            2     14  

(1)
Ratings are based on internal ratings.

(2)
Represents transactions with second-to-pay FSA insurance that were previously insured by other monolines.

(3)
Ratings are based on the lower of S&P or Moody's

(4)
Represents par balances for the insured portfolios and amortized cost for the investment portfolios.

62



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

17.    EXPOSURE TO MONOLINES (Continued)

        In July 2008, FSA agreed to re-assume all reinsurance ceded to SGR, which consisted of $8.4 billion in outstanding par, in exchange for the June 30, 2008 statutory-basis ceded unearned premium, net of its applicable ceding commission, any case basis reserves established at that date and a $35.0 million commutation premium. FSA agreed to cede a portion of this business, approximately $6.4 billion of outstanding par with no outstanding case basis reserves, to Syncora Guarantee Inc. ("SGI"), an affiliate of SGR, as of the re-assumption date. Ceded net unearned premiums and future ceded case reserves are secured by collateral then held in a trust. Since SGI was an affiliate of SGR, FSA did not consider the portion of the business bought back from SGR and subsequently ceded to SGI as commuted and as a result did not record any commutation gain on that portion of the business. FSA recorded a commutation gain of $10.0 million on the business it retained, which was recorded in other income in the statement of operations and comprehensive income. In the third quarter 2008, $14.3 million of earned premium related to this commutation.

        In September 2008, FSA agreed to re-assume a portion of the business it ceded to SGI in July for the statutory basis ceded unearned premium, net of its applicable ceding commissions. This resulted in a commutation gain of $10 million, which was recorded in other income in the statement of operations and comprehensive income. In the third quarter of 2008, $1.5 million of earned premium related to this commutation.

        Due to a liquidation order against Bluepoint RE, Limited ("Bluepoint"), FSA is treating all reinsurance ceded to Bluepoint as cancelled as of the date of its liquidation order. The ceded statutory basis unearned premium and case basis reserves with Bluepoint were secured by collateral in a trust and as a result FSA was able to take credit for such balances. Subsequent to September 30, 2008, FSA drew down on a portion of the collateral equal to the net statutory basis unearned premium and case basis reserves. In the third quarter 2008, $9.4 million of earned premium related to this commutation.

        In September of 2008, FSA commuted substantially all its ceded and assumed business with Financial Guaranty Insurance Company ("FGIC"). In the third quarter 2008, $1.2 million of earned premium related to this commutation.

18.    RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

        The Company's subsidiary FSAM entered into a revolving credit agreement, dated as of June 30, 2008, with Dexia Crédit Local and Dexia Bank Belgium, pursuant to which Dexia Crédit Local and Dexia Bank Belgium provided the $5 Billion Line of Credit to FSAM. Dexia Crédit Local subsequently assigned an 88% fractional interest in its obligations under the facility to Dexia Bank Belgium. The $5 Billion Line of Credit has a continually rolling five year term, subject to termination by Dexia Crédit Local or Dexia Bank Belgium upon five years notice. FSA guarantees the repayment of borrowings under the $5 Billion Line of Credit. There were no borrowings under the agreement as of September 30, 2008. As of November 14, 2008, FSAM had borrowed $550 million under the $5 Billion Line of Credit.

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FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

19.    OTHER INCOME

        The following table shows the components of other income. In 2008, other income includes $20 million related to commutation gains (see Note 17).

 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
  2008   2007   2008   2007  
 
  (in thousands)
 

DCP and SERP interest income(1)

  $ 878   $ 1,376   $ 5,902   $ 5,706  

DCP and SERP asset fair-value gain (loss)(1)

    (7,902 )   (3,321 )   (24,540 )   1,792  

Realized foreign exchange gain (loss)

    (3,732 )   3,126     1,931     8,923  

Commutation gain

    20,000         20,000      

Net realized gains (losses) from assets acquired in refinancing transactions

    (7,429 )   1,126     (4,383 )   1,439  

Other

    749     3,556     7,351     9,506  
                   
 

Subtotal

  $ 2,564   $ 5,863   $ 6,261   $ 27,366  
                   

(1)
DCP and SERP assets are held to defease the Company's plan obligations and the changes in fair value may vary significantly from period to period. Increases or decreases in the fair value of the assets are primarily offset by like changes in the related liability, which are recorded in other operating expenses.

20.    SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

        In September 2008, Dexia announced the provision of capital support to Dexia by the governments of Belgium, France and Luxembourg, which was followed by changes in Dexia senior management. Following such developments, Dexia announced its intention to refocus on its basic business lines, and its decision to explore options to reduce its risk related to the Company.

        On November 14, 2008, Dexia announced that Dexia and Assured Guaranty have entered into a purchase agreement for Assured Guaranty to acquire all of Dexia's shares of the Company, subject to the completion of specified closing conditions, including receipt of regulatory and Assured Guaranty shareholder approvals and confirmation from S&P, Moody's and Fitch that the acquisition of the Company would not have a negative impact on the financial strength ratings of Assured Guaranty's insurance company subsidiaries or the Company's insurance company subsidiaries. Management is evaluating the potential effect on the consolidated financial statements for the fourth quarter of 2008.

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Item 2.    Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

        In this Quarterly Report, the Company has included statements that may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor for forward- looking statements provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "believes," "anticipates," "expects," "intends" and "plans" and future and conditional verbs such as "will," "should," "would," "could" and "may" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. The Company cautions that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the plans, objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions expressed in forward-looking statements made by the Company. Important factors that could cause its results to differ, possibly materially, from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those discussed under "—Forward-Looking Statements."


Executive Overview

Business Environment and Market Trends

        Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. ("FSA Holdings") is a holding company incorporated in the State of New York. The Company, through its insurance company subsidiaries, engages in providing financial guaranty insurance on public finance obligations in domestic and international markets including Europe, the Asia Pacific region and elsewhere in the Americas. The Company's principal insurance company subsidiary is Financial Security Assurance Inc. ("FSA"), a wholly owned New York insurance company. Prior to August 2008, the Company provided financial guaranty insurance on both public finance and asset-backed obligations. On August 6, 2008, the Company announced that it would cease providing financial guaranty insurance on asset-backed obligations and instead participate exclusively in the global public finance financial guaranty business. References to the "Company" are to Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. together with its subsidiaries.

        The Company's Financial Products ("FP") segment is composed of non-insurance company subsidiaries that borrow funds by issuing either guaranteed investment contracts and other investment agreements ("GICs") issued by certain subsidiaries of FSA Holdings (the "GIC Subsidiaries") or debt issued by certain consolidated variable interest entities (the "VIEs"). The GIC Subsidiaries lend their proceeds from their sales of GICs to FSA Asset Management LLC ("FSAM") for investment. The Company invests the proceeds of FP segment debt issuances in fixed-income securities that satisfy the Company's investment criteria, with the objective of generating a positive net interest margin ("NIM"). The GIC Subsidiaries are consolidated by FSA Holdings, and the VIEs are consolidated by FSA.

        In the third quarter of 2008, to address FP segment liquidity requirements, Dexia S.A. ("Dexia"), the Company's parent, entered into an agreement to provide a $5 billion committed, unsecured, standby line of credit (the "$5 Billion Line of Credit") to FSAM. As of November 14, 2008, the Company had drawn $550 million on the $5 Billion Line of Credit. In addition, on November 13, 2008, the Company entered into two new agreements with Dexia and its affiliates in support of its FP business, which provide additional protection through a $3.5 billion collateral swap facility and a $500 million capital facility to cover economic losses beyond the $316.5 million of pre-tax loss estimated at the end of June 2008.

        In both segments, the Company is affected by conditions in the financial markets and general economic conditions, primarily in the United States and also, to a growing extent, outside the U.S.

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    Recent Developments at Dexia and Proposed Acquisition of the Company

        In September 2008, Dexia announced the provision of capital support to Dexia by the governments of Belgium, France and Luxembourg, which was followed by changes in Dexia senior management. Following such developments, Dexia announced its intention to refocus on its basic business lines, and its decision to explore options to reduce its risk related to the Company.

        On November 14, 2008, Dexia announced that Dexia and Assured Guaranty Ltd. ("Assured Guaranty") have entered into a purchase agreement for Assured Guaranty to acquire all of Dexia's shares of the Company (the "Acquisition"), subject to the satisfaction of specified closing conditions, including receipt of regulatory and Assured Guaranty shareholder approvals and confirmation from S&P, Moody's and Fitch that the acquisition of the Company would not have a negative impact on the financial strength ratings of Assured's insurance company subsidiaries or the Company's insurance company subsidiaries. The Company cannot estimate whether or when such closing conditions will be satisfied, whether the Acquisition will be completed and, if completed, whether it will be structured as currently contemplated, or what the effects of such a change in control will be on the Company and its results of operations. If the Acquisition is not carried out, Dexia may explore other options with respect to the Company, including selling the Company or some of its operations to a third party, which may have a material effect on the Company.

    Continuing Stress on the Financial Guaranty Industry

        A number of the Company's competitors in the financial guaranty industry announced sharp increases in projected losses on insured transactions in the first quarter 2008 and subsequently were downgraded or placed on credit watch, negative outlook or review for further downgrade by the major securities rating agencies. These guarantors generally had significant exposure to collateralized debt obligations ("CDOs") of asset-backed securities ("ABS"), which include CDOs of CDOs (also referred to as "CDO squared"). As of November 14, 2008, two of the Company's competitors, MBIA Insurance Corp. ("MBIA") and Ambac Assurance Corp. ("Ambac") were downgraded to Baa1/developing outlook by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") and AA/watch negative by Standard & Poor's Ratings Services ("S&P"). Fitch Ratings ("Fitch") withdrew its Insurer Financial Strength ratings on those two guarantors. Assured Guaranty is the only other financial guarantor with Triple-A ratings from all three rating agencies.

        The financial strength of the Company's insurance company subsidiaries have historically been rated "Triple-A" by the major securities rating agencies and obligations insured by them have historically been generally awarded "Triple-A" ratings by reason of such insurance. During the third quarter of 2008, the rating agencies took various ratings actions relating to the Company's ratings:

    On July 21, 2008, Moody's placed the Triple-A rating of the Company's insurance company subsidiaries on "review for downgrade." In announcing the review for possible downgrade, Moody's stated that it had re-estimated expected and stress loss projections on FSA's aggregate insured portfolio.

    On October 8, 2008, S&P placed the Company's insurance company subsidiaries' Triple-A ratings on "negative credit watch." On November 6, 2008, S&P reported that FSA surpasses its Triple-A minimum capital requirement with a margin of safety of 1.3 - 1.4x, taking into consideration S&P's updated loss projections for the RMBS portfolio.

    On October 9, 2008, Fitch also placed the Company's insurance company subsidiaries' Triple-A ratings on "negative credit watch."

        The ratings agencies stated that their actions regarding FSA were based in part upon rating agency concerns regarding the prospects for new business originations by financial guarantors, as well as uncertainty about future support for FSA under Dexia's new ownership and management, rather than

66



the fundamental credit strength of the insurance company. The effect of the recent ratings actions on FSA's market opportunities remains unclear.

        FSA was the market leader in the nine months ended September 30, 2008, originating record PV premiums in the U.S. municipal sector and achieving a 59% share of the insured U.S. municipal par sold. The increase in PV premiums occurred in the first half, while in the third quarter of 2008, FSA's par amount originated decreased significantly.

        In international public finance markets, where liquidity has been constrained all year, FSA's nine-month production decreased significantly, in comparison to the first nine months of 2007. Transactions in this market tend to have long lead times, and FSA is focused on transactions expected to close in 2009, which allows time for market conditions to improve.

        Concerns regarding the capital adequacy of Triple-A guarantors have drawn attention not only from rating agencies but also state regulators, the federal government and financial institutions concerned about their own exposure to monolines. In February 2008, the Superintendent of Insurance of the State of New York (the "New York Superintendent") stated his intention to propose new regulations for financial guaranty insurers, potentially including limitations or prohibitions on insuring credit default swaps ("CDS") and certain structured finance obligations, such as CDOs of ABS, or separating the municipal insurance business from the non-municipal insurance business. In September 2008, the New York Insurance Department issued a circular letter, effective January 1, 2009, that prescribed best practices for financial guaranty issuers that would significantly narrow the permitted scope of insurance of asset-backed securities, a business no longer pursued by the Company. There also have been proposals for a federal office to oversee bond insurers. The cost of buying protection in the CDS market on monoline names continued to rise markedly in the third quarter.

        Financial guarantors are taking a variety of actions to protect policyholders, stabilize their ratings and recover market confidence. Certain financial guaranty insurers have announced or are considering plans to divide their insurance operations into separate legal operating companies for municipal and non-municipal insurance. Some have raised substantial amounts of new capital.

        A new monoline competitor, Berkshire Hathaway, has obtained Triple-A ratings for Berkshire's Columbia Insurance Company and Berkshire Hathaway Assurance Corporation from Moody's and S&P. Another new monoline competitor, Municipal and Infrastructure Assurance Corporation ("MIAC"), commenced operations in October 2008, intending to focus on municipal and infrastructure finance. Other entities have established or announced an intention or interest in establishing new financial guaranty insurers. The Company has direct exposure to other financial guaranty insurers through secondary guaranties of previously insured securities, reinsurance and investments. Downgrades of other monolines could cause incurred loss in the insured portfolio and mark-to-market losses in the Company's investment portfolios. Additionally, such downgrades could reduce the credit for reinsurance and for previously wrapped insured transactions that rating agencies assign in their capital adequacy models, increasing the capital charges in those models. At this stage, management cannot predict how the situation will be resolved for the Company or its competitors, or what competitive, regulatory and rating agency environments may emerge, but the Company has taken steps to strengthen its capital position.

    The Company's Strategic Review

        After a careful strategic analysis, the Company decided, in the third quarter, to cease providing financial guaranty insurance of asset-backed obligations in order to devote its resources to expanding its position in the global public finance and infrastructure markets. This decision is based on weighing the risks and volatility embedded in the asset-backed security business, in particular residential mortgage-backed securities ("RMBS"), versus the opportunities available in lower-risk sectors of the public finance markets.

67


        Although the economy is faced with an unprecedented crisis, the Company believes that the current U.S. municipal operating environment remains favorable for highly rated bond insurers. While the insured penetration of bond insurance in the U.S. municipal market decreased to approximately 20% in the first nine months of 2008, the Company believes that it will normalize to a higher level as financial markets stabilize and conversions from auction rate securities to fixed rate bonds continue to occur, provided that there are highly rated financially stable bond insurers available to service market demand. Further, U.S. municipal investors continue to focus on underlying issue credit fundamentals, and Moody's and Fitch have postponed their plan to shift to a global ratings scale. The Company believes that, even if credit spreads tighten from current market levels, FSA should continue to find profitable opportunities to apply its guaranty to municipal and infrastructure obligations. The change in strategic focus has resulted in an approximately 9% head-count reduction. Additionally, the Company estimates that approximately $1.0 billion of economic capital will be released over the next three to five years as the asset-backed portfolio amortizes with no new originations. The amortizing asset-backed portfolio is expected to generate in excess of $620.0 million of earned revenue over the remaining life of the policies.

    Credit Deterioration in Certain RMBS Sectors Accelerated

        The credit crisis that began in 2007 followed several years of seemingly benign credit conditions, during which delinquency and default rates were comparatively low across the residential mortgage, consumer finance and corporate finance credit markets. Beginning in 2005, credit spreads were tight, indicating that investors were relatively undiscriminating about risk, and structures of some asset-backed securities were based on loss assumptions that have proven to be too optimistic. This was particularly true in the RMBS sector and with CDOs of ABS that contain a high percentage of RMBS. During these years, FSA maintained its underwriting and pricing standards, even though this meant declining to insure certain transactions.

        The Company generally avoided insurance of CDOs of ABS. In all, FSA insured two CDOs of ABS with a total net par outstanding of $345 million: (1) a Double-A rated obligation insured in 2000 with $50 million net par outstanding and less than 3% invested in U.S. subprime and "Alt-A" RMBS collateral, and (2) a Single-A rated CDS excess-of-loss reinsurance transaction insured in 2005 at four times the original Triple-A attachment point with $295 million net par outstanding. "Alt-A" refers to borrowers whose credit quality falls between prime and subprime. In contrast, most of the Company's peers have suffered from projected losses and market concerns related to their exposure to CDOs of ABS that contain a high percentage of mezzanine tranches of subprime RMBS, with most credit concerns focused on 2006 and 2007 originations.

        In 2007 and 2008, mortgage performance deteriorated rapidly, exceeding the most conservative historical loss expectations. For the first time since the Great Depression, year-over-year home prices declined across the entire United States, not just regionally. As projected losses on subprime and other RMBS increased, some mortgage lenders failed, and rating agencies downgraded many mortgage-related securities. This included a large amount of CDOs of ABS. In the home equity line of credit ("HELOC") market, which generally involves prime borrowers, projected losses rose to unprecedented levels. In the first quarter of 2008, these borrowers began to default at much higher rates, a trend which continued through the first nine months of the year.

        In the first quarter of 2008, the Company established case reserves on several HELOC and Alt-A second-lien insured obligations. During the second quarter of 2008, the Company increased its loss provisions, primarily those related to the insured RMBS portfolio, to reflect the assumption that economic stress in the U.S. economy will continue at least six months longer than the Company had estimated in the first quarter, increasing the length of time that higher than previously estimated default rate levels will continue. In the third quarter, FSA made additional loss provisions for credit deterioration observed primarily in its Option Adjustable Rate Mortgage Loan ("Option ARM") and

68



Alt-A first-lien insured portfolio. Additionally, while delinquency and default performance in the second-lien portfolio, primarily HELOCs, has generally been consistent with second quarter reserve assumptions, FSA revised its view of future prepayment rates, which caused projected losses to increase.

        Loss expense in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 was $327.6 million and $1,230.9 million, respectively, related primarily to increases in loss estimates on RMBS transactions. Additionally, in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Company recorded pre-tax other than temporary impairment ("OTTI") charges on RMBS transactions in the FP Investment Portfolio supporting FSA-insured GICs (the "FP Investment Portfolio") of $417.5 million and $1,459.9 million, respectively, of which $207.8 million and $524.3 million, respectively, was considered economic. At September 30, 2008, approximately 66.5% of the FP Investment Portfolio was invested in non-agency RMBS, of which 53.4% were rated Triple-A, with 17.6% rated Double-A, 6.8% rated Single-A, 7.4% rated Triple-B and 14.8% below investment grade.

        The Company has evaluated all its U.S. RMBS of 2005 vintage or later, in both the insured portfolio and the FP Investment Portfolio, using the same severity assumptions and the same approach to setting transaction default assumptions, driven by the actual performance of each transaction. For second lien mortgages, loss projections are based on the assumption that peak defaults will continue until mid-2009 and slowly recover to more normal rates by mid-2010. First-lien mortgage transactions are assumed to experience defaults at peak rates until mid- 2010 and slowly recover to more normal rates by mid- 2011.

        In the FP segment, the Company generally intends to hold its investments to maturity, consistent with its normal investment policy. Adverse loss developments surrounding subprime RMBS may lead to earlier than anticipated withdrawals on its GICs issued in connection with CDOs of ABS. At September 30, 2008, $447.0 million of CDO of ABS GICs had been terminated due to an event of default in the underlying collateral of the CDOs of ABS and a subsequent liquidation of the CDO portfolio. Subsequent to September 30, 2008, an additional $294.1 million of CDO of ABS GICs were terminated. Also, $849.1 million of pooled corporate CDO GICs were terminated due to an event of default caused by the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., which was the guarantor of the CDS protection buyer in those transactions. The Company expects further withdrawals and is regularly evaluating general market conditions, as well as specific transactions.

        Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2007, the Company has increased holdings of short term, lower yielding investments in order to meet anticipated liquidity requirements. It has also entered into agreements for new lines of liquidity. On June 30, 2008, FSAM entered into an agreement with Dexia Crédit Local, pursuant to which Dexia Crédit Local agreed to provide the $5.0 Billion Line of Credit, to address FP segment liquidity requirements. Subsequently, Dexia Crédit Local assigned an 88% fractional interest in its obligations under that facility to Dexia Bank Belgium S.A. ("Dexia Bank Belgium"). FSA guarantees the repayment of borrowings under the facility. In addition, on November 13, 2008, Dexia Crédit Local, through its subsidiary Dexia Holdings Inc. ("Dexia Holdings"), committed to contribute up to $500.0 million of capital to FSA Holdings, which in turn would contribute such amounts to FSAM, to cover FP projected present value economic losses in excess of the $316.5 million pre-tax amount incurred in the second quarter 2008. At the same time, FSAM entered into a committed "back-up" securities lending facility with Dexia Crédit Local pursuant to which FSAM may, in the event of a downgrade of FSA below Aa3 by Moody's or below AA- by S&P, borrow up to $3.5 billion market value of securities eligible to be pledged as collateral under GICs. As collateral for this loan, FSAM will post securities of the same market value but that are generally ineligible to act as collateral for GICs. For more information regarding these liquidity resources, see "—Liquidity and Capital Resources—FP Segment Liquidity."

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        The full extent of credit losses in the mortgage sector, and the extent to which they may affect the Company, will not be known for several years. The Company is also closely monitoring the consumer and corporate sectors for signs of deepening economic stress.

        In 2008, the market turmoil resulted in disruptions in the domestic public finance market, evidenced by auction failures for auction rate municipal bonds, higher rates on variable rate demand notes and historic high yields for tax-exempt municipal bonds compared with U.S. government treasury securities. In the short-term, these conditions may present the Company with new business opportunities to refinance outstanding obligations but, if they persist for an extended period of time, the Company's own insured obligations could experience increased losses because, in extreme cases, higher borrowing costs could put financial stress on municipal issuers, leading to defaults of FSA-insured securities.

    Illiquidity Continues to Limit Issuance Volume

        Credit problems expanded beyond the mortgage market to constrain liquidity across the capital markets in the third quarter of 2008. This had a negative impact on new-issue volume in the public finance and structured finance markets. Credit spreads continued to widen through the third quarter of 2008. Wider spreads generally necessitate unrealized negative fair-value (mark-to-market) adjustments for credit derivatives in the insured portfolio and for certain FP investments, under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). On the other hand, wider spreads generally mean that a financial guarantor has more opportunities to sell insurance at higher premium rates. This was true for the first half of 2008 in the primary U.S. municipal business, where FSA's business production was strong, based on a combination of wider credit spreads and investor's continued preference for FSA-insured securities.

Summary Results of Operations and Financial Condition

        To more accurately reflect how the Company's management evaluates the Company's operations and progress toward long-term goals the Company discloses both GAAP and non-GAAP measures. Although the measures identified as non-GAAP should not be considered substitutes for GAAP measures, management considers them key performance indicators and employs them in determining compensation. Non-GAAP measures therefore provide investors with important information about the way management analyzes its business and rewards performance. The purpose and definition of each non-GAAP measure are briefly described when the term first appears. For a more complete explanation of these terms, see "—Non-GAAP Measures" below.

    Net Income (Loss) and Operating Earnings (Losses)

        For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Company reported a net loss of $333.5 million and $1,085.6 million, respectively, compared with net loss of $121.8 million and net income of $26.2, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007. Net income reported in accordance with GAAP is volatile because it includes (a) fair-value adjustments for credit derivatives in the insured portfolio, (b) fair-value adjustments for instruments with economically hedged risks that are not in designated hedging relationships under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities" ("SFAS 133"), and adjustments related to non-economic changes in fair value related to the trading portfolio, such as the effect of changes in credit spreads, (c) beginning January 1, 2008, fair-value adjustments related to the Company's own credit risk, and (d) where applicable, other than temporary impairment charges that are not indicative of estimated economic loss. Beginning in 2008, operating earnings includes International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") adjustments that serve to align the Company's compensation metrics (i.e. the non-GAAP measures operating earnings and adjusted book value ("ABV")) to those used by Dexia. The change was made in 2008 because all performance

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cycles for outstanding equity awards based on operating earnings without IFRS adjustments have expired. See "—Non-GAAP Measures." Operating earnings (losses) are reconciled to net income (loss) as follows:

Reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) to Non-GAAP Operating Earnings (Losses)

 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
  2008   2007   2008   2007  
 
  (in millions)
 

Net income (loss)

  $ (333.5 ) $ (121.8 ) $ (1,085.6 ) $ 26.2  

Less after-tax non-economic adjustments:

                         
 

Fair-value adjustments for instruments with economically hedged risks(1)

    11.0     (21.2 )   (83.3 )   (28.4 )
 

Fair-value adjustments for credit derivatives in insured portfolio

    (95.2 )   (190.9 )   (229.0 )   (229.1 )
 

Fair-value adjustments attributable to the Company's own credit risk(2)

    191.3         743.2      
 

Fair-value adjustments and amortization attributable to impairment charges

    (117.7 )       (589.6 )    
 

Other

    (4.9 )       (4.9 )    
                   

Subtotal

    (318.0 )   90.3     (922.0 )   283.7  
 

IFRS adjustments

    (13.6 )   3.3     (11.3 )   7.3  
                   

Operating earnings (losses)

  $ (331.6 ) $ 93.6   $ (933.3 ) $ 291.0  
                   

(1)
Hedge ineffectiveness remains in operating earnings.

(2)
Comprised of the fair value adjustment attributable to the Company's own credit risk recorded on FP segment debt at fair value and committed preferred trust put options.

        Operating earnings decreased in both the financial guaranty and FP segments. In the financial guaranty segment, higher losses related to insured RMBS transactions were primarily responsible for producing negative segment operating earnings. In the FP segment, non-GAAP FP Segment NIM decreased due primarily to economic OTTI charges.

         Fair-value adjustments for instruments with economically hedged risks:     The majority of the Company's economic hedges relate to FP segment interest rate derivatives used to convert the fixed interest rates of certain assets and liabilities to dollar-denominated floating rates based on the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"). Without hedge accounting or a fair-value option, SFAS 133 requires the marking to fair value of each such derivative in income without the offsetting mark to fair value on the risk it is intended to hedge. The one-sided valuations for economically hedged risks that do not qualify for hedge accounting and unhedged credit risk valuations for instruments with fair-value option elections cause volatility in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. Management views fair-value adjustments on economically hedged risks together with the fair-value adjustments on the hedging items in order to analyze and manage hedge inefficiency, regardless of the prescribed accounting treatment. Under the Company's definition of operating earnings, the economic effect of these hedges is recognized, which, for interest rate swaps, generally results in any cash paid or received being recognized ratably as an expense or revenue over the hedged item's life. For assets within the trading portfolio, operating earnings reflects the economic effect of hedged economic risks related to interest and foreign exchange rates. Operating earnings excludes non-economic changes in fair value related to the trading portfolio.

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        Prior to January 1, 2008, the Company elected to comply with the SFAS 133 documentation and testing requirements for certain liability hedging relationships and for none of the asset hedging relationships. Effective January 1, 2008, the Company elected the fair value option under SFAS No. 159, "The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities" ("SFAS 159"), for certain of its FP segment liabilities, which allowed for fair value accounting through current income without the onerous SFAS 133 requirements. On January 1, 2008, the Company elected to designate certain assets and derivatives in fair-value hedging relationships qualifying under SFAS 133.

         Fair-value adjustments for credit derivatives in the insured portfolio:     Fair-value adjustments for credit derivatives in the insured portfolio are excluded from operating earnings except for credit impairments representing estimated economic losses. In the third quarter of 2008, the Company estimated credit impairments of $47.6 million pre-tax, which were included in operating earnings. For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, credit impairments that were included in operating earnings totaled $115.5 million pre-tax. At September 30, 2008, the non-economic portion of fair-value adjustments for credit derivatives in the insured portfolio had no effect on insurance company statutory equity or claims-paying resources, and rating agencies generally do not take these unrealized gains or losses into account for evaluating FSA's capital adequacy.

         Fair-value adjustments attributable to the Company's own credit risk:     Fair value measurement rules under SFAS No. 157, "Fair Value Measurements" ("SFAS 157") require the consideration of the Company's own credit risk. The Company removes the effect of fair-value adjustments attributable to the Company's own credit risk from operating earnings and ABV. In 2008, the Company's credit spread has widened, leading to material unrealized gains of $1,101.5 million on the FP segment debt and the Company's commitments to preferred securities, pre-tax.

         Fair-value adjustments and amortization attributable to impairment charges:     OTTI securities must be written down to fair value through the income statement, regardless of management's estimate of economic loss. Operating earnings reflects only the portion of the fair-value adjustment deemed by management to be economic loss. For the three and nine months ended 2008, on a pre-tax basis, the Company recorded $417.5 million and $1,459.9 million, respectively, in OTTI charges in the FP Investment Portfolio, of which $207.8 million and $524.3 million, respectively, represented economic loss. In the third quarter of 2008, amortization of the discount on OTTI securities totaled $28.5 million pre-tax, and was recorded in net interest income from financial products segment in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.

        For discussion of the Company's fair value methodology, see Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 1.

    Book Value and Adjusted Book Value

        Shareholders' equity under GAAP ("book value") was negative $627.4 million at September 30, 2008, compared with $1.6 billion as of December 31, 2007. The decline in the nine months ended 2008 was primarily the result of negative fair value adjustments on the FP Investment Portfolio, losses incurred in the financial guaranty segment and negative fair-value adjustments for credit derivatives.

        Non-GAAP ABV was $4.5 billion at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007. Management uses ABV as a measure of performance and to calculate a portion of employee compensation. An investor attempting to evaluate the Company using GAAP measures alone would not have the benefit of this information. The ABV calculation relies on estimates of the amount and timing of installment premiums, credit derivative fees and NIM and applies discount factors to determine the present value. Actual values may vary from the estimates. The calculation of ABV includes adjustments to reflect IFRS results that the Company reports to its parent, Dexia, in order to better align the interests of employees with the interests of Dexia, whose accounts are maintained under IFRS. The IFRS

72



adjustments relate primarily to accounting for foreign exchange, contingencies and certain fair-value items.

        Ignoring dividends and capital contributions, ABV declined 12.1% over the last 12 months. ABV takes into account after-tax future revenue streams from unearned revenue recorded on the Company's balance sheet as well as PV premiums, credit derivative fees and the present value of net interest margin outstanding ("PV NIM outstanding"), which represent future revenue and cash flows not recorded on the balance sheet under GAAP. ABV deducts the after-tax effect of deferred acquisition costs ("DAC"), which represents costs incurred to acquire the future premium revenue flows, and fair-value adjustments that are expected to sum to zero by each contract's maturity, barring a credit event. Any credit deterioration indicating a realized loss on the investment or insured derivatives portfolios would be recognized in operating earnings and ABV at such time that a loss is probable and reasonably estimable. ABV is reconciled to book value in the table that follows.

Reconciliation of Book Value to Non-GAAP Adjusted Book Value

 
  September 30,
2008
  December 31,
2007
 
 
  (in millions)
 

Shareholders' equity (GAAP)

  $ (627.4 ) $ 1,577.8  

After-tax adjustments:

             
 

Plus net unearned financial guaranty revenues

    1,391.0     1,162.4  
 

Plus PV outstanding(1)

    816.5     857.8  
 

Less net deferred acquisition costs

    200.6     226.1  
 

Less fair-value adjustments for credit derivatives in insured portfolio

    (562.2 )   (359.7 )
 

Less fair-value adjustments attributable to the Company's own credit risk

    772.5      
 

Less fair-value adjustments for instruments with economically hedged risks

    (90.9 )   84.9  
 

Less fair-value adjustments and amortization attributable to non-economic impairment charges

    (589.6 )    
 

Less unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (2,705.3 )   (848.4 )
 

Less other

    (4.9 )    
           
   

Subtotal

    4,559.9     4,495.1  
 

IFRS adjustments

    (16.4 )   0.2  
           
   

Adjusted book value

  $ 4,543.5   $ 4,495.3  
           

(1)
PV outstanding includes the after-tax present value of future earnings from premiums, credit derivative fees, FP net interest margin and ceding commissions. The discount rate varies according to the year of origination. For each year's originations, the Company calculates the discount rate as the average pre-tax yield on its investment portfolio for the previous three years. The rate was 4.92% for 2008 and 4.86% for 2007.

New Business Production

        The Company employs the non-GAAP measure present value originations ("PV originations") to describe the economic value of the Company's new business originations in a given period.

        PV originations are estimated by the Company as the sum of:

    the present value of financial guaranty originations, which includes the present value of premiums and credit derivative fees originated and represents estimated future installment premiums and credit derivative fees discounted to their present value, plus the nominal value of

73


      upfront premiums and credit derivative fees (see "—Non-GAAP Measures—Present Value Financial Guaranty Originations"), and

    the present value of FP NIM originated in a given period ("PV NIM originated"), defined as estimated interest to be received on investments less estimated transaction expenses and interest to be paid on liabilities plus results from derivatives used for hedging purposes, discounted to present value (see "—Non-GAAP Measures—Present Value of Financial Products Net Interest Margin Originated").

        Management believes that, by disclosing the components of PV originations in addition to premiums written, the Company provides investors with a more comprehensive description of its new business activity in a given period.

        "PV financial guaranty originations" is a measure of gross origination activity in the financial guaranty segment and does not reflect premiums ceded to reinsurers or the cost of CDS or other credit protection purchased, which may be considerable, employed by the Company to manage its credit exposures.

Total Originations

 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
  2008   2007   2008   2007  
 
  (in millions)
 

Gross par insured

  $ 5,879.8   $ 35,315.4   $ 49,596.9   $ 91,071.6  

Gross PV originations

    61.6     537.2     652.8     952.6  

        The overall declines in the third quarter of 83.4% in gross par originated and 88.5% in PV originations were driven primarily by FSA's exit from the asset-backed business, previously announced in early August, and the lack of market activity in the global public infrastructure sector. Additionally, U.S. public finance production, which is up strongly year to date, declined in the third quarter due to the negative impact of Moody's placing FSA's insurance financial strength rating on review for possible downgrade on July 21.

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Financial Guaranty Segment

Results of Operations

Financial Guaranty Segment

 
  Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30,  
 
  2008   2007   2008   2007  
 
  (in millions)
 

Net premiums earned in financial guaranty segment

  $ 124.4   $ 73.3   $ 283.1   $ 234.6  

Net investment income from general investment portfolio

    67.1     60.5     199.3     176.3  

Net realized gains (losses) from general investment portfolio

    0.5     (1.0 )   (1.7 )   (3.1 )

Net change in fair value of credit derivatives:

                         
 

Realized gains (losses) and other settlements

    30.0     27.0     98.8     72.4  
 

Net unrealized gains (losses)

    (194.3 )   (293.7 )   (468.0 )   (352.5 )
                   
   

Net change in fair value of credit derivatives

    (164.3 )   (266.7 )   (369.2 )   (280.1 )

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments

        0.2     0.1     0.6  

Net unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value

    17.9         70.7      

Income from assets acquired in refinancing transactions

    3.1     5.2     9.1     16.5  

Other Income

    1.1     6.4     4.9     28.7  
                   
 

Total Revenue

    49.8     (122.1 )   196.3     173.5  

Losses and loss adjustment expenses

    (327.6 )   (10.0 )   (1,230.9 )   (19.1 )

Interest expense

    (14.4 )   (15.3 )   (44.2 )   (46.8 )

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs

    (19.0 )   (13.6 )   (51.4 )   (47.6 )

Other operating expense

    (35.7 )   (27.0 )   (49.4 )   (84.2 )
                   
 

Total Expenses

    (396.7 )   (65.9 )   (1,375.9 )   (197.7 )
                   

Income (loss) before income taxes

    (346.9 )   (188.0 )   (1,179.6 )   (24.2 )

GAAP income to operating earnings adjustments

    110.9     290.3     258.5     356.4  
                   

Pre-tax segment operating earnings (losses)

  $ (236.0 ) $ 102.3   $ (921.1 ) $ 332.2  
                   

        The financial guaranty segment includes the results of operations of the insurance company subsidiaries as well as the results of operations related to holding company activities. The primary components of financial guaranty segment earnings are premiums, credit derivative fees, net investment income from the Company's portfolio of investments held by FSA, FSA Holdings and certain other subsidiaries (the "General Investment Portfolio"), income on assets acquired in refinancing transactions, loss and loss adjustment expenses ("LAE"), interest expense on corporate debt and other operating expenses. In prior years, all credit derivative fees were recorded in premiums earned and were classified to realized gains (losses) and other settlements to conform to 2008 presentation. Management analyzes segment results on a pre-tax operating earnings basis.

         2008 vs. 2007:     In the financial guaranty segment, negative operating earnings for the quarter and year to date were due to increased loss expense driven by increased net RMBS loss estimates, as well as higher public finance losses, credit impairments in the Company's insured CDS and insured NIM portfolio and OTTI charges related to its investment in Syncora Guarantee Re Ltd. ("SGR") (formerly XL Financial Assurance Ltd.) and investments in Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. Higher upfront premiums in the first half of 2008 and capital contributions totaling $800.0 million from Dexia Holdings in 2008 increased the General Investment Portfolio's invested asset balance, which increased net investment income. Premiums earned and realized gains (losses) of credit derivative fees, collectively, also increased.

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    Premiums Earned

Premiums Earned

 
  Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30,  
 
  2008   2007   2008   2007  
 
  (in millions)
 

Premiums earned, excluding refundings

  $ 72.2   $ 65.9   $ 209.3   $ 195.9  

Refundings and accelerations

    51.5     6.6     71.6     36.2  
                   
 

Consolidated net premiums earned

    123.7     72.5     280.9     232.1  

Intersegment premiums

    0.7     0.8     2.2     2.5  
                   
 

Net premiums earned in financial guaranty segment

  $ 124.4   $ 73.3   $ 283.1   $ 234.6  
                   

        Net premiums earned are broken down into two major categories: premiums earned on refundings and accelerations and premiums earned on new and recurring insured obligations. Refundings may vary significantly from year to year as they are affected by the interest rate environment. In periods of declining interest rates, issuers generally seek to refinance their obligations. In cases where an issuer defeases or calls an outstanding obligation insured by the Company, all unearned premiums are accelerated and recognized in current earnings. Accelerations also include premiums earned on ceded contracts that have been commuted or terminated. Over the past several years, the Company has limited its originations of asset-backed securities due in part to management's avoidance of CDOs of ABS. Generally, asset-backed transactions in FSA's insured portfolio have an average life of approximately 4.3 years. As transactions originated in earlier years matured, they were not being replaced with the same volume of new originations, resulting in a decline in asset-backed earnings. During much of the last three years, tightening credit spreads combined with a competitive market environment resulted in the Company foregoing opportunities to insure transactions due to unattractive premium rates or credit quality that did not comply with the Company's underwriting guidelines. There has been a considerable slow-down in the market for asset-backed issuances and in August 2008, the Company announced that it would cease providing financial guaranty insurance of asset-backed obligations. Premium earnings from insured asset-backed transactions will continue for several years, but will decline as the insured par runs off. At the same time, public finance premiums earned have steadily increased over the past several years.

        The Company employs reinsurance to manage single-risk limits and maintain capacity to write new business. Due to recent downgrades of certain reinsurers, the Company has and may continue to re-assume ceded exposures. In 2008, net premiums earned include $27.7 million resulting from commutations or cancellations of reinsurance contracts.

        Geographic diversification has always been a risk management strategy for the financial guaranty segment, particularly in the public finance sector. In recent years, the Company's growth area has been in international business, particularly public-private partnership transactions in the infrastructure sector and financings of water and other utility companies. The table below shows the amount of U.S. and international premiums earned based on geography of underlying risks. These types of transactions serve to support the Company's future earnings for extended periods of time due to their long-dated maturities.

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Net Premiums Earned by Geographic Distribution

 
  Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30,  
 
  2008   2007   2008   2007  
 
  (in millions)
 

Public Finance:

                         
 

United States

  $ 79.6   $ 37.3   $ 176.0   $ 134.3  
 

International

    25.0     10.8     47.2     26.5  
                   
   

Total Public Finance

    104.6     48.1     223.2     160.8  

Asset-Backed Finance:

                         
 

United States

    12.8     19.9     42.2     58.2  
 

International

    6.3     4.5     15.5     13.1  
                   
   

Total Asset-Backed Finance

    19.1     24.4     57.7     71.3  
 

Total United States

    92.4     57.2     218.2     192.5  
 

Total International

    31.3     15.3     62.7     39.6  
                   

Consolidated net premiums earned

    123.7     72.5     280.9     232.1  

Intersegment premiums

    0.7     0.8     2.2     2.5  
                   

Net premiums earned in financial guaranty segment

  $ 124.4   $ 73.3   $ 283.1   $ 234.6  
                   

    Net Investment Income and Realized Gains (Losses) from General Investment Portfolio

        Premium collections are invested in the General Investment Portfolio, which consists primarily of municipal tax-exempt bonds. The Company's invested balances have increased since year-end as a result of higher upfront premium originations and capital contributions from Dexia Holdings in 2008, increasing net investment income. The Company's year-to-date effective tax rate on investment income (excluding the effects of realized gains and losses) was 12.9% and 12.4% at September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

        The following table sets forth certain information concerning the securities in the Company's General Investment Portfolio based on amortized cost and fair value.

General Investment Portfolio

 
  At September 30, 2008   At December 31, 2007  
 
  Amortized
Cost
  Weighted
Average
Yield(1)
  Fair
Value
  Amortized
Cost
  Weighted
Average
Yield(1)
  Fair
Value
 
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

Taxable bonds

  $ 1,131.6     5.83 % $ 1,102.8   $ 971.1     5.27 % $ 990.0  

Tax-exempt bonds

    4,246.8     4.88     4,129.6     3,920.5     4.84     4,064.6  

Short-term investments

    609.8     1.33     608.4     96.3     4.18     97.4  

Equity securities

    1.4           0.8     40.0           39.9  
                               
 

Total General Investment Portfolio

  $ 5,989.6         $ 5,841.6   $ 5,027.9         $ 5,191.9  
                               

(1)
Yields are based on amortized cost and stated on a pre-tax basis.

        In the second quarter of 2008, the Company recorded $38.0 million in OTTI on its investment in SGR preferred stock. In the third quarter of 2008, the Company sold this investment, recognizing a $1.9 million gain. The realized loss was $36.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008. In

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the third quarter of 2008, the Company recorded an OTTI charge of $5.9 million on its investments in Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. corporate bonds, bringing its carrying value to $0.5 million as of September 30, 2008.

    Fair Value of Credit Derivatives

        Prior to exiting the ABS business in August, 2008, the Company sold credit protection by insuring CDS contracts under which special purpose entities or other parties provide credit protection to various financial institutions. In certain cases the Company acquired back-to-back credit protection on all or a portion of the risk written, primarily by reinsuring its CDS guaranties. Management views these CDS contracts as part of its financial guarantee business, under which the Company generally intends to hold its written and purchased positions for the entire term of the related contracts. These CDS contracts are accounted for at fair value since they do not qualify for the financial guarantee scope exception under SFAS 133.

        In consultation with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), members of the financial guaranty industry have collaborated to develop a presentation of credit derivatives issued by financial guaranty insurers that is more consistent with that of non-insurers. The tables below illustrate the current required presentation with prior period balances reclassified to conform to the current presentation. The reclassifications do not affect net income or equity, although they do affect various revenue, asset and liability line items. Changes in fair value are recorded in "Net change in fair value of credit derivatives" in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. The "realized gains (losses) and other settlements" component of this income statement line includes primarily premiums received and receivable on written CDS contracts and premiums paid and payable on purchased contracts. If a credit event occurred that required a payment under the contract terms, this caption would also include losses paid and payable to CDS contract counterparties due to the credit event and losses recovered and recoverable on purchased contracts.

        The Company's insured portfolio includes other contracts accounted for as derivatives, including (a) insured interest rate swaps entered into by the issuer in connection with the issuance of certain public finance obligations ("IR swaps") and (b) insured net interest margin ("NIM") securitizations and other financial guarantee contracts that guarantee risks other than credit risk, such as interest rate basis risk, issued after January 1, 2007 ("FG contracts with embedded derivatives").

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        The components of net change in fair value on credit derivatives are shown in the table below:

Summary of Net Change in Fair Value of Credit Derivatives

 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
  2008   2007   2008   2007  
 
  (in millions)
 

Net change in fair value of credit derivatives:

                         
 

Realized gains (losses) and other settlements(1)

  $ 30.0   $ 27.0   $ 98.8   $ 72.4  
 

Net unrealized gains (losses):

                         
   

CDS:

                         
     

Pooled corporate CDS:

                         
       

Investment grade

    47.1     (49.1 )   19.1     (65.3 )
       

High yield

    (70.5 )   (31.5 )   (133.9 )   (66.9 )
                   
         

Total pooled corporate CDS

    (23.4 )   (80.6 )   (114.8 )   (132.2 )
     

Funded CLOs and CDOs

    (204.0 )   (191.0 )   (263.9 )   (196.1 )
     

Other structured obligations

    34.2     (19.5 )   (71.6 )   (19.9 )
                   
           

Total CDS

    (193.2 )   (291.1 )   (450.3 )   (348.2 )
   

IR swaps and FG contracts with embedded derivatives

    (1.1 )   (2.6 )   (17.7 )   (4.3 )
                   
   

Subtotal

    (194.3 )   (293.7 )   (468.0 )   (352.5 )
                   

Net change in fair value of credit derivatives

  $ (164.3 ) $ (266.7 ) $ (369.2 ) $ (280.1 )
                   

(1)
Includes amounts which in prior periods were classified as premiums earned.

        Considerable judgment is necessary to interpret the data to develop the estimates of fair value. Under the SFAS 157 fair value hierarchy, all credit derivative valuations are categorized as Level 3. (For a description of the SFAS 157 fair value hierarchy, see Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 1.) Accordingly, the estimates presented herein are not necessarily indicative of the amount the Company could realize in a current market exchange. The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies may have a material effect on the estimated fair-value amounts.

        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. Fair value is determined based on quoted market prices, if available. If quoted market prices are not available, as is the case with most of the Company's CDS contracts because these contracts are not traded, then the determination of fair value is based on internally developed estimates. The Company's methodology for estimating the fair value of a CDS contract incorporates all the remaining future premiums to be received over the life of the CDS contract, discounted to present value using the current LIBOR swap rate, which conforms with market practice, and multiplied by the ratio of the current exit value premium to the contractual premium. The estimation of the current exit value premium is derived using a unique credit-spread algorithm for each defined CDS category that utilizes various publicly available credit indices, depending on the types of assets referenced by the CDS contract and the remaining weighted average life ("WAL") of the contract. Management applies judgment when developing these estimates and considers factors such as current prices charged for similar agreements, performance of underlying assets, changes in internal credit assessments or rating agency-based shadow ratings, and the level at which the deductible has been set. Estimates generated from the Company's valuation process may differ materially from values that may be realized in market transactions. For

79



more information regarding the Company's valuation process, see "Credit Derivatives in the Insured Portfolio" in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 1.

        As the fair value of a CDS contract incorporates all the remaining future payments to be received over the life of the CDS contract, the fair value of that contract will change, in part, solely from the passage of time as fees are received. Absent any claims under the contract, any "losses" recorded in marking the contract to fair value will be reversed by an equivalent "gain" at or prior to the expiration of the contract, and any "gain" recorded will be reversed by an equivalent "loss" over the remaining life of the transaction, with the cumulative changes in the fair value of the CDS summing to zero by the time of each contract's maturity. Unrealized fair-value adjustments for credit derivatives, except for estimates of economic losses, have no effect on operations, liquidity or capital resources.

Unrealized Gains (Losses) of Credit Derivatives Portfolio(1)

 
  At September 30, 2008   At December 31, 2007  
 
  (in millions)
 

Pooled corporate CDS:

             
 

Investment grade

  $ (71.4 ) $ (116.5 )
 

High yield(2)

    (266.1 )   (151.2 )
           
     

Total pooled corporate CDS

    (337.5 )   (267.7 )

Funded CLOs and CDOs

    (519.2 )   (269.2 )

Other structured obligations(2)

    (99.1 )   (34.9 )
           
   

Total CDS

    (955.8 )   (571.8 )

IR swaps and FG contracts with embedded derivatives(2)

    (23.7 )   (6.5 )
           
   

Total credit derivatives

  $ (979.5 ) $ (578.3 )
           

(1)
Upon the adoption of SFAS 157, $40.9 million pre-tax, or $26.6 million after-tax, was recorded as an adjustment to beginning retained earnings related to credit derivatives.

(2)
Two insured CDS and three NIM securitizations had credit impairment totaling $115.5 million in 2008.

        The negative fair-value adjustments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 were a result of widening of credit spreads in the underlying CDS portfolio, and were offset in part by the positive income effects of the Company's own credit spread widening as reflected in the non-collateral posting factor. Despite the structural protections associated with the Company's CDS, the widening of credit spreads on pooled corporate CDS and funded CDOs and collateralized loan obligations ("CLOs"), as with other structured credit products, resulted in a decline in the fair value of these contracts compared with December 31, 2007.

        The Company's typical CDS contract is different from CDS contracts entered into by parties that are not financial guarantors because:

    CDS contracts are neither held for trading purposes (i.e., a short-term duration contract written for the purpose of generating trading gains) nor used as hedging instruments. Instead, they are written with the intent to provide protection for the stated duration of the contract, similar to the Company's intent with regard to a financial guaranty contract.

    FSA is not entitled to terminate CDS and realize a profit on a position that is "in the money." A counterparty to a CDS contract written by FSA generally is not able to force FSA to terminate a CDS that is "out of the money."

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    The liquidity risk present in most CDS contracts sold outside the financial guaranty industry i.e., the risk that the CDS writer would be required to make cash payments, is not present in a CDS contract sold by a financial guarantor. Terms of the CDS contracts are designed to replicate the payment provisions of financial guaranty contracts in that (a) losses, if any, are generally paid over time, and (b) the financial guarantor is not required to post collateral to secure its obligation under the CDS contract.

        Credit derivatives in the asset-backed portfolio represent 68% of total asset-backed par outstanding. The tables below summarize the credit rating, net par outstanding and remaining weighted average lives for the primary components of the Company's CDS portfolio.

Selected Information for CDS Portfolio

 
  At September 30, 2008  
 
  Credit Ratings    
   
 
 
  Triple-A*(1)   Triple-A   Double-A   Other Investment Grades(2)   Below Investment Grade(3)   Net Par Outstanding   Remaining Weighted Average Life  
 
   
   
   
   
   
  (in millions)
  (in years)
 

Pooled Corporate CDS:

                                           
 

Investment grade

    99 %   1 %   %   %   % $ 17,826     4.3  
 

High yield

    86     9             5     15,188     2.7  

Funded CDOs and CLOs

    28     65 (4)   6     1         32,517     2.8  

Other structured obligations(5)

    52     17 (4)   12     17     2     8,517     2.9  
                                           
   

Total

    60     33     4     2     1   $ 74,048     3.1  
                                           

 

 
  At December 31, 2007  
 
  Credit Ratings    
   
 
 
  Triple-A*(1)   Triple-A   Double-A   Other Investment Grades(2)   Below Investment Grade   Net Par Outstanding   Remaining Weighted Average Life  
 
   
   
   
   
   
  (in millions)
  (in years)
 

Pooled Corporate CDS:

                                           
 

Investment grade

    91 %   1 %   8 %   %   % $ 22,883     4.1  
 

High yield

    95             5         14,765     3.3  

Funded CDOs and CLOs

    28     72 (4)               33,000     3.4  

Other structured obligations(5)

    62     36 (4)   1     1         13,529     2.1  
                                           
   

Total

    62     34     3     1       $ 84,177     3.4  
                                           

(1)
Triple-A*, also referred to as "Super Triple-A," indicates a level of first-loss protection generally exceeding 1.3 times the level required by a rating agency for a Triple-A rating.

(2)
Various investment grades below Double-A minus.

(3)
Amount includes one CDS with Double-B underlying rating and one CDS with Single-B underlying rating. These two risks incurred economic loss as of September 30, 2008.

(4)
Amounts include transactions previously wrapped by other monolines.

(5)
Primarily infrastructure obligations and European mortgage-backed securities. Also includes $398.0 million and $223.9 million at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively in U.S. RMBS net par outstanding. All U.S. RMBS exposures were rated Double-A or higher.

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    Credit Default Swaps

        Because the Company generally provides credit protection under contracts defined as derivatives for accounting purposes, widening credit spreads have an adverse mark-to-market effect on the Company's consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income while tightening credit spreads have a positive effect. If credit spreads for the underlying obligations change, the fair value of the related structured CDS changes. Changes in credit spreads are generally caused by changes in the market's perception of the credit quality of the underlying referenced obligations and by supply and demand factors.

        Because the CDS contracts in the Company's portfolio are not traded, the Company has developed a series of asset credit-spread algorithms to estimate fair value for the majority of its portfolio. These algorithms derive fair value by using as significant inputs price information from several publicly available indices, depending on the types of assets referenced by the CDS. See Note 3 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 1.

        Management does not analyze the market sensitivity of its CDS portfolio for purposes other than to quantify the potential exposure to quarterly fair-value gain or loss. Management believes that the transactions for which it has provided CDS protection contain significant protections against loss and that quarterly changes in credit spreads generally do not imply fundamental change in future loss potential.

        The effect of any change in credit spreads on the fair value of the CDS contracts is recognized in current income. The Company has evaluated the sensitivity of the CDS contracts by calculating the effect of changes in pricing or credit spreads. Absent any claims under the Company's guaranty, any "losses" recorded in marking the guaranty to fair value will be reversed by an equivalent "gain" at or prior to the expiration of the guaranty, and any "gain" recorded will be reversed by an equal "loss" over the remaining life of the transaction, with the cumulative changes in fair value of the CDS summing to zero by the time of each contract's maturity.

        The following table summarizes the estimated reduction in the fair value of the Company's portfolio of CDS contracts that would result from an increase of one basis point in market credit spreads assuming the non-collateral posting factor remains constant. Actual results may differ from the amounts in the table below.

Effect of One Basis Point of Credit Spread Widening in CDS Portfolio

 
  Estimated After-Tax Loss  
 
  At September 30,
2008
  At December 31,
2007
 
 
  (in millions)
 

Pooled Corporate CDS:

             
 

Investment grade

  $ 6.5   $ 7.2  
 

High yield

    3.9     4.6  
           

Total Pooled Corporate CDS

    10.4     11.8  

Funded CDOs and CLOs

    5.6     6.7  

Other structured obligations

    1.7     1.6  
           
 

Total

  $ 17.7   $ 20.1  
           

        The Company believes that providing an estimate of the impact of a one basis point increase in credit spreads on the fair value of the Company's CDS portfolio provides the necessary data to calculate the impact under any change scenario that may occur. The Company has not provided estimates related to reasonably likely change scenarios because it believes that changes in future credit

82



spreads are sufficiently uncertain that it is unable to predict, with any degree of certainty, the range of changes in future credit spreads.

        The fair value of credit derivatives liabilities includes the effect of the Company's current CDS spread, which reflects market perceptions of the Company's ability to satisfy its obligations as they become due. The inclusion of the Company's CDS spread in the determination of the fair value of the Company's CDS contracts is described in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 1. Incorporating the Company's credit spread through the non-collateral posting factor of 62% in the determination of the fair value of the Company's CDS contracts as of September 30, 2008 resulted in a $1.8 billion reduction in the Company's liability for credit derivatives. The following table summarizes the estimated change in fair values of the Company's portfolio of CDS contracts that would result from changes in the Company's CDS spread assuming market credit spreads remain constant. Actual results may differ from the amounts in the table below.

Effect of a Change in FSA's Credit Default Spread

 
  Percent Increase/(Decrease) in FSA CDS Spread  
 
  (20)%   (10)%   10%   20%  
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

Pooled Corporate CDS:

                         
 

Investment grade

  $ (29.6 ) $ (14.8 ) $ 14.8   $ 29.6  
 

High yield

    (40.9 )   (20.4 )   20.4     40.9  
                   

Total Pooled Corporate CDS

    (70.5 )   (35.2 )   35.2     70.5  

Funded CDOs and CLOs

    (93.5 )   (46.7 )   47.0     93.8  

Other structured obligations

    (13.7 )   (6.9 )   6.9     13.7  
                   
 

Total

  $ (177.7 ) $ (88.8 ) $ 89.1   $ 178.0  

    Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Financial Instruments at Fair Value

        Beginning January 1, 2008, the Company, in accordance with SFAS 159, elected to apply the fair-value option to certain assets acquired in refinancing transactions. The adjustment to retained earnings at January 1, 2008 was negative $1.6 million after-tax. The change in the fair-value was negative $4.1 million and $7.3 million pre-tax for three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, respectively. The fair-value option was elected in order to offset the fair-value adjustment on derivatives hedging interest rate risk of these refinancing assets with the corresponding fair-value adjustment on the hedged assets in income. The change in fair-value of the Company's committed preferred trust put options was $22.0 million and $78.0 million pre-tax for three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, respectively, and was primarily due to widening FSA credit spreads during the quarter.

        Considerable judgment is necessary to interpret the data to develop the estimates of fair value. Accordingly, the estimates presented herein are not necessarily indicative of the amount the Company could realize in a current market exchange. The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies may have a material effect on the estimated fair-value amounts.

    Income from Assets Acquired in Refinancing Transactions

        Where the Company refinanced underperforming insured obligations, the underlying assets or obligations are carried on the consolidated financial statements. The Company manages such assets to maximize recovery value. The Company has not refinanced a transaction since 2004, and the related assets have either been sold or continue to run off and therefore the income contribution of these assets has been declining since 2005.

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        In the third quarter the Company recorded $7.5 million pre-tax in realized losses representing the fair-value adjustments for mortgages accounted for at lower of cost or market in its assets acquired in refinancing transaction portfolio.

    Other Income

        Other income includes income and fair-value adjustments on assets held in respect of the Company's deferred compensation plans ("DCP") and supplemental executive retirement plans ("SERP"), foreign exchange gains or losses and other miscellaneous income items. DCP and SERP assets are held to defease the Company's plan obligations and the changes in fair value may vary significantly from period to period. Increases or decreases in the fair value of the assets are primarily offset by like changes in the related liability, which are recorded in other operating expenses.

 
  Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30,  
 
  2008   2007   2008   2007  
 
  (in millions)
 

DCP and SERP interest income

  $ 0.9   $ 1.4   $ 5.9   $ 5.7  

DCP and SERP asset fair-value gain (loss)

    (7.9 )   (3.3 )   (24.5 )   1.8  

Realized foreign exchange gain (loss)

    (3.8 )   3.1     1.9     8.9  

Commutation gain

    20.0         20.0      

Net realized gains (losses) from assets acquired in refinancing transactions

    (7.4 )   1.1     (4.4 )   1.4  

Other

    0.8     3.6     7.4     9.6  
                   
 

Subtotal

    2.6     5.9     6.3     27.4  

Intersegment income (loss)

    (1.5 )   0.5     (1.4 )   1.3  
                   
 

Total

  $ 1.1   $ 6.4   $ 4.9   $ 28.7  
                   

    Losses

        The following table shows activity in the liability for losses and loss adjustment expense reserves, which consist of case and non-specific reserves.

Reconciliation of Net Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses

 
  Non-Specific   Case   Total  
 
  (in millions)
 

December 31, 2007 balance

  $ 100.0   $ 98.1   $ 198.1  
 

Incurred

    300.4         300.4  
 

Transfers

    (354.1 )   354.1      
 

Payments and other decreases

        (97.4 )   (97.4 )
               

March 31, 2008 balance

    46.3     354.8     401.1  
 

Incurred

    602.9         602.9  
 

Transfers

    (615.5 )   615.5      
 

Payments and other decreases

        (150.0 )   (150.0 )
               

June 30, 2008 balance

    33.7     820.3     854.0  
 

Incurred

    327.6         327.6  
 

Transfers

    (252.6 )   252.6      
 

Payments and other decreases

        (161.7 )   (161.7 )
               

September 30, 2008 balance

  $ 108.7   $ 911.2   $ 1,019.9  
               

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        Losses and loss adjustment expenses increased considerably in 2008 compared to 2007 as a result of an increase in estimated ultimate losses on both new and previously reserved-for insured RMBS transactions and on a public finance transaction.

        The increase in losses paid is driven by payments on HELOC transactions. Generally, once the overcollateralization is exhausted on an insured HELOC transaction, the Company pays a claim if losses in a period exceed excess spread for the period, and, to the extent excess spread exceeds losses, the Company is reimbursed for any losses paid to date. In the third quarter of 2008, the Company paid net claims of $184.9 million in HELOC claims. This brought the inception to date net claim payments on HELOC transactions to $439.6 million. There were no claims paid on most other classes of insured transactions through September 30, 2008. Most Alt-A Closed-End Second-Lien Mortgage ("CES") claims will not be due until 2037. Option ARM claim payments are expected to occur beginning in 2010.

        The following table shows the gross and net par outstanding on transactions with case reserves, the gross and net case reserves recorded and the number of transactions comprising case reserves.

Case Reserve Summary

 
  At September 30, 2008  
 
  Gross Par
Outstanding
  Net Par
Outstanding
  Gross Case
Reserve(1)
  Net Case
Reserve(1)
  Number of
Risks
 
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

Asset-backed—HELOCs

  $ 5,211   $ 4,157   $ 486.7   $ 389.7     10  

Asset-backed—Alt-A CES

    1,007     961     195.0     185.9     5  

Asset-backed—Option ARM

    631     575     166.1     153.1     6  

Asset-backed—Alt-A first-lien

    1,081     984     64.2     56.0     8  

Asset-backed—NIMs

    104     99     19.9     19.6     4  

Asset-backed—Subprime

    322     292     26.2     12.4     7  

Asset-backed—other

    51     48     6.1     5.8     3  

Public finance

    1,408     806     176.6     88.7     5  
                       
 

Total

  $ 9,815   $ 7,922   $ 1,140.8   $ 911.2     48  
                       

(1)
The amount of the discount at September 30, 2008 for the gross and net case reserves was $424.3 million and $393.1 million, respectively.

 
  At December 31, 2007  
 
  Gross Par
Outstanding
  Net Par
Outstanding
  Gross Case
Reserve(1)
  Net Case
Reserve(1)
  Number of
Risks
 
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

Asset-backed—HELOCs

  $ 1,803   $ 1,443   $ 69.6   $ 56.9     5  

Asset-backed—Subprime

    22     18     3.4     1.6     2  

Asset-backed—other

    25     22     4.9     4.7     2  

Public finance

    1,164     561     96.7     34.9     4  
                       
 

Total

  $ 3,014   $ 2,044   $ 174.6   $ 98.1     13  
                       

(1)
The amount of the discount at December 31, 2007 for the gross and net case reserves was $14.5 million and $3.3 million, respectively.

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        The table below presents certain assumptions inherent in the calculations of the case and non-specific reserves:

Case and Non-Specific Reserves Assumptions

 
  At September 30,
2008
  At December 31,
2007

Case reserve discount rate

  1.93%-5.90%   3.13%-5.90%

Non-specific reserve discount rate

  1.20%-7.95%   1.20%-7.95%

Current experience factor

  13.1   2.0

        Since case and non-specific reserves are based on estimates, there can be no assurance that the ultimate liability will not differ from such estimates. The Company will continue, on an ongoing basis, to monitor these reserves and may periodically adjust such reserves, upward or downward, based on the Company's revised estimate of loss, its actual loss experience, mix of business and economic conditions.

        In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, loss and loss adjustment expenses were $327.6 million and $1,230.9 million, respectively. The increase for the nine month period was driven primarily by deteriorating credit performance in HELOCs, Alt-A CES, Option ARMs, Alt-A first lien and public finance transactions. In addition, the non-specific reserves increased by $75.0 million and $8.7 million for the three and nine months, respectively.

    Risks Most Sensitive to Loss in the Insured Portfolio

        In a volatile mortgage market, future HELOC reserves or actual future losses could vary from the current estimate of loss. In particular, the deterministic models used to establish case reserves for HELOCs are affected by multiple variables, including default rates, the rates at which new borrowings ("draws") under the HELOCs are funded, prepayment rates, recovery rates and the spread between LIBOR and Prime interest rates. Given that draw rates have reduced, management believes the key determinants of future loss are (a) default rates and (b) recoveries based on originator representations and warranties.

        In setting its HELOC reserves, management applied recent "roll rates" from the transactions for which they were available to current delinquency amounts in order to project losses for the next five months, then assumed the resulting calculated conditional default rate would remain constant for a period (or plateau) of another four months (through June 2009). After June 2009, management assumes the conditional default rate decreases linearly over 12 months to the "normal" conditional default rate, defined as the constant conditional default rate the transaction would have achieved had it experienced the prepayment rate, draw rate and lifetime losses expected at closing. Should future default rates be different than those projected by management, actual losses could be more or less than projected. For example, retaining the same shape of the projected default curve, and all other assumptions remaining the same, but extending the plateau initially results in increased net PV losses of approximately $50 million for each month the plateau is extended. The estimated net PV losses per month decline over time as exposure runs off.

        The Company has had vendors reviewing loan files for several months, and believes many of the defaulted loans are subject to repurchase under the governing documents. Actual recoveries on representations and warranties, if any, may vary from the Company's estimates and are dependent on, among other things, the ability of the provider of the representations and warranties to pay, the strength of the actual representations and warranties and the facts supporting the representation and warranty breaches as well as the expenses the Company incurs pursuing recovery.

        In a volatile mortgage market, future Alt-A (or near-prime) CES reserves or actual future losses could vary from the current estimate of loss. In particular, the deterministic models used to establish

86



case reserves for Alt-A CES are affected by multiple variables, including default rates, prepayment rates and recovery rates. Management believes the key determinant of loss is the default rate. In setting its Alt-A reserves, management applied recent "roll rates" from the transactions for which they were available to current delinquency amounts in order to project losses for the next five months, then assumed the resulting conditional default rate would remain constant for a period of another four months (through June), then decreased the conditional default rate linearly over 12 months to the "normal" conditional default rate. Should future default rates be different than those projected by management, actual losses could be more or less than projected. For example, retaining the same shape of the projected default curve, and all other assumptions remaining the same, but extending the plateau initially results in increased net PV losses of approximately $6.5 million for each month the plateau is extended.

        Management's estimation of losses in the HELOC and Alt-A CES portfolios assumes that peak loss rates in these products will continue through mid-2009 and that the market conditions and borrower behavior will return to normal by mid-2010 and/or that homeowners who have successfully made their loan payments for two years or more will default at more normalized or expected rates. If the market gets materially worse or does not recover as anticipated, or if the performance of the loans in the loss transactions does not improve with the U.S. residential market, management may need to allocate additional amounts from its non-specific loss reserve to its case reserves, or add to its non-specific reserve, to cover the projected performance of HELOCs and/or Alt-A CES.

        In a volatile mortgage market, future Option ARM and Alt-A First Lien actual losses could vary from the current estimate of loss. In particular, the deterministic models used to establish case reserves for Option ARM and Alt-A First Lien reserves are affected by multiple variables, including default rates, prepayment rates and recovery rates. Management believes the key determinants of loss are default rates and recovery rates. Management applied liquidation rates to current delinquency amounts to calculate a conditional default rate for the next 18 months, then assumed that peak would extend another three months through mid 2010, and decline thereafter. Should future default or severity rates be different than those projected by management, actual losses could be more or less than projected.

        Management's estimation of losses in the Option ARM and Alt-A First Lien portfolio assumes that peak loss rates (which take longer to generate losses than a second-lien product) will continue through mid 2010 and return to normal in mid 2011 and/or that homeowners who have successfully made their loan payments for three to four years will default at more normalized rates or rates expected at time of origination.

        Management notes that some analysts believe conditional default rates in Option ARM pools will increase at about the time the monthly loan payments are recalculated to cover principal not paid or added to the loan during periods when the borrower was making the minimum payment. However, management was unaware of any basis for projecting this effect, and notes that many of these borrowers are or will be eligible for mortgage relief programs being implemented by the government and servicers (including the $8.4 billion settlement with attorneys general recently announced by Countrywide), so management chose not to model an additional stress for this factor.

        Management notes that its estimation of losses for MBS transactions are sensitive to the rate at which performing loans are assumed to prepay (voluntary prepayment rate), because in most MBS structures at least some of the protection is provided by excess spread, which depends on the size of the collateral pool. In these structures, lower prepayment rates increase the amount of projected excess spread and so reduce projected losses. (For a few of the insured MBS structures that do not depend on excess spread, lower prepayment increases the amount of projected reserves.) In prior quarters, management assumed recently experienced prepayment rates would continue for the life of the transactions. Prepayment rates fell to very low levels during the third quarter that management does not believe will be sustained for the life of the transactions. Management believes that the low

87



prepayment rates are another manifestation of the same mortgage market dislocation that is causing high default rates, so has adopted this quarter a new prepayment assumption on all of its MBS projections. Recent low prepayment rates are assumed to continue during the same period as peak default rates are assumed to extend, then to gradually increase to 15%. Over the same 12 months the conditional default rates are assumed to decrease. Should future prepayment rates be more or less than those projected by management, actual losses could be more or less than projected. For example, had management assumed recent prepayment rates remained constant for the life of the transactions, its HELOC projections would have been $130 million less than current projections.

        Management notes that various governmental bodies have undertaken various initiatives to address dislocations in the residential real estate financing market. Should such initiatives have material effects on the performance of the mortgage loans underlying the various residential mortgage securitizations insured by the Company, the Company may revise or amend its projections and actual losses could be more or less than currently projected.

        FSA has $151.8 million net par exposure of the $3.2 billion sewer debt of Jefferson County, Alabama. FSA also provides a surety in the net par amount of $15.4 million. FSA had a $50.1 million case reserve for Jefferson County as of September 30, 2008 due to the repeated failure of the County to restructure its sewer debt to alleviate high interest rates and avoid bank bond acceleration. Jefferson County is a unique municipal situation and not in the Company's view part of a larger trend for the following reasons: (1) 94% of Jefferson County's debt is in the form of Variable Rate Demand Obligations ("VRDOs") and Auction Rate Securities ("ARS"); (2) the market for ARS collapsed in the first quarter of 2008 due to general market illiquidity and the downgrade of its two primary bond insurers caused an unexpectedly large increase in interest rates on the County's debt; (3) it is highly leveraged with $3.2 billion of debt and high user charges; and (4) the sewer debt structure includes over $5 billion of interest rate swaps. FSA is working with Jefferson County and its bankers and advisors on a solution to the county sewer system's debt situation, but the resolution remains uncertain.

        FSA management believes that the liability it carries for losses and loss expenses is adequate to cover the net cost of claims. However, the loss liability is based on assumptions regarding the insured portfolio's probability of default and its severity of loss, and there can be no assurance that the liability for losses will not exceed such estimates.

    Interest Expense

        Interest expense in the financial guaranty segment represents interest on corporate debt and intersegment interest on notes payable to FSAM related to the funding of the refinancing transactions. The table below shows the composition of the interest expense. The decrease in interest expense is primarily due to the declining balance of notes payable, which were used to fund the purchases of assets acquired in refinancing transactions and therefore are paid down in proportion to asset paydowns.

Financial Guaranty Segment Interest Expense

 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
  2008   2007   2008   2007  
 
  (in millions)
 

Hybrid debt

  $ 4.9   $ 4.9   $ 14.7   $ 14.7  

Other corporate debt

    6.7     6.7     20.1     20.1  

Intersegment debt

    2.8     3.7     9.4     12.0  
                   
 

Total financial guaranty segment interest expense

  $ 14.4   $ 15.3   $ 44.2   $ 46.8  
                   

88


PV Financial Guaranty Originations

        The GAAP measure "gross premiums written" captures financial guaranty premiums collected or accrued in a given period, whether collected for business originated in the period or in installments for business originated in prior periods. It is not a precise measure of current-period originations because a portion of the Company's premiums are collected in installments and because it excludes, beginning in 2008, written credit derivative fees and related future installments. Therefore, management calculates the non-GAAP measure "PV financial guaranty originations" as a measure of current-period premium and credit derivative fee production. To do so, management combines the following for business closed in the reporting period: (1) gross present value of periodic premium and credit derivative fees and (2) premiums and credit derivative fees received upfront. The actual periodic premiums and fees received could vary from the periodic amounts estimated at the time of origination based on variances in the actual versus estimated outstanding debt balances and foreign exchange rate fluctuations. As a result, the realization of PV financial guaranty fees could be greater or less than the amount reported as originated.

        The Company's insurance policies, including policies accounted for as credit derivatives in the insured portfolio, are generally non-cancelable and remain outstanding for years from the date of inception, in some cases 30 years or longer. Accordingly, PV financial guaranty originations, as distinct from earned premiums, represents premiums, including premiums accounted for as credit derivative fees, to be earned in the future. See "—Non-GAAP Measures—Present Value of Financial Guaranty Originations" below for a more detailed discussion.

        The following table reconciles gross premiums written to PV financial guaranty originations.

Reconciliation of Gross Premiums Written to Non-GAAP PV
Financial Guaranty Originations

 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
  2008   2007   2008   2007  
 
  (in millions)
 

Gross premiums written

  $ 86.5   $ 213.4   $ 656.8   $ 483.0  

Gross installment premiums received

    (29.2 )   (45.3 )   (104.1 )   (120.7 )
                   

Gross upfront premiums originated

    57.3     168.1     552.7     362.3  

Gross PV estimated installment premiums originated

    3.7     233.7     36.7     329.6  
                   

Gross PV premiums originated

    61.0     401.8     589.4     691.9  

Gross PV credit derivative fees originated

    0.0     100.3     62.8     176.1  
                   

Gross PV financial guaranty originations

  $ 61.0   $ 502.1   $ 652.2   $ 868.0  
                   

89


        The following table shows gross par and gross PV financial guaranty originations.

Financial Guaranty Originations

 
  Gross Par Originated   Gross PV Financial Guaranty
Originations
 
 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
  Three Months Ended
September 30,
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
  2008   2007   2008   2007   2008   2007   2008   2007  
 
  (in millions)
 

United States:

                                                 
 

Public Finance

  $ 5,707.4   $ 13,932.2   $ 45,355.8   $ 40,207.2   $ 54.5   $ 97.2   $ 520.6   $ 248.6  
 

Asset-backed

        10,956.1     2,374.0     32,780.3     0.7     101.4     58.2     217.5  
                                   
   

Total United States

    5,707.4     24,888.3     47,729.8     72,987.5     55.2     198.6     578.8     466.1  

International:

                                                 
 

Public Finance

    172.4     8,138.7     1,342.2     11,725.7     5.7     284.3     50.4     356.0  
 

Asset-backed

        2,288.4     524.9     6,358.4     0.1     19.2     23.0     45.9  
                                   
   

Total International

    172.4     10,427.1     1,867.1     18,084.1     5.8     303.5     73.4     401.9  
                                   
 

Total financial guaranty originations

  $ 5,879.8   $ 35,315.4   $ 49,596.9   $ 91,071.6   $ 61.0   $ 502.1   $ 652.2   $ 868.0  
                                   

        The following table represents the ratings distribution at origination.

Financial Guaranty Originations by Rating(1)

 
  Three Months Ended
September 30, 2008
 
 
  Public Finance Obligations(2)  
 
  Gross Par
Originated
  % of
Total
 
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

United States:

             
 

Triple-A

  $ 30.0     1 %
 

Double-A

    1,473.3     25  
 

Single-A

    3,924.3     67  
 

Triple-B

    279.8     4  
           
   

Total United States

    5,707.4     97  

International:

             
 

Triple-A

    64.9     1  
 

Double-A

    38.0     1  
 

Single-A

         
 

Triple-B

    69.5     1  
           
   

Total International

    172.4     3  
           

Total financial guaranty originations

  $ 5,879.8     100 %
           

90


 

 
  Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008  
 
  Public Finance
Obligations
  Asset-Backed
Obligations
 
 
  Gross Par
Originated
  % of
Total
  Gross Par
Originated
  % of
Total
 
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

United States:

                         
 

Triple-A

  $ 6,384.8     14 % $ 1,330.1     46 %
 

Double-A

    12,367.0     26          
 

Single-A

    25,069.9     54     1,043.9     36  
 

Triple-B

    1,534.1     3          
                   
   

Total United States

    45,355.8     97     2,374.0     82  

International:

                         
 

Triple-A

    64.9     0     524.9     18  
 

Double-A

    38.0     0          
 

Single-A

    720.9     2          
 

Triple-B

    518.4     1          
                   
   

Total International

    1,342.2     3     524.9     18  
                   

Total financial guaranty originations

  $ 46,698.0     100 % $ 2,898.9     100 %
                   

(1)
Based on internal underlying ratings at date of origination.

(2)
There were no asset-backed originations in the third quarter of 2008.

        In the first nine months of 2008, estimated U.S. municipal market volume of $319.1 billion was 2% lower than in the first nine months of 2007. Municipal issuance dwindled over the course of the third quarter as the cost of borrowing increased in response to the global credit contraction.

        Insurance penetration of the market for new U.S. municipal bonds sold in the first nine months was approximately 19%, compared with 49% in the first nine months of 2007. FSA's share of the insured par sold was approximately 59%, compared with 24% in the first nine months of 2007.

        On a closing-date basis for the third quarter, including both primary- and secondary-market U.S. public finance transactions, FSA's par amount originated decreased 59.0%, and PV premiums originated declined 43.9%. After Moody's announced its review on July 21, FSA decided to limit bidding activity in the U.S. municipal market until August 6, when it released second quarter earnings and provided full financial and strategic information to issuers and investors. More than 130 primary-market transactions were sold with FSA insurance from July 22 through the end of the third quarter.

        For the first nine months of 2008, U.S. municipal par insured increased 12.8% and PV originations grew 109.4%, due to improved pricing. Approximately 97% of the bonds insured year-to-date had an underlying credit quality of Single-A or higher.

        In international public finance markets, where liquidity has been constrained all year, FSA's third-quarter production decreased 97.9% in par insured and 98.0% in PV originations. For the first three quarters, international public finance par insured decreased 88.6%, and PV premiums originated decreased 85.8%.

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Insured Portfolio Summary

        A summary of FSA's insured portfolio and distribution of ratings at September 30, 2008 is shown below. Exposure amounts are expressed net of first-loss, quota share and excess-of-loss reinsurance.

Summary of Insured Portfolio by Obligation Type

 
  At September 30, 2008  
 
  Number
of
Risks
  Net Par
Outstanding
  Net Par and
Interest
Outstanding
 
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

Public finance obligations

                   
 

Domestic obligations

                   
   

General obligation

    7,634   $ 126,411   $ 190,518  
   

Tax-supported

    1,268     56,211     88,911  
   

Municipal utility revenue

    1,253     51,013     84,031  
   

Health care revenue

    226     13,417     24,527  
   

Housing revenue

    162     7,687     13,359  
   

Transportation revenue

    166     21,625     37,714  
   

Education/University

    152     7,939     13,418  
   

Other domestic public finance

    26     2,194     3,409  
               
     

Subtotal

    10,887     286,497     455,887  
 

International obligations

    177     27,741     61,926  
               
     

Total public finance obligations

    11,064     314,238     517,813  
               

Asset-backed obligations

                   
 

Domestic obligations

                   
   

Residential mortgages

    201     17,672     21,867  
   

Consumer receivables

    40     9,548     10,046  
   

Pooled corporate

    289     56,009     59,304  
   

Other domestic asset-backed

    65     1,942     2,431  
               
     

Subtotal

    595     85,171     93,648  
 

International obligations

    57     24,149     25,666  
               
     

Total asset-backed obligations

    652     109,320     119,314  
               
     

Total

    11,716   $ 423,558   $ 637,127  
               

Distribution of Insured Portfolio by Ratings based on Net Par Outstanding

 
  At September 30, 2008  
 
  Public
Finance
  Asset-
Backed
  Total
Portfolio
 

Rating

                   

Triple-A

    2 %   73 %   20 %

Double-A

    41     4     32  

Single-A

    46     5     35  

Triple-B

    11     8     10  

Other

    0     10     3  
               
 

Total

    100 %   100 %   100 %
               

92


    Public Finance Insured Portfolio

        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 table below sets forth those jurisdictions in which U.S. municipalities issued an aggregate of 2% or more of the total net par amount outstanding of FSA-insured public finance securities:

Public Finance Insured Portfolio by Location of Exposure

 
  At September 30, 2008  
 
  Number of
Risks
  Net Par
Amount
Outstanding
 
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

Domestic obligations

             
 

California

    1,129   $ 41,553  
 

New York

    773     23,575  
 

Pennsylvania

    888     20,665  
 

Texas

    825     19,619  
 

Illinois

    768     17,070  
 

Florida

    292     16,035  
 

Michigan

    643     13,416  
 

New Jersey

    660     12,539  
 

Washington

    354     10,494  
 

Massachusetts

    240     8,024  
 

Ohio

    454     7,513  
 

Georgia

    130     7,074  
 

Indiana

    301     6,856  
 

All other U.S. locations

    3,430     82,064  
           
   

Subtotal

    10,887     286,497  

International obligations

    177     27,741  
           
 

Total

    11,064   $ 314,238  
           

        At September 30, 2008, the public finance insured portfolio contained risks for which the Company estimates an ultimate net loss: an international infrastructure obligation, a healthcare transaction, a waste treatment facility transaction and a sewer revenue refunding warrant. At September 30, 2008, the Company had $88.7 million in case reserves for these transactions, net of reinsurance. Management continually monitors these obligations and adjusts reserves accordingly.

    Asset-backed Insured Portfolio

        The Company insured a wide variety of structured finance securities, including derivatives, which generally were investment grade at origination, typically with low expected loss severity in the event of default. See "—Results of Operations—Fair Value of Credit Derivatives" for a discussion of the Company's credit derivatives in the insured portfolio. In the normal course of business, the Company monitors its exposures in all insured categories. Due to recent events, additional focus has been placed on the RMBS categories. The Company internally rates each insured credit periodically based on criteria similar to those used by the rating agencies. At September 30, 2008, the Company had $822.5 million in net case reserves for these transactions, on a present value basis, net of anticipated recoveries and reinsurance. See "—Results of Operations—Losses." The Company paid $168.1 million in claims in the asset-backed sector in the third quarter of 2008 and $374.4 for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, net of reinsurance and recoveries.

93


        The following discussion summarizes the Company's exposure to various types of mortgage-backed obligations.

         HELOCs:     HELOCs represent 4.8% of total asset-backed par outstanding. Most of the Company's insured HELOCs were originated by mortgage finance companies, which, prior to 2007, had experienced historical lifetime losses between 1% and 3% of original par. At underwriting, applying original expected net prepayment speeds, a typical finance company-originated HELOC pool would have sufficient protection to withstand losses of approximately 15% of original par. During the early stages of a number of transactions prepayment speeds exceeded expectations, reducing excess spread available to cover losses. Subsequently, default rates on a number of FSA-insured HELOC pools rose to historically unprecedented levels, resulting in net FSA claim payments of $439.6 million through September 30, 2008. The Company's internal credit rating is below investment grade on ten HELOCs, all of which it projects will sustain losses. At September 30, 2008, the Company projects present value cumulative lifetime net losses of $836.2 million across ten HELOCs, up from $777.8 million across ten HELOCs last quarter. Most of the increase in projected loss was due to FSA's revising its projections of prepayment rates.

         Alt-A Closed-End Second Lien Mortgages:     Alt-A CES mortgages represent 1.2% of total asset-backed par outstanding. CES mortgage transactions insured by FSA are typically structured with 25-27% of subordination plus excess spread of approximately 8% on a present value basis. At initial underwriting, defaults were expected to equal approximately 11%, providing over three times coverage. All FSA-insured CES mortgage transactions were rated Triple-A at closing. At September 30, 2008, the Company had reserved $185.9 million for five Alt-A CES transactions, up from $168.3 million for five transactions in the second quarter. Most of this increase was due to FSA revising its projections of prepayment rates. The Company continued to reserve 50% of the projected loss for an Alt-A CES insured by Syncora Guarantee Inc. ("SGI") (formerly XL Capital Assurance), due to its below investment grade rating. No claim payments have been made to date, and FSA does not expect to pay most of this amount until 2036 and thereafter. The Company does not currently expect losses on six insured 2007 transactions with an aggregate net par of $500 million that are wrapped by investment-grade rated monolines.

         Subprime U.S. RMBS:     Subprime U.S. RMBS represent 3.8% of total asset-backed par outstanding. Despite recent internal downgrades, 93.7% of the net par of subprime U.S. RMBS transactions insured by FSA are rated Single-A or better. At origination, typical FSA- insured subprime RMBS transactions contain approximately 20% overcollateralization and subordination plus excess spread typically estimated at 7% versus an original FSA loss expectation of 10% (22% defaults at 45% loss severity). One 2007 transaction with net par outstanding of $241 million, originally insured at Triple-A, is performing materially worse than the rest of the subprime portfolio, and continued to deteriorate during the third quarter. Management established a new loss reserve of $9.6 million this quarter for this transaction.

         NIM Securitizations:     NIM securitizations represent less than 0.2% of total asset-backed par outstanding. As of September 30, 2008, FSA insures 17 NIMs with an aggregate net par of $214 million. Most of FSA's NIMs ($141 million net) benefit from a first loss policy from Radian Insurance. During the third quarter, management established a loss reserve of $19.6 million against the NIMs as a result of the deteriorating performance of the underlying sub-prime RMBS transactions. Because the projections assume receipt of only $15 million of cash flow from the transactions, estimated losses should not rise by more than that unless Radian and another investment grade third-party indemnitor fail to fulfill their obligations.

        As of September 30, 2008, the Company also estimated a $19.8 million credit impairment on FSA-insured NIM securitizations that are considered derivatives and are marked to market on the Company's financial statements.

94


         Option Adjustable Rate Mortgages:     Option ARM securitizations represent 2.2% of total asset-backed par outstanding. All FSA-insured Option ARM transactions were originally rated Triple-A and are senior in the capital structure. These transactions are prepaying at moderate speeds and building overcollateralization. Although delinquencies are rising, there are few mortgage loan losses to date. FSA's third quarter cash flow projection resulted in additional internal downgrades and projected losses for six transactions with a net par of $581 million, up from three transactions last quarter with net par of $354 million. At September 30, 2008, the Company reserved $153.1 million for these transactions. The Company internally rates six additional Option ARM transactions (net par $1.85 billion) below investment grade.

         Alt-A First-Lien Mortgages:     Alt-A first-lien mortgage securitizations represent 1.3% of total asset-backed par outstanding. In a typical Alt-A transaction, FSA is protected by approximately 8% subordination plus 3% of future spread, for total protection of 11%. At the time of origination, FSA typically expected pool losses to equal 3%, which assumed a 35% severity rate and 9% foreclosure frequency. All FSA-insured Alt-A first lien exposures were originally rated Triple-A. Continued deterioration in the performance of these transactions led FSA to establish net loss reserves in the third quarter of $56 million on eight transactions with a net par of $984 million. FSA internally rates four additional Alt-A First Lien transactions (net par $264 million) below investment grade.

Reinsurance of Insured Portfolio

        The Company obtains reinsurance to increase its policy-writing capacity on both an aggregate-risk and a single-risk basis; to meet rating agency, internal and state insurance regulatory limits; to diversify risk; to reduce the need for additional capital; and to strengthen financial ratios. The Company reinsures portions of its risks with affiliated and unaffiliated reinsurers under quota share, first-loss and excess-of-loss treaties and on a facultative basis.

        Reinsurance does not relieve the Company of its obligations to policyholders. In the event that any or all of the reinsuring companies are unable to meet their obligations, or contest such obligations, the Company may be unable to recover amounts due. A number of FSA's reinsurers are required to pledge collateral to secure their reinsurance obligations to FSA in an amount equal to their statutory unearned premiums, loss and contingency reserves associated with the ceded business. FSA requires collateral from reinsurers primarily to (a) receive statutory credit for the reinsurance, (b) provide liquidity to FSA in the event of claims on the reinsured exposures, and (c) enhance rating agency capital credit for the reinsurance.

        The Company cedes approximately 23% of its gross par insured to a diversified group of reinsurers, including other monolines. As of November 14, 2008, 59% of FSA's reinsurers were rated Double-A- or higher based on ceded par outstanding at September 30, 2008. Some are still under review by rating agencies. The Company's reinsurance contracts generally allow the Company to recapture ceded business after certain triggering events, such as reinsurer downgrades. Included in the table below is $14.1 million in ceded par outstanding related to insured CDS.

95


Reinsurance Recoverable and Ceded Par Outstanding by Reinsurer and Ratings

 
  Ratings as of November 14, 2008   At September 30, 2008  
 
   
   
  Ceded Par
Outstanding
as a % of
Total
 
Reinsurer
  Moody's
Reinsurer
Rating
  S&P
Reinsurer
Rating
  Reinsurance
Recoverable
  Ceded
Par
Outstanding
 
 
   
   
  (dollars in millions)
 

Assured Guaranty Re Ltd. 

    Aa2     AA   $ 67.3   $ 33,713     27 %

Tokio Marine and Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. 

    Aa2 (1)   AA (1)   84.1     32,231     26  

Radian Asset Assurance Inc. 

    A3     BBB+     28.6     25,187     20  

RAM Reinsurance Co. Ltd

    A3     A+     14.3     12,159     10  

Syncora Guarantee Inc. 

    Caa1     BBB-         4,797     4  

Swiss Reinsurance Company. 

    Aa2     AA-     8.4     4,281     3  

R.V.I. Guaranty Co., Ltd. 

    A3     A-         4,148     3  

Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co. Ltd. 

    Aa3     AA(1 )   5.6     2,717     2  

CIFG Assurance North America Inc. 

    B3     B     10.0     1,977     2  

Ambac Assurance Corporation

    Baa1     AA     0.2     1,218     1  

ACA Financial Guaranty Corporation(2)

    NR     CCC         949     1  

Radian Insurance Inc. 

    Baa1     BB+     10.0     10     0  

Other

    Various     Various     1.1     1,556     1  
                           
 

Total

              $ 229.6   $ 124,943     100 %
                           

(1)
The Company has structural collateral agreements satisfying the Triple-A credit requirement of S&P and/or Moody's.

(2)
All risks reinsured by ACA Financial Guaranty Corporation are domestic public finance obligations.

        In July 2008, FSA agreed to re-assume all reinsurance ceded to SGR, which consisted of $8.4 billion in outstanding par, in exchange for the June 30, 2008 statutory basis ceded unearned premium, net of its applicable ceding commission, any case basis reserves established at that date and a $35.0 million commutation premium. FSA agreed to cede a portion of this business, approximately $6.4 billion of outstanding par with no outstanding case basis reserves, to SGI, an affiliate of SGR, as of the re-assumption date. Ceded net unearned premiums and future ceded case reserves are secured by collateral then held in a trust. Since SGI was an affiliate of SGR, FSA did not consider the portion of the business bought back from SGR and subsequently ceded to SGI as commuted and as a result did not record any commutation gain on that portion of the business. FSA recorded a commutation gain of $10.0 million on the business it retained, which was recorded in other income in the statement of operations and comprehensive income. In the third quarter 2008, $14.3 million of earned premium related to this commutation.

        In September 2008, FSA agreed to re-assume a portion of the business it ceded to SGI in July for the statutory basis ceded unearned premium, net of its applicable ceding commissions. This resulted in a commutation gain of $10 million, which was recorded in other income in the statement of operations and comprehensive income. In the third quarter of 2008, $1.5 million of earned premium related to this commutation.

        Due to a liquidation order against Bluepoint RE, Limited ("Bluepoint"), FSA is treating all reinsurance ceded to Bluepoint as cancelled as of the date of its liquidation order. The ceded statutory basis unearned premium and case basis reserves with Bluepoint were secured by collateral in a trust and as a result FSA was able to take credit for such balances. Subsequent to September 30, 2008, FSA

96



drew down on a portion of the collateral equal to the net statutory basis unearned premium and case basis reserves. In the third quarter 2008, $9.4 million of earned premium related to this commutation.

        In September of 2008, FSA commuted substantially all its ceded and assumed business with Financial Guaranty Insurance Company ("FGIC"). In the third quarter 2008, $1.2 million of earned premium related to this buy back.


Financial Products Segment

Results of Operations

        The FP segment includes the results of operations of the GIC Subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs. Management's analysis of the FP segment is primarily based on FP Segment NIM, a non-GAAP measure. See "—Non-GAAP Measures—FP Segment NIM."

Financial Products Segment

 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
  2008   2007   2008   2007  
 
  (in millions)
 

Net interest income from financial products segment

  $ 165.8   $ 288.4   $ 523.5   $ 800.0  

Net realized gains (losses) from financial products segment

    (417.4 )   0.1     (1,459.8 )   1.9  

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments

    25.2     (44.1 )   181.6     (11.9 )

Net unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value

    302.9     10.1     876.7     16.4  

Other income

    4.2     3.1     10.7     10.7  
                   
 

Total Revenues

    80.7     257.6     132.7     817.1  

Net interest expense from financial products segment

    (182.1 )   (260.0 )   (608.7 )   (750.1 )

Foreign exchange gains (losses) from financial products segment

    15.5     (13.3 )   (1.1 )   (43.9 )

Other operating expenses

    (5.0 )   (7.2 )   (8.3 )   (20.8 )
                   
 

Total Expenses

    (171.6 )   (280.5 )   (618.1 )   (814.8 )

Income (loss) before income taxes

    (90.9 )   (22.9 )   (485.4 )   2.3  
                   

GAAP income to operating earnings adjustments

    (102.4 )   41.1     11.5     51.0  
                   

Pre-tax segment operating earnings

  $ (193.3 ) $ 18.2   $ (473.9 ) $ 53.3  
                   

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         2008 vs. 2007:     The decrease in the FP Segment NIM was driven primarily by economic OTTI charges on the FP Investment Portfolio.

Reconciliation of Total NIM to Non-GAAP FP Segment NIM

 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
  2008   2007   2008   2007  
 
  (in millions)
 

Net interest income from financial products segment

  $ 165.8   $ 288.4   $ 523.5   $ 800.0  

Net realized gains (losses) from financial products segment

    (417.4 )   0.1     (1,459.8 )   1.9  

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments

    25.2     (44.1 )   181.6     (11.9 )

Net unrealized gains (losses) on fair valued financial instruments from financial products segment

    302.9     10.1     876.7     16.4  

Net interest expense from financial products segment

    (182.1 )   (260.0 )   (608.7 )   (750.1 )

Foreign exchange gains (losses) from financial products segment

    15.5     (13.3 )   (1.1 )   (43.9 )
                   
 

Total NIM(1)

    (90.1 )   (18.8 )   (487.8 )   12.4  

Intersegment income

    4.3     3.7     10.9     12.0  

Non-operating fair value adjustments

    (96.4 )   32.8     11.9     43.7  
                   
 

FP Segment NIM

  $ (182.2 ) $ 17.7   $ (465.0 ) $ 68.1  
                   

(1)
Excludes other operating expenses.

 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
  2008   2007   2008   2007  
 
  (in millions)
 

NIM generated by FP Investment Portfolio and GICs

  $ (182.7 ) $ 16.4   $ (467.6 ) $ 64.9  

NIM generated by VIEs

    0.5     1.3     2.6     3.2  
                   
 

FP Segment NIM

  $ (182.2 ) $ 17.7   $ (465.0 ) $ 68.1  
                   

        The Company is subject to an investigation by the Department of Justice and the SEC of bid-rigging of awards of municipal GICs. In the second and third quarters of 2008, purported class action law suits and other civil actions were commenced related to the subject of these investigations, naming as defendants a large number of financial institutions, including the Company. See Part II, "Item 1. Legal Proceedings."

98


        The following table summarizes the components of the fair-value adjustments included in the results of operations of the FP segment:

 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
  2008   2007   2008   2007  
 
  (in millions)
 

REVENUES:

                         
 

Net interest income from financial products segment:

                         
   

Fair-value adjustments on FP segment investment portfolio

  $ 43.1   $   $ 50.7   $  
   

Fair-value adjustments on FP segment derivatives

    (46.1 )       (52.9 )    
                   
       

Net interest income from financial products segment

  $ (3.0 ) $   $ (2.2 ) $  
                   
 

Net realized gains (losses) from financial products segment:

                         
   

Fair-value adjustments attributable to impairment charges in FP investment portfolio

  $ (417.5 ) $ (11.1 ) $ (1,459.9 ) $ (11.1 )
                   
 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments:

                         
   

FP segment derivatives(1)

  $ 25.2   $ (44.1 ) $ 181.6   $ (11.9 )
                   
 

Net unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value:

                         
   

FP segment:

                         
     

Assets designated as trading portfolio

  $ 2.8   $ 10.1   $ (91.5 ) $ 16.4  
     

Fixed rate FP segment debt:

                         
       

Fair-value adjustments other than the Company's own credit risk

    39.5         (55.2 )    
       

Fair-value adjustments attributable to the Company's own credit risk

    260.6         1,023.4      
                   
         

Net unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value in the FP segment

  $ 302.9   $ 10.1   $ 876.7   $ 16.4  
                   

EXPENSES:

                         
 

Net interest expense from financial products segment:

                         
     

Fair-value adjustments on FP segment debt

  $   $ 112.3   $   $ 0.1  
     

Fair-value adjustments on FP segment derivatives

        (134.0 )       1.5  
                   
       

Net interest expense from financial products segment

  $   $ (21.7 ) $   $ 1.6  
                   

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS), NET OF TAX:

                         
 

FP Investment Portfolio

  $ (480.0 ) $ (269.4 ) $ (1,613.3 ) $ (333.4 )
 

VIE Investment Portfolio

    (42.9 )   11.7     (42.7 )   11.4  
                   
       

Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

  $ (522.9 ) $ (257.7 ) $ (1,656.0 ) $ (322.0 )
                   

(1)
Represents derivatives not in designated fair-value hedging relationships.

PV NIM Originated

        Like installment premiums, PV NIM originated is expected to be earned and collected in future periods. The non-GAAP measure PV NIM originated represents the difference between the present value of estimated interest to be received on investments acquired during the period and the present value of estimated interest to be paid on liabilities issued by the FP segment issued during the period, net of transaction expenses, the expected results of derivatives used to hedge interest rate risk and the

99



estimated effect of adverse changes in the expected lives of FP liabilities. The Company's future positive interest rate spread estimate generally relates to contracts or security instruments that extend for multiple years. More detail on this Non-GAAP measure can be found in "—Non-GAAP Measures—Present Value of Financial Products Net Interest Margin Originated."

Financial Products PV NIM Originated

 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
  2008   2007   2008   2007  
 
  (in millions)
 

PV NIM originated

  $ 0.6   $ 35.1   $ 0.6   $ 84.6  

FP Segment Investment Portfolio

        The FP Segment Investment Portfolio is made up of:

    the FP Investment Portfolio, consisting of the investments supporting the GIC liabilities; and

    the VIE Investment Portfolio, consisting of the investments supporting the VIE liabilities.

Carrying Value of Assets
in the FP Segment

 
  September 30,
2008
  December 31,
2007
 
 
  (in millions)
 

FP Investment Portfolio

  $ 12,016.6   $ 18,065.0  

VIE Investment Portfolio(1)

    1,091.4     1,148.2  
           
 

Total

  $ 13,108.0   $ 19,213.2  
           

      (1)
      After intra-segment eliminations.

        The Company's management believes that the assets held in the VIE Investment Portfolio are beyond the reach of the Company and its creditors, even in bankruptcy or other receivership.

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FP Segment Debt

        The following table shows the Company's par value of debt outstanding with respect to municipal and non-municipal GICs as well as VIEs:

Par Value of FP Segment Debt by Type

 
  September 30,
2008
  December 31,
2007
 
 
  (in millions)
 

GIC debt:

             
 

Municipal

  $ 6,696.7   $ 7,477.9  
 

Non-municipal GICs:

             
   

CDOs of ABS GICs

    5,136.2     6,099.8  
   

Pooled corporate and CLO structured GICs

    4,313.9     4,404.0  
   

Other non-municipal GICs

    836.5     786.2  
           
 

Total non-municipal GICs

    10,286.6     11,290.0  
           
 

Total GIC debt

    16,983.3     18,767.9  

VIE debt

    2,424.4     2,494.9  
           
 

Total par value of FP segment debt

  $ 19,407.7   $ 21,262.8  
           

        GICs issued by the Company may be withdrawn based upon certain contractually established conditions. While management follows the performance of each contract carefully, in some cases withdrawals may occur substantially earlier than originally projected. In response, the Company has been enhancing the liquidity available in its FP Investment Portfolio by investing newly originated GIC proceeds into short-term investments.

        Effective January 1, 2008, the Company elected to account for certain fixed rate FP segment debt at fair value under the fair value option in accordance with SFAS 159. The fair value option was elected to reduce volatility in income on fixed rate debt that is converted to floating U.S. dollar denominated debt through the use of derivatives. The fair value option allows the fair value adjustment on debt to be offset with the fair value on derivatives economically hedging interest and foreign exchange risk. All of the FP segment debt carried at fair value was categorized as Level 3 in the SFAS 157 fair value hierarchy.


Other Operating Expenses and Amortization of Deferred Acquisition Costs

        The table below shows other operating expenses with and without compensation expense related to the Company's DCP and SERP obligations. These expenses are substantially offset by the fair-value

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adjustments of the assets held to defease the plan obligations, which amounts are reflected in other income.

Other Operating Expenses

 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
  2008   2007   2008   2007  
 
  (in millions)
 

Amortization of previously deferred underwriting expenses and reinsurance commissions

  $ 19.0   $ 13.6   $ 51.4   $ 47.6  
                   

Other operating expenses

    48.4     68.6     83.1     190.4  

Underwriting expenses deferred

    (9.6 )   (37.8 )   (19.0 )   (108.3 )

Financial products other operating expenses

    8.3     4.6     10.1     12.9  

Reinsurance commissions written, net

    23.0     (25.1 )   (6.9 )   (55.7 )

Reinsurance commissions deferred, net

    (23.0 )   25.1     6.9     55.7  
                   
 

Other operating expenses, excluding DCPs/SERPs

    47.1     35.4     74.2     95.0  

DCP/SERP expenses

    (7.0 )   (1.9 )   (18.4 )   7.5  
                   
 

Total other operating expenses

    40.1     33.5     55.8     102.5  
                   
   

Total expenses

  $ 59.1   $ 47.1   $ 107.2   $ 150.1  
                   

        The third-quarter increases in other operating expenses and amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs resulted primarily from a payment to a third party under a tax benefit sharing agreement, increased liquidity facility fees payable to Dexia, charges related to the exit from the asset-backed business and lower expense deferral rates.


Taxes

        For the first nine months of 2008 and 2007, the Company's effective tax rate benefit was 34.8% and 219.2%, respectively. The 2008 effective tax rate reflects a lower than expected benefit of 35% due to the establishment of valuation allowance of $72.8 million, offset by benefits from tax-exempt interest income and the tax-exempt fair value adjustments related to the Company's committed preferred securities. The 2007 rate differs from the statutory rate of 35% due primarily to tax-exempt interest. The 2007 rate reflects an unusually high benefit due to the disproportionate low amount of pre-tax income to tax-exempt interest.

        At September 30, 2008, the Company had a net deferred tax asset of $1.8 billion, primarily attributable to a $1.4 billion tax benefit from unrealized losses on bonds in the FP Investment Portfolio, a $0.3 billion tax benefit from unrealized losses on credit derivatives in the insured portfolio, and $0.1 billion in net operating loss carryforward ("NOL"), partially offset by the Company's deferred tax liability and a valuation allowance.

        A valuation allowance is required when it is more likely than not that a portion or all of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. All evidence, both positive and negative, needs to be identified and considered in making the determination. Future realization of the existing deferred tax asset will depend on the Company's ability to generate sufficient taxable income of appropriate character (i.e., ordinary income versus capital gains) within the carryback and carryforward periods available under the tax law.

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        The Company's management has concluded that as of September 30, 2008, it is more likely than not that all of the benefit of the deferred tax assets will be realized except for a valuation allowance of $72.8 million, based on the following factors:

    1.
    The Company's unrealized losses in the FP Investment Portfolio, if realized, would trigger capital losses which could only be offset against capital gains. Capital losses could be carried back for up to three years to offset capital gains realized in the prior three years and then carried forward for up to five years. Compelling negative evidence exists if the Company were required to sell some or all of the securities of the FP Investment Portfolio, since there would be no assurance that the Company could generate sufficient capital gains to offset these capital losses. However, the Company has the intent and ability to hold investments in the FP Investment Portfolio to maturity. More specifically, based on its analysis, the Company has determined that it is capable, if necessary, of holding to maturity all investments in the FP Investment Portfolio whether or not impaired. Included in the Company's ability to hold analysis is the $5 Billion Line of Credit, which provides positive evidence that the Company has not only the intent, but the liquidity resources to hold the FP Investment Portfolio to maturity. As the investments mature, the par amount of the investments will be realized except for credit impairment and over time the deferred tax asset will reverse. As of September 30, 2008, the Company estimated that approximately $311.0 million of credit impairment could ultimately result in capital losses. The Company does not believe it could generate sufficient capital gains in the future to offset all the capital losses and, accordingly, established a valuation allowance of $72.8 million.

    2.
    The $300 million tax benefit from unrealized losses on credit derivatives and the $100 million in NOL would be realizable against future ordinary income. Negative evidence includes the uncertainty of selling financial guaranty policies in the future as well as the stability of the Company's credit rating from the perspective of the three principal rating agencies. However, the Company has substantial streams of future premium earnings from its in force insured portfolio, with the total aggregating to approximately $3.3 billion as of September 30, 2008. Even with the uncertainty of future business and the stability of the Company's credit rating, future premium revenues, coupled with investment income less expenses, are expected to be more than sufficient to offset any reasonably possible amount of losses, including credit derivative losses. The Company's loss reserves represent the discounted value of future claims. Therefore, except for the accretion of losses to the undiscounted future value, the Company does not anticipate any significant additional loss trends. The Company expects future loss accretion of about $339 million. In addition, except for true credit losses, mark-to-market losses from its CDS contracts will reverse over time. As the mark-to-market losses reverse, the deferred tax asset will reverse. To the extent that true credit losses increase, the related mark-to-market losses will not reverse and the Company will have more of a need to offset these losses against future ordinary income.

    3.
    The Company has never allowed net operating losses, capital losses, tax credits, or other tax benefits to expire unutilized. It expects that appropriate tax planning will allow it to maintain this performance record.

        The Company treats its CDS contracts as insurance contracts for U.S. tax purposes. The current federal tax treatment of CDS contracts is an unsettled area of tax law. Market participants are generally treating CDS contracts for tax purposes as one of four possibilities: (a) notional principal contract ("NPC") derivative instruments, (b) guarantees, (c) insurance contracts, or (d) capital assets. The Company believes that it is more likely than not that its CDS contracts are either NPC or insurance contracts. Both receipts and payments arising from NPC and insurance contracts are characterized as ordinary income (although a termination of a CDS contract as an NPC may be treated as a capital transaction). Although the Company believes it is properly treating potential losses on its

103



CDS contracts as ordinary, there are no assurances that the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") will agree with the Company. Should the IRS disagree with the Company and characterize such losses, if any, as capital losses, the Company's ability to realize a related tax asset would be more limited, possibly leading to a reduction or elimination of the related deferred tax asset.


Exposure to Monolines

        The tables below summarize the exposure to each financial guaranty monoline insurer and reinsurer by exposure category and the underlying ratings of the Company's insured risks.

Summary of Exposure to Monolines

 
  At September 30, 2008  
 
  Insured Portfolios   Investment Portfolios  
 
  FSA
Insured Par
Outstanding(1)
  Ceded Par
Outstanding
  General
Investment
Portfolio(2)
  FP Segment
Investment
Portfolio(2)
 
 
  (in millions)
 

Assured Guaranty Re Ltd

  $ 997   $ 33,713   $ 84.2   $ 194.1  

Radian Asset Assurance Inc. 

    97     25,187     1.9     257.6  

RAM Reinsurance Co. Ltd. 

        12,159          

Syncora Guarantee Inc. 

    1,444     4,797     33.7     365.0  

CIFG Assurance North America Inc. 

    199     1,977     25.9     100.6  

Ambac Assurance Corporation

    5,055     1,218     621.6     905.3  

ACA Financial Guaranty Corporation

    20     949          

Financial Guaranty Insurance Company

    5,513     282     386.0     394.3  

MBIA Insurance Corporation

    4,198         582.7     824.4  
                   
 

Total

  $ 17,523   $ 80,282   $ 1,736.0   $ 3,041.3  
                   

(1)
Represents transactions with second-to-pay FSA-insurance that were previously insured by other monolines. Based on net par outstanding.

(2)
Based on amortized cost, which would include write-down of securities that were deemed to be OTTI.

104


Exposures to Monolines
and Ratings of Underlying Risks

 
  At September 30, 2008  
 
  Insured Portfolio(1)   Investment Portfolio  
 
  FSA
Insured Par
Outstanding(2)
  Ceded Par
Outstanding
  General
Investment
Portfolio(3)
  FP Segment
Investment
Portfolio(1)
 
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

Assured Guaranty Re Ltd.

                         
 

Exposure(4)

  $ 997   $ 33,713   $ 84.2   $ 194.1  
   

Triple-A

    %   6 %   2 %   %
   

Double-A

    10     40         22  
   

Single-A

    27     36     81     71  
   

Triple-B

    22     16     17      
   

Below Investment Grade

    41     2         7  

Radian Asset Assurance Inc.

                         
 

Exposure(4)

  $ 97   $ 25,187   $ 1.9   $ 257.6  
   

Triple-A

    4 %   8 %   %   %
   

Double-A

        42     100      
   

Single-A

    14     39          
   

Triple-B

    57     10          
   

Below Investment Grade

    25     1         100  

RAM Reinsurance Co. Ltd.

                         
 

Exposure(4)

  $   $ 12,159   $   $  
   

Triple-A

    %   14 %   %   %
   

Double-A

        41          
   

Single-A

        32          
   

Triple-B

        11          
   

Below Investment Grade

        2          

Syncora Guarantee Inc.

                         
 

Exposure(4)

  $ 1,444   $ 4,797   $ 33.7   $ 365.0  
   

Triple-A

    29 %   %   %   2 %
   

Double-A

        12     17      
   

Single-A

    24     37     80     13  
   

Triple-B

    24     51         71  
   

Below Investment Grade

    23             14  
   

Not Rated

            3      

CIFG Assurance North America Inc.

                         
 

Exposure(4)

  $ 199   $ 1,977   $ 25.9   $ 100.6  
   

Triple-A

    %   2 %   %   %
   

Double-A

    2     27         26  
   

Single-A

    9     36     100     30  
   

Triple-B

    89     31          
   

Below Investment Grade

        4         44  

Ambac Assurance Corporation

                         
 

Exposure(4)

  $ 5,055   $ 1,218   $ 621.6   $ 905.3  
   

Triple-A

    6 %   %   %   16 %
   

Double-A

    41     8     41     6  
   

Single-A

    33     37     54     32  
   

Triple-B

    13     55     4     38  
   

Below Investment Grade

    7         1     8  

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  At September 30, 2008  
 
  Insured Portfolio(1)   Investment Portfolio  
 
  FSA
Insured Par
Outstanding(2)
  Ceded Par
Outstanding
  General
Investment
Portfolio(3)
  FP Segment
Investment
Portfolio(1)
 
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

ACA Financial Guaranty Corporation

                         
 

Exposure(4)

  $ 20   $ 949   $   $  
   

Triple-A

    %   %   %   %
   

Double-A

    65     73          
   

Single-A

        26          
   

Triple-B

    10     1          
   

Below Investment Grade

    25              

Financial Guaranty Insurance Company

                         
 

Exposure(4)

  $ 5,513   $ 282   $ 386.0   $ 394.3  
   

Triple-A

    %   %   %    
   

Double-A

    32         32     2  
   

Single-A

    57     100     65     38  
   

Triple-B

    9         3     45  
   

Below Investment Grade

    2             15  

MBIA Insurance Corporation

                         
 

Exposure(4)

  $ 4,198   $   $ 582.7   $ 824.4  
   

Triple-A

    %   %   %   %
   

Double-A

    53         45     27  
   

Single-A

    13         48     20  
   

Triple-B

    34         5     39  
   

Below Investment Grade

            2     14  

(1)
Ratings are based on internal ratings.

(2)
Represents transactions with second-to-pay FSA insurance that were previously insured by other monolines.

(3)
Ratings are based on the lower of S&P or Moody's.

(4)
Represent par balances for the insured portfolios and amortized cost for the investment portfolios.


Liquidity and Capital Resources

FSA Holdings Liquidity

        At September 30, 2008, FSA Holdings had cash and investments of $35.2 million available to fund the liquidity needs of its separate holding company operations. Because the majority of the Company's operations are conducted through FSA, the long-term ability of FSA Holdings to service its debt will largely depend on its receipt of dividends from FSA and FSA's repurchase of its own shares from FSA Holdings. In 2008, Dexia Holdings contributed $800.0 million of capital to FSA Holdings. In the third quarter of 2008, FSA issued a surplus note to FSA Holdings in exchange for $300 million.

        FSA Holdings paid no dividends in the third quarter and paid dividends of $33.6 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2008. In 2007, FSA Holdings paid $30.5 million in the three months ended September 30, 2007 and $91.5 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2007.

        On November 22, 2006, FSA Holdings issued $300.0 million principal 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

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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. FSA Holdings 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, FSA Holdings entered into a replacement capital covenant for the benefit of persons that buy, hold or sell a specified series of FSA Holdings long-term indebtedness ranking senior to the debentures. Under the covenant, the debentures will not be repaid, redeemed, repurchased or defeased by FSA Holdings 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 FSA Holdings 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 FSA Holdings.

        On July 31, 2003, FSA Holdings issued $100.0 million principal amount of 5.60% Notes due July 15, 2103, which are callable without premium or penalty in whole or in part at any time on or after July 31, 2008. Debt issuance costs of $3.3 million are being amortized over the life of the debt.

        On November 26, 2002, FSA Holdings issued $230.0 million principal amount of 6.25% Notes due November 1, 2102, which are callable without premium or penalty in whole or in part at any time on or after November 26, 2007. Debt issuance costs of $7.4 million are being amortized over the life of the debt. FSA Holdings used a portion of the proceeds of this issuance to redeem in whole FSA Holdings' $130.0 million principal amount of 7.375% Senior QUIDS due September 30, 2097.

        On December 19, 2001, FSA Holdings issued $100.0 million of 6 7 / 8 % Quarterly Income Bond Securities due December 15, 2101, which are callable without premium or penalty on or after December 19, 2006. Debt issuance costs of $3.3 million are being amortized over the life of the debt.

FSA's Liquidity

        In its financial guaranty business, premiums, credit derivative fees and investment income are the Company's primary sources of funds to pay its operating expenses, insured losses and taxes. FSA's primary uses of funds are to pay operating expenses and dividends to its parent FSA Holdings, and pay claims under insurance policies in the event of default by an issuer of an insured obligation and the unavailability or exhaustion of other payment sources in the transaction, such as the cash flow or collateral underlying the obligations. Before exiting the ABS business, FSA sought to structure asset-backed transactions to address liquidity risks by matching insured payments with available cash flow or other payment sources. Insurance policies issued by FSA guaranteeing payments under bonds and other securities provide, in general, that payments of principal, interest and other amounts insured by FSA may not be accelerated by the holder of the obligation but are paid by FSA in accordance with the obligation's original payment schedule or, at FSA's option, on an accelerated basis. Payments made in settlement of the Company's obligations in its insured portfolio may, and often do, vary significantly from year to year depending primarily on the frequency and severity of payment defaults and its decisions regarding whether to exercise its right to accelerate troubled insured transactions in order to mitigate future losses. FSA has not drawn on any alternative sources of liquidity to meet its obligations in 2008 and 2007. In prior years, the Company has refinanced certain transactions using funds raised through its GIC Subsidiaries.

        FSA 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 prohibiting or limiting acceleration of certain claims are mandatory under Article 69 of the New York Insurance Law and serve to reduce FSA's liquidity requirements.

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        The terms of the Company's CDS contracts generally are modified from standard CDS contract forms approved by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. ("ISDA") in order to provide for payments on a scheduled basis and generally replicate the terms of a traditional financial guaranty insurance policy. Some CDS contracts the Company enters into as credit protection seller, however, utilize standard ISDA settlement mechanics of cash settlement (a process to value the loss of market value of a reference obligation) or physical settlement (delivery of the reference obligation against payment of principal by the protection seller) in the event of a "credit event," as defined in the terms of the contract.

        As of September 30, 2008, there was $65.5 billion in net par outstanding for pooled corporate CDS. As of that date, approximately 50% of the obligations insured by the Company in CDS form were funded CDOs and 50% were synthetic CDOs. Potential acceleration of claims with respect to CDS obligations occur with funded CDOs and synthetic CDOs, as described below:

    Funded CDOs:   The Company has credit exposure to the senior tranches of funded corporate CDOs. The senior tranches are typically rated Triple-A at the time of inception. While the majority of these exposures obligate the Company to pay only shortfalls in scheduled interest and principal at final maturity, in a limited number of cases the Company has agreed to physical settlement following a credit event. In these limited circumstances the Company has adhered to internal limits within applicable statutory single risk constraints. In these transactions, the credit events giving rise to a payment obligation are (a) the bankruptcy of the special purpose issuer or (b) the failure by the issuer to make a scheduled payment of interest or principal pursuant to the referenced senior debt security.

    Synthetic CDOs:   In the area of pooled corporate synthetic CDOs, where the Company's credit exposure is typically set at "Super Triple-A" levels at origination, the Company is exposed to credit losses of a synthetic pool of corporate obligors following the exhaustion of a deductible. In these transactions, losses are typically calculated using ISDA cash settlement mechanics. As a result, the Company's exposures to the individual corporate obligors within any synthetic transaction are constrained by the New York Insurance Law single risk limits. In these transactions, the credit events giving rise to a payment obligation are (a) the reference entity's bankruptcy; (b) failure by the reference entity to pay its debt obligations; and, (c) in certain transactions, the restructuring of the reference entity's debt obligations. The Company would not be required to make a payment until aggregate credit losses exceed the designated deductible threshold and only as each incremental default occurs.

        FSA's ability to pay dividends depends, among other things, upon FSA's 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 New York and other states. Under the New York Insurance Law, FSA may pay dividends out of earned surplus, provided that, together with all dividends declared or distributed by FSA 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 New York Superintendent or (b) adjusted net investment income during this period. Based on FSA's statutory statements for 2007, and considering dividends that can be paid by its subsidiary, the maximum amount available for payment of dividends by FSA without regulatory approval over the 12 months following September 30, 2008 is approximately $130.0 million. FSA paid $10.0 million in dividends in the third quarter of 2008 and no dividends in 2007.

        FSA may repurchase shares of its common stock from its shareholder subject to the New York Superintendent's approval. The New York Superintendent has approved the repurchase by FSA of up to $500.0 million of its shares from FSA Holdings through December 31, 2008. FSA repurchased $70.0 million of shares of its common stock during the first nine months of 2008, and retired the shares. However, as the amounts paid for repurchases may not exceed cumulative statutory earnings from January 1, 2006 through the end of the prior quarter, FSA will not be able to make repurchases

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during the fourth quarter. FSA repurchased shares of its common stock from FSA Holdings totaling $180.0 million in 2007 and $100.0 million in 2006, respectively, and retired such shares.

        Downgrades of FSA's Triple-A financial strength ratings could have a material adverse effect on its long-term competitive position and prospects for future business opportunities as well as its results of operations and financial condition. Credit ratings are an important component of a financial institution's ability to compete in the financial guaranty market.

    Potential Liquidity Impact of Leveraged Leases

        A defeased, leveraged lease transaction (a "Leveraged Lease Transaction") transfers the tax benefits from a tax-exempt entity, such as a transit agency (lessee) to a tax-paying entity (lessor) by transferring ownership of a depreciable asset, such as subway cars, to the lessor. The municipality (lessee) remains the primary user of the asset. In 2004, Congress amended the internal revenue code to expressly prohibit tax benefits derived from such Leveraged Lease Transactions.

        In Leveraged Lease Transactions, the lessor typically financed the purchase of the assets through a combination of equity and debt with the taxpayer (lessor) providing the equity and sharing the benefits of the arrangement with the municipality (lessee). The lessor, to minimize credit exposure to the municipality, required that the lessee interpose a highly rated payment agent to be responsible for the lease payments. Typically the lessee prepays the lease obligation by making a deposit with a payment undertaking agent in consideration for its agreement to make scheduled lease payments, including the purchase option price due at the maturity of the lease, on the lessee's behalf.

        However, there are also events of early termination of the lease that require payments not covered within the lease payment schedule. To minimize credit exposure to the lessee municipality, the equity investor typically required that the early termination payment be guaranteed by a highly rated entity. This protection is referred to as "strip coverage" and requires payment of the portion of the termination payment not included in the ordinary payment schedule if the lessee fails to make such payment when due. The Company views this risk as municipal or government risk because the lessees are all credit worthy municipal entities, such as NY Metropolitan Transportation Authority, leasing essential equipment, such as subway cars.

        The Company has strip par exposure of approximately $2.7 billion spread over 45 public entities. The Company's strip exposure includes $2.0 billion related to U.S. municipalities and $ 0.7 billion related to European lessees. The exposure is long dated and is expected to amortize over the next 33 years. In the event an early termination event is triggered and the lessee cannot meet its contractual obligation, the Company would be obligated to make such payments and seek reimbursement from the lessee. The standard financing terms of such reimbursement are Prime + 3%, so there is a financial incentive for the creditworthy lessee to finance an early termination payment if one became necessary.

        Each of the following events may lead to an early termination of a lease:

    equity payment undertaker or strip coverage provider is downgraded (with most events triggered by a rating below AA-) and not replaced by the lessee in accordance with lease terms and conditions. In certain cases the lessee could prevent such early lease termination event by posting collateral.. Due to current market conditions, however, few financial institutions have the required ratings and they may be unwilling to fulfill the responsibilities of replacement equity payment undertaker or strip provider;

    bankruptcy of lessee;

    destruction of equipment together with inadequate property insurance; or

    non-compliance with covenants and technical requirements.

        The lessee is obligated to find a replacement 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

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time could lead to an early termination of the lease and a demand for a termination payment from the lessee. However, even in the event of a termination of the lease, there would not necessarily be an automatic draw on FSA's policy, as this would only occur to the extent the lessee is unable to make the required termination payment.

        AIG International Group, Inc. ("AIG"), a frequent equity payment undertaker, was recently downgraded. FSA participated as the strip provider in 33 transactions where AIG acted as the equity payment undertaker. With a current rating of A-/A3, AIG has reached the rating trigger on each of the 33 transactions. The lessee is required in 29 of the 33 transactions to replace AIG; to the extent that it cannot, there is a termination of the lease, and the lessee is unable to pay, FSA could face a liquidity draw on its policies of up to $719 million if all 29 lessees default. In four transactions the lessee is not required to replace AIG, so long as AIG posts and maintains the required amount of collateral. It is management's understanding that AIG is posting the required type and amount of collateral in respect of the $412 million of par associated with these transactions.

        As strip provider, a downgrade of FSA's credit rating could also provoke early termination of the lease:

    if FSA is downgraded to AA+ or Aa1 it would be exposed to an aggregate gross exposure of approximately $74 million;

    if its ratings fell to AA or Aa2, it would be exposed to an aggregate gross exposure of approximately $293 million;

    if its ratings fell to AA- or Aa3, it would be exposed to an aggregate gross exposure of approximately $985 million;

    if its ratings fell to A+ or A1, it would be exposed to an aggregate gross exposure of approximately $2,562 million; and

    if its ratings fell to below A+ or A1, it would result in the lessee having to replace FSA on the full amount of its domestic leveraged lease strip exposure (approximately $2.0 billion) and international lease exposure (approximately $0.7 billion), of which AIG's exposure represents a portion.

Therefore if an early termination occurs as a result of the AIG downgrade, a subsequent FSA downgrade would have no incremental effect.

        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. The maximum amount of such claims is discussed above. Because of the high interest rates due on a draw on FSA's policy and the possible loss of the use of the equipment, the municipal lessees should have an incentive to make payments themselves to the lessors. But in the current market environment it may be costly or even impossible for some lessees to fund the termination amounts on a timely basis. Moreover, the lessees may seek assistance from the United States Department of the Treasury to avoid or mitigate such payments. The Company is unable to determine the likelihood of such assistance.

    Sources of Liquidity

        Management believes that FSA's expected operating liquidity needs over the next 12 months can be funded from its operating cash flow. The Company's primary sources of liquidity available to pay claims on a short- and long-term basis are cash flow from premiums written, FSA's investment portfolio and earnings thereon, reinsurance arrangements with third-party reinsurers, liquidity lines of credit with banks, and capital market transactions. FSA's ability to fund short- and long-term operating cash flow is also dependent on factors outside management's control such as general credit and liquidity conditions within the market.

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        FSA has a liquidity facility for $150.0 million, provided by commercial banks and intended for general application to transactions insured by FSA. If FSA is downgraded below Aa3 and AA-, the lenders may terminate the commitment, and the commitment commission becomes due and payable. If FSA is downgraded below Baa3 and BBB-, any outstanding loans become due and payable. At September 30, 2008, there were no borrowings under this arrangement, which expires on April 21, 2011, if not extended.

        FSA has a standby line of credit in the amount of $350.0 million with a group of international banks to provide loans to FSA after it has incurred, during the term of the facility, cumulative municipal losses (net of any recoveries) in excess of the greater of $350.0 million or the average annual debt service of the covered portfolio multiplied by 5%, which amounted to $1,628.0 million at September 30, 2008. 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. This commitment has a ten-year term expiring on April 30, 2015 and contains an annual renewal provision, commencing April 30, 2008, subject to approval by the banks. A ratings downgrade of FSA would result in an increase in the commitment fee. No amounts have been utilized under this commitment at September 30, 2008.

        In June 2003, $200.0 million of money market committed preferred trust securities (the "CPS") were issued by trusts created for the primary purpose of issuing the CPS to investors, investing the proceeds in high-quality commercial paper and selling put options to FSA allowing FSA to issue in exchange for cash its non-cumulative redeemable perpetual preferred stock (the "Preferred Stock") of FSA. 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 CPS. If FSA 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 FSA in exchange for Preferred Stock of FSA. FSA 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 for the next succeeding distribution period (150 basis points above LIBOR). Beginning in August 2007, the CPS required the maximum rate for each of the relevant trusts. FSA continues to have the ability to exercise its put option and cause the related trusts to purchase FSA preferred stock. The trusts provide FSA 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.

FP Segment Liquidity

        In its FP segment, the Company relies on net interest income to fund its net interest expense and operating expenses. The FP segment business model presumed that operating cash flow and the maturity of its investments would provide sufficient liquidity to pay its obligations. However, lower prepayment rates on mortgage-backed bonds have reduced cash flow from investments. In addition FSA-insured GICs subject the Company to risk associated with unscheduled withdrawals of principal allowed by the terms of the GICs. The majority of municipal GICs insured by FSA relate to debt service reserve funds and construction funds in support of municipal bond transactions. Debt service reserve fund GICs may be drawn earlier than expected upon a payment default by the municipal issuer. Construction fund GICs usually have withdrawal schedules based on expected construction funding requirements, but may be drawn earlier than expected when construction of the underlying municipal project does not proceed as expected. The majority of non-municipal GICs insured by FSA are purchased by issuers of credit-linked notes that provide credit protection with respect to structured finance CDOs. These issuers of credit linked-notes typically sell credit protection by entering into a CDS referencing specified asset-backed or corporate obligations. Such GICs may be drawn earlier than expected to fund credit protection payments due by the credit-linked note issuer under the related CDS or upon an acceleration of the related credit-linked notes following a transaction event of default.

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        Recent developments with respect to CDOs of ABS have resulted in material early draws on GICs associated with these transactions. At September 30, 2008, $447.0 million of CDO of ABS GICs had been terminated due to an event of default in the CDOs of ABS transaction and subsequent liquidation of the assets of the CDO. Subsequent to September 30, 2008, a $294.1 million CDO of ABS GIC was terminated due to an event of default in the CDOs of ABS transaction and a subsequent liquidation of the assets of the CDO. In addition, $849.1 million of pooled corporate CDO GICs were terminated due to an event of default caused by the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., which was the guarantor of the CDS protection buyer in those transactions.

        The Company manages the risk of unscheduled withdrawals with regular surveillance of the GIC agreements including review of past activities, recently issued trustee reports, reference name performance characteristics and third party tools to analyze early withdrawal risks. GICs can be categorized according to their potential for unscheduled withdrawals of principal, as follows: contingent draw GICs which may be drawn earlier than expected due to credit deterioration; full flex GICs which allow withdrawals only for permitted purposes defined in the governing indentures; and fixed draw GICs which can not be drawn earlier than scheduled. Fixed draw GICs include capitalized interest fund GICs which pay interest on an underlying bond issue during the construction phase of a project and escrow fund GICs which defease a future obligation. The following table shows GIC principal balances, in millions, categorized according to potential for unscheduled withdrawals.

 
  At September 30, 2008   At December 31, 2007  
 
  Principal
Balance
  Number of
withdrawals
  Principal
Balance
  Number of
withdrawals
 
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

Contingent Draw:

                         
 

CDOs of ABS

  $ 5,136.2     53   $ 6,099.8     56  
 

Corporate CDOs

    4,313.9     125     4,404.1     130  
 

Debt service reserve fund

    2,359.5     268     2,535.8     264  
 

Other

    311.1     10     606.7     17  
                   
   

Subtotal

    12,120.7     456     13,646.4     467  

Full Flex:

                         
 

Construction funds

    2,928.2     63     3,330.2     90  
 

Other

    492.6     110     415.7     107  
                   
   

Subtotal

    3,420.8     173     3,745.9     197  

Fixed Draw:

                         
 

Escrow

    708.8     13     705.4     13  
 

Capitalized interest

    311.3     18     255.1     16  
 

Other

    421.7     11     415.1     10  
                   
   

Subtotal

    1,441.8     42     1,375.6     39  
                   

Total

  $ 16,983.3     671   $ 18,767.9     703  
                   

        The Company's GIC business has been increasing its liquidity resources in anticipation of further draws on CDO of ABS GICs. The ability to access additional funding through the issuance of GICs has been hampered by a material reduction in new GIC issuances during the third quarter of 2008. Absent a resumption of new GIC issuances, the GIC Subsidiaries may be required to access repurchase facilities or liquidity lines or dispose of investment assets to satisfy liquidity requirements.

        Dexia Crédit Local and Dexia Bank Belgium provide the $5 Billion Line of Credit to FSAM to address FP segment liquidity requirements under a revolving credit agreement dated as of June 30, 2008. Dexia Crédit Local subsequently assigned an 88% fractional interest in its obligations under the facility to Dexia Bank Belgium. The $5 Billion Line of Credit has a continually rolling five year term,

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subject to termination by Dexia Crédit Local or Dexia Bank Belgium upon five years notice. FSA guarantees the repayment of borrowings under the facility. As of September 30, 2008 there were no borrowings under the $5 Billion Line of Credit. As of November 14, 2008, the Company had drawn $550 million under the $5 Billion Line of Credit.

        In addition, on November 13, 2008, the Company entered into two new agreements with Dexia and its affiliates in support of its FP business. On that date, FSA Holdings, FSA and Dexia Holdings entered into a Capital Commitment Agreement. Pursuant to the Capital Commitment Agreement, Dexia Holdings agreed to provide capital contributions to FSA Holdings in amounts of up to $500 million in the aggregate. The capital contributions will equal the economic losses on assets owned by FSAM for which OTTI has been determined in accordance with the Company's accounting principles for the quarter ending immediately prior to the contribution date, less certain realized tax benefits arising from those economic losses. Upon receipt of a capital contribution from Dexia Holdings, the Company will make a capital contribution to FSAM of an equivalent amount. Dexia Crédit Local has committed to loan, contribute or otherwise convey to Dexia Holdings all amounts needed by Dexia Holdings to make the capital contributions to the Company. In the quarter ended September 30, 2008, FP projected incremental present value economic losses of $207.8 million in excess of the $316.5 million pre-tax amount incurred in the second quarter 2008. The incremental losses would result in a capital contribution of $207.8 million to FSAM during the fourth quarter of 2008.

        The second agreement entered into on November 13, 2008 was a Global Master Securities Lending Agreement (the "Securities Lending Agreement") between Dexia Crédit Local, FSAM, FSA and FSA Insurance Company ("FSAIC"), under which Dexia Crédit Local agrees to lend FSAM up to $3.5 billion (based upon market value, and subject to reduction as described below) of securities eligible to act as collateral for GICs. As collateral for this loan, FSAM will post securities of the same market value but that are generally ineligible to act as collateral for GICs. FSAM may only draw on the facility in the event of a downgrade of FSA to below Aa3 by Moody's or AA- by S&P. The Securities Lending Agreement has a continually rolling five year term, which becomes a fixed five year term upon notice from Dexia Crédit Local. In addition, Dexia Crédit Local can terminate the Agreement (subject to FSAM's consent, not to be unreasonably withheld) if FSAM enters into an alternative liquidity or credit enhancement agreement that serves to make the Securities Lending Agreement unnecessary or redundant. In no case will the term exceed seven years. FSA, FSAM and FSAIC have agreed to use their best efforts to obtain insurance regulatory approval for alternative facilities that would allow FSA and FSAIC to (a) purchase up to $1 billion in municipal securities from FSAM and (b) provide up to $1.5 billion in financing to FSAM in exchange for other assets held by FSAM. If the required approvals are obtained, FSAM would be required to utilize such facilities prior to requesting loans from Dexia Crédit Local under the Securities Lending Agreement and the amount of Dexia Crédit Local's commitment would be reduced by an amount equal to 90% of the financing that FSAM could thereby obtain from FSA and FSAIC. FSA is providing a guarantee of FSAM's payment obligations under the Securities Lending Agreement.

        Also on November 13, 2008, FSA, FSAM, Dexia Crédit Local and Dexia Bank Belgium entered into a Pledge and Intercreditor Agreement (the "Pledge Agreement"). Pursuant to the Pledge Agreement, Dexia Crédit Local and Dexia Bank Belgium will be provided a subordinated lien on the assets of FSAM to secure borrowings by FSAM under the $5 Billion Line of Credit between FSAM and Dexia Crédit Local entered into as of June 30, 2008. FSA has an existing security interest in the same collateral, which is given priority over the new lien under the Pledge Agreement. Any assets that FSAM transfers to the GIC Subsidiaries under existing intercompany agreements for use as collateral under secured GICs or that FSAM transfers to its derivative or repurchase agreement counterparties are excluded from the liens in favor of FSA, Dexia Crédit Local and Dexia Bank Belgium.

        Credit ratings are an important component of a financial institutions' ability to compete in the derivative, investment agreement and structured transaction markets. If FSA were downgraded, the

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Company may be required to post incremental collateral to its investment agreement and derivative counterparties, introducing additional liquidity risk. Most FSA-insured GICs allow for withdrawal of GIC funds in the event of a downgrade of FSA, typically below AA- by S&P or Aa3 by Moody's, unless the GIC provider posts collateral or otherwise enhances its credit. Such a downgrade could result in a significant amount of additional collateral to be posted. Some FSA-insured GICs also allow for withdrawal of GIC funds in the event of a downgrade of FSA, typically below A3 by Moody's or A- by S&P, with no right of the GIC provider to avoid such withdrawal by posting collateral or otherwise enhancing its credit. As of September 30, 2008, a downgrade of FSA to below AA- by S&P or Aa3 by Moody's (A+ by S&P or A1 by Moody's) would result in withdrawal of $0.9 billion of GICs and the need to post collateral to GICs with a balance of $15.9 billion. Each GIC contract stipulates the types of securities that are eligible for posting and the collateralization percentage applicable to each security type. These collateralization percentages range from 100% of the GIC balance for cash collateral to, typically, 108% for ABS. Assuming an average margin of 105%, the market value of required collateral would be $16.8 billion. The market value of the FP Investment Portfolio and cash held at September 30, 2008 of $12.5 billion along with liquidity resources available under the $5 Billion Line of Credit were sufficient to meet the GIC withdrawal and collateralization requirements as of September 30, 2008. Further deterioration in the market value of the FP Investment Portfolio or ratings downgrades could result in the FP business having inadequate market value of securities eligible to be pledged as collateral in the event of an FSA downgrade.

        Certain notes held by FSA Global Funding Limited ("FSA Global") contain provisions that could extend the stated maturities of those notes. To ensure FSA Global will have sufficient cash flow to repay its own debt issuances that relate to such notes, it entered into several liquidity facilities with Dexia for $419.4 million. The notes held by FSA Global benefit from a liquidity facility with XL Insurance Ltd. for $341.5 million.

Cash Flow

        The Company's cash flows from operations are heavily dependent on market conditions, the competitive environment and the mix of business originated. The following table summarizes cash flow from operations, investing and financing activities at the FSA Holdings consolidated level.

 
  Nine Months Ended September 30,  
 
  2008   2007  
 
  (in millions)
 

Cash provided by (used for) operating activities

  $ 366.6   $ 154.7  

Cash provided by (used for) investing activities

    1,325.3     (2,124.5 )

Cash provided by (used for) financing activities

    (1,177.1 )   1,985.2  

Effect of changes in foreign exchange rates on cash balances

    (3.5 )   1.0  
           

Net (decrease) increase in cash

    511.3     16.4  

Cash at beginning of period

    26.6     32.5  
           

Cash at end of period

  $ 537.9   $ 48.9  
           

    Cash Flow from Operations

        The primary source of the fluctuations in cash flow from operations between the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and September 30, 2008 was the purchase of bonds in the trading portfolio in 2007, which is included in cash flows from operations. Excluding these trading portfolio purchases, cash flow was $371.1 million in 2007. In 2008, cash flow from the Financial Guaranty segment was positive, despite losses paid, due to strong originations in the first half and net investment income received.

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        Net investment income from the General Investment Portfolio has increased compared to the first half of 2008 largely due to increased investment balances arising from premiums received plus capital contributions received in 2008. Investment income related to assets acquired in refinancing transactions have declined as those assets pay down or are sold. Operating expenses increased compared to third quarter 2007, due primarily to cash outflows to Dexia for liquidity facility fees and to third parties related to a tax benefit sharing agreement. Net cash flow from FP segment interest increased from 2007 to 2008.

    Cash Flow from Investing and Financing Activities

        Investing activities consist primarily of purchases and sales of assets in the Company's various investment portfolios. The Company invests proceeds from the issuance of GICs and VIE debt in assets held within the FP Segment Investment Portfolio. Premium receipts are invested in the General Investment Portfolio. Proceeds from issuance of debt are classified as financing activities while the investment of those proceeds are classified as investing activities in the cash flow statement.

        The decrease in cash from financing activities is primarily the result of a decline in new GIC issuances resulting from a slowdown in the GIC market as well as an increase in repayment of FP segment debt, offset in part by $800.0 million of capital contributions from Dexia Holdings.

115


Summary of Invested Assets

        The Company's consolidated cash and invested assets are summarized below.

Summary of Cash and Investments

 
  At September 30, 2008  
 
  Financial Guaranty Segment   FP Segment Investment Portfolio    
   
 
 
  General
Investment
Portfolio
  Assets Acquired
in Refinancing
Transactions(1)
  FP Investment
Portfolio
  VIE Investment
Portfolio(1)
  Total  
 
  Amortized
Cost
  Fair
Value
  Amortized
Cost
  Fair
Value
  Amortized
Cost
  Fair
Value
  Amortized
Cost
  Fair
Value
  Amortized
Cost
  Fair
Value
 
 
  (in millions)
 

Long-term bonds

  $ 5,378.4   $ 5,232.4   $   $   $ 15,058.8   $ 11,158.2   $ 1,129.7   $ 1,084.2   $ 21,566.9   $ 17,474.8  

Equity securities

    1.4     0.8                             1.4     0.8  

Short-term investments

    609.8     608.4             600.0     600.0     7.2     7.2     1,217.0     1,215.6  

Trading portfolio

                    302.5     258.4             302.5     258.4  

Assets acquired in refinancing transactions

            190.1     184.7                     190.1     184.7  

Cash

    30.5     30.5             507.4     507.4             537.9     537.9  
                                           
 

Total

  $ 6,020.1   $ 5,872.1   $ 190.1   $ 184.7   $ 16,468.7   $ 12,524.0   $ 1,136.9   $ 1,091.4   $ 23,815.8   $ 19,672.2  
                                           

 

 
  At December 31, 2007  
 
  Financial Guaranty Segment   FP Segment Investment Portfolio    
   
 
 
  General
Investment
Portfolio
  Assets Acquired
in Refinancing
Transactions(1)
  FP Investment
Portfolio
  VIE Investment
Portfolio(1)
  Total  
 
  Amortized
Cost
  Fair
Value
  Amortized
Cost
  Fair
Value
  Amortized
Cost
  Fair
Value
  Amortized
Cost
  Fair
Value
  Amortized
Cost
  Fair
Value
 
 
  (in millions)
 

Long-term bonds

  $ 4,891.6   $ 5,054.6   $   $   $ 17,215.1   $ 15,796.5   $ 1,119.4   $ 1,139.6   $ 23,226.1   $ 21,990.7  

Equity securities

    40.0     39.9                             40.0     39.9  

Short-term investments

    96.3     97.4             1,918.7     1,918.7     8.6     8.6     2,023.6     2,024.7  

Trading portfolio

                    337.2     349.8             337.2     349.8  

Assets acquired in refinancing transactions

            225.7     231.8                     225.7     231.8  

Cash

    24.6     24.6             2.0     2.0             26.6     26.6  
                                           
 

Total

  $ 5,052.5   $ 5,216.5   $ 225.7   $ 231.8   $ 19,473.0   $ 18,067.0   $ 1,128.0   $ 1,148.2   $ 25,879.2   $ 24,663.5  
                                           

(1)
Management believes the balances in the VIE Investment Portfolio and assets acquired under refinancing transactions are beyond the reach of the Company and its creditors.

116


        The Company includes, in its long-term bond portfolios, variable rate demand notes ("VRDNs") and ARS. VRDNs are long-term bonds that bear floating interest rates and provide investors with the option to tender or put the bonds at par, generally on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. ARS are long-term securities with interest rate reset features and are traded in the marketplace through a bidding process. VRDNs totaled $269.7 million at September 30, 2008 and $224.3 million at December 31, 2007. The Company did not hold any ARS at September 30, 2008 or December 31, 2007. At September 30, 2008, VRDNs consisted of obligations backed by municipal obligors. For management purposes, VRDN have been managed as short-term investments, although recent failures in the ARS market have raised questions about the liquidity of VRDNs.

        In the second quarter of 2008, the Company recorded $38.0 million in OTTI on its investment in SGR preferred stock. In the third quarter of 2008, the Company sold this investment, recognizing a $1.9 million gain. The realized loss was $36.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008. In the third quarter of 2008, the Company recorded an OTTI charge of $5.9 million on its investment in Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. corporate bonds.

    FP Investment Portfolio

        The FP Investment Portfolio includes securities classified as available-for-sale and securities classified as trading. It broadly comprises short-term investments, non-agency RMBS, securities issued or guaranteed by U.S. sponsored agencies, taxable municipal bonds, securities issued by utilities, infrastructure-related securities, CDOs, and other asset-backed securities. Non-agency RMBS constitute the majority of the FP Investment Portfolio and include securities backed by pools of the following types of mortgage loans: home equity loans to non-prime borrowers, commonly referred to as "subprime" loans, Alt-A loans, Option ARMs, CES, HELOCs and prime loans. The FP Investment Portfolio also includes NIM securitizations.

        The Company carries debt securities designated as "available-for-sale" on its balance sheet at fair value in accordance with SFAS No. 115, "Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities." In the FP Investment Portfolio, after-tax unrealized losses of $2,535.4 million at September 30, 2008 were recorded in other comprehensive income and primarily resulted from the general widening of credit spreads in the mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities markets. After-tax fair value adjustments on FP's portfolio of assets designated as trading were gains of $1.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008, and losses of $59.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, and were recorded in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.

        The following tables set forth certain information concerning the FP Investment Portfolio based on amortized cost:

FP Investment Portfolio Fixed-Income Securities by Rating(1)

Rating
  At September 30, 2008  

AAA

    54.3 %

AA

    18.7  

A

    9.1  

BBB

    8.0  

Below investment grade

    9.9  
       
 

Total

    100 %
       

      (1)
      Ratings are based on the lower of Moody's or S&P ratings available at September 30, 2008. Rating agencies continue to monitor the ratings on the residential mortgage-backed securities closely, and future adverse rating actions on these securities may occur.

117


        The FP Investment Portfolio includes bonds insured by FSA ("FSA-Insured Investments"). Of the bonds included in the FP Investment Portfolio at September 30, 2008, 4.4% were rated Triple-A by virtue of insurance provided by FSA. As of that date, 99% of the FSA-Insured Investments were investment grade without giving effect to the FSA insurance. The average shadow rating of the FSA-Insured Investments, which is the rating without giving effect to the FSA insurance, was in the Triple-B range. Of the bonds included in the FP Investment Portfolio, 19% were insured by other monoline guarantors.

Summary of FP Investment Portfolio

 
  At September 30, 2008   At December 31, 2007  
 
  Amortized
Cost
  Fair
Value
  Amortized
Cost
  Fair
Value
 
 
  (in millions)
 

FP Investment Portfolio:

                         
 

Taxable bonds

  $ 15,361.3   $ 11,416.6   $ 17,552.3   $ 16,146.3  
 

Short-term investments

    600.0     600.0     1,918.7     1,918.7  
                   
   

Total FP Investment Portfolio

  $ 15,961.3   $ 12,016.6   $ 19,471.0   $ 18,065.0  
                   

FP Investment Portfolio by Security Type

 
  At September 30, 2008   At December 31, 2007  
 
  Amortized
Cost
  Fair
Value
  Amortized
Cost
  Fair
Value
 
 
  (in millions)
 

Mortgage-backed securities:

                         
 

Non-agency U.S. RMBS

  $ 10,606.5   $ 7,358.8   $ 13,016.0   $ 11,714.6  
 

Agency RMBS(1)

    1,387.4     1,354.5     1,064.3     1,058.2  

U.S. Municipal bonds

    574.5     496.4     556.2     555.4  

Corporate(2)

    829.0     700.9     858.9     869.0  

Asset-backed and other securities:

                         
 

Collateralized bond obligations, CDO, CLO

    434.6     314.1     471.0     431.6  
 

Other (primarily asset backed)

    1,529.3     1,191.9     1,585.9     1,517.5  
                   
   

Total available-for-sale bonds and trading portfolio

    15,361.3     11,416.6     17,552.3     16,146.3  

Short-term investments

    600.0     600.0     1,918.7     1,918.7  
                   
   

Total FP Investment Portfolio

  $ 15,961.3   $ 12,016.6   $ 19,471.0   $ 18,065.0  
                   

(1)
Includes RMBS or ABS issued or guaranteed by U.S. sponsored agencies (including but not limited to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac).

(2)
Includes securities classified as trading.

118


        The table below shows the composition of the non-agency RMBS portfolio by credit rating, weighted average life and the related unrealized gains and losses included in accumulated other comprehensive income.

Selected Information for Non-Agency U.S. Mortgage-Backed
Securities in FP Investment Portfolio

 
  At September 30, 2008  
 
  Credit Ratings(1)    
   
   
   
   
 
 
  Triple-A   Double-A   Single-A   Triple-B   Below
Investment
Grade
  Weighted
Average
Life
  Amortized
Cost
  Unrealized
Gains
(Losses)
  Fair
Value
  % of
Portfolio
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
  (in years)
  (dollars in millions)
 

Collateral type:

                                                             
 

Subprime

    53 %   19 %   7 %   6 %   15 %   4.3   $ 7,320.7   $ (2,115.9 ) $ 5,204.8     69 %
 

Alt-A

    57     16     4     5     18     6.3     1,903.8     (627.0 )   1,276.8     18  
 

Option ARMs

    81     8     6     0     5     4.9     627.2     (197.1 )   430.1     6  
 

Alt-A CES

    11     30     23     0     36     6.7     120.6     (25.8 )   94.8     1  
 

HELOCs

    6     37     38     0     19     5.7     207.7     (64.8 )   142.9     2  
 

NIM securitizations

    3     4     0     93     0     2.9     276.5     (139.2 )   137.3     3  
 

Prime

    100     0     0     0     0     2.4     150.0     (77.9 )   72.1     1  
                                                       
   

Total

                                      $ 10,606.5   $ (3,247.7 ) $ 7,358.8     100 %
                                                       

(1)
Based on amortized cost. Ratings based on lower of S&P or Moody's.

        The amortized costs and fair values of securities in the FP Investment Portfolio by contractual maturity are shown below. Actual maturities could differ from contractual maturities because borrowers have the right to call or prepay certain obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. In the third quarter of 2008, the weighted average expected life of the FP Investment Portfolio was 4.7 years.

Distribution of FP Investment Portfolio by Contractual Maturity

 
  At September 30, 2008   At December 31, 2007  
 
  Amortized
Cost
  Fair
Value
  Amortized
Cost
  Fair
Value
 
 
  (in millions)
 

Due in one year or less

  $ 600.0   $ 600.0   $ 1,918.7   $ 1,918.7  

Due after ten years

    1,661.7     1,409.1     1,655.0     1,666.7  

Mortgage-backed securities(1)

    11,993.9     8,713.4     14,080.3     12,772.8  

Asset-backed and other securities(2)

    1,705.7     1,294.1     1,817.0     1,706.8  
                   
 

Total FP Investment Portfolio

  $ 15,961.3   $ 12,016.6   $ 19,471.0   $ 18,065.0  
                   

(1)
Stated maturities for mortgage-backed securities of one to 39 years at September 30, 2008 and of two to 39 years at December 31, 2007.

(2)
Stated maturities for asset-backed and other securities of four to 44 years at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007.

        Of the securities whose fair value was recorded in accumulated comprehensive income as of September 30, 2008, 226 had been in an unrealized loss position of 20% or more for six months or longer.

        The following tables show the gross unrealized losses recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income and fair values of the available-for-sale bonds in the FP Investment Portfolio,

119



aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position.

Aging of Unrealized Losses of Available-for-Sale Bonds
in FP Investment Portfolio

 
  At September 30, 2008  
Aging Categories
  Number of
Securities
  Amortized
Cost
  Unrealized
Losses
  Fair
Value
  Unrealized
Loss as a
Percentage of
Amortized
Cost
 
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

Less than Six Months(1)

                               
 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

        $ 206.2   $ (39.2 ) $ 167.0     (19.0 )%
 

Mortgage-backed securities

          710.3     (35.2 )   675.1     (5.0 )
 

Corporate securities

          270.0     (57.9 )   212.1     (21.4 )
 

Other securities (primarily asset-backed)

          144.8     (30.4 )   114.4     (21.0 )
                           
   

Total

    43     1,331.3     (162.7 )   1,168.6     (12.2 )

More than Six Months but Less than 12 Months(2)

                               
 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

          300.7     (31.5 )   269.2     (10.5 )
 

Mortgage-backed securities

          1,213.7     (141.7 )   1,072.0     (11.7 )
 

Corporate securities

                       
 

Other securities (primarily asset-backed)

          622.3     (114.4 )   507.9     (18.4 )
                           
   

Total

    103     2,136.7     (287.6 )   1,849.1     (13.5 )

12 Months or More(3)

                               
 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

          67.6     (7.4 )   60.2     (10.9 )
 

Mortgage-backed securities

          9,248.7     (3,119.8 )   6,128.9     (33.7 )
 

Corporate securities

          147.2     (35.0 )   112.2     (23.8 )
 

Other securities (primarily asset-backed)

          904.2     (324.2 )   580.0     (35.9 )
                           
   

Total

    597     10,367.7     (3,486.4 )   6,881.3     (33.6 )

Total

                               
 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

          574.5     (78.1 )   496.4     (13.6 )
 

Mortgage-backed securities

          11,172.7     (3,296.7 )   7,876.0     (29.5 )
 

Corporate securities

          417.2     (92.9 )   324.3     (22.3 )
 

Other securities (primarily asset-backed)

          1,671.3     (469.0 )   1,202.3     (28.1 )
                         
   

Total

    743   $ 13,835.7   $ (3,936.7 ) $ 9,899.0     (28.5 )%
                         

(1)
The largest unrealized loss on an individual investment, in terms of absolute dollars, was $57.9 million, or 21.4% of its amortized cost.

(2)
The largest unrealized loss on an individual investment, in terms of absolute dollars, was $35.2 million, or 22.7% of its amortized cost.

(3)
The largest unrealized loss on an individual investment, in terms of absolute dollars, was $53.2 million, or 64.7% of its amortized cost.

120


 
  At December 31, 2007  
Aging Categories
  Number of
Securities
  Amortized
Cost
  Unrealized
Losses
  Fair
Value
  Unrealized
Loss as a
Percentage of
Amortized
Cost
 
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

Less than Six Months(1)

                               
 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

        $ 159.3   $ (4.0 ) $ 155.3     (2.5 )%
 

Mortgage-backed securities

          7,913.7     (723.2 )   7,190.5     (9.1 )
 

Corporate securities

          335.0     (14.4 )   320.6     (4.3 )
 

Other securities (primarily asset-backed)

          1,323.9     (90.8 )   1,233.1     (6.9 )
                           
   

Total

    533     9,731.9     (832.4 )   8,899.5     (8.6 )

More than Six Months but Less than 12 Months(2)

                               
 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

                       
 

Mortgage-backed securities

          5,232.7     (568.3 )   4,664.4     (10.9 )
 

Corporate securities

          82.2     (3.7 )   78.5     (4.5 )
 

Other securities (primarily asset-backed)

          211.0     (26.2 )   184.8     (12.4 )
                           
   

Total

    223     5,525.9     (598.2 )   4,927.7     (10.8 )

12 Months or More(3)

                               
 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

          64.1     (2.4 )   61.7     (3.8 )
 

Mortgage-backed securities

          282.6     (25.0 )   257.6     (8.8 )
 

Corporate securities

                       
 

Other securities (primarily asset-backed)

          57.8     (1.7 )   56.1     (2.9 )
                           
   

Total

    39     404.5     (29.1 )   375.4     (7.2 )

Total

                               
 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

          223.4     (6.4 )   217.0     (2.9 )
 

Mortgage-backed securities

          13,429.0     (1,316.5 )   12,112.5     (9.8 )
 

Corporate securities

          417.2     (18.1 )   399.1     (4.3 )
 

Other securities (primarily asset-backed)

          1,592.7     (118.7 )   1,474.0     (7.5 )
                         
   

Total

    795   $ 15,662.3   $ (1,459.7 ) $ 14,202.6     (9.3 )%
                         

(1)
The largest unrealized loss on an individual investment, in terms of absolute dollars, was $32.2 million, or 30.1% of its amortized cost.

(2)
The largest unrealized loss on an individual investment, in terms of absolute dollars, was $21.3 million, or 32.1% of its amortized cost.

(3)
The largest unrealized loss on an individual investment, in terms of absolute dollars, was $6.3 million, or 18.0% of its amortized cost.

121


Other-Than-Temporary Impairment Charge

 
  Three Months Ended
September 30, 2008
  Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2008
  At
September 30, 2008
Number of Securities
 
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

Non-agency U.S. RMBS:

                   
 

Subprime

  $ 81.8   $ 364.2     31  
 

Alt-A first-lien

    178.4     768.6     55  
 

Option ARM

    141.0     184.7     19  
 

Alt-A CES

    5.2     59.4     4  
 

HELOCs

    10.1     55.2     6  
 

NIMs

    0.8     0.8     3  

Collateral bond obligations, CDO, CLO:

                   
 

CDOs of ABS

    0.2     27.0     2  
               
   

Total

  $ 417.5   $ 1,459.9     120  
               

    Review of FP Investment Portfolio for Other-than-temporary Impairment

        In its evaluation of securities in the FP Investment Portfolio for OTTI, management uses judgment in reviewing the specific facts and circumstances of individual securities and uses estimates and assumptions of expected default rates, liquidation rates, loss severity rates and prepayment speeds to determine declines in fair value that are other-than-temporary. The Company uses both proprietary and third-party cash flow models to analyze the underlying collateral of asset-backed securities ("ABS") and the cash flows generated by the collateral to determine whether a security's performance is consistent with the expectation that all payments of principal and interest will be made as contractually required. The Company evaluates each security in the FP Investment Portfolio for OTTI on a quarterly basis.

        For securities for which the cash flow model projected a shortfall in contractual payments due to the tranche of the security held by FP, the Company recorded an OTTI charge. The following are the Company's assumptions used in the cash flow models.

         First-lien subprime, Alt-A and Option ARM:     For first-lien subprime, Alt-A and Option ARM securities, the Company applied liquidation rates to each of the delinquency categories over an 18 month liquidation horizon starting at 50% for delinquencies between 30 and 59 days overdue and increasing to 100% for collateral repossessed. Upon liquidation, loss severity rates were assumed to be 40% initially for Alt-A and Option ARM securities, increasing linearly over 18 months to 50%, where they were assumed to remain constant for the remaining life. For first-lien subprime securities, the loss severity rate was assumed to start at 50% and increase linearly to 60% over the same 18 month period, where it was assumed to remain constant for the remaining life. The Company used assumptions (liquidation rates, expected default rates, prepayment rates and loss severity rates) consistent with those used in the loss reserving process for the Company's insured portfolio of HELOC and CES securities.

         HELOC and CES:     All of the HELOC securities and all but three of the CES securities in the FP Investment Portfolio are insured by other monolines. The HELOC and CES securities that are insured by below investment grade financial guarantors were modeled giving 50% benefit to the insurance policy.

         CDOs of ABS:     The sole CDO of ABS in the FP Investment Portfolio is wrapped by a below investment grade financial guarantor. Concentrations of lower-quality RMBS collateral of this security and the assumption that only 50% benefit was given to the below investment grade financial guarantor insurance led the Company to believe that not all contractual payments due under the investment will be made. As a result the Company recorded an OTTI charge.

122


        At September 30, 2008, the FP Investment Portfolio had 66.5% of its portfolio in non-agency RMBS. Through September 30, 2008, management has recorded OTTI on a total of 120 securities, 86 of which were either initially impaired or further impaired in the third quarter. The OTTI charge in the third quarter in the FP Investment Portfolio was $417.5 million in OTTI was recorded in net realized gains (losses) from financial products segment. For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the OTTI charge was $1,459.9 million. The amount of the OTTI charge recorded in the statement of operations and comprehensive income is not necessarily indicative of management's estimate of economic loss, but instead represents the write-down to current fair-value. The estimate of economic loss within the OTTI writedown is based on the Company's ability and intent to hold these assets to maturity. The table below provides the composition of the OTTI charge by asset class.

        Management has determined that the unrealized losses in the remainder of the available-for-sale portfolio are attributable primarily to the current market environment for mortgage-backed securities, and has concluded that these unrealized losses are temporary in nature on the basis of (a) the absence of principal or interest payment defaults on these securities; (b) its analysis of the creditworthiness of the issuers and guarantors, if applicable; (c) its expectation that all payments of principal and interest will be made as contractually required, based on the market-based assumptions previously described; and (d) the Company's ability and intent to hold these securities until a recovery in their fair value or maturity.

        Management has based its conclusions on current facts and circumstances. Events could occur in the future that could change management's conclusions about its ability and intent to hold such securities.

Sensitivity

        The Company evaluated the sensitivity of the FP Investment Portfolio to changes in credit spreads based upon the Portfolio at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007. The table below shows the estimated reduction in fair value for a one basis point widening of credit spread by type of security. Actual amounts may differ from the amounts in the table below.

Effect of One Basis Point of Credit Spread Widening
in FP Investment Portfolio

 
  At
September 30,
2008
  At
December 31,
2007
 
 
  (in millions)
 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

  $ 0.5   $ 0.5  

Mortgage-backed securities

    3.7     2.7  

Other securities(1)

    1.6     1.6  
           
 

Total available for sale securities

    5.8     4.8  

Trading securities

    0.8     0.7  
           
 

Total

  $ 6.6   $ 5.5  
           

      (1)
      Primarily asset-backed securities and corporate securities.

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    General Investment Portfolio

        The credit quality of fixed-income securities in the General Investment Portfolio based on amortized cost was as follows:

General Investment Portfolio Fixed-Income Securities by Rating

Rating(1)
  At
September 30, 2008
Percent of Bonds
 

AAA(2)

    49.3 %

AA

    36.7  

A

    13.5  

BBB

    0.3  

Not Rated

    0.2  
       
 

Total

    100.0 %
       

      (1)
      Ratings are based on the lower of Moody's or S&P ratings available at September 30, 2008.

      (2)
      Includes U.S. Treasury obligations which comprised 1.4% of the portfolio as of September 30, 2008.

        The General Investment Portfolio includes FSA-Insured Investments. Of the bonds included in the General Investment Portfolio, 6.7% were Triple-A by virtue of insurance provided by FSA, and 29.0% were insured by other monolines. All of the FSA-Insured Investments were investment grade without giving effect to the FSA insurance. The average shadow rating of the FSA-Insured Investments, the rating without giving effect to the FSA insurance, was in the Single-A range.

        The amortized cost and fair value of the securities in the General Investment Portfolio were as follows:

General Investment Portfolio by Security Type

 
  At September 30, 2008   At December 31, 2007  
 
  Amortized
Cost
  Fair
Value
  Amortized
Cost
  Fair
Value
 
 
  (in millions)
 

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies

  $ 85.8   $ 86.2   $ 97.3   $ 101.4  

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

    4,386.7     4,270.0     3,920.5     4,064.6  

Mortgage-backed securities

    427.4     426.2     404.3     407.8  

Corporate securities

    184.4     176.4     198.4     201.2  

Foreign securities(1)

    267.1     246.7     248.0     256.3  

Asset-backed securities

    27.0     26.9     23.1     23.3  
                   
 

Total bonds

    5,378.4     5,232.4     4,891.6     5,054.6  

Short-term investments

    609.8     608.4     96.3     97.4  
                   
 

Total fixed-income securities

    5,988.2     5,840.8     4,987.9     5,152.0  

Equity securities

    1.4     0.8     40.0     39.9  
                   
 

Total General Investment Portfolio

  $ 5,989.6   $ 5,841.6   $ 5,027.9   $ 5,191.9  
                   

(1)
The majority of foreign securities are government issues and they are denominated primarily in British pounds.

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        The following table shows the gross unrealized losses and fair value of bonds in the General Investment Portfolio, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position:

Aging of Unrealized Losses of Bonds in General Investment Portfolio

 
  At September 30, 2008  
Aging Categories
  Number
of
Securities
  Amortized
Cost
  Unrealized
Losses
  Fair
Value
  Unrealized
Loss as a
Percentage of
Amortized Cost
 
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

Less than Six Months(1)

                               
 

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies

        $ 0.2   $ (0.0 ) $ 0.2     (0.9 )%
 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

          1,965.5     (83.6 )   1,881.9     (4.3 )
 

Mortgage-backed securities

          74.2     (1.7 )   72.5     (2.3 )
 

Corporate securities

          92.9     (5.7 )   87.2     (6.1 )
 

Foreign securities

          250.0     (18.9 )   231.1     (7.5 )
 

Asset-backed securities

          2.8     (0.1 )   2.7     (2.3 )
                           
   

Total

    632     2,385.6     (110.0 )   2,275.6     (4.6 )

More than Six Months but Less than 12 Months(2)

                               
 

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies

          60.9     (0.7 )   60.2     (1.1 )
 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

          458.7     (48.4 )   410.3     (10.6 )
 

Mortgage-backed securities

          39.4     (2.9 )   36.5     (7.3 )
 

Corporate securities

          18.4     (2.5 )   15.9     (13.8 )
 

Foreign securities

          14.8     (1.7 )   13.1     (11.6 )
 

Asset-backed securities

                       
                           
   

Total

    197     592.2     (56.2 )   536.0     (9.5 )

12 Months or More(3)

                               
 

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies

          0.4     (0.0 )   0.4     (6.1 )
 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

          297.9     (36.9 )   261.0     (12.4 )
 

Mortgage-backed securities

          21.6     (1.0 )   20.6     (4.8 )
 

Corporate securities

          8.9     (1.3 )   7.6     (14.8 )
 

Foreign securities

                       
 

Asset-backed securities

          1.0     (0.1 )   0.9     (5.7 )
                           
   

Total

    166     329.8     (39.3 )   290.5     (11.9 )

Total

                               
 

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies

          61.5     (0.7 )   60.8     (1.2 )
 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

          2,722.1     (168.9 )   2,553.2     (6.2 )
 

Mortgage-backed securities

          135.2     (5.6 )   129.6     (4.2 )
 

Corporate securities

          120.2     (9.5 )   110.7     (7.9 )
 

Foreign securities

          264.8     (20.6 )   244.2     (7.8 )
 

Asset-backed securities

          3.8     (0.2 )   3.6     (3.2 )
                         
   

Total

    995   $ 3,307.6   $ (205.5 ) $ 3,102.1     (6.2 )%
                         

(1)
The largest unrealized loss on an individual investment, in terms of absolute dollars, was $1.9 million, or 8.5% of its amortized cost.

(2)
The largest unrealized loss on an individual investment, in terms of absolute dollars, was $3.0 million, or 12.4% of its amortized cost.

(3)
The largest unrealized loss on an individual investment, in terms of absolute dollars, was $2.8 million, or 27.9% of its amortized cost.

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  At December 31, 2007  
Aging Categories
  Number of
Securities
  Amortized
Cost
  Unrealized
Losses
  Fair
Value
  Unrealized
Loss as a
Percentage of
Amortized Cost
 
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

Less than Six Months(1)

                               
 

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies

        $ 17.0     (0.0 ) $ 17.0     (0.1 )%
 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

          87.7     (1.2 )   86.5     (1.4 )
 

Mortgage-backed securities

          0.2     (0.0 )   0.2      
 

Corporate securities

          4.7     (0.0 )   4.7     (0.5 )
 

Foreign securities

          37.9     (0.3 )   37.6     (0.8 )
 

Asset-backed securities

                       
                           
   

Total

    53     147.5     (1.5 )   146.0     (1.1 )

More than Six Months but Less than 12 Months(2)

                               
 

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies

                       
 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

          326.9     (4.1 )   322.8     (1.3 )
 

Mortgage-backed securities

          0.2     (0.0 )   0.2     (3.8 )
 

Corporate securities

          12.6     (0.4 )   12.2     (3.5 )
 

Foreign securities

                       
 

Asset-backed securities

                       
                           
   

Total

    121     339.7     (4.5 )   335.2     (1.3 )

12 Months or More(3)

                               
 

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies

          2.1     (0.1 )   2.0     (3.3 )
 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

          11.4     (0.5 )   10.9     (4.0 )
 

Mortgage-backed securities

          110.9     (1.7 )   109.2     (1.5 )
 

Corporate securities

          28.2     (0.7 )   27.5     (2.4 )
 

Foreign securities

                       
 

Asset-backed securities

          3.0     (0.0 )   3.0     (0.1 )
                           
   

Total

    180     155.6     (3.0 )   152.6     (1.9 )

Total

                               
 

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies

          19.1     (0.1 )   19.0     (0.5 )
 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

          426.0     (5.8 )   420.2     (1.4 )
 

Mortgage-backed securities

          111.3     (1.7 )   109.6     (1.5 )
 

Corporate securities

          45.5     (1.1 )   44.4     (2.5 )
 

Foreign securities

          37.9     (0.3 )   37.6     (0.8 )
 

Asset-backed securities

          3.0     (0.0 )   3.0     (0.1 )
                         
   

Total

    354   $ 642.8   $ (9.0 ) $ 633.8     (1.4 )%
                         

(1)
The largest unrealized loss on an individual investment, in terms of absolute dollars, was $0.2 million, or 7.7% of its amortized cost.

(2)
The largest unrealized loss on an individual investment, in terms of absolute dollars, was $0.5 million, or 6.9% of its amortized cost.

(3)
The largest unrealized loss on an individual investment, in terms of absolute dollars, was $0.3 million, or 4.5% of its amortized cost.

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        Management has determined that the unrealized losses in fixed-income securities at September 30, 2008 are primarily attributable to the current interest rate environment and has concluded that these unrealized losses are temporary in nature based upon (a) the lack of principal or interest payment defaults on these securities, (b) the creditworthiness of the issuers, and (c) the Company's ability and current intent to hold these securities until a recovery in fair value or maturity. As of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, 99.6% and 100%, respectively, of the securities that were in a gross unrealized loss position were rated investment grade. Management has based its conclusions on current facts and circumstances. Events could occur in the future that could change management conclusions about its ability and intent to hold such securities.

        The amortized cost and fair value of fixed-income investments in the General Investment Portfolio as of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, by contractual maturity, are shown below. Actual maturities could differ from contractual maturities because borrowers have the right to call or prepay certain obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

Distribution of Fixed-Income Securities in General Investment Portfolio
by Contractual Maturity

 
  September 30, 2008   December 31, 2007  
 
  Amortized
Cost
  Fair
Value
  Amortized
Cost
  Fair
Value
 
 
  (in millions)
 

Due in one year or less

  $ 708.4   $ 708.8   $ 156.0   $ 158.0  

Due after one year through five years

    1,074.6     1,093.1     1,354.8     1,425.2  

Due after five years through ten years

    807.7     797.7     818.4     853.9  

Due after ten years

    2,943.1     2,788.1     2,231.3     2,283.8  

Mortgage-backed securities(1)

    427.4     426.2     404.3     407.8  

Asset-backed securities(2)

    27.0     26.9     23.1     23.3  
                   
 

Total fixed-income securities in General Investment Portfolio

  $ 5,988.2   $ 5,840.8   $ 4,987.9   $ 5,152.0  
                   

(1)
Stated maturities for mortgage-backed securities of three to 30 years as of September 30, 2008 and of four to 30 years as of December 31, 2007.

(2)
Stated maturities for asset-backed securities of one to 15 years as of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007.

Capital Adequacy

        S&P, Moody's and Fitch Ratings periodically make an assessment of FSA, which may include an assessment of the credits insured by FSA and of the reinsurers and other providers of capital support to FSA, to confirm that FSA continues to satisfy the rating agencies' capital adequacy criteria necessary to maintain FSA's Triple-A ratings. Capital adequacy assessments by the rating agencies are generally based on FSA's qualified statutory capital, which is the aggregate of policyholders' surplus and contingency reserves determined in accordance with statutory accounting principles.

        Rating agency capital models, the assumptions used in the models and the components of the capital adequacy calculations, including ratings and, in the case of S&P, capital charges, are subject to change by the rating agencies at any time. FSA employs considerable reinsurance in its business to manage its single-risk exposures on insured credits, and downgrades by rating agencies of FSA's reinsurers could be expected to have a negative effect on the "cushion" FSA has above the minimum

127



Triple-A requirement in the models. The Company may seek to raise additional capital to replenish any reduction of its capital "cushion" by any of the rating agencies in their assessment of FSA's capital adequacy.

        In the case of S&P, assessments of the credits insured by FSA are reflected in defined "capital charges." S&P's capital model simulates the effect of a four-year depression occurring three years in the future, during which losses equal 100% of capital charges. The insurer is required to survive this "depression scenario" with 25% more statutory capital than necessary to cover 100% of losses. Credit provided for reinsurance under the S&P capital adequacy model is generally a function of the S&P rating of the reinsurer and the qualification of the reinsurer as a "monoline" or "multiline" company. The downgrade of a reinsurer by S&P from the Triple-A to the Double-A category results in a decline in the credit allowed for reinsurance by S&P from 100% or 95% to 70% or 65%, while a downgrade to the Single-A category results in 50% or 45% credit under present criteria. S&P has also announced plans to introduce an additional capital adequacy model using a Monte Carlo distribution methodology. It has indicated it intends to retain the depression model as well.

        Capital adequacy is one of the financial strength measures under Moody's financial guarantor model. The model uses a Monte Carlo distribution methodology and includes a penalty for risk concentration and recognizes a benefit for diversification. Moody's assesses capital adequacy by comparing FSA's claims-paying resources to a Moody's-derived probability of potential credit losses. Moody's loss distribution reflects FSA's current distribution of risk by sector, the credit quality of insured exposures, correlations that exist between transactions, the credit quality of FSA's reinsurers and the term to maturity of FSA's insured portfolio. The published results compare levels of theoretical loss in the tail of this distribution to various measures of FSA's claims-paying resources. Like S&P, Moody's allows FSA "credit" for reinsurance based upon Moody's rating of the reinsurer. Generally, 100% credit is allowed for Triple-A reinsurance, 80% to 90% credit is allowed for Double-A reinsurance and 40% to 60% credit is allowed for Single-A reinsurance.

        Fitch's Matrix model also uses a Monte Carlo distribution methodology, employing correlation factors and concentration factors. Its primary measure is the "Core Capital Adequacy Ratio," which is the ratio of claims-paying resources adjusted by Fitch to reflect its view of their availability to the amount that it calculates (to a Triple-A level of confidence) would be required to pay claims. Fitch's Matrix model applies reinsurance credit on a transaction level based on Fitch's ratings of the provider, Fitch's correlation factor and the probability of a dispute over the claims, which probability varies depending on whether or not the reinsurer is a monoline.

    Rating Agencies' Reviews

        During the third quarter of 2008, the rating agencies took various ratings actions relating to the Company's ratings:

    On July 21, 2008, Moody's placed the Triple-A rating of the Company's insurance company subsidiaries on "review for downgrade." In announcing the review for possible downgrade, Moody's stated that it had re-estimated expected and stress loss projections on FSA's aggregate insured portfolio.

    On October 8, 2008, S&P placed the Company's insurance company subsidiaries' Triple-A ratings on "negative credit watch." On November 6, 2008, S&P reported that FSA surpasses its Triple-A minimum capital requirement with a margin of safety of 1.3 - 1.4x, taking into consideration S&P's updated loss projections for the RMBS portfolio.

    On October 9, 2008, Fitch also placed the Company's insurance company subsidiaries' Triple-A ratings on "negative credit watch."

128


        The ratings agencies stated that their actions regarding FSA were based in part upon rating agency concerns regarding the prospects for new business originations by financial guarantors, as well as uncertainty about future support for FSA under Dexia's new ownership and management, rather than the fundamental credit strength of the insurance company. The effect of the recent ratings actions on FSA's market opportunities remains unclear.


Non-GAAP Measures

        To more accurately reflect how the Company's management evaluates the Company's operations and progress toward long-term goals, the Company discloses both measures promulgated in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP measures) and measures not so promulgated (non-GAAP measures). Although the measures identified as non-GAAP should not be considered substitutes for GAAP measures, management considers them key performance indicators and employs them in determining compensation. Non-GAAP measures therefore provide investors with important information about the way management analyzes its business and rewards performance.

Present Value Originations

        PV originations is the sum of PV financial guaranty originations and PV NIM originated in the FP segment and represents the Company's measure of business production in a given period. PV financial guaranty originations, PV NIM originated and PV originations are based on estimates of, among other things, prepayment speeds of asset-backed securities.

        PV financial guaranty originations is a measure of gross origination activity and does not reflect premiums ceded to reinsurers or the cost of CDS or other credit protection, which may be considerable, employed by the Company to manage its credit exposures.

Present Value Financial Guaranty Originations

        The GAAP measure "gross premiums written" captures financial guaranty premiums collected or accrued in a given period, whether collected for business originated in the period or in installments for business originated in prior periods. It is not a precise measure of current-period originations because a portion of the Company's premiums are collected in installments. Therefore, management calculates the non-GAAP measure PV financial guaranty originations as a measure of current-period premium production. To do so, management combines the following for business closed in the reporting period: (1) gross present value of premium and credit derivative fee installments and (2) premiums received upfront.

        The Company's insurance policies, including credit derivatives, are generally non-cancelable and remain outstanding for years from date of inception, in some cases 30 years or longer. Accordingly, PV credit derivatives originated, as distinct from realized gains (losses) on credit derivatives, represents amounts to be realized in the future.

        Viewed at a policy level, installment premiums and credit derivative fees are generally calculated as a fixed premium rate multiplied by the estimated or expected insured debt outstanding as of dates established by the terms of the policy. Because the actual installment premiums and credit derivative fees received could vary from the amount estimated at the time of origination based on variances in the actual versus estimated outstanding debt balances and foreign exchange rate fluctuations, the realization of PV financial guaranty originations could be greater or less than the amount reported.

        Installment premiums and credit derivative fees are not recorded in the financial statements until due, which is a function of the terms of each insurance policy. Future installment premiums and credit

129



derivative fees are not captured in current-period premiums earned or premiums written, the most comparable GAAP measures. Management therefore uses PV premiums and other credit enhancement originated to measure current business production.

        PV financial guaranty originations reflects estimated future installment premiums and credit derivative fees discounted to their present value, as well as upfront premiums, with respect to business originated during the period. To calculate PV financial guaranty originations, management discounts an estimate of all future installment premium receipts. The Company calculates the discount rate for PV financial guaranty originations as the average pre-tax yield on its insurance investment portfolio for the previous three years. The estimated installment premium receipts are determined based on each installment policy's projected par balance outstanding multiplied by its premium rate. The Company's Transaction Oversight Groups estimate the relevant schedule of future par balances outstanding for each insurance policy with installment premiums. At the time of origination, projected debt schedules are generally based on good faith estimates developed and used by the parties negotiating the transaction.

        Year-to-year comparisons of PV financial guaranty originations are affected by the application of a different discount rate each year. The discount rate employed by the Company for this purpose was 4.92% for 2008 originations and 4.86% for 2007 originations.

Present Value of Financial Products Net Interest Margin Originated

        The FP segment produces NIM, which is a non-GAAP measure, rather than insurance premiums. Like installment premiums, PV NIM originated in a given period is expected to be earned and collected in future periods.

        FP segment debt is issued at or converted into LIBOR-based floating rate obligations, with proceeds invested in or converted into LIBOR-based floating rate investments intended to result in profits from a higher investment rate than borrowing rate. FP NIM represents the difference between the current period investment revenue and borrowing cost, net of the economic effect of derivatives used to hedge interest rate and currency risk.

        PV NIM originated represents the difference between the present value of estimated interest to be received on investments and the present value of estimated interest to be paid on liabilities issued by the FP segment, net of transaction expenses and the expected results of derivatives used to hedge interest rate risk. The Company's future positive interest rate spread estimate generally relates to contracts or security instruments that extend for multiple years.

        Net interest income and net interest expense are reflected in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income but are limited to current period earnings. As the GICs and the assets they fund extend beyond the current period, management considers the PV NIM originated to be a useful indicator of future FP NIM to be earned. PV NIM outstanding is also included in the non-GAAP measure ABV as an element of intrinsic value that is not found in GAAP book value.

Operating Earnings

        The Company defines operating earnings as net income excluding the effects of fair-value adjustments considered to be non-economic and, beginning in 2008, IFRS adjustments. IFRS is the basis of accounting used by Dexia and is the basis on which all of FSA's compensation plans are referenced in 2008 and forward. The fair-value adjustments excluded from operating earnings are itemized below.

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    Fair-value adjustments for instruments with economically hedged risks. These include adjustments related to hedges that are economically effective but do not meet the criteria necessary to receive hedge accounting treatment under SFAS 133 (any residual hedge ineffectiveness remains in operating earnings). These also include adjustments related to non-economic changes in fair value related to the trading portfolio, such as the effect of changes in credit spreads.

    Fair-value adjustments for credit derivatives in the insured portfolio, which are certain contracts for which fair-value adjustments are recorded through the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income because they qualify as derivatives under SFAS 133 or SFAS No. 155, "Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments." These contracts include CDS, insured swaps in certain public finance obligations and insured NIM securitizations. In the event of credit impairment, operating earnings would include the present value of estimated economic losses.

    Impairment charges on investments, other than the present value of estimated economic losses.

    Fair-value adjustments attributable to the Company's own credit risk, such as debt valuation adjustments on FP segment debt for which the fair-value option was elected and fair-value adjustments on the Company's committed preferred trust capital facility.

Adjusted Book Value

        To calculate ABV, the following adjustments, on an after-tax basis, are made to book value:

    1.
    addition of unearned financial guaranty revenues, net of amounts ceded;

    2.
    addition of PV premiums and credit derivative fees outstanding, net of amounts ceded and estimated premium taxes;

    3.
    addition of PV NIM outstanding;

    4.
    subtraction of the deferred costs of acquiring policies;

    5.
    elimination of fair-value adjustments for credit derivatives in the insured portfolio, other than credit impairment losses representing the present value of estimated losses;

    6.
    elimination of the fair-value adjustments for instruments with economically hedged risks, with any residual ineffectiveness remaining in ABV, and adjustments related to non-economic changes in fair value related to the trading portfolio, such as the effect of changes in credit spreads;

    7.
    elimination of unrealized gains or losses on investments, other than credit impairment losses representing the present value of estimated losses;

    8.
    elimination of fair-value adjustments attributable to the Company's own credit risk, such as debt valuation adjustments on FP segment debt for which the fair-value option was elected and fair-value adjustments on the Company's committed preferred trust put options; and

    9.
    IFRS adjustments.

        Management considers ABV an operating measure of the Company's intrinsic value. Book value includes an estimate of loss for all insured risks made at the time of contract origination. ABV adds back certain GAAP liabilities and deducts certain GAAP assets (adjustments 1, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 in the calculation above), and also captures the estimated value of future contractual cash flows related to

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transactions in force as of the balance sheet date (adjustments 2 and 3 in the calculation above) because installment payment contracts, whether in the form of future premiums or future NIM, are generally non-cancelable and represent a claim to future cash flows. ABV also reflects certain IFRS adjustments in order to better align the interests of employees with the interests of Dexia, the Company's principal shareholder, whose accounts are maintained under IFRS. An investor attempting to evaluate the Company using GAAP measures alone would not have the benefit of this information. In addition, investors may consider the growth of ABV to be a performance measure indicating the degree to which management has succeeded in building a reliable source of future earnings. The Company's compensation formulas are based, in part, on the ABV growth rate.

        The ABV metric has certain limitations. It reflects the accelerated realization of certain assets and liabilities through equity, and relies on an estimate of the amount and timing of receipt of installment premiums and credit derivative fees and future NIM. Actual installment premium and credit derivative receipts could vary from the estimate due to differences between actual and estimated insured debt balances outstanding and foreign exchange rate fluctuations. Actual NIM results could vary from the amount estimated based on changes in expected lives of assets and variances in the actual timing and amount of repayment associated with flexible-draw GICs that the Company issues. ABV excludes the fair-value adjustments deemed non-economic because they are expected to sum to zero over the lives of the related contracts.

        Adjustments 1, 2 and 3 above represent the sum of cumulative years' reported PV financial guaranty originations and PV NIM originated, less what has been earned or adjusted due to changes in estimates as described above. Installment payment contracts, whether in the form of premiums, credit derivatives or NIM, are generally non-cancelable by the Company and represent a claim to future cash flows. Therefore, management includes these amounts in its estimate of ABV. PV NIM outstanding is adjusted for management's estimate of transaction and hedging related costs. Adjustments 1 and 2 in the calculation of ABV represent unearned financial guaranty revenues that have been collected and the Company's best estimate of the present value of its future installments (comprising current- and prior-period originations that have not yet been earned). Debt schedules related to installment transactions can change from time to time. Critical assumptions underlying adjustment 2 are discussed above under "—PV Financial Guaranty Originations."

        As discussed above under "—Present Value of Financial Products Net Interest Margin Originated," the Company calculates PV NIM originated because net interest income and net interest expense reflected in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income are limited to current-period earnings. The Company's future positive interest rate spread from outstanding FP segment business (adjustment 3) can be estimated and generally relates to contracts or security instruments that are expected to be held for multiple years. Management therefore includes the present value of the expected economic effect in ABV as another element of intrinsic value not found in GAAP book value.

        Adjustment 4 reflects the realization of costs deferred and associated with premium originated.

        Adjustments 5 through 8 reflect the effect of certain items excluded from operating earnings and ABV because, absent credit impairment that would cause a payment under the contract, these fair value adjustments will sum to zero over time. Any credit impairments, defined as the present value of estimated economic losses, would be included in operating earnings and ABV. ABV and operating earnings drive management compensation payouts. As the Company's objective is to optimize long-term stable growth in economic value, management generally seeks to minimize turnover and therefore any unrealized gain or loss, unless economic, is subtracted from book value to exclude it from the ABV metric. In the event that an investment is liquidated prior to its maturity, any related gain or loss is reflected in both earnings and ABV without further adjustment.

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        Adjustment 9 reflects IFRS adjustments, which are differences that relate primarily to foreign exchange gains or losses related to foreign-denominated investments and to contingencies and certain fair-value adjustments.

FP Segment NIM

        FP Segment NIM is a non-GAAP measure comprised of the net interest margin generated by the FP business including both GICs and VIEs. FP Segment NIM is a measure used by management to monitor the performance of the FP Segment. FP Segment NIM may be reconciled to the sum of FP segment revenue and expense captions in the financial statements. The adjustments to arrive at FP Segment NIM are (1) the addition of intersegment revenues, (2) the elimination of fair-value adjustments for instruments with economically hedged risks and (3) fair-value adjustments attributable to the Company's own credit risk.

        Intersegment income relates primarily to intercompany notes held in the FP Segment Investment Portfolio. In connection with the Company's refinancing transactions, FSA obtains funds from the FP segment to fund claim payments, creating an interest bearing intercompany note. The intercompany note is included in the assets of the FP segment, with the related net interest income added to FP Segment NIM, but eliminated from the consolidated financial statements.

Use of Non-GAAP Measures in Calculating Compensation

        Management of the Company uses operating earnings and ABV, both non-GAAP measures, as key indicators of periodic economic earnings and intrinsic value (excluding franchise value), respectively. Management reviews operating earnings at least quarterly. The Company prepares its budget on an operating earnings basis by planning only for operating items. The Company analyzes the impact of all significant proposed transactions on operating earnings and ABV.

        Management believes these non-GAAP measures are informative to users of the financial statements for the following reasons:

    The analysis of the Company's performance is facilitated by the disclosure of these key non-GAAP measures that remove volatility caused by non-economic mark-to-market adjustments. An analysis of financial results that limits itself to GAAP would be incomplete because the fair value adjustments required by GAAP may mask the economics of the Company's business.

    These measures are benchmark performance indicators for the Company's variable compensation plans that are used to incent management to perform in accordance with its goal of building economic value and future earnings streams for its stakeholders. Removing the effects of fair-value adjustments that are expected to sum to zero over time is a disincentive to manage to a quarterly earnings number in favor of managing towards long-term value creation.

    The Company's peers have historically disclosed similar non-GAAP measures, making disclosure of these measures relevant for comparisons between industry participants. These measures are also utilized by rating agencies when assessing the Company's credit ratings. To facilitate comparison to other financial guarantors that define these measures differently, management discloses the nature of each adjustment in the reconciliation to comparable GAAP measures under "—Non-GAAP Measures."

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        Cash bonuses are paid on an annual basis out of a bonus pool (the "Bonus Pool") determined pursuant to a guideline formula intended to provide employees with a percentage of the growth in value in the Company during the preceding calendar year. In determining the Bonus Pool guideline, management and the Human Resources Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company consider ABV a proxy for value creation. Accordingly, the current Bonus Pool guideline provides for an annual Bonus Pool equal to a predetermined percentage (set at 9.5% as of September 30, 2008) of the increase in ABV of the Company during the applicable year. Notwithstanding the Bonus Pool guideline, however, bonuses remain within the discretion of the HR Committee, except insofar as otherwise provided in the Company's employment agreements.

        The Bonus Pool is primarily based on growth in ABV and equity compensation is based in part upon the growth in the non-GAAP measures ABV and in part on current year operating earnings. Bonus expense, driven primarily by growth in ABV, comprised 32.5%, 31.7%, and 32.6% of total gross compensation expenses (before expense deferrals and amortization of policy acquisition costs) for the years ended December, 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005.

        The 2004 Equity Participation Plan provides for awards of performance share units, which represent awards of both performance shares and shares of Dexia restricted stock. Each performance share represents a right to receive up to two shares of the Company's common stock (or the cash value thereof), with the actual number of common shares receivable determined on the basis of the increase in ABV and book value per share over a specified performance cycle. Book value and ABV measurements employed in valuing performance shares are determined in accordance with IFRS, in order to better align the interests of employees with the interests of the Company's parent, whose accounts are maintained under IFRS.

        The performance shares were designed to have no value if the Company fails to generate growth in "value" per share in excess of 7% per annum for each three year performance cycle. The actual dollar value received by a holder of performance shares, in general, varies in accordance with the annualized rate of ABV growth and book value growth per share of the Company's common stock during the applicable three-year performance cycle and the value of a share of common stock at the time of payout of such performance shares.

        So long as the Company's common stock is not publicly traded, the Company expects to pay performance shares in cash rather than stock, with the shares valued at the greater of:

    (1)
    The average of (a) 1.15 times ABV per share and (b) 14 times operating earnings per share and

    (2)
    0.85 times ABV per share.

        Equity compensation expense comprised 22.2%, 22.1%, and 22.1% of total gross operating expenses for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005.


Forward-Looking Statements

        The Company relies on the safe harbor for forward-looking statements provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This safe harbor requires that the Company specify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Company. Accordingly, forward-looking statements by the Company and its affiliates are qualified by reference to the following cautionary statements.

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        In its filings with the Securities SEC, reports to shareholders, press releases and other written and oral communications, the Company from time to time makes forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:

    projections of revenues, income (or loss), earnings (or loss) per share, dividends, market share or other financial forecasts;

    statements of plans, objectives or goals of the Company or its management, including those related to growth in adjusted book value or return on equity; and

    expected losses on, and adequacy of loss reserves for, insured transactions.

        Words such as "believes," "anticipates," "expects," "intends" and "plans" and future and conditional verbs such as "will," "should," "would," "could" and "may" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements.

        The Company cautions that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the plans, objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions expressed in forward-looking statements made by the Company. These factors include:

    the risks discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and in the Quarterly Report for the three months ended June 30, 2008 on Form 10-Q in Part II under "Item 1A. Risk Factors";

    changes in capital requirements or other criteria of securities rating agencies applicable to FSA;

    potential for reduced market appetite for FSA-insured securities due to credit watch status at, and potential ratings downgrade from, Fitch, Moody's and S&P;

    the change in creditworthiness of, or the quality of support provided by, the Company's parent Dexia, on whom the Company relies for credit and liquidity support of the FP business;

    market conditions, including the credit quality and market pricing of securities issued;

    competitive forces, including the conduct of other financial guaranty insurers and competition from alternative executions;

    changes in domestic or foreign laws or regulations applicable to the Company, its competitors or its clients;

    impairments to assets in the FP Investment Portfolio proving to be "other than temporary" rather than temporary, resulting in reductions in net income;

    changes in accounting principles or practices that may affect the Company's reported financial results;

    an economic downturn or other economic conditions (such as a rising interest rate environment) adversely affecting transactions insured by FSA or its General Investment Portfolio;

    inadequacy of reserves established by the Company for losses and loss adjustment expenses;

    disruptions in cash flow on FSA-insured structured transactions attributable to legal challenges to such structures;

    downgrade or default of one or more of FSA's reinsurers;

    capacity limitations that may impair investor appetite for FSA-insured obligations;

    market spreads and pricing on CDS exposures, which may result in gain or loss due to mark-to-market accounting requirements;

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    prepayment speeds on FSA-insured asset-backed securities and other factors that may influence the amount of installment premiums paid to FSA; and

    other factors, most of which are beyond the Company's control.

        The Company cautions that the foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. In any event, such forward-looking statements made by the Company speak only as of the date on which they are made, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise such statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Item 3.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

        An update of the sensitivity in the FP Investment Portfolio to changes in credit spreads based upon the FP Investment Portfolio at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007 is included in "Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Sensitivity." There has been no other material change in the Company's market risk since December 31, 2007.

Item 4T.    Controls and Procedures.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

        The Company's management, with the participation of the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, completed an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of September 30, 2008. Based on that evaluation, the Company's management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, have concluded that as of such date the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the rules and forms of the SEC and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, in a manner that allows timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

        There has been no change in the Company's internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) or 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the period ended September 30, 2008 that has materially affected, or that is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

        There are inherent limitations to the effectiveness of any system of disclosure controls and procedures, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of the controls and procedures. Accordingly, even effective disclosure controls and procedures can only provide reasonable assurance of achieving their control objectives. The Company will continue to improve the design and effectiveness of its disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting to the extent necessary in the future to provide management with timely access to such material information and to correct any deficiencies that may be discovered in the future.

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Part II—Other Information

Item 1.    Legal Proceedings.

        As previously disclosed, between March and July 2008 seven putative class action lawsuits were filed in federal court alleging antitrust violations in the municipal derivatives industry; an eighth was filed later in July, 2008. Five of these cases name both the Company and FSA:

    (a)
    Hinds County, Mississippi v. Wachovia Bank, N.A. (filed on or about March 13, 2008 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York ("S.D.N.Y."), Case No. 1:08-cv-2516);

    (b)
    Fairfax County, Virginia v. Wachovia Bank, N.A. (filed on or about March 12, 2008 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Case No. 1:08-cv-432; transferred to the S.D.N.Y. as Case No. 1:08-cv-5492);

    (c)
    Central Bucks School District, Pennsylvania v. Wachovia Bank N.A. (filed on or about June 4, 2008 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Case No. 1:08-cv-956, transferred to the S.D.N.Y. as Case No. 1:08-cv-6342);

    (d)
    Mayor & City Counsel of Baltimore, Maryland v. Wachovia Bank N.A. (filed on or about July 3, 2008 in the S.D.N.Y., Case No. 1:08-cv-6142); and

    (e)
    Washington County, Tennessee v. Wachovia Bank N.A. (filed on or about July 14, 2008 in the S.D.N.Y., Case No. 1:08-cv-6304).

        Three of the cases name the Company only: (a) City of Oakland, California, v. AIG Financial Products Corp. (filed on or about April 23, 2008 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ("N.D. Cal."), Case No. 3:08-cv-2116, transferred to the S.D.N.Y. as Case No. 1:08-cv-6340); (b) County of Alameda, California v. AIG Financial Products Corp. (filed on or about July 8, 2008 in the N.D. Cal., Case No. 3:08-cv-3278, transferred to the S.D.N.Y. as Case No. 1:08-cv-7034); and (c) City of Fresno, California v. AIG Financial Products Corp. (filed on or about July 17, 2008 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, Case No. 1.08-cv-1045, transferred to the S.D.N.Y. as Case No. 1:08-cv-7355).

        These cases have been coordinated and consolidated for pretrial proceedings in the S.D.N.Y. as MDL 1950, In re Municipal Derivatives Antitrust Litigation, Case No. 1:08-cv-2516 ("MDL 1950"). Interim lead counsel for the MDL 1950 plaintiffs filed a Consolidated Class Action Complaint ("Consolidated Complaint") in August 2008 alleging violations of the federal antitrust laws. Defendants filed motions to dismiss the Consolidated Complaint. Plaintiffs Oakland, Alameda, and Fresno also allege violations under California law, and the MDL 1950 court has determined that it will handle federal claims alleged in the Consolidated Complaint before addressing state claims. 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.

        The Company and FSA also are named in five non-class actions originally filed in the California Superior Courts alleging violations of California law related to the municipal derivatives industry:

    (a)
    City of Los Angeles v. Bank of America, N.A. (filed on or about July 23, 2008 in the Superior Court of the State of California in and for the County of Los Angeles, Case No. BC 394944, removed to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California ("C.D. Cal.") as Case No. 2:08-cv-5574);

    (b)
    City of Stockton v. Bank of America, N.A. (filed on or about July 23, 2008 in the Superior Court of the State of California in and for the County of San Francisco, Case No. CGC-08-477851, removed to the N.D. Cal. as Case No. 3:08-cv-4060);

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    (c)
    County of San Diego v. Bank of America, N.A. (filed on or about August 28, 2008 in the Superior Court of the State of California in and for the County of Los Angeles, Case No. SC 99566, removed to C.D. Cal. as Case No. 2:08-cv-6283);

    (d)
    County of San Mateo v. Bank of America, N.A. (filed on or about October 7, 2008 in the Superior Court of the State of California in and for the County of San Francisco, Case No. CGC-08-480664, removed to N.D. Cal. as Case No. 3:08-cv-4751); and

    (e)
    County of Contra Costa v. Bank of America, N.A. (filed on or about October 8, 2008 in the Superior Court of the State of California in and for the County of San Francisco, Case No. CGC-08-480733, removed to N.D. Cal. as Case No. 4:08-cv-4752).

        These five cases have been removed to federal court, and plaintiffs have filed motions to remand all five actions to the state courts in which the cases were filed. The first hearing on a motion to remand has occurred, but the court has not yet issued a ruling. Defendants have noticed each of the removed cases as a tag-along action to MDL 1950, and the parties have completed briefing plaintiffs' opposition to the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation's ("JPML") conditional transfer of the Los Angeles and Stockton actions to MDL 1950 in the S.D.N.Y. These conditional transfer motions and plaintiffs' oppositions to them are scheduled to be addressed at a JPML hearing session in November. 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 FSA, were named as defendants in two civil actions 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: (i)  Charles E. Wilson vs. JPMorgan Chase & Co et al (filed on or about August 8, 2008 in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Alabama), Case No. 01-CV-2008-901907.00, a putative class action; and State of Alabama, ex. rel. Fowler, et al vs. Blount, Parrish & Roton, et al (filed on or about August 28, 2008 in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Alabama), Case No. 01-CV-2008-002780.00. The actions were brought on behalf of rate payers, tax payers and citizens residing in Jefferson County, as well as, in the Fowler action, Citizens for Sewer Accountability, Inc., a not for profit corporation. The first action alleges conspiracy and fraud, and the second alleges corruption and bribery, both in connection with the issuance of the County's debt. The complaints in these lawsuits seek unspecified monetary damages, interest, attorneys' fees and other costs, as well as, in the Fowler matter, a revocation of FSA's charter. The Company cannot reasonably estimate the possible loss or range of loss that may arise from these lawsuits.

Item 1A.    Risk Factors.

        The Company has updated certain risk factors it previously disclosed in its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 and quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2008. The updated risk factors are listed below.

Dexia has announced its intention to sell its shares of the Company to Assured Guaranty.

        In September 2008, Dexia announced the provision of capital support to Dexia by the governments of Belgium, France and Luxembourg, which was followed by changes in Dexia senior management. Following such developments, Dexia announced its intention to refocus on its basic business lines, and its decision to explore options to reduce its risk related to the Company. On November 14, 2008, Dexia announced that Dexia and Assured Guaranty have entered into a purchase agreement for Assured Guaranty to acquire all of Dexia's shares of the Company (the "Acquisition"), subject to the satisfaction of specified closing conditions, including receipt of regulatory and Assured Guaranty shareholder approvals and confirmation from S&P, Moody's and Fitch that the acquisition of the Company would not have a negative impact on the financial strength ratings of Assured's insurance company

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subsidiaries or the Company's insurance company subsidiaries. The Company cannot estimate whether or when such closing conditions will be satisfied, whether the Acquisition will be completed and, if completed, whether it will be structured as currently contemplated, or what the effects of such a change in control will be on the Company and its results of operations. If the Acquisition is not carried out, Dexia may explore other options with respect to the Company, including selling the Company or some of its operations to a third party, which may have a material effect on the Company.

Change in management personnel or share ownership may have an adverse effect on the Company's business.

        The Company's senior management plays an active role in its underwriting and business decisions. In addition, FSA and Dexia have worked together on numerous new business opportunities, and such close cooperation may diminish were Dexia no longer an owner of the Company. Accordingly, a change in management or share ownership may have an adverse effect upon the Company's business.

Loss of FSA'S "Triple-A" ratings could impair its ability to originate new business.

        The Triple-A ratings of the Company's insurance company subsidiaries were placed on "review for downgrade" on July 21, 2008 by Moody's and on "negative credit watch" on October 8, 2008 by S&P, and on October 9, 2008 by Fitch. The effect of these recent ratings actions on the Company's market opportunities remains unclear. FSA's ability to originate new insurance business and compete with other financial guarantors and credit enhancers is based upon the perceived financial strength of FSA's insurance, which in turn is based in large part upon the financial strength ratings assigned to FSA by the major securities rating agencies. Credit ratings are an important component of a financial institutions' ability to compete in the financial guaranty, derivative, investment agreement and structured transaction markets.

        The rating agencies base their ratings upon a number of objective and subjective factors. Credit deterioration in FSA's insured portfolio or changes to rating agency capital adequacy requirements could impair FSA's ratings. The recent ratings actions regarding FSA were based in part upon rating agency concerns regarding the prospects for new business originations by financial guarantors, as well as uncertainty about future support for FSA under Dexia's new ownership and management. For a discussion of other factors that might impair FSA's ratings, see "Item 1. Business—Rating Agencies" in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. To maintain its ratings, the Company may be required to take measures to preserve or raise capital, including through, among other things, increased use of reinsurance, capital contributions or the issuance of debt securities. The Company cannot ensure that it will be able to take the measures necessary to maintain its ratings. Downgrades of FSA's Triple-A financial strength ratings could have a material adverse effect on its long-term prospects for future business opportunities as well as its results of operations and financial condition.

Ceasing to provide financial guaranty insurance on asset-backed transactions could reduce the Company's new business originations.

        On August 6, 2008, the Company announced that FSA would cease providing financial guaranty insurance on asset-backed obligations and participate exclusively in the global public finance and infrastructure markets. The Company believes that withdrawal from the asset backed business will enhance its ratings stability, reduce its exposure to structured credit risk in its insured portfolio, and reduce its operating costs. At the same time, however, withdrawal from the asset backed business may result in decreased business originations, revenues and net income relative to historical levels. A decline in new business originations or profitability may, in turn, be considered adverse factors by the rating agencies in assessing FSA's financial strength.

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Fair valuing the Company's insured CDS portfolio may subject the Company's reported earnings to extreme volatility.

        The Company is required to mark to market certain derivatives, including FSA-insured CDS, which are considered derivatives under GAAP. As a result of such treatment, and given the large principal balance of FSA's insured CDS portfolio, small changes in the market pricing for insurance of CDS will generally result in recognition by the Company of material gains or losses, with material market price increases generally resulting in large reported losses under GAAP. Sharp swings in the estimated fair value of the CDS portfolio may occur from quarter to quarter due to the volatility of credit spreads that drive the fair-value estimates. Such changes in fair value can be caused by general market conditions and perceptions of credit risk, including FSA's own credit risk, causing the Company's GAAP earnings to be more volatile than would be suggested by the actual performance of FSA's business operations and insured CDS portfolio.

        In addition, any previously reported mark-to-market gains in respect of FSA's insured portfolio would be expected to be reversed as unrealized losses over the remaining terms of the insured risks. While management believes that reported mark to market gains or losses on insured CDS generally are not indicative of realized losses, certain constituents, including capital market participants, may rely upon reported GAAP results. As a result, the Company's access to capital markets might be impaired if its reported earnings were considered unusually volatile.

The Company's loss reserves may prove inadequate.

        The Company's insurance policies guarantee financial performance of obligations over specified periods of time, in some cases over 30 years, and are generally non-cancelable. The Company projects expected deterioration and ultimate loss amounts based on historical experience in order to estimate probable loss. If an individual policy risk has a probable and reasonably estimable loss as of the balance sheet date, the Company establishes a case reserve. For the remaining policy risks in the portfolio, the Company establishes a non-specific reserve to account for inherent credit losses. The establishment of these reserves is a systematic process that considers quantitative and statistical information together with qualitative factors, resulting in management's best estimate of inherent losses associated with providing credit protection at a given date. However, the process is inherently uncertain, and the Company cannot assure that its reserves will prove adequate. If losses in its insured portfolio materially exceed the Company's loss reserves, it could have a material adverse effect on the financial ratings, results of operations and financial condition of the Company. For additional discussion of the Company's reserve methodologies, see "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Financial Guaranty Segment—Results of Operations—Losses."

The Company may face claims in connection with early termination of Leveraged Lease Transactions in the event of failure of municipal lessees to pay stipulated loss amounts when due.

        At September 30, 2008, FSA had insured up to $2.7 billion of stipulated loss payments that may become due from investment grade municipal lessees upon early termination of so-called "defeased" equipment leases. In the event of failure by the municipal lessees to make any stipulated loss payment when and if due, FSA would be obligated to pay such amounts, and would be entitled to reimbursement from the municipal lessees for any claims paid. Of such stipulated loss payments, approximately $1 billion may come due as a result of the ratings downgrade of AIG unless the municipal lessees provide a guarantor or substitute for AIG satisfying the rating requirements of the lease documents. In addition, all such stipulated loss payments may become due as a result of a ratings downgrade of FSA (approximately $73.6 million upon downgrade to "AA+" or "Aa1," approximately $293 million upon downgrade to "AA" or "Aa2," approximately $985 million upon downgrade to"AA-"or "Aa3," approximately $2.562 billion upon downgrade to "A+" or "A1," or approximately

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$2.598 billion upon a downgrade below "A+" or "A1") unless the municipal lessee provides a guarantor or substitute for FSA satisfying the rating requirements of the lease documents.

The Company is exposed to large risks.

        The Company is exposed to the risk that issuers of debt that FSA has insured, issuers of debt that it holds in its investment portfolio, reinsurers and other contract counterparties may default in their financial obligations, whether as the result of insolvency, lack of liquidity, operational failure or other reasons. FSA seeks to manage exposure to large single risks, as well as concentrations of risks that may be correlated, through credit and legal underwriting, reinsurance and other risk mitigation measures. In addition, the securities rating agencies and insurance regulations establish limits applicable to FSA on the size of risks and concentrations of risks that it may insure.

        Given FSA's capital base and the quality of risks that it insures, FSA may insure and has insured individual public finance and asset-backed risks well in excess of $1 billion. Should FSA's risk assessments prove inaccurate and should the limits applicable to FSA prove inadequate, FSA 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. While FSA has to date experienced catastrophic events (such as the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and the 2005 hurricane season) without material loss, unexpected catastrophic events may have a material adverse effect upon FSA's insured portfolio and/or its investment portfolios.

General economic conditions could adversely affect the Company's business results and prospects.

        Recessions; increases in corporate, municipal and/or consumer bankruptcies; a continued downturn in the U.S. housing market; increases in mortgage delinquency rates; intervention by governments in financial markets, including the imposition of limits on the ability of mortgagees to foreclose on defaulted mortgage loans and/or to increase interest rates on mortgage loans in accordance with original contract terms; wars; and terrorist acts could adversely affect the performance of FSA's insured portfolio and the General, FP and VIE Investment Portfolios, by leading to increases in losses and loss reserves in the insured portfolio and decreases in the value of the portfolios and, therefore, the Company's financial strength. Any of the listed developments could lead to increased losses in the insured portfolio and corresponding increases in the Company's loss reserves.

Changes in rating scales applied to municipal bonds may reduce demand for financial guaranty insurance.

        Fitch and Moody's have announced initiatives to establish "corporate equivalent ratings" for municipal issuers. Recently, they each announced that they are postponing their plans to shift to a global ratings scale, but may elect to do so in the future. Implemention of corporate equivalent ratings would be expected to result in ratings being raised for many municipal issuers which, in turn, might result in reduced demand for financial guaranty insurance.

Rating instability of the Company's industry peers may call into question the value/durability of a monoline guaranty.

        Most of the Company's industry peers have had their "Triple-A" ratings downgraded, or placed on credit watch or negative outlook, by one or more securities rating agencies. The resulting market turmoil has called into question the durability of the monoline "Triple-A" and may lead to decreased demand for FSA's financial guarantees. In response to the market instability resulting from the recent rating actions surrounding the Company's industry peers, rating agencies and regulators may enhance the requirements for conducting, or restrict the types of business conducted by, monoline financial guaranty insurers.

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

        At September 30, 2008, the Company had reinsured approximately 22.1% of its principal amount of insurance outstanding. In evaluating the credits insured by the Company, securities rating agencies allow "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. Seven of the Company's reinsurers have already been downgraded to Single-A or below by one or more rating agencies, and a downgrade of FSA's two largest reinsurers or other material reduction to or loss of rating agency credit for the reinsurance from such reinsurers, which are currently rated Double-A and receive at least Double-A or higher reinsurance credit from the rating agencies, could impair the Company's Triple-A ratings. The Company could be required to raise additional capital to replace the lost reinsurance credit in order to meet capital adequacy 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.

Increased competition could reduce the Company's new business originations.

        The Company's insurance company subsidiaries face competition from uninsured executions in the capital markets, other Triple-A-rated monoline financial guaranty insurers, banks and other credit providers, including government-sponsored entities in the mortgage-backed and multifamily sectors. Increased competition, either in terms of price, alternative structures, or the emergence of new providers of credit enhancement, could have an adverse effect on the Company's insurance business. In recent years, FSA has also faced competition from new entrants to the market. In the fourth quarter of 2007, BHAC commenced operations as a financial guaranty insurer. Over the long term, BHAC may prove to be a significant competitor to the Company in the public finance sector. Over the short term, uninsured executions may prove to be the primary competitor, to the extent investors have suffered a loss of confidence in monoline insurance in general. In September 2008, MIAC commenced operations as a financial guaranty insurer.

        Commencing with the fourth quarter of 2007, most of the Company's Triple-A rated industry peers have had their ratings downgraded, placed on credit watch or placed on negative outlook by one or more rating agency. Ratings downgrades of major financial guaranty insurers and declining reliability of rating agency capital models impair investor confidence and reduce demand for financial guaranty insurance.

        In addition, some of the Company's industry peers have announced their intention to divide their insurance operations into separate legal operating companies for municipal and non-municipal insurance and/or capitalize new financial guaranty insurers, which would increase the number of competitors that the Company faces.

Changes in prevailing interest rates and other market risks could result in a decline in the market value of the Company's General Investment Portfolio.

        At September 30, 2008, the Company's General Investment Portfolio had a fair value of approximately $5.8 billion dollars, almost entirely invested in bonds, primarily municipal bonds. The Company's investment strategy is to invest in highly rated marketable instruments of intermediate average duration so as to generate stable investment earnings with moderate market value or credit risk. Nonetheless, any increase in prevailing interest rates would reduce the market value of securities in the Company's General Investment Portfolio, which would in turn reduce the Company's capital as

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measured under GAAP. The market value of the General 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 General Investment 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.

Changes in prevailing interest rate levels could adversely effect demand for financial guaranty insurance and the Company's financial condition.

        Demand for financial guaranty insurance generally reflects prevailing credit spreads. 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 or premiums obtainable for financial guaranty insurance.

        Conversely, in a deteriorating credit environment, credit spreads widen and pricing for financial guaranty insurance may improve. 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.

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

        The Financial Accounting Standards Board (the "FASB") has issued a new accounting standard applicable to financial guaranty insurers under that will change U.S. GAAP accounting for claims liability recognition and premium recognition. The Company and its industry peers will be required to implement these changes to GAAP reporting requirements by January 2009. Such alterations, as well as any changes in the interpretation of current accounting guidance or the issuance of other new accounting standards 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.

The Company is subject to extensive regulation; changes in applicable law could impede the Company's ability to do business.

        The Company's businesses are subject to direct and indirect regulation under, among other things, state insurance laws, federal securities law, the U.S. Bank Holding Company Act, tax law and legal precedents affecting public finance and asset-backed obligations, as well as applicable law in the other countries in which the Company operates. Recent adverse developments in the industry have led regulators to re-examine the regulatory framework for financial guaranty insurers. In February 2008 the New York Superintendent stated his intention to propose new regulations for financial guaranty insurers, potentially including limitations or prohibitions on insuring CDS and certain structured finance obligations such as CDOs. In September 2008, the New York Insurance Department issued a circular letter, effective January 1, 2009, that prescribed best practices for financial guaranty issuers that would significantly narrow the permitted scope of insurance of asset-backed securities, a business no longer pursued by the Company. Future legislative, regulatory or judicial changes in the U.S. or abroad could adversely affect the Company's business by, among other things, limiting the types of risks FSA may insure, placing limits on the Company's ability to carry out its non-insurance business, lowering applicable single or aggregate risk limits, increasing the level of supervision or regulation to which its

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operations may be subject, or creating restrictions that make the Company's products less attractive to potential buyers.

        In addition, if FSA fails to comply with applicable insurance laws and regulations it could be exposed to fines, the loss of insurance licenses and restrictions on its ability to dividend monies to the Company, all of which could have an adverse impact on the Company's business results and prospects.

The Company is exposed to volatility in GAAP net income from incorporating its own credit risk in the valuation of liabilities carried at fair value.

        Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted SFAS 159. SFAS 159 provides an option to elect fair value as an alternative measurement for selected financial assets and financial liabilities not previously carried at fair value. The fair-value option may be applied to single eligible instruments, is irrevocable and is applied only to entire instruments and not to portions of instruments. The Company's fair value elections were intended to mitigate the volatility in earnings that had been created by recording financial instruments and the related risk management instruments on a different basis of accounting, to eliminate the operational complexities of applying hedge accounting or to conform to the fair value elections made by the Company in 2006 under its IFRS reporting to Dexia. However, under SFAS 157, the Company must incorporate its own credit risk in the valuation of liabilities which are carried at fair value, which adds volatility to GAAP earnings. During the nine months of 2008, the Company's credit spread has widened, leading to material unrealized gains. Management eliminates such gains in determining operating income (a non-GAAP measure), since management does not believe such gains and other non-economic fair value adjustments are an indication of the Company's profitability.

The Company has received Department of Justice and SEC subpoenas and been named in class action lawsuits related to the municipal GIC industry.

        In November 2006, the Company received subpoenas from (1) the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (the "DOJ"), issued in connection with an ongoing criminal investigation of bid rigging of awards of municipal GICs, and (2) the SEC, issued in connection with an ongoing industry-wide civil investigation of brokers of municipal GICs. In February 2008, the Company received a "Wells Notice" from the SEC in connection with the foregoing investigation, indicating that the SEC staff was considering recommending action against the Company. The Company issues municipal GICs through the FP segment, but does not serve as a GIC broker. The subpoenas request that the Company furnish to the DOJ and SEC records and other information with respect to the Company's municipal GIC business. The Company is at risk that information provided pursuant to the subpoenas or otherwise provided to the government in the course of its investigation will lead to indictments of the Company and/or its employees, with the potential for convictions or settlements providing for the payment of fines, restitution, disgorgement, restrictions on future business activities and, in the case of individual employees, imprisonment. Such an adverse outcome would damage the reputation of the Company and might impair the ability of the Company to conduct its financial products business and its financial guaranty business.

        Between March and July 2008 eight putative class action lawsuits naming the Company and/or FSA were filed in federal court alleging antitrust violations in the municipal derivatives industry. The Company and FSA also are named in five non-class actions originally filed in the California Superior Courts alleging violations of California law related to the municipal derivatives industry. The suits name as plaintiffs various named and unnamed states and municipalities and name as defendants a large number of major financial institutions, including the Company and FSA. The lawsuits make reference to the ongoing investigations by the DOJ Antitrust Division and the SEC regarding such activities, with respect to which the Company and FSA received subpoenas in November 2006. The complaints in these lawsuits generally seek unspecified monetary damages, interest, attorneys' fees, costs and other

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expenses. It is not possible to predict whether additional suits will be filed, and it is also not possible to predict the outcome of such litigation. It is possible that there could be unfavorable outcomes in these or other proceedings. The Company cannot reasonably estimate the possible loss or range of loss that may arise from these lawsuits but, under some circumstances, adverse results in legal proceedings could be material to the Company's results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.

The Company's FP business relies upon Dexia for material liquidity and credit support.

        As a result of recent capital market developments, the Company's FP business has faced unanticipated GIC withdrawals at a time when its issuance of new GICs has been significantly curtailed. The Company expects to fund a material portion of GIC withdrawals by employing liquidity provided by Dexia in order to avoid realizing market value losses from the sale of asset-backed securities in the Company's FP Investment Portfolio. In addition, the Company's FP business is dependent upon Dexia for the provision of liquidity support in the event that collateral is required to be posted to avoid GIC terminations in the event of a ratings downgrade of FSA. Insofar as the Company is dependent on the significant liquidity and credit support that Dexia has committed to provide the Company's FP business, any decrease in the creditworthiness of Dexia or any action by Dexia to limit its support for the Company's FP business may be adverse to the Company.

The FP business may be required to post incremental collateral in the event of a downgrade.

        If FSA were downgraded, the Company may be required to post incremental collateral to its investment agreement and derivative counterparties, introducing additional liquidity risk. Most FSA-insured GICs allow for withdrawal of GIC funds in the event of a downgrade of FSA, typically below AA- by S&P or Aa3 by Moody's, unless the GIC provider posts collateral or otherwise enhances its credit. Such a downgrade could result in a significant increase in collateral required to be posted to avoid GIC terminations. Some FSA-insured GICs also allow for withdrawal of GIC funds in the event of a downgrade of FSA, typically below A3 by Moody's or A- by S&P, with no right of the GIC provider to avoid such withdrawal by posting collateral or otherwise enhancing its credit. In such event, the Company would be required to raise cash to fund such withdrawals by selling assets, in some cases realizing substantial market loss, or to borrow against the value of such assets. As of September 30, 2008, a downgrade of FSA to below AA- by S&P or Aa3 by Moody's (i.e. to A+ by S&P or A1 by Moody's) would result in withdrawal of $0.9 billion of GICs and the requirement to post collateral to GICs with a balance of $15.9 billion. As of September 30, 2008, a downgrade of FSA to below A- by S&P or A3 by Moody's (i.e. BBB+ by S&P or Baa1 by Moody's) would result in mandatory or optional withdrawals of $5.5 billion of GICs and collateralization of the remainder of the $16.8 billion of GICs outstanding. In addition, assets posted as collateral are subject to changes in market value and ratings. Such changes may reduce the value of the collateral or make the assets no longer qualify as collateral. As a result, additional collateral, to which the Company may or may not have access, may be required to be posted to meet collateral requirements.

Adverse loss developments on structured finance CDOs may require increased liquidity in the Company's FP Investment Portfolio.

        At September 30, 2008, approximately $9.5 billion of the Company's outstanding GICs were held by credit-linked note issuers providing credit protection on structured finance CDOs. Adverse loss developments and events of default on many of these structured finance CDOs have resulted in earlier than anticipated withdrawals on these GICs and will likely continue to cause such early withdrawals in the future. To address future GIC withdrawals, the Company may raise funds through liquidity lines, repurchase agreements, or the issuance of additional GICs. At November 14, 2008, as a result of earlier than anticipated withdrawals on GICs, the Company had drawn $550 million on the $5 Billion Line of Credit provided by Dexia. The Company does not intend to sell its investment assets in the FP

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Investment Portfolio. If it were necessary to do so, the sale of mortgage-backed securities in the Company's FP Investment Portfolio may result in losses, depending on then-current market values.

Widening credit spreads would further reduce the market value of the Company's FP Investment Portfolio.

        The Company's objective for its FP business is to generate positive net interest margin through borrowing funds at attractive rates in the municipal GIC and other markets and investing the proceeds in investments satisfying the Company's investment criteria while minimizing the Company's exposure to interest rate and foreign exchange rate changes. However, any increase in prevailing credit spreads reduces the market value of securities in the Company's FP Investment Portfolio, which in turn reduces the Company's capital as measured under GAAP. In the available-for-sale FP Investment Portfolio, unrealized losses of $3.9 billion before tax at September 30, 2008 resulted from the general increase of credit spreads and liquidity premium in the mortgage and asset-backed securities markets. Non-agency RMBS comprise the majority of the FP Investment Portfolio and include securities backed by pools of the following types of mortgage loans: home equity loans to non-prime borrowers, commonly referred to as "subprime" loans, alternative A loans, Option ARMs, CES mortgages, HELOCs, and prime loans. The FP Investment Portfolio also includes NIM securitizations.

Losses may result from the ineffectiveness of hedges or unanticipated timing of withdrawals of funds in the Company's FP segment.

        The Company hedges interest rate risks in its FP segment by investing in floating rate instruments and issuing floating rate liabilities, by investing in or issuing fixed rate instruments and by employing derivative products to obtain the same economic result. Judgments are made in this process regarding the expected timing and amount of withdrawals of funds under GICs and other financial products. The Company may be exposed to unexpected losses if its hedging strategy proves ineffective or its judgments prove inaccurate.

The Company's ability to make debt service payments on its outstanding debt is subject to its insurance company operations.

        Because it is a holding company, the registrant does not conduct operations or generate material income. Instead, FSA Holdings' financial condition and results of operations, and thus its long-term ability to service its debt, will largely depend on its receipt of dividends from, or share repurchases by, FSA. FSA's ability to declare and pay dividends to the Company depends, among other factors, upon FSA's financial condition, results of operations, cash requirements, and compliance with rating agency requirements for maintaining its Triple-A ratings, and is also subject to restrictions contained in the applicable insurance laws and regulations. Based on FSA's statutory statements for 2007, and considering dividends that can be paid by its subsidiary, the maximum amount available for payment of dividends by FSA without regulatory approval over the 12 months following September 30, 2008 is approximately $130.0 million. The Company has $46.1 million in debt service payments due over the 12 months following September 30, 2008, unless it elects to defer payments on its junior subordinated debentures, which would reduce its debt service payments due to $26.9 million.

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

        The Company pursues opportunities in international markets and currently operates in various countries in Europe, the Asia Pacific region and Latin America. 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

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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.

Item 5.    Other Information.

        In this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the Company has elected to provide the following information, which otherwise would be disclosed in a current report on Form 8-K.

        On November 13, 2008, the Company entered into two new agreements with Dexia and its affiliates in support of its FP business. On that date, FSA Holdings, FSA and Dexia Holdings entered into a Capital Commitment Agreement. Pursuant to the Capital Commitment Agreement, Dexia Holdings agreed to provide capital contributions to FSA Holdings in amounts of up to $500 million in the aggregate. The capital contributions will equal the economic losses on assets owned by FSAM for which OTTI has been determined in accordance with the Company's accounting principles for the quarter ending immediately prior to the contribution date, less certain realized tax benefits arising from those economic losses. Upon receipt of a capital contribution from Dexia Holdings, the Company will make a capital contribution to FSAM of an equivalent amount. Dexia Crédit Local has committed to loan, contribute or otherwise convey to Dexia Holdings all amounts needed by Dexia Holdings to make the capital contributions to the Company. In the quarter ended September 30, 2008, FP projected incremental present value economic losses of $207.8 million in excess of the $316.5 million pre-tax amount incurred in the second quarter 2008. The incremental losses would result in a capital contribution of $207.8 million to FSAM during the fourth quarter of 2008.

        The second agreement entered into on November 13, 2008 was a Global Master Securities Lending Agreement (the "Securities Lending Agreement") between Dexia Crédit Local, FSAM, FSA and FSAIC, under which Dexia Crédit Local agrees to lend FSAM up to $3.5 billion (based upon market value, and subject to reduction as described below) of securities eligible to act as collateral for GICs. As collateral for this loan, FSAM will post securities of the same market value but that are generally ineligible to act as collateral for GICs. FSAM may only draw on the facility in the event of a downgrade of FSA to below Aa3 by Moody's or AA- by S&P. The Securities Lending Agreement has a continually rolling five year term, which becomes a fixed five year term upon notice from Dexia Crédit Local. In addition, Dexia Crédit Local can terminate the Agreement (subject to FSAM's consent, not to be unreasonably withheld) if FSAM enters into an alternative liquidity or credit enhancement agreement that serves to make the Securities Lending Agreement unnecessary or redundant. In no case will the term exceed seven years. FSA, FSAM and FSAIC have agreed to use their best efforts to obtain insurance regulatory approval for alternative facilities that would allow FSA and FSAIC to (a) purchase up to $1 billion in municipal securities from FSAM and (b) provide up to $1.5 billion in financing to FSAM in exchange for other assets held by FSAM. If the required approvals are obtained, FSAM would be required to utilize such facilities prior to requesting loans from Dexia Crédit Local under the Securities Lending Agreement and the amount of Dexia Crédit Local's commitment would be reduced by an amount equal to 90% of the financing that FSAM could thereby obtain from FSA and FSAIC. FSA is providing a guarantee of FSAM's payment obligations under the Securities Lending Agreement.

        Also on November 13, 2008, FSA, FSAM, Dexia Crédit Local and Dexia Bank Belgium entered into a Pledge and Intercreditor Agreement (the "Pledge Agreement"). Pursuant to the Pledge Agreement, Dexia Crédit Local and Dexia Bank Belgium will be provided a subordinated lien on the assets of FSAM to secure borrowings by FSAM under the $5 Billion Line of Credit between FSAM and Dexia Crédit Local entered into as of June 30, 2008. FSA has an existing security interest in the same collateral, which is given priority over the new lien under the Pledge Agreement. Any assets that FSAM transfers to the GIC Subsidiaries under existing intercompany agreements for use as collateral under secured GICs or that FSAM transfers to its derivative or repurchase agreement counterparties are excluded from the liens in favor of FSA, Dexia Crédit Local and Dexia Bank Belgium.

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Item 6.    Exhibits.

(a)
Exhibits

Exhibit No.
  Exhibit
  10.1 1995 Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended and restated as of September 15, 2008.

 

10.2

 

Capital Commitment Agreement, among Dexia Holdings, Inc., Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. and FSA Asset Management LLC, dated November 13, 2008.

 

10.3

 

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.

 

10.4

 

Global Master Securities Lending Agreement, including the Committed Securities Lending Facility Annex thereto, between Dexia Crédit Local and FSA Asset Management LLC, dated November 13, 2008.

 

31.1

 

Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

31.2

 

Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

32.1

 

Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

32.2

 

Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

99.1

 

Consolidated Financial Statements of Financial Security Assurance Inc. for the periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007.

Management contract of compensatory plan or arrangement.

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SIGNATURE

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

Date: November 17, 2008   FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD.

 

 

 

 

/s/ LAURA A. BIELING


 

 

By:

 

Laura A. Bieling
Managing Director & Controller
(Chief Accounting Officer)

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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.
  Exhibit
10.1 1995 Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended and restated as of September 15, 2008.

10.2

 

Capital Commitment Agreement, among Dexia Holdings, Inc., Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. and FSA Asset Management LLC, dated November 13, 2008.

10.3

 

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.

10.4

 

Global Master Securities Lending Agreement, including the Committed Securities Lending Facility Annex thereto, between Dexia Crédit Local and FSA Asset Management LLC, dated November 13, 2008.

31.1

 

Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2

 

Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.1

 

Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.2

 

Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

99.1

 

Consolidated Financial Statements of Financial Security Assurance Inc. for the periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007.

Management contract of compensatory plan or arrangement.



QuickLinks

INDEX
Part I—Financial Information
FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (unaudited) (in thousands)
FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (unaudited) (in thousands, except share data)
FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited) (in thousands)
FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)
Part II—Other Information
SIGNATURE
EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit 10.1

 

FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD.

 

1995 DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

 

 

Amended and Restated

 

as of September 15, 2008

 


 

FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD.

1995 DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

 

ARTICLE I

ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE OF THE PLAN

 

1.1           Effective as of June 1, 1995, Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. (the “Company”) established for the benefit of certain of its employees, certain employees of its affiliates or subsidiaries and certain members of its board of directors an unfunded plan by which an eligible employee or eligible director can elect to defer, respectively, receipt of all or a portion of his or her compensation or fees.  This plan, as so amended and restated, is known as the Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. 1995 Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Plan”).  The Plan was amended and restated as of July 10, 2002, November 14, 2002, May 16, 2003, November 13, 2003 and December 17, 2004.  The Plan is further amended and restated as set forth in this Plan document effective as of September 15, 2008 to comply with the final regulations under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code and to make certain other changes.

 

ARTICLE II

DEFINITIONS

 

Unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms, when used herein, shall have the meaning assigned to them in this Article II.

 

2.1           The term “Account” shall mean a Participant’s individual account, as described in Article VIII of the Plan.

 

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2.2           The term “Affiliate” shall mean any corporation or other business entity that would be considered a single employer with a Participating Company pursuant to Code sections 414(b) or 414(c).

 

2.3           The term “Beneficiary” shall mean the person or persons designated by the Participant (including an individual, trust, estate, partnership, association, company, corporation or any other entity), pursuant to Article VII of the Plan, to receive benefits under the Plan in the event of the Participant’s death.

 

2.4           The term “Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

2.5           The term “Bonus” shall mean:  (i) bonus compensation payable in cash; (ii) bonus compensation payable in respect of an “Equity Bonus” awarded under the Equity Participation Plan; (iii) an amount payable pursuant to a “Performance Shares” award under the Equity Participation Plan; and (iv) any other incentive, performance related or other payment that, absent deferral pursuant to the Plan, would constitute taxable income to the Participant.

 

2.6           The term “Claim Reviewer” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13.4 of the Plan.

 

2.7           The term “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.  Any references herein to a specific section of the Code shall be deemed to refer to the rules and regulations under the Code in respect of such section, and to the corresponding provisions of any future internal revenue law and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

2.8           The term “Committee” shall mean the Human Resources Committee of the Board.

 

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2.9           The term “Company” shall mean Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd., a New York corporation.

 

2.10         The term “Compensation” shall mean, in respect of any Year and in each case before any deductions for amounts deferred under the Plan: (i) in the case of an Eligible Employee, the total of his or her annual salary and Bonus with respect to such Year; and (ii) in the case of an Eligible Director, the total of his or her fees from the Company, or any direct or indirect subsidiary thereof, with respect to such Year.

 

2.11         The term “Decisionmaker” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13.1 of the Plan.

 

2.12         The term “Deferral Amount” shall mean the amount of Compensation that a Participant has deferred under the terms of the Plan.

 

2.13         The term “Deferral Period” shall mean the period of time during which a Participant elects to defer the receipt of the Deferral Amount under the terms of the Plan.

 

2.14         The term “Deferred Compensation Plan Election Change Form” shall mean the form prescribed or accepted by the Committee by which a Participant may change a previous election of a Deferral Amount.

 

2.15         The term “Deferred Compensation Plan Election Form” shall mean the form prescribed or accepted by the Committee by which a Participant elects a Deferral Amount.

 

2.16         The term “Disability” shall mean a determination by the Committee that the Participant is (i) unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically

 

3


 

determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months or (ii) by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than 3 months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Company.

 

2.17         The term “Disability Benefit” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13.1 of the Plan.

 

2.18         The term “Eligible Director” shall mean any member of the Board, or any member of the board of directors of any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company, in each case who is not an employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

 

2.19         The term “Eligible Employee” shall mean any participant in the Company’s Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan and any other employee of a Participating Company as may be designated from time to time by the Committee as eligible to participate in the Plan.

 

2.20         The term “Equity Participation Plan” shall mean the Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. 1993 Equity Participation Plan, as amended from time to time.

 

2.21         The term “New Plan” shall mean the Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. 2004 Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended from time to time.

 

2.22         The term “Participant” shall mean an Eligible Employee or Eligible Director who has deferred payment of Compensation under the terms of the Plan, including any former

 

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Eligible Employee or Eligible Director who is receiving or will become eligible to receive benefits under the Plan at a later date.

 

2.23         The term “Participating Company” shall mean, with respect to an Eligible Employee, the Company or any affiliate or subsidiary of the Company employing an Eligible Employee.

 

2.24         The term “Plan” shall mean the Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. 1995 Deferred Compensation Plan, as set forth herein and as amended from time to time.

 

2.25         The term “Separation from Service” shall mean a separation from service within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code.  A Participant who is an employee will generally have a Separation from Service if the Participant voluntarily or involuntarily terminates employment with all Participating Companies and Affiliates.  A termination of employment occurs if the facts and circumstances indicate that the Participant and the Participating Companies reasonably anticipate that no further services will be performed after a certain date or that the level of bona fide services the Participant will perform after such date (whether as an employee, director or other independent contractor) for the Participating Companies and all Affiliates will decrease to no more than 20 percent of the average level of bona fide services performed (whether as an employee, director or other independent contractor) over the immediately preceding 36-month period (or full period of services if the Participant has been providing services for less than 36 months).   Notwithstanding the foregoing, the employment relationship is treated as continuing while the Participant is on military leave, sick leave or other bona fide leave of absence if the period of leave does not exceed 6 months, or if longer, so long as the Participant retains the right to reemployment with a Participating Company or Affiliate under an applicable statute or

 

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contract.  When a leave of absence is due to any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or to last for a period of at least 6 months and such impairment causes the Participant to be unable to perform the duties of his or her position or any substantially similar position, a 29-month maximum period of absence shall be substituted for the 6-month maximum period described in the preceding sentence.

 

A Participant who is a director will generally have a Separation from Service upon the expiration of all contracts and agreements under which services are performed for any Participating Company or Affiliate if the expiration constitutes a good faith and complete termination of the contractual relationship.  An expiration does not constitute a good faith and complete termination of the contractual relationship if a Participating Company or Affiliate anticipates a renewal of the contractual relationship or that the director will become an employee.  For this purpose, a renewal of the contractual relationship is anticipated if the director has not been eliminated as a possible future director.

 

If the Participant provides services as an employee and as a director, (i) the services provided as a director are not taken into account in determining whether the Participant has a Separation from Service as an employee if the Participant participates in the Plan as an employee, provided the Participant does not participate as a director in the Plan or any other nonqualified deferred compensation plan that would be aggregated with the Plan under Section 409A of the Code and (ii) the services provided as an employee are not taken into account in determining whether the Participant has a Separation from Service as a director if the Participant participates in the Plan as a director, provided the Participant does not participate as an employee in the Plan or any other nonqualified deferred compensation plan that is aggregated with the Plan under Section 409A of the Code.  If the Participant participates in the Plan or any other plan that

 

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would be aggregated with the Plan under Section 409A of the Code as both an employee and a director, the Participant will generally have a Separation from Service under the Plan when the Participant has a Separation from Service both as an employee and a director.

 

2.26         The term “Unforeseen Emergency” shall mean a severe financial hardship to the Participant resulting from an illness or accident of the Participant, the Participant’s spouse, the Participant’s Beneficiary or the Participant’s dependent (as defined in Section 152 of the Code without regard to Sections 152(b)(1), 152(b)(2) or 152(d)(1)(B) of the Code), loss of the Participant’s property due to casualty, or other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the Participant.

 

2.27         The term “Year” shall mean the calendar year.

 

ARTICLE III

PARTICIPATION

 

3.1           Each Eligible Employee and each Eligible Director who has elected a Deferred Amount shall be a Participant in the Plan.

 

3.2           An Eligible Employee or Eligible Director who is a Participant in the Plan shall remain a Participant until the complete distribution of the Participant’s Account, subject to Article VII hereof.

 

3.3           Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the Committee shall be authorized to take such steps as may be necessary to ensure that the Plan (a) is and remains at all times an unfunded deferred compensation arrangement for a select group of management or highly compensated employees, within the meaning of the Employee Retirement Income

 

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Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time and (b) satisfies the requirements of Section 409A of the Code for the exclusion from gross income of amounts deferred under the Plan.

 

3.4           To the extent that, due to a change in law or administrative oversight, a Deferral Amount previously credited under the Plan would be subject to current income taxes in any non-U.S. jurisdiction notwithstanding any deferral of Compensation under the Plan , the Company shall distribute such Compensation, adjusted for gains or losses in accordance with Article V of the Plan, to the Participant in the form of a lump sum distribution promptly following confirmation by the Committee of such change in law or administrative oversight; provided, however, that such distribution shall be made only to the extent permitted by Section 409A of the Code for exclusion from gross income of amounts deferred under the Plan.

 

ARTICLE IV

DEFERRAL ELECTIONS

 

4.1           Effective as of December 31, 2004, Eligible Employees and Eligible Directors shall not be permitted to defer Compensation under the Plan for services performed after such date.  Compensation for services performed after December 31, 2004 may be deferred under the New Plan pursuant to the terms thereof.  For the avoidance of doubt, any deferrals under the Plan of cash Bonuses earned in 2004 but vested in 2005 shall be deemed to have been deferred under the New Plan rather than under the Plan.

 

4.2           With respect to Compensation deferred before January 1, 2005, each Eligible Director and Eligible Employee was required to specify the Deferral Period applicable to that Deferral Amount.  With respect to a Deferral Amount for any Year, the Participant may have

 

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elected a Deferral Period of a specific number of years, provided that in no event may the number of years have been less than three (3).  Alternatively, the Participant may have elected a Deferral Period which ends on (a) his or her termination of employment or directorship, as the case may be, (b) the date which is thirteen (13) months after such termination, or (c) the earlier of such termination (or the date which is thirteen (13) months after such termination) or a specified number of years pursuant to the preceding sentence.  A Participant may have elected a different Deferral Period for each Year’s Deferral Amount or for any specified portion of any Year’s Deferral Amounts, except that, unless the Committee (or the Chief Executive Officer in respect of all Participants) otherwise directed, the Deferral Period referred to in clause (c) of the preceding sentence may only have been elected by a Participant if so elected for all Deferral Amounts of such Participant.  Effective as of September 15, 2008, any election to have a Deferral Period end upon a termination of employment or directorship shall be deemed to be an election to have the Deferral Period end upon a Separation from Service.  A Participant may elect to extend, but not shorten, a previously elected Deferral Period before the end of such previously elected Deferral Period by the execution of a valid Deferred Compensation Plan Election Change Form, timely filed with the Company; provided that a Deferral Period extension must be a minimum of five years.  If such previously elected Deferral Period is for a specified number of years, the election to extend the Deferral Period must be made at least 12 months before the end of the previously elected Deferral Period, and if the previously elected Deferral Period ends upon a Separation from Service (or the date that is thirteen (13) months after such Separation from Service), the Deferred Compensation Plan Election Change Form shall only be effective in respect of Deferral Amounts that would not otherwise have been distributed during the 12-month period after the filing of such form.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time

 

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before December 31, 2008 (or such earlier date as the Committee may establish), a Participant shall be entitled to cancel any previously elected Deferral Period with respect to a Deferral Amount not otherwise payable in 2008 and elect any new Deferral Period with respect to such Deferral Amount that the Participant could have elected as an initial Deferral Period, as set forth above; provided, however, that any newly elected Deferral Period shall not be required to be at least three years but may not end earlier than January 1, 2009.  Such cancellation and new election shall be made by the execution of a Deferred Compensation Plan Election Change Form, in the form provided by the Company or accepted by the Committee.

 

4.3           Each initial deferral election was also required to specify the payment option that will apply for the Deferral Amount, or any portion thereof, for that Year, and earnings credited on that amount.  The normal form of payment shall be a lump sum payment.  A Participant may have elected that the distribution be made in installments payable over a specified number of years, not longer than 15 years; provided, however, that in no event may installment payments have been elected over a number of years that is more than the Participant’s life expectancy or the life expectancy of the designated primary Beneficiary, whichever is greater.  If a Participant elected the installment payment option, the Participant was also required to elect whether installments should be made annually, quarterly or, if the Committee (or the Chief Executive Officer in respect of all Participants) directed to offer such alternative, monthly.  The entitlement to installment payments shall be treated as the right to a series of separate payments for purposes of Section 409A of the Code.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time before December 31, 2008 (or such earlier date as the Committee shall establish), a Participant shall be entitled to change the payment option that applies to any Deferral Amount to any payment option otherwise permitted under the Plan; provided, however, that no such change will apply to amounts

 

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otherwise payable in 2008 and will not cause any amount otherwise payable in a later year to be paid in 2008.  Different payment options may be elected with respect to the Deferral Amount, or any portion thereof, for each Year, and earnings credited on such amount.  Any such change in payment options shall be made by the execution of a valid Deferred Compensation Plan Election Change Form, timely filed with the Company.

 

4.4           Anything in Section 4.2 or 4.3 to the contrary notwithstanding, on his or her Deferred Compensation Plan Election Form the Participant may have elected that in the event of his or her death or Disability any Deferral Period or form of distribution election otherwise applicable to a Deferral Amount is nullified and: (i) distribution shall be made upon the occurrence of Disability or death; and (ii) distribution of his or her entire Account, or of any Deferral Amount, shall be made either in a lump sum or in installments payable over a specified number of years, not longer than 15.  Unless otherwise elected pursuant to the preceding sentence, in the event of the Participant’s death or Disability, payment of a Participant’s Account shall be made in the form of a lump sum upon such death or Disability, as applicable.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time before December 31, 2008 (or such earlier date as the Committee shall establish), a Participant shall be entitled to change the payment option that applies in the event of the Participant’s death or Disability; provided, however, that no such change will apply to amounts otherwise payable in 2008 and will not cause any amount otherwise payable in a later year to be paid in 2008.

 

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ARTICLE V

CREDITING OF DEFERRAL AMOUNTS AND
ACCRUAL OF INVESTMENT GAINS OR LOSSES

 

5.1                  All Deferral Amounts will be credited on the Company’s books in the Account maintained in such Participant’s name.

 

5.2                  Each month, the balance of each Participant’s Account shall be credited with earnings or investment gains and losses as provided below.  The Committee may establish procedures permitting Participants to designate one or more investment benchmarks specified by the Chief Executive Officer or the Committee for the purpose of determining the earnings or investment gains and losses to be credited or debited to a Participant’s Account.  Investment benchmarks so specified may be made available to all Participants or selected Participants as the Chief Executive Officer or the Committee may designate.  The Committee shall have the sole discretion to make such rules as it deems desirable with respect to the administration of any such investment benchmark procedures, including rules permitting the Participant to change the designation of investment benchmarks to be used to measure the value of the Account.  The Committee, however, retains the discretion at any time to change the investment benchmarks available to Participants, including any investment benchmarks previously specified by the Chief Executive Officer, or to discontinue the investment benchmark procedure.  If the Committee fails to implement an investment benchmark procedure or discontinues such procedure, the Participant’s Account shall be credited with earnings at a reasonable rate determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, utilizing whatever factors or indicia it deems appropriate; provided, however, that the rate of return on a Participant’s Account in such circumstances shall not be less than the JP Morgan Chase Bank prime rate plus one percent per annum.  If the

 

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Participant fails to designate properly an investment benchmark, the Participant’s Account shall be credited with earnings at a reasonable rate determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, utilizing whatever factors or indicia it deems appropriate; provided, however, that the rate of return on a Participant’s Account in such circumstances shall not be less than the “money market account” benchmark available to Participants at the time or, if no such benchmark shall be available, then not less than the rate of interest on 90-day treasury bills for the applicable period as determined by the Committee.  Nothing in this Article V or in the Committee’s rules shall give a Participant the right to require the Company or a Participating Company to acquire any asset for the Account of the Participant, and if the Company or a Participating Company acquires any asset, or causes a trustee on its behalf to acquire any asset, to permit it to satisfy its obligations to pay the Participant’s Deferral Amount, the Participant shall have no right or interest in any such asset, which shall be held by the Company or the Participating Company subject to the rights of all unsecured creditors of the Company or the Participating Company.  The rights of the Participant with respect to any designation of one or more investment benchmarks for measuring the value of any Account hereunder shall be expressly subject to the provisions of Article IX of the Plan.

 

ARTICLE VI

COMMENCEMENT OF BENEFITS

 

6.1           At the end of the Deferral Period selected by a Participant with respect to each Deferral Amount or, if applicable, Separation from Service, the amount credited with respect to such Deferral Amount shall be distributable to such Participant in the form of payment selected.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, any distribution payments due on account of a Participant’s Separation from Service and otherwise payable during the six-month period following the

 

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Participant’s Separation from Service shall be paid on the first regular payroll payment date after such six-month period.

 

6.2           Notwithstanding Section 6.1, each Participant’s Account shall be distributed in accordance with Section 4.4 in the event of the Participant’s death or Disability; provided, however, that if the Participant becomes entitled to a distribution pursuant to Section 6.1 on account of the Participant’s Separation from Service and the Participant subsequently becomes Disabled, any distribution payments otherwise payable during the six-month period following the Participant’s Separation from Service shall be paid on the first regular payroll payment date after such six-month period to the extent required under Section 409A of the Code to avoid taxation under Section 409A(a)(1), as interpreted by the Committee in its sole discretion.

 

6.3           Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall have the right, but shall not be required, to distribute all or any portion of a Participant’s benefits under the Plan in the form of any investment or security chosen by the Participant at any time as an investment benchmark for measuring the value of his or her Account pursuant to Section 5.2 of the Plan.

 

6.4           If the Participant or the Participant’s Beneficiary is entitled to receive any benefits hereunder and is in his or her minority, or is, in the judgment of the Committee, legally, physically or mentally incapable of personally receiving and receipting any distribution, the Committee may make distributions to a legally appointed guardian or to such other person or institution as, in the judgment of the Committee, is then maintaining or has custody of the payee.

 

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6.5           After all benefits have been distributed in full to the Participant or to the Participant’s Beneficiary, all liability under the Plan to such Participant or to his or her Beneficiary shall cease.

 

6.6           To the extent required by law in effect at the time payments are made, the Company or other Participating Company shall withhold from payments made hereunder the minimum taxes required to be withheld by the federal or any state or local government, or such greater withholding amount as a Participant or the Participant’s Beneficiary may designate.

 

6.7           Amounts that are due upon a specified date or event shall be paid upon such date or event; provided, however, pursuant to the final regulations under Section 409A of the Code, amounts that are paid on a later date within the same calendar year or, if later, the fifteenth day of the third calendar month following the specified date or event shall be treated as made on the specified date or event.

 

ARTICLE VII

BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION

 

The Participant may, at any time, designate a Beneficiary or Beneficiaries to receive the benefits payable in the event of his or her death (and may designate a successor Beneficiary or Beneficiaries to receive any benefits payable in the event of the death of any other Beneficiary).  Each Beneficiary designation shall become effective only when filed in writing with the Company during the Participant’s lifetime on a form prescribed or accepted by the Company (a “Beneficiary Designation Form”).  The filing of a new Beneficiary Designation Form will cancel any Beneficiary Designation Form previously filed.  If no Beneficiary shall be designated by the Participant, or if the designated Beneficiary or Beneficiaries shall not survive the Participant, payment of the Participant’s Account shall be made to the Participant’s estate.  If a Participant designated that

 

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payments be made in installments and did not designate a successor Beneficiary, the Beneficiary of such Participant may submit a Beneficiary Designation Form in respect of himself or herself and the provisions of the Plan shall apply to such Beneficiary as if the Beneficiary were the Participant hereunder.

 

ARTICLE VIII

MAINTENANCE AND VALUATION OF ACCOUNTS

 

8.1           The Company shall establish and maintain a separate bookkeeping Account on behalf of each Participant.  The value of an Account as of any date shall equal the Participant’s Deferral Amounts theretofore credited to such Account plus the earnings and investment gains and losses credited to such Account in accordance with Article V of the Plan through the day preceding such date and less all payments made by the Company to the Participant or his or her Beneficiary or Beneficiaries through the day preceding such date.

 

8.2           Each Account shall be valued by the Company as of each December 31 or on such more frequent dates as designated by the Company.  Accounts also may be valued by the Company as of any other date as the Company may authorize for the purpose of determining payment of benefits, or any other reason the Company deems appropriate.

 

8.3           The Company shall submit to each Participant, within 60 (sixty) days after the close of each Year, a statement in such form as the Company deems desirable setting forth the balance standing to the credit of each Participant in his or her Account, including Deferral Amounts, earnings and investment gains or losses and Deferral Periods.

 

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ARTICLE IX

FUNDING

 

9.1         The benefits contemplated hereunder may be paid directly by the Company, any other Participating Company or through any trust established by the Company hereunder to assist in meeting its obligations.  Nothing contained herein, however, shall create any obligation on the part of the Company or any other Participating Company to set aside or earmark any monies or other assets specifically for payments under the Plan.

 

9.2         Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, Participants and their Beneficiaries, heirs, successors and assigns shall have no legal or equitable rights, interest or claims in any specific property or assets of the Company or any other Participating Company, nor shall they be beneficiaries of, or have any rights, claims or interests in, any funds, securities, life insurance policies, annuity contracts, or the proceeds therefrom, owned or which may be acquired by the Company.  Such funds, securities, policies or other assets shall not be held in any way as collateral security for the fulfillment of the obligations under the Plan.  Any and all of such assets shall be, and remain, for purposes of the Plan, the general unpledged, unrestricted assets of the Company or Participating Company, as the case may be.

 

9.3         The obligation under the Plan shall be merely that of an unfunded and unsecured promise of the Company, or Participating Company pursuant to the succeeding sentence, to pay money in the future.  By action of its board of directors, any Participating Company may assume joint and several liability with the Company with respect to any obligations under the Plan for Eligible Employees or Eligible Directors of the Participating Company.

 

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ARTICLE X

AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

 

10.1         The Board, or its duly authorized delegates, may at any time amend the Plan in whole or in part; provided, however, that no amendment shall be effective to decrease the accrued benefits or rights of any Participant under the Plan except to the extent necessary or desirable to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code as interpreted by the Committee in its sole discretion for the exclusion from gross income of amounts deferred under the Plan.  Written notice of any such amendment shall be given to each Participant.

 

10.2         The Board may at any time terminate the Plan; provided, however, that such termination shall not decrease the accrued benefits or rights of any Participant under the Plan.  Upon any termination of the Plan under this Section 10.2, Participants shall thereafter be prohibited from making any changes to any Deferral Periods, and Deferral Amounts shall be paid to Participants as soon as permissible under Section 409A of the Code as interpreted by the Committee in its sole discretion for the exclusion from gross income of amounts deferred under the Plan, notwithstanding any election made by Participants with respect to Deferral Periods.  Accounts shall be maintained and distributed pursuant to such terms, at such times and upon such conditions as were effective immediately prior to the termination of the Plan; provided, however, that the Committee, in its discretion, may direct that all benefits payable under the Plan be distributed in the form of a lump sum distribution following the Plan’s termination to the extent permitted by Section 409A of the Code as interpreted by the Committee for exclusion from gross income of amounts deferred under the Plan.

 

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ARTICLE XI

FINANCIAL HARDSHIP WITHDRAWALS

 

11.1         Subject to the provisions set forth herein, a Participant may withdraw up to 100% (one hundred percent) of his or her Account balance as necessary to satisfy immediate and heavy financial needs of the Participant which the Participant is unable to meet from any other resource reasonably available to the Participant due to the occurrence of an Unforeseen Emergency, as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee.  The amount of such hardship withdrawal may not exceed the amount reasonably necessary to meet such need plus taxes reasonably anticipated as a result of such distribution, after taking into account the extent to which such hardship is or may be relieved through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise, or by liquidation of the Participant’s assets (to the extent the liquidation of such assets would not itself cause severe financial hardship).  The Participant shall be required to furnish evidence of qualification for a financial hardship withdrawal to the Committee on forms prescribed by or acceptable to the Company.

 

ARTICLE XII

ADMINISTRATION

 

12.1         The administration of the Plan shall be vested in the Committee.

 

12.2         The Committee shall have general charge of the administration of the Plan and shall have full power and authority to make its determinations effective.  All decisions of the Committee shall be by a vote of the majority of its members and shall be final and binding unless the Board shall determine otherwise.  Members of the Committee, whether or not Eligible Employees or Eligible Directors, shall be eligible to participate in the Plan while serving as a

 

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member of the Committee, but a member of the Committee shall not vote or act upon any matter which relates solely to such member as a Participant.  The Committee may delegate to any agent or to any sub-committee or member of the Committee its authority to perform any act hereunder, including, without limitation, those matters involving the exercise of discretion, provided that such delegation shall be subject to revocation at any time by the Committee.

 

12.3         In addition to all other powers vested in it by the Plan, the Committee shall have power to interpret the Plan, to establish and revise rules and regulations relating to the Plan and to make any other determinations that it believes necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan, including rules restricting the availability to some or all Participants of deferral period alternatives, investment benchmarks, or distribution alternatives otherwise available under the Plan.  The Committee shall have absolute discretion and all decisions made by the Committee pursuant to the exercise of its authority (including, without limitation, any interpretation of the Plan) shall be final and binding, in the absence of arbitrary or capricious action, on all persons and shall be accorded the maximum deference permitted by law.

 

12.4         The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless the members of the Committee against any and all claims, loss, damage, expense or liability arising from any action or failure to act with respect to the Plan to the fullest extent permitted by law.

 

ARTICLE XIII

 

CLAIMS PROCEDURES

 

13.1         The Company shall appoint an individual or committee of individuals (the “Decisionmaker”) to evaluate claims made under the Plan.  Within 90 days after the Company receives a written claim for benefits under the Plan, the Decisionmaker will either approve the

 

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claim or notify the claimant that the claim is denied.  The Decisionmaker may extend this time period by up to an additional 90 days under special circumstances and shall notify the claimant of the extension and the reasons therefore within the initial 90-day period.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that a claim relates to a distribution or benefit due as a result of a Disability (a “Disability Benefit”), the Decisionmaker shall notify a claimant of the denial of a claim for Disability Benefits under the Plan within a reasonable period of time, but not later than 45 days, after receipt of a written claim.  This period may be extended by the Decisionmaker for two additional periods of up to 30 days each if the Decisionmaker determines that the extension is necessary due to matters beyond its control and notifies the claimant of the extension and the reasons therefore before the expiration of the applicable period.  Such notices of extension shall specifically explain the standards on which entitlement to a Disability Benefit is based, the unresolved issues that prevent a decision on the claim and the additional information (if any) needed to resolve those issues.  If additional information is needed, the claimant shall have at least 45 days to provide the information.

 

13.2         If a claim is denied, in whole or in part, the Decisionmaker shall furnish to the claimant, at the time of the denial, a written notice setting forth in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant: (i) the reason(s) for the denial, including a reference to any applicable provisions of the Plan; (ii) a description of any additional material or information necessary for the claimant to perfect the claim and an explanation of why such material or information is necessary; and (iii) an explanation of the Plan’s review procedures and the time limits applicable to such procedures.  In addition, if a claim for Disability Benefits is denied, the notice of denial shall inform the claimant of any internal rule, guideline, protocol or other similar

 

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criterion relied upon in denying the claim and identify any health care professional consulted in connection with the denial.

 

13.3         A claimant who has received a notice denying a claim, in whole or in part, may request in writing a review of the claim within 60 days (180 days for denials of claims for Disability Benefits) after receiving a notice of denial.  Such request may be made either in person or by a duly authorized representative and shall set forth all the bases of the request for review, any facts supporting the review and any issues or comments the claimant deems pertinent.  The claimant may submit documents, records and other information in support of the review and shall be provided upon request, free of charge, reasonable access to and copies of all documents, records and other information relevant to the claimant’s appeal.

 

13.4         The Company shall appoint an individual or committee of individuals to review the appeal of any claim denial under the Plan (the “Claim Reviewer”).  The Claim Reviewer shall make a decision with respect to a claim review promptly, but not later than 60 days (45 days in the case of denials of claims for Disability Benefits) after receipt of the appeal.  The Claim Reviewer may extend this time period by up to an additional 60 days (45 days in the case of denials of claims for Disability Benefits) under special circumstances by providing the claimant with notice of the extension and the reasons therefore within the initial 60-day (or 45-day) period.  The Claim Reviewer will be a different person(s) from the person(s) who made the initial determination and will not be a subordinate of the original Decisionmaker or a relative of such subordinate.  The Claim Reviewer will not grant deference to the initial decision and will consider all information submitted, regardless of whether it was considered in connection with the initial claim.

 

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In deciding an appeal from the denial of a claim for Disability Benefits that is based in whole or in part on a medical judgment, the Claim Reviewer shall consult with a health care professional who has the appropriate training and experience in the field of medicine involved in the medical judgment.  Such health care professional will not be the individual, if any, who was consulted in connection with the denial that is the subject of the appeal, nor a subordinate of such individual.

 

The final decision of the Claim Reviewer shall be in writing, give specific reasons for the decision, provide specific references to the pertinent provisions of the Plan on which the decision is based and include both a statement that the claimant is entitled to receive, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to and copies of all documents, records and other information relevant to the claimant’s claim for benefits and a statement of the claimant’s right to bring an action in court.  In addition, if an appeal of a claim for Disability Benefits is denied, the notice of denial shall inform the claimant of any rule, guideline, protocol or other similar criterion relied upon in making the adverse benefit determination and identify the health care professional consulted in connection with the appeal.

 

ARTICLE XIV

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

14.1         Neither the establishment of the Plan, nor any modification thereof, nor the creation of an Account, nor the payment of any benefits shall be construed:  (a) as giving the Participant, Beneficiary or other person any legal or equitable right against the Company unless such right shall be specifically provided for in the Plan or conferred by affirmative action of the Company in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Plan; or (b) as giving an Eligible

 

23


 

Employee the right to be retained in the service of a Participating Company or to continue as a member of the Board or the board of directors of any Participating Company, and the Participant shall remain subject to discharge or removal to the same extent as if the Plan had never been established.

 

14.2         No interest of any Participant or Beneficiary hereunder shall be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, attachment or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s Beneficiary.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, pursuant to rules comparable to those applicable to qualified domestic relations orders, as determined by the Committee, the Committee may direct a distribution prior to any distribution date otherwise described in the Plan, to an alternate payee (as defined under the rules applicable to qualified domestic relations orders) to the extent permitted by Section 409A of the Code as interpreted by the Committee for exclusion from gross income of amounts deferred under the Plan.

 

14.3         Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Plan is intended to comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A to avoid taxation under Code Section 409A(a)(1) and shall, at all times, be interpreted and operated in a manner consistent with this intention.  Under no circumstances, however, shall the Company or any of its affiliates have any liability to any person for any taxes, penalties or interest due on amounts paid or payable under the Plan, including any taxes, penalties or interest imposed under Code Section 409A(a)(1).

 

24


 

14.4         All pronouns and any variations thereof shall be deemed to refer to the masculine, feminine or neuter, as the identity of the person or persons may require.  As the context may require, the singular may be read as the plural and the plural as the singular.

 

14.5         Any notice or filing required or permitted to be given to the Committee under the Plan shall be sufficient if in writing and delivered, or sent by registered or certified mail, to the principal office of the Company, directed to the attention of each of the President and the General Counsel of the Company.  Such notice shall be deemed given as of the date of receipt.

 

14.6         Should any provision of the Plan or any rule or procedure thereunder be deemed or held to be unlawful or invalid for any reason, such fact shall not adversely affect the other provisions of the Plan, or any rule or procedure thereunder, unless such invalidity shall render impossible or impractical the functioning of the Plan, and, in such case, the appropriate parties shall immediately adopt a new provision or rule or procedure to take the place of the one held illegal or invalid.

 

14.7         Any dispute, controversy or claim between the Company and any Participant, Beneficiary or other person arising out of or relating to the Plan shall be settled by arbitration conducted in the City of New York, in accordance with the Commercial Rules of the American Arbitration Association then in force and New York law.  In any dispute or controversy or claim challenging any determination by the Committee, the arbitrator(s) shall uphold such determination in the absence of the arbitrator’s finding of the presence of arbitrary or capricious action by the Committee.  The arbitration decision or award shall be final and binding upon the parties.  The arbitration shall be in writing and shall set forth the basis therefor.  The parties hereto shall abide by all awards rendered in such arbitration proceedings, and all such awards

 

25


 

may be enforced and executed upon in any court having jurisdiction over the party against whom enforcement of such award is sought.  Each party shall bear its own costs with respect to such arbitration, including reasonable attorneys’ fees; provided, however, that:  (i) the fees of the American Arbitration Association shall be borne equally by the parties; and (ii) if the arbitration is resolved in favor of the Participant, Beneficiary or other person asserting a claim under the Plan, such person’s cost of the arbitration and the fees of the American Arbitration Association shall be paid by the Company.

 

14.8         Nothing contained herein shall preclude a Participating Company from merging into or with, or being acquired by, another business entity.

 

14.9         The liabilities under the Plan shall be binding upon any successor or assign of the Company, or of another Participating Company that has assumed liability pursuant to Section 9.3, and upon any purchaser of substantially all of the assets of the Company or such Participating Company.  Subject to Section 10.2, this Plan shall continue in full force and effect after such an event, with all references to the “Company” or a “Participating Company” herein referring also to such successor, assignor or purchaser, as the case may be.

 

14.10       The Plan shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York to the extent they are not preempted by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time.

 

14.11       The titles of the Articles in the Plan are for convenience of reference only, and, in the event of any conflict, the text rather than such titles shall control.

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE I

ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE OF THE PLAN

 

1

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE II

DEFINITIONS

 

1

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE III

PARTICIPATION

 

7

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV

DEFERRAL ELECTIONS

 

8

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE V

CREDITING OF DEFERRAL AMOUNTS AND ACCRUAL OF INVESTMENT GAINS OR LOSSES

 

12

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE VI

COMMENCEMENT OF BENEFITS

 

13

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE VII

BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION

 

15

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII

MAINTENANCE AND VALUATION OF ACCOUNTS

 

16

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE IX

FUNDING

 

17

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE X

AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

 

18

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE XI

FINANCIAL HARDSHIP WITHDRAWALS

 

19

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE XII

ADMINISTRATION

 

19

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE XIII

CLAIMS PROCEDURES

 

20

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE XIV

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

23

 



EXECUTION COPY

Exhibit 10.2

 

CAPITAL COMMITMENT AGREEMENT

entered into as of November 13, 2008

by and among

Dexia Holdings Inc.

Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd.

 

and

 

FSA Asset Management LLC

 


 

CAPITAL COMMITMENT AGREEMENT

 

This CAPITAL COMMITMENT AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ”) is entered into as of November 13, 2008 (the “Commitment Effective Date”), by and among Dexia Holdings Inc. (“ DHI ”), Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. (“ FSAH ”) and FSA Asset Management LLC (“ FSAM ”).  DHI, FSAH and FSAM are sometimes referred to herein individually as a “ Party ” and collectively as the “ Parties .”

 

WHEREAS , FSAH desires to receive additional capital contributions from DHI for purposes of FSAH making additional equivalent capital contributions to FSAM (the “FSAM Commitment”), and FSAM desires to receive additional capital contributions from FSAH for the Intended Uses; and

 

WHEREAS , DHI is willing to contribute capital to FSAH from time to time in cash, up to an aggregate amount of US$500 million, in return for certain cash payments from (and, if the Board of Directors of FSAH so elects, common stock of) FSAH, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth below.

 

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the premises, and of the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein, the Parties agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I – DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.1.             Defined Terms .  As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the following meanings:

 

“Affiliate” means, in relation to any Person, any entity controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Person, any entity that controls, directly or indirectly, the Person or any entity directly or indirectly under common control with the Person (where, for the avoidance of doubt, two entities shall be considered under “common control” where they are each controlled, directly or indirectly, by the same third entity).  For this purpose, “control” of any entity or Person means ownership of a majority of the voting power of the entity or Person.

 

Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Bankruptcy Event ” means with respect to any person that such person (a) is dissolved (other than pursuant to a consolidation, amalgamation or merger); (b) makes a general assignment, arrangement or composition with or for the benefit of its creditors; (c) institutes or has instituted against it a proceeding seeking a judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy or any other relief under any bankruptcy or insolvency law or other similar law affecting creditors’ rights, or a petition is presented for its winding-up or liquidation, and, in the case of any such proceeding or petition instituted or presented against it, such proceeding or petition (i) results in a judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy or the entry of an order for relief or the making of an order for its winding-up or liquidation or (ii) is not dismissed, discharged, stayed or restrained in each case within thirty calendar days of the institution or presentation thereof; (d) has a resolution passed for its winding-up, official management or liquidation (other than pursuant to a consolidation, amalgamation or merger); (e) seeks or becomes subject to the appointment of an administrator, provisional liquidator, conservator, receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar

 

1


 

official for it or for all or substantially all its assets; (f) has a secured party take possession of all or substantially all its assets or has a distress, execution, attachment, sequestration or other legal process levied, enforced or sued on or against all or substantially all its assets and such secured party maintains possession, or any such process is not dismissed, discharged, stayed or restrained, in each case within thirty calendar days thereafter; or (g) causes or is subject to any event with respect to it which, under the applicable laws of any jurisdiction, has an analogous effect to any of the events specified in clauses (a) to (f) (inclusive)..

 

Business Day ” means each day which is neither a Saturday, a Sunday nor any other day on which banking institutions in New York or Paris are authorized or obligated by law or required by executive order to be closed.

 

Capital Contribution ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.

 

Collateral Posting Requirements ” has the meaning set forth in the Pledge and Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Common Stock ” means common stock issued by FSAH, par value $.01 per share.

 

Contribution Certificate “ has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2 .

 

Contribution Date ” means any date on which FSAH may receive a Capital Contribution in accordance with Article IV.

 

Contribution Payment ” means a non-refundable payment equal to 50 basis points per annum of the DHI Commitment, determined and payable in accordance with Section 3.1.

 

Contribution Request Date ” means any date on which FSAH delivers a Contribution Certificate to DHI in accordance with Section 4.1.

 

Deficiency Amount ” means the Economic Loss reduced by tax benefits arising from Economic Losses that reduce FSAH’s federal income tax liability as included in the Financial Statements.  The “Current Period Deficiency Amount” means the Deficiency Amount reduced by the Deficiency Amount as of the prior quarter end.  To the extent that such tax benefits realized in any quarter exceed the Current Period Deficiency Amount (calculated without deducting such tax benefits realized in that quarter or carried over from such prior quarters), then the amount of those tax benefits realized but not used are carried over and used in the next subsequent quarter with a Current Period Deficiency Amount until such realized tax benefits have been so used.

 

DHI Commitment ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.

 

DHI ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Economic Loss ” means, in respect of assets owned by FSAM for which an “other than temporary impairment” has been determined under FSAH’s accounting principles and valuation rules consistently applied, the amount by which the amortized purchase cost of these assets

 

2


 

exceeds the discounted present value of the future expected cash flows of such assets in each case as disclosed in FSAH’s Form 10-K or Form 10-Q in respect of the quarter ending immediately prior to the relevant Contribution Date.

 

End Date ” means the earliest of (i) the last maturity date of the assets included in FSAM’s investment portfolio (which for this purpose shall include any assets held directly by a subsidiary of FSAM) as of the Commitment Effective Date, (ii) the date of the completion of the liquidation of all of such assets or (iii) any earlier termination pursuant to Article VII of this Agreement.

 

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Financial Statements ” means, from time to time, the most recent audited annual financial statements delivered or made available to DHI pursuant to Section 8.2(a) and, if any subsequent quarterly financial statements have been delivered or made available to DHI, the most recent unaudited quarterly financial statements described in Section 8.2(b).

 

FSAH ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

FSAM ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

 “ FSA Inc. ” means Financial Security Assurance Inc., a New York stock insurance company.

 

GAAP ” means United States generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied as in effect from time to time.

 

GIC Issuers ” means collectively FSA Capital Management and FSA Capital Markets, as such terms are defined in the Pledge and Intercreditor Agreement.

 

GMSLA ” means the Global Master Securities Lending Agreement (including the Annex thereto) dated as of November 13, 2008, between FSAM and Dexia Bank Belgium S.A., as the same may from time to time be amended.

 

Governmental Authority ” means any national or federal government, any state, regional, local or other political subdivision thereof with jurisdiction and any Person with jurisdiction exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government.

 

Insolvency Event ” means with respect to a person that such person is or becomes financially insolvent or is unable generally to pay its debts as they become due or fails or admits in writing in a judicial, regulatory or administrative proceeding or filing its inability generally to pay its debts as they become due.

 

Intended Uses ” has the meaning set forth in the Pledge and Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Parties ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

3


 

Person ” means any natural person, corporation, general or limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, association, unincorporated entity of any kind, or Governmental Authority.

 

Pledge and Intercreditor Agreement ” means the Pledge and Intercreditor Agreement dated as of November 13, 2008 among Dexia Crédit Local, Dexia Bank Belgium S.A., FSAM and FSA Inc.

 

Publication Date ” means the date on which FSAH has delivered or made available to DHI its latest audited annual financial statements pursuant to Section 8.2(a) or its latest unaudited quarterly financial statements pursuant to Section 8.2(b), as the case may be.

 

Specified Liens ” means the FSA Liens, the Subordinated Liens, and any Permitted Lien as such terms are defined in the Pledge and Intercreditor Agreement.

 

 “ Subsidiary ” shall mean, as to any Person, any other Person with respect to which 50% or more of the voting equity interests of such Person are owned by such first Person, whether directly or indirectly through one or more intermediary Subsidiaries.

 

Termination Event ” has the meaning set forth in Article VII.

 

Section 1.2.             Interpretation .

 

(a)           As used herein, except as otherwise indicated herein or as the context may otherwise require: (i) the words “include,” “includes,” and “including” are deemed to be followed by “without limitation” whether or not they are in fact followed by such words or words of like import; (ii) the words “hereof,” “herein,” “hereunder,” and comparable terms refer to the entirety of this Agreement, and not to any particular article, section, or other subdivision hereof; (iii) any pronoun will include the corresponding masculine, feminine, and neuter forms; (iv) the singular includes the plural and vice versa; (v) references to any agreement or other document are to such agreement or document as the same may be from time to time amended, modified, supplemented, and restated; (viii) references to any Person include such Person’s respective successors and permitted assigns.

 

(b)           In this Agreement, any reference to a Party’s “knowledge,” and comparable terms including “know,” “known,” “aware,” or “awareness,” means such Party’s actual knowledge after due inquiry of officers, directors and other key employees of such Party reasonably believed to have knowledge of such matters.

 

(c)           Any reference herein to a “day” or number of “days” (without the explicit qualification of “Business”) will be deemed to refer to a calendar day or number of calendar days.  If any action or notice is to be taken or given on or by a particular calendar day, and such calendar day is not a Business Day, then such action or notice may be taken or given on or by the next succeeding Business Day.

 

4


 

ARTICLE II
CAPITAL COMMITMENT; AMOUNT

 

Section 2.1.             Commitment . Until the End Date, DHI agrees to contribute capital to FSAH (each contribution, a “ Capital Contribution ”) in such amounts as requested by FSAH from time to time, up to an aggregate capital contribution of US$500 million (“ DHI Commitment ”), subject to and in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

Section 2.2.             Amount . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, in no event shall the aggregate Capital Contributions under this Agreement exceed the DHI Commitment.  FSAH may not request that amounts contributed under the DHI Commitment and redistributed to DHI in any manner be contributed again.

 

ARTICLE III
CONTRIBUTION PAYMENTS; SHARES

 

Section 3.1.             Contribution Payment . FSAH shall pay to DHI the Contribution Payment quarterly in arrears on the portion of the DHI Commitment that has not been contributed.  Such amount shall be based on the average portion of the DHI Commitment that has not been contributed during a calendar quarter and calculated on an actual/360-day basis, with such amount to be paid on the first Business Day of the immediately following calendar quarter.  The payment shall be made by wire transfer in immediately available funds (in US dollars) to an account specified by DHI in accordance with the notice provisions in Section 9.5 of this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE IV– CONTRIBUTION RIGHT

 

Section 4.1.             Date . Subject to and in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, FSAH may request that DHI contribute capital available under the DHI Commitment on a quarterly basis (x) for the first contribution on December 15, 2008, and (y) thereafter on the 30th day (or, if such 30 th day is not a Business Day, the first Business Day immediately following such 30 th day) after the Publication Date (each such date being a “Contribution Date” hereunder), in each case in an amount up to the then existing Current Period Deficiency Amount (subject to the DHI Commitment limit) by making a contribution request to DHI no later than 20 days prior to the relevant Contribution Date (or, with respect to the first contribution on December 15, 2008, no later than 20 days prior to such first Contribution Date).  The Current Period Deficiency Amount may be increased above the otherwise applicable amount by the mutual agreement of DHI and FSAH.

 

Section 4.2.             Certificate . FSAH may make a contribution request by delivering to DHI a certificate (a “ Contribution Certificate ”) executed by the principal financial officer of FSAH, which shall set forth:

 

(a)            The Current Period Deficiency Amount and FSAH’s calculations used to determine the Current Period Deficiency Amount in reasonable detail; and

 

5


 

(b)            The wire and account details for the Capital Contribution.

 

Section 4.3.             Payment . Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, on the Contribution Date, (i) DHI will pay to FSAH, in immediately available funds (in US dollars), a Capital Contribution in an amount equal to the Current Period Deficiency Amount, and (ii) if the Board of Directors of FSAH has elected to issue new shares of Common Stock in consideration for such Capital Contribution, FSAH shall deliver to DHI certificates representing the shares of Common Stock being issued in connection with such Capital Contribution.

 

ARTICLE V – CONTRIBUTION CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

 

DHI’s commitment to make any Capital Contribution, shall be subject to the following conditions:

 

(a)            FSAH shall have delivered to DHI the Contribution Certificate no later than 20 days prior to the Contribution Date;

 

(b)            FSAH shall have delivered to DHI no later than the Business Day immediately prior to the Contribution Date any additional documents and calculations reasonably requested by DHI in connection with the Capital Contribution;

 

(c)            FSAH shall have delivered a certificate to DHI, executed by FSAH’s  chief executive officer and principal financial officer, which states that (i) each of the representations and warranties  of FSAH and FSAM set forth in Article VI of this Agreement are true and accurate in all material respects as of the Contribution Date, and (ii) each of FSAH and FSAM has performed and complied with in all material respects each covenant required to be performed or complied with by it pursuant to Article VII of this Agreement prior to or on the Contribution Date;

 

(d)            Each of the representations and warranties of FSAH and FSAM set forth in Article VI of this Agreement shall be true and accurate in all material respects as of the Contribution Date;

 

(e)            Each of FSAH and FSAM has performed and complied with in all material respects each covenant required to be performed or complied with by it pursuant to Article VII of this Agreement prior to or on the Contribution Date;

 

(f)             No Termination Event shall have occurred or be continuing; and

 

(g)            If the Board of Directors of FSAH has elected to issue new shares of Common Stock in consideration for such Capital Contribution, FSAH shall have tendered for delivery to DHI certificates representing the shares of Common Stock being issued in connection with such Capital Contribution.

 

6


 

ARTICLE VI
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

FSAH and FSAM jointly represent and warrant to DHI as of the date hereof and as of each Contribution Date (or, in the case of any representation or warranty that speaks as of a specific date or time, as of such specific date or time) as follows:

 

Section 6.1.             Organization .  FSAM is a limited liability company duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of Delaware.  FSAH is a corporation duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of New York.  Each such entity has all requisite power and authority, corporate and otherwise, to conduct its business as now conducted and to own its properties.  Each such entity has full power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to incur its obligations provided for herein, all of which have been duly authorized by all proper and necessary action, corporate or otherwise, on the part of such entity .  This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each such entity and constitutes the valid and legally binding agreement of such entity, enforceable against such entity in accordance with its terms , except as enforceability may be affected by bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity .

 

Section 6.2.             Authorization; No Conflicts.  All consents and approvals of, and all notices to and filings with, any governmental entities or regulatory bodies required as a condition to the valid execution, delivery or performance by FSAM and FSAH of this Agreement have been obtained or made .  Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor compliance with the terms and provisions hereof will conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute a default under (i)  any of the terms, conditions or provisions of the limited liability company agreement of FSAM or the articles or incorporation or by-laws of FSAH , (ii) any law, regulation or order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, determination or award of any court or governmental instrumentality or (iii) any agreement or instrument to which FSAH or FSAM is a party or by which it is bound .

 

Section 6.3.             Financial Statements . The Financial Statements heretofore furnished or made available to DHI are complete and correct and fairly present the consolidated financial condition of FSAH and its consolidated subsidiaries as at the dates thereof and the results of operations for the periods covered thereby ( subject, in the case of quarterly statements, to normal , year-end audit adjustments ) .  Such financial statements were prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied.

 

Section 6.4.             Litigation .  As of the date of this Agreement, other than as may have been disclosed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2007, or the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ending March 31, 2008, or June 30, 2008, in each case as filed by FSAH with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, there is no action, suit or proceeding pending against, or to FSAH’s and FSAM’s knowledge threatened against or affecting, FSAH or FSAM before any court or arbitrator or any governmental body, agency or official which, if adversely determined, would have a material adverse effect (actual or prospective) on FSAH’s or FSAM’s business, properties or financial position or which seeks to terminate or calls into question the validity or enforceability of this Agreement.

 

7

 

Section 6.5.                                    Nature of Entity .  Each of FSAM and FSAH is not (i) a “holding company,” or a “subsidiary company” of a “holding company,” or of a “subsidiary company” of a “holding company,” within the meaning of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, or (ii) required to be registered as an “investment company” as defined in (or subject to regulation under) the Investment Company Act of 1940.  Neither the making of requests for capital contributions by FSAH or FSAM hereunder, or the application of the amounts received as a result thereof by FSAH or FSAM, nor the consummation of other transactions contemplated hereunder, will violate any provision of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, the Investment Company Act of 1940 or any rule, regulation or order of the SEC.

 

Section 6.6.                                    No Termination Event .  No Termination Event has occurred and is continuing.

 

ARTICLE VII - TERMINATION

 

The DHI Commitment shall automatically terminate and DHI shall have no further obligation to make any Capital Contribution upon the earliest of (each of the following being a “ Termination Event ”):

 

(a)                                   the DHI Commitment has been contributed in full or, if earlier, upon payment or other satisfaction of all liabilities of FSAM;

 

(b)                                  a Bankruptcy Event in relation to any of FSAH, FSA Inc., FSAM, FSA Capital Markets Services LLC or FSA Capital Management Services LLC;

 

(c)                                   any Insolvency Event in relation to FSA Inc.; or

 

(d)                                  an Event of Default occurring under either (x) the Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of June 30, 2008 between Dexia Crédit Local and FSAM, as amended or (y) the GMSLA.

 

ARTICLE VIII
COVENANTS

 

FSAH and FSAM each covenants and agrees as follows:

 

Section 8.1.                                    Conduct of Business .  It will maintain its corporate (or, with respect to FSAM, its limited liability company) existence in good standing, will comply in all material respects with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority noncompliance with which would have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or operations or on its ability to meet its obligations hereunder, and will continue to engage in business of the same general type as that engaged in by it on the date hereof.  It will pay and discharge, at or before maturity, all its obligations and liabilities, including, without limitation, tax liabilities , where failure to satisfy such obligations or liabilities in the aggregate would have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, operations or ability to meet its obligations hereunder .

 

8


 

Section 8.2.                                    Financial Statements .  FSAH will furnish to DHI:

 

(a)                                   As soon as available and in any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of FSAH, a consolidated balance sheet of FSAH and its consolidated subsidiaries as at the close of such fiscal year and the related consolidated statements of income and changes in financial position for such year, certified by independent public accountants of recognized standing; and

 

(b)                                  As soon as available and in any event within 45 days after the end of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year of FSAH, a consolidated balance sheet of FSAH and its consolidated subsidiaries as at the close of such quarter and the related consolidated statements of income and changes in financial position for such quarter and for the portion of such fiscal year then ended, certified by FSAH’s chief financial officer as having been prepared on a basis consistent with the most recent audited consolidated financial statements of FSAH and its consolidated subsidiaries, it being understood that the required certifications on Form 10-Q and Form 10-K shall suffice for such purpose.

 

Section 8.3.                                    Use of Proceeds .  FSAH shall use the proceeds from the DHI Commitment solely to perform its obligations under the FSAM Commitment and FSAM shall use any proceeds it receives (whether directly or indirectly) from a contribution request by FSAH solely to purchase securities eligible to be posted by the GIC Issuers as collateral for purposes of meeting Collateral Posting Requirements and for any other Intended Uses.

 

Section 8.4.                                    Maintenance of Properties .  It shall (a) maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties and equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, and (b) use the standard of care typical in the industry in the operation and maintenance of its facilities, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on it.

 

Section 8.5.                                    Maintenance of Insurance .  It shall maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies or with a captive insurance company that is its Affiliate as to which DHI may request reasonable evidence of financial responsibility, insurance with respect to its properties in such amounts with such deductibles and covering such risks as are customarily carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in localities where it or any of its Subsidiaries operates.

 

ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 9.1.                                    Entire Agreement .  This Agreement contains, and is intended as, a complete statement of all of the terms of the agreements among the Parties with respect to the matters provided for herein.

 

9


 

Section 9.2.                                    Headings .  The article and section headings of this Agreement are for reference purposes only and are to be given no effect in the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

Section 9.3.                                    Rules of Construction .  The Parties agree that they have been represented by counsel during the negotiation, preparation, and execution of this Agreement and, therefore, waive the application of any law or rule of construction providing that ambiguities in an agreement or other document will be construed against the Party drafting such agreement or document.

 

Section 9.4.                                    Public Announcements .  Subject to FSAH’s disclosure obligations imposed by law or regulation or the rules of any stock exchange upon which its securities are listed, neither FSAH nor FSAM will make any news release or public disclosure without first consulting with DHI and receiving its consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) and FSAH and FSAM shall coordinate with DHI with respect to any such news release or public disclosure.

 

Section 9.5.                                    Notices .  All notices and other communications hereunder must be in writing and must be delivered personally, faxed, sent by internationally recognized delivery service or mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested) to the relevant Parties at the following address (or to such other Person or address for a Party as specified by such Party by like notice) and shall be effective when received:

 

(a)           If to FSAH:

 

Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd.

31 West 52 nd Street

New York, New York  10019

Attention:     Managing Director – Surveillance

Facsimile:    (212) 339-3518

 

with a copy to:

 

Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd.

31 West 52 nd Street

New York, New York  10019

Attention:     General Counsel

Facsimile:     (212) 857-0541

 

(b)          If to FSAM:

 

FSA Asset Management LLC

31 West 52 nd Street

New York, New York  10019

Attention:     FP – Operations

Facsimile:    (212) 893-2727

 

10


 

with a copy to:

 

FSA Asset Management LLC

31 West 52 nd Street

New York, New York  10019

Attention:     General Counsel

Facsimile:     (212) 857-0541

 

(c)           If to DHI:

 

Dexia Holdings Inc.

c/o Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd.

31 West 52 nd Street

New York, New York  10019

Attention:     General Counsel

Facsimile:     (212) 857-0541

 

with a copy to:

 

Dexia Cr é dit Local

1, Passerelle des Reflets

Tour Dexia La Défense 2

92913 La Défense Cedex

France

Attention:     Back Office Operations

Facsimile:     33 1 58 58 7290

 

Section 9.6.                                    Severability .  If at any time any covenant or provision contained herein is deemed in a final ruling of a court or other body of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable, such covenant or provision will be considered divisible and such covenant or provision will be deemed immediately amended and reformed to include only such portion of such covenant or provision as such court or other body has held to be valid and enforceable; and the Parties agree that such covenant or provision, as so amended and reformed, will be valid and binding as though the invalid or unenforceable portion had not been included herein.

 

Section 9.7.                                    Amendment; Waiver .  No provision of this Agreement may be amended or modified except by an instrument or instruments in writing signed by the Parties and designated as an amendment or modification.  No waiver by any Party of any provision of this Agreement will be valid unless in writing and signed by the Party making such waiver and designated as a waiver.  No failure or delay by any Party in exercising any right, power, or remedy hereunder will operate as a waiver thereof, nor will any single or partial exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power, or remedy preclude any further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power, or remedy.  No waiver of any provision hereof will be construed as a waiver of any other provision.

 

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Section 9.8.                                    Assignment; Binding Effect .  No Party may assign any of its rights or delegate any of its obligations under this Agreement without (a) the prior written consent of the other Parties, and (b) the complete written assumption by the assignee of all of the obligations of the assignor under this Agreement.  All of the terms and provisions of this Agreement will be binding on, and will inure to the benefit of, the respective successors and permitted assigns of the Parties.

 

Section 9.9.                                    Third-Party Beneficiaries . The representations, warranties, covenants, and agreements contained in this Agreement are for the sole benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns, and they will not be construed as conferring and are not intended to confer any rights, remedies, obligations, or liabilities on any other Person, unless such Person is expressly stated herein to be entitled to any such right, remedy, obligation, or liability. This Agreement shall not be enforceable by any creditor of FSAH, any creditor of FSAM or any other Person or entity, other than DHI, FSAH, FSAM and their successors.

 

Section 9.10.                              Governing Law .  This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within such State. The Parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York for any actions, suits or proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

Section 9.11.                              Waiver of Jury Trial .  Each of the Parties hereto irrevocably waives any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

Section 9.12.                              Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed by the Parties in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered will be an original, but all such counterparts will together constitute one and the same instrument.

 

Section 9.13                                 Covenant with Respect to Dexia Crédit Local .  DHI covenants to FSAH that it will borrow from Dexia Crédit Local, or otherwise request that Dexia Crédit Local contribute or convey to DHI, any funds necessary for DHI to make all Capital Contributions required to be made by DHI under this Agreement, such that Dexia Crédit Local loans, contributes or conveys to DHI the amount of each such Capital Contribution on or immediately prior to the related Contribution Date.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

DEXIA HOLDINGS INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/  Alain Delouis

 

 

 

Name:   Alain Delouis

 

 

 

Title:     Chairman

 

 

 

 

FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/  Robert P. Cochran

 

 

 

Name:   Robert P. Cochran

 

 

 

Title:     Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

FSA ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/  Guy Cools

 

 

 

Name:   Guy Cools

 

 

 

Title:    Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/  Bruce Stern

 

 

 

Name:   Bruce Stern

 

 

 

Title:    Managing Director

 

By signing this Agreement below, Dexia Crédit Local agrees to, and covenants to FSAH that it shall, loan, contribute or otherwise convey to DHI amounts equal to all Capital Contributions required to be made by DHI under this Agreement, with Dexia Crédit Local to loan, contribute or otherwise convey to DHI the amount of each such Capital Contribution on or immediately prior to the related Contribution Date.

 

 

 

 

DEXIA CREDIT LOCAL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/  Jean Le Naour

 

 

By

/s/  Didier Casas

Name:      Jean Le Naour

 

Name:   Didier Casas

Title:        Chief Financial Officer

 

Title:    General Secretary

 

Acting together pursuant to a special power of attorney granted by the Board of Directors of Dexia Crédit Local on November 13 th , 2008.

 

13



EXECUTION COPY

 

Exhibit 10.3

 

PLEDGE AND INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT

 

THIS PLEDGE AND INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT (as amended, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time, this “ Agreement ”), dated as of November 13, 2008, is entered into between Dexia Crédit Local (“ DCL ”), Dexia Bank Belgium S.A. (“ DBB ”), Financial Security Assurance Inc. (“ FSA ”) and FSA Asset Management, LLC (“ FSAM ”).

 

W I T N E S S E T H :

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Amended and Restated Insurance and Indemnity Agreement dated as of October 21, 2008 between FSA and FSAM (the “ FSAM Insurance Agreement ”), a copy of which is attached hereto as Annex A, FSAM has granted FSA a security interest in the collateral identified therein (as defined in the FSAM Insurance Agreement the “Collateral”);

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to a Revolving Credit Agreement dated June 30, 2008 between FSAM and DCL, as amended by the letter of assignment dated as of August 13, 2008 between DBB and DCL (the “ Credit Agreement ”), DBB and DCL (together the “ Lenders ”) will provide financing to FSAM in the form of advances requested by FSAM from time to time;

 

WHEREAS, the Lenders wish to obtain and FSAM wishes to grant a security interest over the Collateral identified in the FSAM Insurance Agreement and FSA wishes to consent to the foregoing grant of security;

 

WHEREAS, the Lenders and FSA wish to set forth the priorities of their respective liens in the Collateral and the circumstances that will determine such relative priority;

 

WHEREAS DCL and DBB have agreed that DCL will act as Security Agent on behalf of itself and DBB under this Agreement;

 

NOW THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, DBB, DCL, FSA and FSAM each agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS

 

SECTION 1.1.                                                Certain Terms .  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement or, if not defined therein, in the FSAM Insurance Agreement.  The following terms (whether or not underscored) when used in this Agreement, including its preamble and recitals, shall have the following meanings (such definitions to be equally applicable to the singular and plural forms thereof):

 

Account Bank Lien ” means any Lien for the benefit of the Accoun t Bank, as securities intermediary (as defined in the UCC), as required or permitted under the UCC or under the Securities Account Control Agreement.

 

Collateral Posting Lien ” means, in the event that the Master Agreements are recharacterized as secured financings, the Lien for the benefit of FSA Capital Management and/or FSA Capital Markets pursuant to a pledge or advance of Collateral by FSAM for the

 


 

purpose of enabling FSA Capital Management and FSA Capital Markets to satisfy their respective Collateral Posting Requirements.

 

Collateral Posting Requirements ” means any requirement for FSA Capital Management or FSA Capital Markets to post specified collateral either (i) pursuant to the terms of the relevant GIC irrespective of the rating of the financial strength of FSA or (ii) during such time as the financial strength of FSA is not rated at least the required rating specified under the relevant GIC.  For the avoidance of doubt, a “requirement” to post collateral includes a provision in a GIC that upon a relevant downgrade of FSA, the GIC issuers have the option to post collateral (or effect one or more other cures), failing which the GIC would become subject to termination (either automatically or at the then election of the relevant GIC holder).

 

Creditor Parties ” means the Lenders and FSA.

 

Excluded Collateral ” means any (i) Collateral specifically granted or sold by FSAM, in each case subject to the consent of FSA, to secure its payment obligations under (A) any Master Agreement, Related Derivative Agreement or other similar financing arrangements or posted by FSAM as collateral to satisfy margin requirements with one or more brokers or dealers, (B) any repurchase agreement between FSAM and DCL, DBB, FSA or FSA Insurance Company, (C) any securities lending agreement between FSAM and DCL, DBB, FSA or FSA Insurance Company, or (D) any repurchase agreement between FSAM and any third party, where (I) the right to act as purchaser under such repurchase agreement has first been offered to DCL or DBB in the same amount and on substantially the same terms as those subsequently agreed by FSAM with the relevant purchaser, pursuant to the Offer Procedures, and (II) DCL or DBB, as applicable, has not accepted such offer to enter into such repurchase agreement with FSAM on such terms in accordance with the Offer Procedures and (ii) any other Collateral consented to by the Lenders (such consent by the Lenders not to be unreasonably withheld).  For the avoidance of doubt, Excluded Collateral does not include, and the security interest of the Lenders hereunder shall extend to, all rights of FSAM to repurchase or to receive the return of Collateral (or equivalent securities or payments) under the Master Agreements or any Related Derivative Agreement or other similar financing arrangements pursuant to which Collateral may become Excluded Collateral.

 

 “FSA Capital Management ” means FSA Capital Management Services LLC.

 

FSA Capital Management Insurance Agreement ” means the Insurance and Indemnity Agreement dated as of October 29, 2001 between FSA and FSA Capital Management.

 

FSA Capital Markets ” means FSA Capital Markets Services LLC.

 

FSA Capital Markets Insurance Agreement ” means the Insurance and Indemnity Agreement dated as of October 29, 2001 between FSA and FSA Capital Markets.

 

FSA Liens ” means the security interest(s) in favor of FSA in relation to any or all of the Collateral under the FSAM Insurance Agreement, FSA Capital Management Insurance Agreement or the FSA Capital Markets Insurance Agreement.

 

Grant ” means, as to any asset or property, to mortgage, pledge, assign and grant a security interest in such asset or property. A Grant of the Collateral or any assigned document, instrument or agreement shall include all rights, powers and options (but none of the obligations, except to the extent required by law), of the Granting party thereunder or with respect thereto, including the immediate and continuing right to claim, collect, receive and give receipt for all

 

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moneys payable thereunder and all income, proceeds, products, rents and profits thereof, to give and receive notices and other communications, to make waivers or other agreements, to exercise all rights and options, to bring proceedings in the name of the Granting party or otherwise, and generally to do and receive anything which the Granting party is or may be entitled to do or receive thereunder or with respect thereto.

 

Intended Uses ” means FSAM’s application of funds to (i) make payments in respect of the Master Notes or Master Agreements, (ii) make payments in respect of Related Derivatives and any other hedging transactions (such as futures transactions) entered into by FSAM to hedge exposures relating to the Assets, the Master Notes and the Master Agreements, (iii) make advances to FSA Capital Management and FSA Capital Markets for the purpose of enabling FSA Capital Management and FSA Capital Markets to satisfy their respective Collateral Posting Requirements under the guaranteed investment contracts (“ GICs ”) issued by FSA Capital Management and FSA Capital Markets, (iv) make reimbursement payments to FSA in respect of any payments by FSA under the Master Note Policies, the Master Agreement Policies, the Derivative Policies and the Asset Policies, (v) make payments in respect of financing obtained under the Master Agreements for the purpose of meeting Collateral Posting Requirements or otherwise for the payments described in (i) through (iv), (vi) make payment of other sums payable by the Issuer under the foregoing documents and any of the other “Issuer Documents” as defined in the FSAM Insurance Agreement, in connection with the transactions contemplated thereby, (vii) make payments under agreements or transactions ancillary or incidental to the items described in (i) through (vi), (viii) make payments of fees, charges, costs and expenses in respect of banking, custodial and other services to FSAM incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by the agreements in (i) through (vii) and (ix) make transfers of securities under FSAM’s other repurchase agreements or securities lending agreements.

 

Lender Agreements ” means the Credit Agreement, the Note(s) issued thereunder and this Agreement.

 

Lender Obligations ” means all payment obligations of FSAM under the Lender Agreements.

 

Lien ” means, with respect to any property, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such property.

 

 “ Master Agreements ” means the Master Repurchase Agreement I dated as of October 29, 2001 between FSAM and FSA Capital Management and the Master Repurchase Agreement II dated as of October 29, 2001 between FSAM and FSA Capital Markets.

 

Master Notes ” means the Master Note, Series A dated October 29, 2001 issued by FSAM to FSA Capital Management and the Master Note, Series B dated October 29, 2001 issued by FSAM to FSA Capital Markets.

 

Offer Procedures ” means the following procedures for giving DBB or DCL a right to match the terms of any additional repurchase agreement financing obtained by FSAM:  (1)  if FSAM intends to solicit one or more quotations for repurchase agreement financing, FSAM shall give notice (which may be oral notice) of such intention to DBB or DCL, with FSAM giving as much advance notice of its solicitation of quotations as is reasonably practicable and in any event contacting DBB or DCL substantially at the same time as FSAM contacts other potential providers of financing, with such notice to (x) be given at such notice details as DBB and DCL,

 

3


 

as applicable, shall specify from time to time to FSAM for this purpose and (y) describe the expected purchased securities, purchase date, repurchase date, purchase price, and approximate time at which FSAM intends to obtain quotations; (2) at the time at which one or more quotations are obtained, FSAM shall contact DBB or DCL by telephone, at the contact number(s) of such individuals at DBB or DCL, as applicable, as DBB or DCL shall specify from time to time to FSAM for such purpose (it being understood that FSAM shall not be responsible if the relevant persons are unavailable at such number(s)), of the terms (including the final purchased securities, purchase date, repurchase date, purchase price, pricing rate, and margin percentage) of the proposed repurchase agreement for which FSAM has obtained one or more quotations from a third party; and (3) DBB or DCL, as applicable, shall have 15 minutes from receipt of such notice of such terms in which to accept an offer (which may be by telephone) to act as purchaser under such a repurchase agreement with FSAM.  The Offer Procedures will be satisfied in relation to DBB only if all relevant notices given to DBB are given during business hours in Brussels.  In the case of notices given to DCL, the Offer Procedures may be satisfied by notices given to personnel of DCL’s New York Branch during business hours in New York; provided that if DCL ceases to conduct U.S. dollar repurchase agreement financing activity in New York, FSAM and DCL shall cooperate in good faith to specify an alternative set of procedures for giving DCL a commercially reasonable notice and opportunity to exercise its option to provide repurchase agreement financing arranged by FSAM from time to time.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Offer Procedures are required to be satisfied with respect to any proposed repurchase agreement only in relation to either DBB or DCL, not both DBB and DCL.

 

Permitted Lien ” means (i) any Collateral Posting Lien and (ii) any Account Bank Lien.

 

Person ” Any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

Security Agent ” means the DCL acting as agent for itself and DBB for purposes of the Lender Agreements.

 

Senior Secured Obligations ” means all payment obligations of FSAM under the FSAM Insurance Agreement.

 

Subordinated Liens ” means the Lenders’ Liens.

 

UCC ” or “ Uniform Commercial Code ” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York and, with respect to security interests perfected through the possession of the Security Agent, the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of Pennsylvania.  Unless otherwise stated, all references herein to statutory sections or articles are to sections and articles of the UCC.

 

ARTICLE II

SECURITY INTEREST PROVISIONS

 

SECTION 2.1.                                                Lenders’ Liens

 

In order to secure, as provided herein, the performance and observance of each term, covenant, agreement and condition of FSAM contained in the Credit Agreement or the Notes issued thereunder (whether in respect of existing or future advances under the Credit

 

4


 

Agreement) FSAM hereby Grants a security interest in and collaterally assigns, transfers, sets over, pledges and conveys to the Security Agent, on behalf of and for the benefit of each Lender, all the right, title, interest and estate of FSAM, whether now or hereafter acquired, in, to and under the Collateral as defined in the FSAM Insurance Agreement; provided, however, that the Collateral shall not include any Excluded Collateral (the “ Lenders’ Liens ”).

 

SECTION 2.2.                                                Notices .

 

In the event that DBB or DCL shall give notice of an Event of Default under the Credit Agreement or notify FSAM of the termination of the commitment of the Lenders and acceleration of the amounts owed under Credit Agreement pursuant to Section 5.01(b) of the Credit Agreement, the Security Agent shall promptly give a copy of such notice to FSA.

 

SECTION 2.3                                                   Timing and Manner of Enforcement .

 

Notwithstanding the Lenders’ Subordinated Liens, FSA shall have no duty to the Security Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, as holder of Subordinated Liens as to the timing or manner of FSA’s exercise of its remedies under the FSAM Insurance Agreement, which shall be in the discretion of FSA, and pursuant to the terms of the FSAM Insurance Agreement, failure by FSA to take any action shall not be deemed a waiver by FSA of any rights thereunder.  Furthermore, FSA shall not be liable to Security Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, as holder of Subordinated Liens with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by FSA with respect to the Collateral or any property distributable on or by reason thereof, other than a failure to deliver any remaining Collateral after the obligations of FSAM under the FSAM Insurance Agreement have been satisfied in full and the Lien of FSA has been discharged in accordance with the provisions thereof (the “ Senior Lien Release Date ”).  The Security Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, shall have no right to take action to enforce the Subordinated Liens or exercise any creditor’s remedies in respect thereof, notwithstanding occurrence of an Event of Default under the Credit Agreement, unless the Senior Lien Release Date has occurred or FSA has given its written consent with respect thereto.

 

SECTION 2.4                                                   Amendments .

 

The Lenders agree with FSA that the Lenders shall not enter into any amendment, modification or supplement to the Credit Agreement without the prior written consent of FSA, in its sole discretion.   FSA agrees with the Lenders that FSA shall not enter into any amendment, modification or supplement to the FSAM Insurance Agreement without the prior written consent of the Lenders, in their sole discretion.

 

ARTICLE III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

Each of the Lenders, FSA and FSAM represents and warrants as to itself as of the date hereof that:

 

SECTION 3.1.                                                Due Organization and Qualification . Such party is duly organized and validly existing under the jurisdiction of its organization, and is duly qualified to do business, is in good standing and has obtained all necessary licenses, permits, charters,

 

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registrations and approvals necessary for the performance of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

SECTION 3.2.                                                Due Authorization .  The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement have been duly authorized by such party and do not require any additional approvals or consents or other action by or any notice to or filing with any Person, including, without limitation, any governmental entity.

 

SECTION 3.3.                                                Noncontravention .  Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by such party, the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby nor the satisfaction of the terms and conditions of this Agreement,

 

(a)                                   conflicts with or results in any breach or violation of any provision of such party’s organization or constitutional documents or any law, rule, regulation, order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, determination or award currently in effect having applicability to such party or any of its properties, including regulations issued by an administrative agency or other governmental authority having supervisory powers over such party; or

 

(b)                                  constitutes a default by such party under or a breach of any provision of any loan agreement, mortgage, indenture or other agreement or instrument to which such party is a party or by which it or any of its properties is or may be bound or affected.

 

SECTION 3.4.                                                Valid and Binding Obligations .  This Agreement, when executed and delivered by such party, will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of such party, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally.

 

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ARTICLE IV

SECURITY INTEREST PROVISIONS

 

SECTION 4.1.                                                Financing Statement .  FSAM shall do all such acts, and shall execute and deliver to the Security Agent all such financing statements, certificates, instruments and other documents and shall do and perform or cause to be done all matters and such other things necessary or expedient to be done as the Security Agent may reasonably request from time to time in order to give full effect to this Agreement and for the purpose of effectively perfecting, maintaining, preserving and enforcing the Security Agent’s security interest in the Collateral and the benefits intended to be granted to the Security Agent hereunder.  To the extent permitted by applicable law, FSAM hereby authorizes the Security Agent to file, in the name of FSAM or otherwise, Uniform Commercial Code financing statements, including continuation statements, which the Security Agent in its sole discretion may deem necessary or appropriate.

 

SECTION 4.2.                                                Account Control Agreement .

 

(a)                                   The Bank of New York Mellon (f/k/a “The Bank of New York”) (the “ Account Bank ”) has established an account in the name “FSA Asset Management LLC” (such account and any successor account, the “ Securities Account ”).  The Account Bank, FSAM and FSA are parties to a securities account control agreement dated as of July 31, 2003 (the “ Existing Control Agreement ”) that among other things evidences FSA’s “control” (within the meaning of Section 8-106(d)(2) of the UCC) with respect to the “security entitlements” (within the meaning of the UCC) in the Securities Account.

 

(b)                                  FSA hereby acknowledges that, to the extent that it holds, or a third party holds on its behalf, physical possession of or control or as bailee over the Securities Account, the security entitlements therein or any other Collateral, such possession, control or bailment is also for the benefit of the Security Agent and the Lenders solely to the extent required to perfect their security interest in the Securities Account, the security entitlements therein and such other Collateral.  Nothing in the preceding sentence shall be construed to impose any duty on FSA (or any third party acting on its behalf) with respect to the Securities Account, security entitlements and other Collateral.  The provisions of this Agreement are intended solely to govern the respective priorities as between the FSA Liens and the Lenders’ Liens and shall not impose on FSA any obligations in respect of the disposition of any assets in the Securities Account, any security entitlements therein or any other Collateral.

 

(c)                                   FSAM, FSA and the Security Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, each agree to use their commercially reasonable efforts, as soon as practicable after the date of this Agreement, either to (i) enter into a custodial and securities account control arrangement with the Account Bank or any successor thereto as FSAM’s regular custodian, or (ii) amend and restate the Existing Control Agreement with the Account Bank to reflect the agreements among such parties set forth herein and the respective priorities as between the FSA Liens and the Lenders’ Liens.  The Existing Control Agreement prior to any amendment thereto, any such new custodial and securities account control arrangement, or any such amendment and restatement of the Existing Control Agreement shall hereafter be referred to as the “ Securities Account Control Agreement ”.  The Securities Account Control Agreement shall include, without limitation, a covenant that in the event that the Senior Lien Release Date has occurred but any of the Lender Obligations remain outstanding, that FSA shall assign “control” (within the meaning of Section

 

7


 

8-106(d)(2) of the UCC) over the Securities Account to the Security Agent, on behalf of the Lenders.

 

(d)                                  For the avoidance of doubt, unless the Senior Lien Release Date has occurred and an Event of Default under the Credit Agreement has occurred and is continuing, the Security Agent agrees that FSAM shall be entitled to instruct the sale or transfer from the Securities Account of such Collateral as FSAM may determine necessary for any of the Intended Uses.

 

SECTION 4.3.                                                Security Interest Representations and Warranties .  FSAM represents, warrants and agrees that:

 

(a)                                   This Agreement creates a valid and continuing security interest (as defined in the UCC) in the Collateral in favor of the Security Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, which security interest is prior to all other Liens (except for any Collateral Posting Lien, any Account Bank Lien and the FSA Liens), and is enforceable as such as against creditors of and purchasers from FSAM.  The security interest of the Security Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, in the Collateral shall, until payment in full of the obligations and indebtedness secured hereunder and termination of this Agreement, be a perfected security interest in the Collateral, senior to all other security interests in the Collateral, except for any Collateral Posting Lien, any Account Bank Lien and the FSA Liens.

 

(b)                                  FSAM owns the Collateral free and clear of any lien, claim or encumbrance of any Person other than the FSA Liens, the Lenders’ Liens or any Permitted Lien.

 

(c)                                   FSAM has caused or will have caused, within ten days of the date of this Agreement, the filing of all appropriate financing statements in the proper filing office in the appropriate jurisdictions under applicable law in order to perfect the security interest in the Collateral granted to the Security Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, hereunder (and shall provide a copy of each such statement, with filing numbers noted thereon, to the Security Agent).

 

(d)                                  Other than the FSA Liens, any Permitted Lien and the Lenders’ Liens, FSAM has not pledged, assigned, sold, granted a security interest in, or otherwise conveyed any of the Collateral.  FSAM has not authorized the filing of and is not aware of any financing statements against FSAM that include a description of the Collateral, including those financing statements that have been terminated, other than any financing statement relating to the FSA Liens, any Permitted Lien and the Lenders’ Liens.

 

(e)                                   None of the “instruments” (as defined in the UCC) that constitute or evidence the Collateral has any marks or notations indicating that they have been pledged, assigned or otherwise conveyed to any Person other than the Security Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, or in connection with any Permitted Lien.

 

(f)                                     FSAM has received all consents and approvals required by the terms of the Collateral to the transfer to the Security Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, its interest and rights in the Collateral hereunder.

 

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(g)                                  FSAM has not consented to the Account Bank’s complying with the entitlement orders or other instructions of any Person other than FSA and the Security Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, as applicable, in connection with the Securities Account.  All of the Collateral consisting of “security entitlements” (within the meaning of the UCC) and “financial assets” (within the meaning of the UCC) has been credited to the Securities Account.  The securities intermediary for the Securities Account has agreed to treat all “Collateral” (for this purpose as such term is defined in the Existing Control Agreement) credited to the Securities Account as “financial assets” (within the meaning of the UCC).  The Securities Account is a “securities account” (within the meaning of the UCC).  FSAM acknowledges that the Account Bank as securities intermediary has agreed, or will agree, upon execution of the Securities Account Control Agreement pursuant to Section 4.2, to comply with all instructions originated by either FSA or (in the event the Senior Lien Release Date has occurred) the Security Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, as applicable, relating to the Securities Account, without further consent by FSAM.

 

(h)                                  The Collateral consists of (1) “instruments” (within the meaning of the UCC), (2) “accounts” (within the meaning of the UCC), (3) “general intangibles” (within the meaning of the UCC), (4) “security entitlements” (within the meaning of the UCC), (5) “securities accounts” (within the meaning of the UCC), (6) “deposit accounts” (within the meaning of the UCC) or (7) “financial assets” (within the meaning of the UCC).

 

(i)                                      With respect to any sale of Collateral by FSAM from time to time, the amount of consideration being received by FSAM from the purchaser of such Collateral constitutes reasonably equivalent value and fair consideration for FSAM’s interest in the Collateral.

 

(j)                                      Each of the foregoing representations: (i) shall also be deemed made and repeated by FSAM, as applicable, for purposes of Sections 2.02(i) and 3.01 of the Credit Agreement as of the date as of the relevant loan and (ii) shall, as applicable, be deemed repeated each time new assets become part of the Collateral.

 

SECTION 4.4.                                                Further Assurances . At any time and from time to time, upon the written request of a Lender, and at the sole expense of FSAM, FSAM will promptly and duly execute and deliver, or will promptly cause to be executed and delivered, such further instruments and documents and take such further action as a Lender may reasonably request for the purpose of obtaining or preserving the full benefits of this Article IV and of the rights and powers herein granted, including, without limitation, the execution and delivery of deposit account control agreements and the filing of any financing or continuation statements under the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in any jurisdiction with respect to the Liens created hereby.  FSAM also hereby authorizes each Lender to file any such financing or continuation statement without the signature of FSAM to the extent permitted by applicable law.  A carbon, photographic or other reproduction of this Agreement shall be sufficient as a financing statement for filing in any jurisdiction.  The Security Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, and each Lender covenants to FSA that such party will not file any such financing statement until after FSA confirms the filing of a financing statement perfecting FSA’s security interest in the Collateral not previously perfected under the Existing Control Agreement.

 

9


 

SECTION 4.5.                                                Release of Security Interest .

 

(a)                                   Upon termination of the Lender Agreements and repayment to the Lenders of all amounts owed by FSAM under the Credit Agreement and the performance of all obligations under the Lender Agreements, the Security Agent shall release its security interest in any remaining Collateral; provided that if any payment, or any part thereof, of any of the Lender Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by a Lender upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of FSAM, or upon or as a result of the appointment of a receiver, intervenor or conservator of, or a trustee or similar officer for FSAM or any substantial part of its property, or otherwise, the Lender Agreements, all rights thereunder and the Lenders’ Liens created hereby shall continue to be effective, or be reinstated, as though such payments had not been made.  The Security Agent shall be authorized to take any action and make any filings necessary or desirable to continue or reinstate such Lenders’ Liens.

 

(b)                                  So long as no Event of Default under the Credit Agreement has occurred and is continuing and no “Notice of Sole Control” (as such term is defined in the Securities Account Control Agreement) has been delivered by the Security Agent, the Lenders’ Liens in any Collateral sold by FSAM from time to time in accordance with the Lender Agreements and the FSAM Insurance Agreement for one or more of the Intended Uses shall be deemed released without the need for further action or consent by the Security Agent at the same time as the FSA Liens in such Collateral are released in connection with such sale by FSAM (provided that the existence of a Permitted Lien shall result in the subordination of both the Lenders’ Liens and the FSA Liens in accordance with Section 5.1 but not the release of such Liens).

 

SECTION 4.6.                                                Changes in Locations, Name, etc . FSAM shall not (i) change the location of its chief executive office/chief place of business from that specified in the Lender Agreements, (ii) change its name, identity or corporate structure (or the equivalent) or change the location where it maintains its records with respect to the Collateral or (iii) reorganize or reincorporate under the laws of any other jurisdiction, unless it shall have given the Security Agent at least 30 days prior written notice thereof and shall have delivered to the Security Agent all Uniform Commercial Code financing statements and amendments thereto as the Security Agent shall request and taken all other reasonable actions deemed necessary or desirable by the Security Agent to continue the Security Agent’s perfected status in the Collateral with the same or better priority.

 

ARTICLE V

SUBORDINATION; REMEDIES

 

SECTION 5.1.                                                Subordination to Permitted Liens .

 

The Lenders, FSA and FSAM agree that the Lenders’ Liens and the FSA Liens, including any right or security of FSA arising in connection with a Collateral Posting Lien, shall be expressly made subordinate and junior in priority and right of enforcement to any Permitted Lien.

 

10

 

SECTION 5.2 Subordination of Lenders’ Liens .

 

(a)           Irrespective of anything contained in any Lender Agreement, the FSAM Insurance Agreement, the FSA Capital Management Insurance Agreement or the FSA Capital Markets Insurance Agreement, so long as any Senior Secured Obligations are outstanding, the Lenders agree that the security interest created in favor of the Security Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, under this Agreement, is hereby expressly made subordinate and junior in priority and right of enforcement to the security interest in the Collateral to the extent for the benefit of FSA now existing and arising in the future securing the Senior Secured Obligations.

 

(b)           Following receipt of notice of an Event of Default (as defined in the FSAM Insurance Agreement) from FSA and prior to the Senior Lien Release Date, each of the Lenders agrees that it shall exercise any rights, remedies or powers with respect to the Collateral granted to it under this Agreement, as a secured party or otherwise, only with the prior consent of FSA.

 

(c)           From and after any Event of Default under the FSAM Insurance Agreement, all collections, payments, sale proceeds realized on disposition or other proceeds of the Collateral shall be applied in the following order:  (i) to the payment of due and unpaid fees and expenses of the Account Bank, (ii) to the payment of all unpaid principal or interest in respect of the Master Notes or repurchase price in respect of the Master Agreements, provided that such payment is applied on the same Business Day to the payment of  a corresponding amount of unpaid principal and interest in respect of the GICs, (iii) following the redemption in full of the Master Notes or payment in full of the repurchase price in respect of the Master Agreements, to the payment of any and all amounts payable by FSAM under the FSAM Insurance Agreement, (iv) following the final payment of all amounts owed under the FSAM Insurance Agreement, to the payment of any and all unpaid principal or interest, commitment fees, or other amounts due and payable in respect of the Credit Agreement, and (v) after occurrence of the dates referred to in (iii) and (iv), to FSAM; provided , that the provisions of this Section 5.2(c) shall not limit the right of FSAM to use any such proceeds of the Collateral or any borrowings made under the Credit Agreement for any of the Intended Uses.

 

(d)           If at any time following notice of an Event of Default under the FSAM Insurance Agreement the Lenders shall have received any payment or distribution (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise of any rights of set-off, or otherwise, and whether in cash, property or securities) in excess of the payments or distributions the Lenders would have received through the operation of 5.2(c) (such excess payments or distributions being referred to as “ Excess Payments ”), then the Lenders shall hold such Excess Payments in trust for the benefit of FSA, and shall promptly pay over such Excess Payments in the form received (duly endorsed, if necessary, to FSA) to FSA, for distribution by FSA pursuant to Section 5.2(c).

 

(e)           Upon full release by FSA of the security interest in all Collateral pursuant to the terms of the FSAM Insurance Agreement, either (i) FSA shall transfer and assign “control” (as defined under the UCC) of the Securities Account under the Securities Account Control Agreement to the Security Agent or (ii) FSA shall terminate the Securities Account Control Agreement in accordance with the terms thereunder and the Security Agent and the Account Bank may enter into a new securities account control agreement giving the Security Agent “control” (as defined under the UCC) of the Securities Account.

 

11


 

SECTION 5.3                 Effectiveness of Subordination . The subordinations, agreements and priorities set forth in this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of whether any Person in the future seeks to rescind, amend, terminate or reform, by litigation or otherwise, its respective agreements with FSAM.

 

SECTION 5.4                   Obligations Absolute . Nothing herein shall impair, as between FSAM, on the one hand, and FSA, on the other hand, the obligations of FSAM, which are irrevocable, unconditional and absolute, to pay to FSA the amounts due under the FSAM Insurance Agreement from time to time.

 

SECTION 5.5                 Remedies The provisions of this Section 5.5 are subject to the provisions of Section 2.3 hereof.   If any Event of Default under the Credit Agreement shall occur and be continuing, the Security Agent may exercise, in addition to all other rights and remedies granted to them under this Agreement and the Credit Agreement and in any other instrument or agreement securing, evidencing or relating to the Lender Obligations, all rights and remedies of a secured party under the Uniform Commercial Code.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Security Agent may without demand of performance or other demand, presentment, protest, advertisement or notice of any kind (except any notice required by law referred to below) to or upon FSAM or any other Person (each and all of which demands, presentments, protests, advertisements and notices are hereby waived), may in such circumstances forthwith collect, receive, appropriate and realize upon the Collateral, or any part thereof, and/or may forthwith sell (on a servicing released basis, at the Security Agent’s option), lease, assign, give option or options to purchase, or otherwise dispose of and deliver the Collateral or any part thereof (or contract to do any of the foregoing), in one or more parcels or as an entirety at public or private sale or sales, at any exchange, broker’s board or office of the Security Agent or elsewhere upon such terms and conditions as it may deem advisable and at such prices as it may deem best, for cash or on credit or for future delivery without assumption of any credit risk. The Security Agent shall have the right upon any such public sale or sales, and, to the extent permitted by law, upon any such private sale or sales, to purchase the whole or any part of the Collateral so sold, free of any right or equity of redemption in FSAM, which right or equity is hereby waived or released. The Security Agent may, on one or more occasions, postpone or adjourn any such sale by public announcement at the time of such sale. The Security Agent shall give FSAM prior or concurrent notice of any such postponement or adjournment.  FSAM further agrees, at the Security Agent’s request, to assemble the Collateral and make it available to the Security Agent at places which the Security Agent shall reasonably select, whether at FSAM’s premises or elsewhere. The Security Agent shall apply the net proceeds of any such collection, recovery, receipt, appropriation, realization or sale, after deducting all reasonable costs and expenses of every kind incurred therein or incidental to the care or safekeeping of any of the Collateral or in any way relating to the Collateral or the rights of the Security Agent hereunder, including without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements, to the payment in whole or in part of the Lender Obligations, in such order as the Security Agent may elect, and only after such application and after the payment by the Lenders of any other amount required or permitted by any provision of law, including without limitation the Uniform Commercial Code, need the Security Agent account for the surplus, if any, to FSA or FSAM.  If any notice of a proposed sale or other disposition of Collateral shall be required by law, such notice shall be deemed reasonable and proper if given at least 10 days before such sale or other disposition.  FSAM shall remain liable for any deficiency (plus accrued interest thereon in accordance with the terms of the Lender Agreement) if the proceeds of any sale or other

 

12


 

disposition of the Collateral are insufficient to pay the Lender Obligations and the fees and disbursements of any attorneys employed by the Security Agent to collect such deficiency.

 

SECTION 5.6                 Right to Initiate Judicial Proceedings, etc . The provisions of this Section 5.6 are subject to the provisions of Section 2.3 hereof.  The Security Agent shall have the right and power to institute and maintain such suits and proceedings as it may deem appropriate to protect and enforce the rights vested in it and the Lenders under the Lender Agreements.  From and after the occurrence of an Event of Default the Security Agent may, either after entry or without entry, proceed by suit or suits at law or in equity to enforce such rights and to foreclose upon the Collateral and to sell all, or from time to time any, of the Collateral under the judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

SECTION 5.7                 Remedies Not Exclusive . The provisions of this Section 5.7 are subject to the provisions of Section 2.3 hereof. (a) No remedy conferred upon or reserved to the Security Agent or the Lenders herein is intended to be exclusive of any other remedy or remedies, but every such remedy shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to every other remedy conferred herein or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute.

 

(b)           No delay by or omission of the Security Agent or the Lenders to exercise any right, remedy or power accruing upon the occurrence and continuance of any Event of Default shall impair any such right, remedy or power or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein; and every right, power and remedy given by this Agreement to the Security Agent may be exercised from time to time and as often as may be deemed expedient by the Security Agent, subject to the provisions of the Lender Agreements.

 

(c)           In case the Security Agent shall have proceeded to enforce any right, remedy or power under this Agreement or any other Lender Agreement and the proceeding for the enforcement thereof shall have been discontinued or abandoned for any reason or shall have been determined adversely to the Security Agent or the Lenders, then and in every such case FSAM, the Security Agent, and the other Lender shall, subject to any effect of or determination in such proceeding, severally and respectively be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder with respect to the Collateral and in all other respects, and thereafter all rights, remedies and powers of the Security Agent shall continue as though no such proceeding had been taken.

 

(d)           All rights of action and rights to assert claims upon or under this Agreement may be enforced by the Security Agent without the possession of this Agreement, the Credit Agreement or any Note issued thereunder, or any other document or “instrument” (within the meaning of the UCC) evidencing any of the Lender Obligations or the production thereof in any trial or other proceeding relative thereto, and any such suit or proceeding instituted by the Security Agent shall be brought in its name as Security Agent and any recovery of judgment shall be held as part of the Collateral.

 

SECTION 5.8                 Security Agent’s Appointment as Attorney-in-Fac t

 

(a)           FSAM hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Security Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, and any officer or agent thereof, with full power of substitution, as its true

 

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and lawful attorney-in-fact with full irrevocable power and authority in the place and stead of FSAM, and in the name of FSAM or in its own name, from time to time in their discretion, for the purpose of, carrying out the terms of the Credit Agreement and this Agreement, to take any and all appropriate action and to execute any and all documents and instruments which may be necessary or desirable to accomplish the purposes of such Agreement; provided, that the Security Agent hereby agrees that it shall not exercise its rights under this Section 5.8(a) until (i) the occurrence of the Senior Lien Release Date and (ii) the occurrence and continuation of any Event of Default under the Credit Agreement.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, FSAM hereby gives the Security Agent the power and right, on behalf of FSAM, without assent by, but with notice to, FSAM, if the Senior Lien Release Date has occurred and an Event of Default has occurred is continuing with respect to the Credit Agreement, to do the following:

 

(i)            in the name of FSAM, or its own name, or otherwise, to take possession of and endorse and collect any checks, drafts, notes, acceptances or other instruments for the payment of moneys due with respect to any other Collateral and to file any claim or to take any other action or proceeding in any court of law or equity or otherwise deemed appropriate by the Security Agent for the purpose of collecting any and all such moneys due under any such insurance or with respect to any other Collateral whenever payable;

 

(ii)           to pay or discharge taxes and Liens levied or placed on or threatened against the Collateral; and

 

(iii)          (A) to direct any party liable for any payment under any Collateral to make payment of any and all moneys due or to become due thereunder directly to the Security Agent or as the Security Agent shall direct; (B) to ask or demand for, collect, receive payment of and receipt for, any and all moneys, claims and other amounts due or to become due at any time in respect of or arising out of any Collateral; (C) to sign and endorse any invoices, assignments, verifications, notices and other documents in connection with any of the Collateral; (D) to commence and prosecute any suits, actions or proceedings at law or in equity in any court of competent jurisdiction to collect the Collateral or any thereof and to enforce any other right in respect of any Collateral; (E) to defend any suit, action or proceeding brought against FSAM with respect to any Collateral; (F) to settle, compromise or adjust any suit, action or proceeding described in clause (E) above and, in connection therewith, to give such discharges or releases as the Security Agent may deem appropriate; and (G) generally, to sell, transfer, pledge and make any agreement with respect to or otherwise deal with any of the Collateral as fully and completely as though the Security Agent were the absolute owner thereof for all purposes, and to do, at the option of the Security Agent and at FSAM’s expense, at any time, and from time to time, all acts and things that the Security Agent deems necessary to protect, preserve or realize upon the Collateral and the Security Agent’s Liens thereon and to effect the intent of the Lender Agreements, all as fully and effectively as FSAM might do; and

 

(b)           FSAM hereby ratifies all that said attorneys shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

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(c)           If the Senior Lien Release Date has occurred and an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to the Credit Agreement, FSAM also authorizes the Security Agent, at any time and from time to time, to execute, in connection with any sale of Collateral, any endorsements, assignments, stock powers or other instruments of conveyance or transfer with respect to the Collateral.

 

(d)           Notwithstanding the foregoing, the powers conferred on the Security Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, and its officers and affiliates are solely to protect the Lenders’ interests in the Collateral in order to satisfy the Lender Obligations, shall not be used for any other purpose, and shall not impose any duty upon the Security Agent to exercise any such powers.  Each Lender shall be accountable only for amounts that it actually receives as a result of the exercise of such powers, and no Lender nor any of its officers, directors, or employees shall be responsible to FSAM for any act or failure to act hereunder, except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct.

 

(e)           All powers, authorizations and agencies herein contained with respect to the Collateral are irrevocable and powers coupled with an interest.

 

SECTION 5.9                 Waiver of Certain Rights . FSAM, to the extent it may lawfully do so, on behalf of itself and all who may claim through or under it, including any and all subsequent creditors, vendees, assignees and lienors, expressly waives and releases any, every and all rights to presentment, demand, protest or any notice (to the extent permitted by applicable law and except as specifically provided in this Agreement) of any kind in connection with this Agreement or any Collateral or to have any marshalling of the Collateral upon any sale, whether made under any power of sale granted hereunder or any other agreement or instrument, or pursuant to judicial proceedings or upon any foreclosure or any enforcement of this Agreement or any other Lender Agreement and consents and agrees that all the Collateral may at any such sale be offered and sold as an entirety or in lots or otherwise as the Security Agent may determine or be directed hereunder.

 

SECTION 5.10               Limitation by Law . All the provisions of this Article V are intended to be subject to all applicable mandatory provisions of law which may be controlling in the premises and to be limited to the extent necessary so that they will not render this Agreement invalid, unenforceable in whole or in part or not entitled to be recorded, registered, or filed under the provisions of any applicable law.

 

ARTICLE VI

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

SECTION 6.1.                Binding on Successors, Transferees and Assigns .  This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by each party, the Lenders and their respective successors, transferees and assigns.

 

SECTION 6.2.                Amendments, etc.   No amendment to, waiver of or consent to departure from the terms of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective unless the same shall be in writing and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given.

 

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SECTION 6.3.                Notices .  All notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing (including facsimile communication) and mailed or telecopied or delivered by electronic transmission or delivered to it at the address and in the manner set forth in the applicable Lender Agreement.

 

SECTION 6.4.                No Waiver; Remedies .  No failure on the part of a party to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right.  The remedies herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.

 

SECTION 6.5.                Captions .  Section captions used in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only, and shall not affect the construction of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 6.6.                Severability .  Wherever possible each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement shall be prohibited by or invalid under such law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 6.7.                Governing Law, Entire Agreement, etc.   THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT MADE UNDER AND GOVERNED BY THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (INCLUDING FOR SUCH PURPOSE SECTIONS 5-1401 AND 5-1402 OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK).  THIS AGREEMENT CONSTITUTES THE ENTIRE UNDERSTANDING AMONG THE PARTIES HERETO WITH RESPECT TO THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF AND SUPERSEDES ANY PRIOR AGREEMENTS, WRITTEN OR ORAL, WITH RESPECT THERETO. THE “SECURITIES INTERMEDIARY’S JURISDICTION” AND THE “BANK’S JURISDICTION” UNDER THE SECURITIES ACCOUNT CONTROL AGREEMENT SHALL BE THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AND, ACCORDINGLY, THE PARTIES’ RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS CONCERNING THE SECURITIES ACCOUNT AND ALL FINANCIAL ASSETS CREDITED THERETO AND CASH THEREIN SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

SECTION 6.8.                Forum Selection and Consent to Jurisdiction .  ANY LITIGATION BASED HEREON, OR ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH, THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY COURSE OF CONDUCT, COURSE OF DEALING, STATEMENTS (WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN) OR ACTIONS OF THE PARTIES SHALL BE BROUGHT AND MAINTAINED IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, NEW YORK COUNTY OR IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK.  EACH PARTY HEREBY EXPRESSLY AND IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, NEW YORK COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK FOR THE PURPOSE OF ANY SUCH LITIGATION AND IRREVOCABLY AGREES TO BE BOUND BY ANY JUDGMENT RENDERED THEREBY IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH LITIGATION.  EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO THE SERVICE OF PROCESS BY REGISTERED MAIL, POSTAGE PREPAID, OR BY PERSONAL SERVICE WITHIN OR

 

16


 

OUTSIDE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.  EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY HAVE OR HEREAFTER MAY HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY SUCH LITIGATION BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT REFERRED TO ABOVE AND ANY CLAIM THAT SUCH LITIGATION HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.  TO THE EXTENT THAT ANY PARTY HAS OR HEREAFTER MAY ACQUIRE ANY IMMUNITY FROM JURISDICTION OF ANY COURT OR FROM ANY LEGAL PROCESS (WHETHER THROUGH SERVICE OR NOTICE, ATTACHMENT PRIOR TO JUDGMENT, ATTACHMENT IN AID OF EXECUTION OR OTHERWISE) WITH RESPECT TO ITSELF OR ITS PROPERTY, SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES SUCH IMMUNITY IN RESPECT OF ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER THIS AGREEMENT.

 

SECTION 6.9.                Waiver of Jury Trial .  EACH PARTY HEREBY KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND INTENTIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHTS IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION BASED HEREON, OR ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY COURSE OF CONDUCT, COURSE OF DEALING, STATEMENTS (WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN) OR ACTIONS OF EITHER PARTY.  EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT IT HAS RECEIVED FULL AND SUFFICIENT CONSIDERATION FOR THIS PROVISION.

 

SECTION 6.10.              Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which shall constitute together but one and the same agreement.

 

SECTION 6.11.              Third Party Beneficiaries .  Nothing in this Agreement shall confer any right, remedy or claim, express or implied, upon any person other than the parties hereto, and all the terms, covenants, conditions, promises and agreements contained herein shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and permitted assigns

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by its officer thereunto as of November 13, 2008.

 

DEXIA CR É DIT LOCAL

 

FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC.

 

 

 

 

By:

 

/s/ Jean Le Naour

 

By:

 

/s/ Robert P. Cochran

Name:

       Jean Le Naour

 

Name:

       Robert P. Cochran

Title:

   Chief Financial Officer

 

Title:

  Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

/s/ Didier Casas

 

 

 

Name:

    Didier Casas

 

 

 

Title:

   General Secretary

 

 

 

 

Acting together pursuant to a special power of attorney granted by the Board of Directors of Dexia Crédit Local on November 13 th , 2008.

 

DEXIA BANK BELGIUM S.A.

 

FSA ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC

 

 

 

 

By:

 

/s/ Ann De Roeck

 

By:

 

/s/ Guy Cools

Name:

       Ann De Roeck

 

Name:

       Guy Cools

Title:

   Secretary General
  Member of the Management Board

 

Title:

     Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

/s/ Jean-Francois Martin

 

By:

 

/s/ Bruce Stern

Name:

       Jean-Francois Martin

 

Name:

       Bruce Stern

Title:

   Member of the Management Board

 

Title:

     Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

18



Exhibit 10.4

 

EXECUTION COPY

 

VERSION: MAY 2000

 

 

 

 

GLOBAL MASTER SECURITIES LENDING AGREEMENT

 


 

CONTENTS

 

1.

Applicability

1

 

 

 

2.

Interpretation

1

 

 

 

3.

Loans Of Securities

5

 

 

 

4.

Delivery

6

 

 

 

5.

Collateral

7

 

 

 

6.

Distributions And Corporate Actions

10

 

 

 

7.

Rates Applicable To Loaned Securities And Cash Collateral

11

 

 

 

8.

Redelivery Of Equivalent Securities

11

 

 

 

9.

Failure To Redeliver

13

 

 

 

10.

Set-Off Etc

14

 

 

 

11.

Transfer Taxes

17

 

 

 

12.

Lender’s Warranties

17

 

 

 

13.

Borrower’s Warranties

18

 

 

 

14.

Events Of Default

18

 

 

 

15.

Interest On Outstanding Payments

19

 

 

 

16.

Transactions Entered Into As Agent

20

 

 

 

17.

Termination Of This Agreement

21

 

 

 

18.

Single Agreement

21

 

 

 

19.

Severance

22

 

 

 

20.

Specific Performance

22

 

 

 

21.

Notices

22

 

 

 

22.

Assignment

23

 

 

 

23.

Non-Waiver

23

 

 

 

24.

Governing Law And Jurisdiction

23

 

 

 

25.

Time

23

 

 

 

26.

Recording

23

 

 

 

27.

Waiver Of Immunity

24

 

 

 

28.

Miscellaneous

24

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

25

 

 

ANNEX AND SCHEDULE

 

 


 

AGREEMENT, dated as of November 13, 2008,

 

BETWEEN :

 

FSA Asset Management LLC (“ Party A ”) a limited liability company formed under the laws of the State of Delaware acting through a Designated Office; and

 

Dexia Crédit Local (“ Party B ”) a French share company licensed as a bank under French law acting through a Designated Office.

 

1.            APPLICABILITY

 

1.1          From time to time the parties may enter into transactions in which one party (“ Lender ”) will transfer to the other (“ Borrower ”) securities and financial instruments (“ Securities ”) against the transfer of Collateral (as defined in paragraph 2) with a simultaneous agreement by Borrower to transfer to Lender Securities equivalent to such Securities on a fixed date or on demand against the transfer to Borrower by Lender of assets equivalent to such Collateral.

 

1.2          Each such transaction shall be referred to in this Agreement as a “ Loan ” and shall be governed by the terms of this Agreement, including the supplemental terms and conditions contained in the Schedule and any Addenda or Annexures attached hereto, unless otherwise agreed in writing.

 

1.3          Either party may perform its obligations under this Agreement either directly or through a Nominee.

 

2.            INTERPRETATION

 

2.1          In this Agreement:-

 

Act of Insolvency ” means in relation to either Party

 

(i)         its making a general assignment for the benefit of, or entering into a reorganisation, arrangement, or composition with creditors; or
 
(ii)        its stating in writing that it is unable to pay its debts as they become due; or
 
(iii)       its seeking, consenting to or acquiescing in the appointment of any trustee, administrator, receiver or liquidator or analogous officer of it or any material part of its property; or
 
(iv)      the presentation or filing of a petition in respect of it (other than by the other Party to this Agreement in respect of any obligation under this Agreement) in any court or before any agency alleging or for the bankruptcy, winding-up or insolvency of such Party (or any analogous proceeding) or seeking any reorganisation, arrangement, composition, re-adjustment, administration, liquidation, dissolution or similar relief under any present or future statute, law or regulation, such petition not having been

 

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stayed or dismissed within 30 days of its filing (except in the case of a petition for winding-up or any analogous proceeding in respect of which no such 30 day period shall apply); or
 
(v)       the appointment of a receiver, administrator, liquidator or trustee or analogous officer of such Party over all or any material part of such Party’s property; or
 
(vi)      the convening of any meeting of its creditors for the purpose of considering a voluntary arrangement as referred to in Section 3 of the Insolvency Act 1986 (or any analogous proceeding);
 

Alternative Collateral ” means Collateral having a Market Value equal to the Collateral delivered pursuant to paragraph 5 and provided by way of substitution in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 5.3;

 

Base Currency ” means the currency indicated in paragraph 2 of the Schedule;

 

Business Day ” means a day other than a Saturday or a Sunday on which banks and securities markets are open for business generally in each place stated in paragraph 3 of the Schedule and, in relation to the delivery or redelivery of any of the following in relation to any Loan, in the place(s) where the relevant Securities, Equivalent Securities, Collateral or Equivalent Collateral are to be delivered;

 

Cash Collateral ” means Collateral that takes the form of a transfer of currency;

 

Close of Business ” means the time at which the relevant banks, securities exchanges or depositaries close in the business centre in which payment is to be made or Securities or Collateral is to be delivered;

 

Collateral ” means such securities or financial instruments or transfers of currency as are referred to in the table set out under paragraph 1 of the Schedule as being acceptable or any combination thereof as agreed between the Parties in relation to any particular Loan and which are delivered by Borrower to Lender in accordance with this Agreement and shall include Alternative Collateral;

 

Defaulting Party ” shall have the meaning given in paragraph 14;

 

Designated Office ” means the branch or office of a Party which is specified as such in paragraph 4 of the Schedule or such other branch or office as may be agreed to in writing by the Parties;

 

Equivalent “ or “ equivalent to ” in relation to any Securities or Collateral provided under this Agreement means securities, together with cash or other property(in the case of Collateral) as the case may be, of an identical type, nominal value, description and amount to particular Securities or Collateral, as the case may be, so provided.  If and to the extent that such Securities or Collateral, as the case may be, consists of securities that are partly paid or have been converted, subdivided, consolidated, made the subject of a takeover, rights of pre-emption, rights to receive securities or a certificate which may at a future date be exchanged for securities, the expression shall include such securities or

 

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other assets to which Lender or Borrower as the case may be, is entitled following the occurrence of the relevant event, and, if appropriate, the giving of the relevant notice in accordance with paragraph 6.4 and provided that Lender or Borrower, as the case may be, has paid to the other Party all and any sums due in respect thereof.  In the event that such Securities or Collateral, as the case may be, have been redeemed, are partly paid, are the subject of a capitalisation issue or are subject to an event similar to any of the foregoing events described in this paragraph, the expression shall have the following meanings:-

 

(a)              in the case of redemption, a sum of money equivalent to the proceeds of the redemption;

 

(b)             in the case of a call on partly paid securities, securities equivalent to the relevant Loaned Securities or Collateral, as the case may be, provided that Lender shall have paid Borrower, in respect of Loaned Securities, and Borrower shall have paid to Lender, in respect of Collateral, an amount of money equal to the sum due in respect of the call;

 

(c)              in the case of a capitalisation issue, securities equivalent to the relevant Loaned Securities or Collateral, as the case may be, together with the securities allotted by way of bonus thereon;

 

(d)             in the case of any event similar to any of the foregoing events described in this paragraph, securities equivalent to the Loaned Securities or the relevant Collateral, as the case may be, together with or replaced by a sum of money or securities or other property equivalent to that received in respect of such Loaned Securities or Collateral, as the case may be, resulting from such event;

 

Income ” means any interest, dividends or other distributions of any kind whatsoever with respect to any Securities or Collateral;

 

Income Payment Date ”, with respect to any Securities or Collateral means the date on which Income is paid in respect of such Securities or Collateral, or, in the case of registered Securities or Collateral, the date by reference to which particular registered holders are identified as being entitled to payment of Income;

 

Letter of Credit ” means an irrevocable, non-negotiable letter of credit in a form, and from a bank, acceptable to Lender;

 

Loaned Securities ” means Securities which are the subject of an outstanding Loan;

 

Margin ” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 1 of the Schedule with reference to the table set out therein;

 

Market Value ” means:

 

(a)              in relation to the valuation of Securities, Equivalent Securities, Collateral or Equivalent Collateral (other than Cash Collateral or a Letter of Credit):

 

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(i)         such price as is equal to the market quotation for the bid price of such Securities, Equivalent Securities, Collateral and/or Equivalent Collateral as derived from a reputable pricing information service reasonably chosen in good faith by Lender; or

 

(ii)        if unavailable the market value thereof as derived from the prices or rates bid by a reputable dealer for the relevant instrument reasonably chosen in good faith by Lender,

 

in each case at Close of Business on the previous Business Day or, at the option of either Party where in its reasonable opinion there has been an exceptional movement in the price of the asset in question since such time, the latest available price; plus (in each case)

 

(iii)       the aggregate amount of Income which has accrued but not yet been paid in respect of the Securities, Equivalent Securities, Collateral or Equivalent Collateral concerned to the extent not included in such price,

 

(provided that the price of Securities, Equivalent Securities, Collateral or Equivalent Collateral that are suspended shall (for the purposes of paragraph 5) be nil unless the Parties otherwise agree and (for all other purposes) shall be the price of such Securities, Equivalent Securities, Collateral or Equivalent Collateral, as the case may be, as of Close of Business on the dealing day in the relevant market last preceding the date of suspension or a commercially reasonable price agreed between the Parties;

 

(b)             in relation to a Letter of Credit the face or stated amount of such Letter of Credit; and

 

(c)              in relation to Cash Collateral the amount of the currency concerned;

 

Nominee ” means an agent or a nominee appointed by either Party to accept delivery of, hold or deliver Securities, Equivalent Securities, Collateral and/or Equivalent Collateral or to receive or make payments on its behalf;

 

Non-Defaulting Party ” shall have the meaning given in paragraph 14;

 

Parties ” means Lender and Borrower and “Party” shall be construed accordingly;

 

Posted Collateral ” has the meaning given in paragraph 5.4;

 

Required Collateral Value ” shall have the meaning given in paragraph 5.4;

 

Settlement Date ” means the date upon which Securities are transferred to Borrower in accordance with this Agreement.

 

2.2          Headings

 

All headings appear for convenience only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement.

 

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2.3          Market terminology

 

Notwithstanding the use of expressions such as “borrow”, “lend”, “Collateral”, “Margin”, “redeliver” etc. which are used to reflect terminology used in the market for transactions of the kind provided for in this Agreement, title to Securities “borrowed” or “lent” and “Collateral” provided in accordance with this Agreement shall pass from one Party to another as provided for in this Agreement, the Party obtaining such title being obliged to redeliver Equivalent Securities or Equivalent Collateral as the case may be.

 

2.4          Currency conversions

 

For the purposes of determining any prices, sums or values (including Market Value, Required Collateral Value, Relevant Value, Bid Value and Offer Value for the purposes of paragraphs 5 and 10 of this Agreement) prices, sums or values stated in currencies other than the Base Currency shall be converted into the Base Currency at the latest available spot rate of exchange quoted by a bank selected by Lender (or if an Event of Default has occurred in relation to Lender, by Borrower) in the London interbank market for the purchase of the Base Currency with the currency concerned on the day on which the calculation is to be made or, if that day is not a Business Day the spot rate of exchange quoted at Close of Business on the immediately preceding Business Day.

 

2.5          The parties confirm that introduction of and/or substitution (in place of an existing currency) of a new currency as the lawful currency of a country shall not have the effect of altering, or discharging, or excusing performance under, any term of the Agreement or any Loan thereunder, nor give a party the right unilaterally to alter or terminate the Agreement or any Loan thereunder.  Securities will for the purposes of this Agreement be regarded as equivalent to other securities notwithstanding that as a result of such introduction and/or substitution those securities have been redenominated into the new currency or the nominal value of the securities has changed in connection with such redenomination.

 

2.6          Modifications etc to legislation

 

Any reference in this Agreement to an act, regulation or other legislation shall include a reference to any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof for the time being in force.

 

3.            LOANS OF SECURITIES

 

Lender will lend Securities to Borrower, and Borrower will borrow Securities from Lender in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.  The terms of each Loan shall be agreed prior to the commencement of the relevant Loan either orally or in writing (including any agreed form of electronic communication) and confirmed in such form and on such basis as shall be agreed between the Parties.  Any confirmation produced by a Party shall not supersede or prevail over the prior oral, written or electronic communication (as the case may be).

 

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4.            DELIVERY

 

4.1          Delivery of Securities on commencement of Loan

 

Lender shall procure the delivery of Securities to Borrower or deliver such Securities in accordance with this Agreement and the terms of the relevant Loan.  Such Securities shall be deemed to have been delivered by Lender to Borrower on delivery to Borrower or as it shall direct of the relevant instruments of transfer, or in the case of Securities held by an agent or within a clearing or settlement system on the effective instructions to such agent or the operator of such system which result in such Securities being held by the operator of the clearing system for the account of the Borrower or as it shall direct, or by such other means as may be agreed.

 

4.2          Requirements to effect delivery

 

The Parties shall execute and deliver all necessary documents and give all necessary instructions to procure that all right, title and interest in:

 

(a)              any Securities borrowed pursuant to paragraph 3;

 

(b)             any Equivalent Securities redelivered pursuant to paragraph 8;

 

(c)              any Collateral delivered pursuant to paragraph 5;

 

(d)             any Equivalent Collateral redelivered pursuant to paragraphs 5 or 8;

 

shall pass from one Party to the other subject to the terms and conditions set out in this Agreement, on delivery or redelivery of the same in accordance with this Agreement with full title guarantee, free from all liens, charges and encumbrances.  In the case of Securities, Collateral, Equivalent Securities or Equivalent Collateral title to which is registered in a computer based system which provides for the recording and transfer of title to the same by way of book entries, delivery and transfer of title shall take place in accordance with the rules and procedures of such system as in force from time to time.  The Party acquiring such right, title and interest shall have no obligation to return or redeliver any of the assets so acquired but, in so far as any Securities are borrowed or any Collateral is delivered to such Party, such Party shall be obliged, subject to the terms of this Agreement, to redeliver Equivalent Securities or Equivalent Collateral as appropriate.

 

4.3          Deliveries to be simultaneous unless otherwise agreed

 

Where under the terms of this Agreement a Party is not obliged to make a delivery unless simultaneously a delivery is made to it, subject to and without prejudice to its rights under paragraph 8.6 such Party may from time to time in accordance with market practice and in recognition of the practical difficulties in arranging simultaneous delivery of Securities, Collateral and cash transfers waive its right under this Agreement in respect of simultaneous delivery and/or payment provided that no such waiver (whether by course of conduct or otherwise) in respect of one transaction shall bind it in respect of any other transaction.

 

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4.4          Deliveries of Income

 

In respect of Income being paid in relation to any Loaned Securities or Collateral, Borrower in the case of Income being paid in respect of Loaned Securities and Lender in the case of Income being paid in respect of Collateral shall provide to the other Party, as the case may be, any endorsements or assignments as shall be customary and appropriate to effect the delivery of money or property equivalent to the type and amount of such Income to Lender, irrespective of whether Borrower received the same in respect of any Loaned Securities or to Borrower, irrespective of whether Lender received the same in respect of any Collateral.

 

5.            COLLATERAL

 

5.1          Delivery of Collateral on commencement of Loan

 

Subject to the other provisions of this paragraph 5, Borrower undertakes to deliver to or deposit with Lender (or in accordance with Lender’s instructions) Collateral simultaneously with delivery of the Securities to which the Loan relates and in any event no later than Close of Business on the Settlement Date.  In respect of Collateral comprising securities, such Collateral shall be deemed to have been delivered by Borrower to Lender on delivery to Lender or as it shall direct of the relevant instruments of transfer, or in the case of such securities being held by an agent or within a clearing or settlement system, on the effective instructions to such agent or the operator of such system, which result in such securities being held by the operator of the clearing system for the account of the Lender or as it shall direct, or by such other means as may be agreed.

 

5.2          Deliveries through payment systems generating automatic payments

 

Unless otherwise agreed between the Parties, where any Securities, Equivalent Securities, Collateral or Equivalent Collateral (in the form of securities) are transferred through a book entry transfer or settlement system which automatically generates a payment or delivery, or obligation to pay or deliver, against the transfer of such securities, then:-

 

(i)         such automatically generated payment, delivery or obligation shall be treated as a payment or delivery by the transferee to the transferor, and except to the extent that it is applied to discharge an obligation of the transferee to effect payment or delivery, such payment or delivery, or obligation to pay or deliver, shall be deemed to be a transfer of Collateral or redelivery of Equivalent Collateral, as the case may be, made by the transferee until such time as the Collateral or Equivalent Collateral is substituted with other Collateral or Equivalent Collateral if an obligation to deliver other Collateral or redeliver Equivalent Collateral existed immediately prior to the transfer of Securities, Equivalent Securities, Collateral or Equivalent Collateral; and
 
(ii)        the party receiving such substituted Collateral or Equivalent Collateral, or if no obligation to deliver other Collateral or redeliver Equivalent Collateral existed immediately prior to the transfer of Securities, Equivalent Securities, Collateral or Equivalent Collateral, the party receiving the deemed transfer of Collateral or redelivery of Equivalent Collateral, as the case may be, shall cause to be made to

 

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the other party for value the same day either, where such transfer is a payment, an irrevocable payment in the amount of such transfer or, where such transfer is a delivery, an irrevocable delivery of securities (or other property, as the case may be) equivalent to such property.
 

5.3          Substitutions of Collateral

 

Borrower may from time to time call for the repayment of Cash Collateral or the redelivery of Collateral equivalent to any Collateral delivered to Lender prior to the date on which the same would otherwise have been repayable or redeliverable provided that at the time of such repayment or redelivery Borrower shall have delivered or delivers Alternative Collateral acceptable to Lender and Borrower is in compliance with paragraph 5.4 or paragraph 5.5, as applicable.

 

5.4          Marking to Market of Collateral during the currency of a Loan on aggregated basis

 

Unless paragraph 1.3 of the Schedule indicates that paragraph 5.5 shall apply in lieu of this paragraph 5.4, or unless otherwise agreed between the Parties:-

 

(i)         the aggregate Market Value of the Collateral delivered to or deposited with Lender (excluding any Equivalent Collateral repaid or redelivered under Paragraphs 5.4(ii) or 5.5(ii) (as the case may be)) (“ Posted Collateral ”) in respect of all Loans outstanding under this Agreement shall equal the aggregate of the Market Value of the Loaned Securities and the applicable Margin (the “ Required Collateral Value ”) in respect of such Loans;
 
(ii)        if at any time on any Business Day the aggregate Market Value of the Posted Collateral in respect of all Loans outstanding under this Agreement exceeds the aggregate of the Required Collateral Values in respect of such Loans, Lender shall (on demand) repay and/or redeliver, as the case may be, to Borrower such Equivalent Collateral as will eliminate the excess;
 
(iii)       if at any time on any Business Day the aggregate Market Value of the Posted Collateral in respect of all Loans outstanding under this Agreement falls below the aggregate of Required Collateral Values in respect of all such Loans, Borrower shall (on demand) provide such further Collateral to Lender as will eliminate the deficiency.
 

5.5          Marking to Market of Collateral during the currency of a Loan on a Loan by Loan basis

 

If paragraph 1.3 of the Schedule indicates this paragraph 5.5 shall apply in lieu of paragraph 5.4, the Posted Collateral in respect of any Loan shall bear from day to day and at any time the same proportion to the Market Value of the Loaned Securities as the Posted Collateral bore at the commencement of such Loan.  Accordingly:

 

(i)         the Market Value of the Posted Collateral to be delivered or deposited while the Loan continues shall be equal to the Required Collateral Value;

 

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(ii)        if at any time on any Business Day the Market Value of the Posted Collateral in respect of any Loan exceeds the Required Collateral Value in respect of such Loan, Lender shall (on demand) repay and/or redeliver, as the case may be, to Borrower such Equivalent Collateral as will eliminate the excess;  and
 
(iii)       if at any time on any Business Day the Market Value of the Posted Collateral falls below the Required Collateral Value, Borrower shall (on demand) provide such further Collateral to Lender as will eliminate the deficiency.
 

5.6          Requirements to redeliver excess Collateral

 

Where paragraph 5.4 applies, unless paragraph 1.4 of the Schedule indicates that this paragraph 5.6 does not apply, if a Party (the “ first Party ”) would, but for this paragraph 5.6, be required under paragraph 5.4 to provide further Collateral or redeliver Equivalent Collateral in circumstances where the other Party (the “ second Party ”) would, but for this paragraph 5.6, also be required to or provide Collateral or redeliver Equivalent Collateral under paragraph 5.4, then the Market Value of the Collateral or Equivalent Collateral deliverable by the first Party (“ X ”) shall be set-off against the Market Value of the Collateral or Equivalent Collateral deliverable by the second Party (“ Y ”) and the only obligation of the Parties under paragraph 5.4 shall be, where X exceeds Y, an obligation of the first Party, or where Y exceeds X, an obligation of the second Party  to repay and/or (as the case may be) redeliver Equivalent Collateral or to deliver further Collateral having a Market Value equal to the difference between X and Y.

 

5.7          Where Equivalent Collateral is repaid or redelivered (as the case may be) or further Collateral is provided by a Party under paragraph 5.6, the Parties shall agree to which Loan or Loans such repayment, redelivery or further provision is to be attributed and failing agreement it shall be attributed, as determined by the Party making such repayment, redelivery or further provision to the earliest outstanding Loan and, in the case of a repayment or redelivery up to the point at which the Market Value of Collateral in respect of such Loan equals the Required Collateral Value in respect of such Loan, and then to the next earliest outstanding Loan up to the similar point and so on.

 

5.8          Timing of repayments of excess Collateral or deliveries of further Collateral

 

Where any Equivalent Collateral falls to be repaid or redelivered (as the case may be) or further Collateral is to be provided under this paragraph 5, unless otherwise agreed between the Parties, it shall be delivered on the same Business Day as the relevant demand.  Equivalent Collateral comprising securities shall be deemed to have been delivered by Lender to Borrower on delivery to Borrower or as it shall direct of the relevant instruments of transfer, or in the case of such securities being held by an agent or within a clearing or settlement system on the effective instructions to such agent or the operator of such system which result in such securities being held by the operator of the clearing system for the account of the Borrower or as it shall direct or by such other means as may be agreed.

 

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5.9                                 Substitutions and extensions of Letters of Credit

 

Where Collateral is a Letter of Credit, Lender may by notice to Borrower require that Borrower, on the Business Day following the date of delivery of such notice, substitute Collateral consisting of cash or other Collateral acceptable to Lender for the Letter of Credit.  Prior to the expiration of any Letter of Credit supporting Borrower’s obligations hereunder, Borrower shall, no later than 10.30a.m. UK time on the second Business Day prior to the date such Letter of Credit expires, obtain an extension of the expiration of such Letter of Credit or replace such Letter of Credit by providing Lender with a substitute Letter of Credit in an amount at least equal to the amount of the Letter of Credit for which it is substituted.

 

6.                                       DISTRIBUTIONS AND CORPORATE ACTIONS

 

6.1                                 Manufactured Payments

 

Where Income is paid in relation to any Loaned Securities or Collateral (other than Cash Collateral) on or by reference to an Income Payment Date Borrower, in the case of Loaned Securities, and Lender, in the case of Collateral,  shall, on the date of the payment of such Income, or on such other date as the Parties may from time to time agree, (the “ Relevant Payment Date ”) pay and deliver a sum of money or property equivalent to the type and amount of such Income that, in the case of Loaned Securities, Lender would have been entitled to receive had such Securities not been loaned to Borrower and had been retained by Lender on the Income Payment Date, and, in the case of Collateral, Borrower would have been entitled to receive had such Collateral not been provided to Lender and had been retained by Borrower on the Income Payment Date unless a different sum is agreed between the Parties.

 

6.2                                 Income in the form of Securities

 

Where Income, in the form of securities, is paid in relation to any Loaned Securities or Collateral, such securities shall be added to such Loaned Securities or Collateral (and shall constitute Loaned Securities or Collateral, as the case may be, and be part of the relevant Loan) and will not be delivered to Lender, in the case of Loaned Securities, or to Borrower, in the case of Collateral, until the end of the relevant Loan, provided that the Lender or Borrower (as the case may be) fulfils their obligations under paragraph 5.4 or 5.5 (as applicable) with respect to the additional Loaned Securities or Collateral, as the case may be.

 

6.3                                 Exercise of voting rights

 

Where any voting rights fall to be exercised in relation to any Loaned Securities or Collateral, neither Borrower, in the case of Equivalent Securities, nor Lender, in the case of Equivalent Collateral, shall have any obligation to arrange for voting rights of that kind to be exercised in accordance with the instructions of the other Party in relation to the Securities borrowed by it or transferred to it by way of Collateral, as the case may be, unless otherwise agreed between the Parties.

 

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6.4                                 Corporate actions

 

Where, in respect of any Loaned Securities or any Collateral, any rights relating to conversion, sub-division, consolidation, pre-emption, rights arising under a takeover offer, rights to receive securities or a certificate which may at a future date be exchanged for securities or other rights, including those requiring election by the holder for the time being of such Securities or Collateral, become exercisable prior to the redelivery of Equivalent Securities or Equivalent Collateral, then Lender or Borrower, as the case may be, may, within a reasonable time before the latest time for the exercise of the right or option give written notice to the other Party that on redelivery of Equivalent Securities or Equivalent Collateral, as the case may be, it wishes to receive Equivalent Securities or Equivalent Collateral in such form as will arise if the right is exercised or, in the case of a right which may be exercised in more than one manner, is exercised as is specified in such written notice.

 

7.                                       RATES APPLICABLE TO LOANED SECURITIES AND CASH COLLATERAL

 

7.1                                 Rates in respect of Loaned Securities

 

In respect of each Loan, Borrower shall pay to Lender, in the manner prescribed in sub-paragraph 7.3, sums calculated by applying such rate as shall be agreed between the Parties from time to time to the daily Market Value of the Loaned Securities.

 

7.2                                 Rates in respect of Cash Collateral

 

Where Cash Collateral is deposited with Lender in respect of any Loan, Lender shall pay to Borrower, in the manner prescribed in paragraph 7.3, sums calculated by applying such rates as shall be agreed between the Parties from time to time to the amount of such Cash Collateral.  Any such payment due to Borrower may be set-off against any payment due to Lender pursuant to paragraph 7.1.

 

7.3                                 Payment of rates

 

In respect of each Loan, the payments referred to in paragraph 7.1 and 7.2 shall accrue daily in respect of the period commencing on and inclusive of the Settlement Date and terminating on and exclusive of the Business Day upon which Equivalent Securities are redelivered or Cash Collateral is repaid.  Unless otherwise agreed, the sums so accruing in respect of each calendar month shall be paid in arrear by the relevant Party not later than the Business Day which is one week after the last Business Day of the calendar month to which such payments relate or such other date as the Parties shall from time to time agree.

 

8.                                       REDELIVERY OF EQUIVALENT SECURITIES

 

8.1                                 Delivery of Equivalent Securities on termination of a Loan

 

Borrower shall procure the redelivery of Equivalent Securities to Lender or redeliver Equivalent Securities in accordance with this Agreement and the terms of the relevant Loan on termination of the Loan.  Such Equivalent Securities shall be deemed to have been delivered by Borrower to Lender on delivery to Lender or as it shall direct of the relevant instruments of transfer, or in the case of Equivalent Securities held by an agent

 

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or within a clearing or settlement system on the effective instructions to such agent or the operator of such system which result in such Equivalent Securities being held by the operator of the clearing system for the account of the Lender or as it shall direct, or by such other means as may be agreed.  For the avoidance of doubt any reference in this Agreement or in any other agreement or communication between the Parties (howsoever expressed) to an obligation to redeliver or account for or act in relation to Loaned Securities shall accordingly be construed as a reference to an obligation to redeliver or account for or act in relation to Equivalent Securities.

 

8.2                                 Lender’s right to terminate a Loan

 

Subject to paragraph 10 and the terms of the relevant Loan, Lender shall be entitled to terminate a Loan and to call for the redelivery of all or any Equivalent Securities at any time by giving notice on any Business Day of not less than the standard settlement time for such Equivalent Securities on the exchange or in the clearing organisation through which the Loaned Securities were originally delivered.  Borrower shall redeliver such Equivalent Securities not later than the expiry of such notice in accordance with Lender’s instructions.

 

8.3                                 Borrower’s right to terminate a Loan

 

Subject to the terms of the relevant Loan, Borrower shall be entitled at any time to terminate a Loan and to redeliver all and any Equivalent Securities due and outstanding to Lender in accordance with Lender’s instructions and Lender shall accept such redelivery.

 

8.4                                 Redelivery of Equivalent Collateral on termination of a Loan

 

On the date and time that Equivalent Securities are required to be redelivered by Borrower on the termination of a Loan, Lender shall simultaneously (subject to paragraph 5.4 if applicable) repay to Borrower any Cash Collateral or, as the case may be, redeliver Collateral equivalent to the Collateral provided by Borrower pursuant to paragraph 5 in respect of such Loan.  For the avoidance of doubt any reference in this Agreement or in any other agreement or communication between the Parties (however expressed) to an obligation to redeliver or account for or act in relation to Collateral shall accordingly be construed as a reference to an obligation to redeliver or account for or act in relation to Equivalent Collateral.

 

8.5                                 Redelivery of Letters of Credit

 

Where a Letter of Credit is provided by way of Collateral, the obligation to redeliver Equivalent Collateral is satisfied by Lender redelivering for cancellation the Letter of Credit so provided, or where the Letter of Credit is provided in respect of more than one Loan, by Lender consenting to a reduction in the value of the Letter of Credit.

 

8.6                                 Redelivery obligations to be reciprocal

 

Neither Party shall be obliged to make delivery (or make a payment as the case may be) to the other unless it is satisfied that the other Party will make such delivery (or make an appropriate payment as the case may be) to it.  If it is not so satisfied (whether because an

 

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Event of Default has occurred in respect of the other Party or otherwise) it shall notify the other party and unless that other Party has made arrangements which are sufficient to assure full delivery (or the appropriate payment as the case may be) to the notifying Party, the notifying Party shall (provided it is itself in a position, and willing, to perform its own obligations) be entitled to withhold delivery (or payment, as the case may be) to the other Party.

 

9.                                       FAILURE TO REDELIVER

 

9.1                                 Borrower’s failure to redeliver Equivalent Securities

 

(i)                                     If Borrower does not redeliver Equivalent Securities in accordance with paragraph 8.1 or 8.2, Lender may elect to continue the Loan (which Loan, for the avoidance of doubt, shall continue to be taken into account for the purposes of paragraph 5.4 or 5.5 as applicable) provided that if Lender does not elect to continue the Loan, Lender may either by written notice to Borrower terminate the Loan forthwith and the Parties’ delivery and payment obligations in respect thereof (in which case sub-paragraph (ii) below shall apply) or serve a notice of an Event of Default in accordance with paragraph 14.

 

(ii)                                  Upon service of a notice to terminate the relevant Loan pursuant to paragraph 9.1(i):-

 

(a)                      there shall be set-off against the Market Value of the Equivalent Securities concerned such amount of Posted Collateral chosen by Lender (calculated at its Market Value) as is equal thereto;

 

(b)                     the Parties delivery and payment obligations in relation to such assets which are set-off shall terminate;

 

(c)                      in the event that the Market Value of the Posted Collateral set-off is less than the Market Value of the Equivalent Securities concerned Borrower shall account to Lender for the shortfall; and

 

(d)                     Borrower shall account to Lender for the total costs and expenses incurred by Lender as a result thereof as set out in paragraphs 9.3 and 9.4 from the time the notice is effective.

 

9.2                                 Lender’s failure to Redeliver Equivalent Collateral

 

(i)                                     If Lender does not redeliver Equivalent Collateral in accordance with paragraph 8.4 or 8.5, Borrower may either by written notice to Lender terminate the Loan forthwith and the Parties’ delivery and payment obligations in respect thereof (in which case sub-paragraph (ii) below shall apply) or serve a notice of an Event of Default in accordance with paragraph 14.

 

(ii)                                  Upon service of a notice to terminate the relevant Loan pursuant to paragraph 9.2(i):-

 

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(a)                      there shall be set-off against the Market Value of the Equivalent Collateral concerned the Market Value of the Loaned Securities;

 

(b)                     the Parties delivery and payment obligations in relation to such assets which are set-off shall terminate;

 

(c)                      in the event that the Market Value of the Loaned Securities held by Borrower is less than the Market Value of the Equivalent Collateral concerned Lender shall account to Borrower for the shortfall; and

 

(d)                     Lender shall account to Borrower for the total costs and expenses incurred by Borrower as a result thereof as set out in paragraphs 9.3 and 9.4 from the time the notice is effective.

 

9.3                                 Failure by either Party to redeliver

 

This provision applies in the event that a Party (the “ Transferor ”) fails to meet a redelivery obligation within the standard settlement time for the asset concerned on the exchange or in the clearing organisation through which the asset equivalent to the asset concerned was originally delivered or within such other period as may be agreed between the Parties. In such situation, in addition to the Parties’ rights under the general law and this Agreement where the other Party (the “ Transferee ”) incurs interest, overdraft or similar costs and expenses the Transferor agrees to pay on demand and hold harmless the Transferee with respect to all such costs and expenses which arise directly from such failure excluding (i) such costs and expenses which arise from the negligence or wilful default of the Transferee and (ii) any indirect or consequential losses.  It is agreed by the Parties that any costs reasonably and properly incurred by a Party arising in respect of the failure of a Party to meet its obligations under a transaction to sell or deliver securities resulting from the failure of the Transferor to fulfil its redelivery obligations is to be treated as a direct cost or expense for the purposes of this paragraph.

 

9.4                                 Exercise of buy-in on failure to redeliver

 

In the event that as a result of the failure of the Transferor to fulfil its redelivery obligations a “buy-in” is exercised against the Transferee, then the Transferor shall account to the Transferee for the total costs and expenses reasonably incurred by the Transferee as a result of such “buy-in”.

 

10.                                 SET-OFF ETC

 

10.1                           Definitions for paragraph 10

 

In this paragraph 10:

 

Bid Price ” in relation to Equivalent Securities or Equivalent Collateral means the best available bid price on the most appropriate market in a standard size;

 

Bid Value ” subject to paragraph 10.5 means:-

 

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(a)                                  in relation to Collateral equivalent to Collateral in the form of a Letter of Credit zero and in relation to Cash Collateral the amount of the currency concerned; and

 

(b)                                 in relation to Equivalent Securities or Collateral equivalent to all other types of Collateral the amount which would be received on a sale of such Equivalent Securities or Equivalent Collateral at the Bid Price at Close of Business on the relevant Business Day less all costs, fees and expenses that would be incurred in connection therewith, calculated on the assumption that the aggregate thereof is the least that could reasonably be expected to be paid in order to carry out such sale or realisation and adding thereto the amount of any interest, dividends, distributions or other amounts, in the case of Equivalent Securities, paid to Borrower and in respect of which equivalent amounts have not been paid to Lender and in the case of Equivalent Collateral, paid to Lender and in respect of which equivalent amounts have not been paid to Borrower, in accordance with paragraph 6.1 prior to such time in respect of such Equivalent Securities, Equivalent Collateral or the original Securities or Collateral held, gross of all and any tax deducted or paid in respect thereof;

 

Offer Price ” in relation to Equivalent Securities or Equivalent Collateral means the best available offer price on the most appropriate market in a standard size;

 

Offer Value ” subject to paragraph 10.5 means:-

 

(a)                                  in relation to Collateral equivalent to Collateral in the form of a Letter of Credit zero and in relation to Cash Collateral the amount of the currency concerned; and

 

(b)                                 in relation to Equivalent Securities or Collateral equivalent to all other types of Collateral the amount it would cost to buy such Equivalent Securities or Equivalent Collateral at the Offer Price at Close of Business on the relevant Business Day together with all costs, fees and expenses that would be incurred in connection therewith, calculated on the assumption that the aggregate thereof is the least that could reasonably be expected to be paid in order to carry out the transaction and adding thereto the amount of any interest, dividends, distributions or other amounts, in the case of Equivalent Securities, paid to Borrower and in respect of which equivalent amounts have not been paid to Lender and in the case of Equivalent Collateral, paid to Lender and in respect of which equivalent amounts have not been paid to Borrower, in accordance with paragraph 6.1 prior to such time in respect of such Equivalent Securities, Equivalent Collateral or the original Securities or Collateral held, gross of all and any tax deducted or paid in respect thereof;

 

10.2                           Termination of delivery obligations upon Event of Default

 

Subject to paragraph 9, if an Event of Default occurs in relation to either Party, the Parties’ delivery and payment obligations (and any other obligations they have under this Agreement) shall be accelerated so as to require performance thereof at the time such

 

15


 

Event of Default occurs (the date of which shall be the “ Termination Date ” for the purposes of this clause) so that performance of such delivery and payment obligations shall be effected only in accordance with the following provisions:

 

(i)                         the Relevant Value of the securities which would have been required to be delivered but for such termination (or payment to be made, as the case may be) by each Party shall be established in accordance with paragraph 10.3; and
 
(ii)                      on the basis of the Relevant Values so established, an account shall be taken (as at the Termination Date) of what is due from each Party to the other and (on the basis that each Party’s claim against the other in respect of delivery of Equivalent Securities or Equivalent Collateral or any cash payment equals the Relevant Value thereof) the sums due from one Party shall be set-off against the sums due from the other and only the balance of the account shall be payable (by the Party having the claim valued at the lower amount pursuant to the foregoing) and such balance shall be payable on the Termination Date.
 

If the Bid Value is greater than the Offer Value, and the Non-Defaulting Party had delivered to the Defaulting Party a Letter of Credit, the Defaulting Party shall draw on the Letter of Credit to the extent of the balance due and shall subsequently redeliver for cancellation the Letter of Credit so provided.

 

If the Offer Value is greater than the Bid Value, and the Defaulting Party had delivered to the Non-Defaulting Party a Letter of Credit, the Non-Defaulting Party shall draw on the Letter of Credit to the extent of the balance due and shall subsequently redeliver for cancellation the Letter of Credit so provided.

 

In all other circumstances, where a Letter of Credit has been provided to a Party, such Party shall redeliver for cancellation the Letter of Credit so provided.

 

10.3                           Determination of delivery values upon Event of Default

 

For the purposes of paragraph 10.2 the “ Relevant Value ”:-

 

(i)                         of any securities to be delivered by the Defaulting Party shall, subject to paragraph 10.5 below, equal the Offer Value of such securities; and
 
(ii)                      of any securities to be delivered to the Defaulting Party shall, subject to paragraph 10.5 below, equal the Bid Value of such securities.

 

10.4                           For the purposes of paragraph 10.3, but subject to paragraph 10.5, the Bid Value and Offer Value of any securities shall be calculated for securities of the relevant description (as determined by the Non-Defaulting Party) as of the first Business Day following the Termination Date, or if the relevant Event of Default occurs outside the normal business hours of such market, on the second Business Day following the Termination Date (the “ Default Valuation Time ”);

 

10.5                           Where the Non-Defaulting Party has following the occurrence of an Event of Default but prior to the close of business on the fifth Business Day following the Termination Date

 

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purchased securities forming part of the same issue and being of an identical type and description to those to be delivered by the Defaulting Party or sold securities forming part of the same issue and being of an identical type and description to those to be delivered by him to the Defaulting Party, the cost of such purchase or the proceeds of such sale, as the case may be, (taking into account all reasonable costs, fees and expenses that would be incurred in connection therewith) shall (together with any amounts owing pursuant to paragraph 6.1) be treated as the Offer Value or Bid Value, as the case may be, of the amount of securities to be delivered which is equivalent to the amount of the securities so bought or sold, as the case may be, for the purposes of this paragraph 10, so that where the amount of securities to be delivered is more than the amount so bought or sold as the case may be, the Offer Value or Bid Value as the case may be, of the balance shall be valued in accordance with paragraph 10.4.

 

10.6                           Any reference in this paragraph 10 to securities shall include any asset other than cash provided by way of Collateral.

 

10.7                           Other costs, expenses and interest payable in consequence of an Event of Default

 

The Defaulting Party shall be liable to the Non-Defaulting Party for the amount of all reasonable legal and other professional expenses incurred by the Non-Defaulting Party in connection with or as a consequence of an Event of Default, together with interest thereon at the one-month London Inter Bank Offered Rate as quoted on a reputable financial information service (“ LIBOR ”) as of 11.00 am, London Time, on the date on which it is to be determined or, in the case of an expense attributable to a particular transaction and where the parties have previously agreed a rate of interest for the transaction, that rate of interest if it is greater than LIBOR.  The rate of LIBOR applicable to each month or part thereof that any sum payable pursuant to this paragraph 10.7 remains outstanding is the rate of LIBOR determined on the first Business Day of any such period of one month or any part thereof.  Interest will accrue daily on a compound basis and will be calculated according to the actual number of days elapsed.

 

11.                                 TRANSFER TAXES

 

Borrower hereby undertakes promptly to pay and account for any transfer or similar duties or taxes chargeable in connection with any transaction effected pursuant to or contemplated by this Agreement, and shall indemnify and keep indemnified Lender against any liability arising as a result of Borrower’s failure to do so.

 

12.                                 LENDER’S WARRANTIES

 

Each Party hereby warrants and undertakes to the other on a continuing basis to the intent that such warranties shall survive the completion of any transaction contemplated herein that, where acting as a Lender:

 

(a)                      it is duly authorised and empowered to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement;

 

17


 

(b)                     it is not restricted under the terms of its constitution or in any other manner from lending Securities in accordance with this Agreement or from otherwise performing its obligations hereunder;

 

(c)                      it is absolutely entitled to pass full legal and beneficial ownership of all Securities provided by it hereunder to Borrower free from all liens, charges and encumbrances; and

 

(d)                     it is acting as principal in respect of this Agreement or, subject to paragraph 16, as agent and the conditions referred to in paragraph 16.2 will be fulfilled in respect of any Loan which it makes as agent.

 

13.                                 BORROWER’S WARRANTIES

 

Each Party hereby warrants and undertakes to the other on a continuing basis to the intent that such warranties shall survive the completion of any transaction contemplated herein that, where acting as a Borrower:

 

(a)                      it has all necessary licenses and approvals, and is duly authorised and empowered, to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement and will do nothing prejudicial to the continuation of such authorisation, licences or approvals;

 

(b)                     it is not restricted under the terms of its constitution or in any other manner from borrowing Securities in accordance with this Agreement or from otherwise performing its obligations hereunder;

 

(c)                      it is absolutely entitled to pass full legal and beneficial ownership of all Collateral provided by it hereunder to Lender free from all liens, charges and encumbrances; and

 

(d)                     it is acting as principal in respect of this Agreement.

 

14.                                 EVENTS OF DEFAULT

 

14.1                           Each of the following events occurring in relation to either Party (the “ Defaulting Party ”, the other Party being the “ Non-Defaulting Party ”) shall be an Event of Default for the purpose of paragraph 10 but only (subject to sub-paragraph (v) below) where the Non-Defaulting Party serves written notice on the Defaulting Party:-

 

(i)                         Borrower or Lender failing to pay or repay Cash Collateral or deliver Collateral or redeliver Equivalent Collateral or Lender failing to deliver Securities upon the due date;
 
(ii)                      Lender or Borrower failing to comply with its obligations under paragraph 5;
 
(iii)                   Lender or Borrower failing to comply with its obligations under paragraph 6.1;
 
(iv)                  Borrower failing to comply with its obligations to deliver Equivalent Securities in accordance with paragraph 8;

 

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(v)                     an Act of Insolvency occurring with respect to Lender or Borrower, an Act of Insolvency which is the presentation of a petition for winding up or any analogous proceeding or the appointment of a liquidator or analogous officer of the Defaulting Party not requiring the Non-Defaulting Party to serve written notice on the Defaulting Party;
 
(vi)                  any representation or warranty made by Lender or Borrower being incorrect or untrue in any material respect when made or repeated or deemed to have been made or repeated;
 
(vii)               Lender or Borrower admitting to the other that it is unable to, or it intends not to, perform any of its obligations under this Agreement and/or in respect of any Loan;
 
(viii)            Lender (if applicable) or Borrower being declared in default or being suspended or expelled from membership of or participation in, any securities exchange or association or suspended or prohibited from dealing in securities by any regulatory authority;
 
(ix)                    any of the assets of Lender or Borrower or the assets of investors held by or to the order of Lender or Borrower being transferred or ordered to be transferred to a trustee (or a person exercising similar functions) by a regulatory authority pursuant to any securities regulating legislation, or
 
(x)                       Lender or Borrower failing to perform any other of its obligations under this Agreement and not remedying such failure within 30 days after the Non-Defaulting Party serves written notice requiring it to remedy such failure.

 

14.2                           Each Party shall notify the other (in writing) if an Event of Default or an event which, with the passage of time and/or upon the serving of a written notice as referred to above, would be an Event of Default, occurs in relation to it.

 

14.3                           The provisions of this Agreement constitute a complete statement of the remedies available to each Party in respect of any Event of Default.

 

14.4                           Subject to paragraph 9.3 and 10.7, neither Party may claim any sum by way of consequential loss or damage in the event of failure by the other party to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

15.                                 INTEREST ON OUTSTANDING PAYMENTS

 

In the event of either Party failing to remit sums in accordance with this Agreement such Party hereby undertakes to pay to the other Party upon demand interest (before as well as after judgment) on the net balance due and outstanding, for the period commencing on and inclusive of the original due date for payment to (but excluding) the date of actual payment, in the same currency as the principal sum and at the rate referred to in paragraph 10.7. Interest will accrue daily on a compound basis and will be calculated according to the actual number of days elapsed.

 

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16.          TRANSACTIONS ENTERED INTO AS AGENT

 

16.1        Power for Lender to enter into Loans as agent

 

Subject to the following provisions of this paragraph, Lender may (if so indicated in paragraph 6 of the Schedule) enter into Loans as agent (in such capacity, the “ Agent ”) for a third person (a “ Principal ”), whether as custodian or investment manager or otherwise (a Loan so entered into being referred to in this paragraph as an “ Agency Transaction ”).

 

16.2        Conditions for agency loan

 

A Lender may enter into an Agency Transaction if, but only if:-

 

(i)         it specifies that Loan as an Agency Transaction at the time when it enters into it;
 
(ii)        it enters into that Loan on behalf of a single Principal whose identity is disclosed to Borrower (whether by name or by reference to a code or identifier which the Parties have agreed will be used to refer to a specified Principal) at the time when it enters into the Loan or as otherwise agreed between the Parties; and
 
(iii)       it has at the time when the Loan is entered into actual authority to enter into the Loan and to perform on behalf of that Principal all of that Principal’s obligations under the agreement referred to in paragraph 16.4(ii).

 

16.3        Notification by Lender of certain events affecting the principal

 

Lender undertakes that, if it enters as agent into an Agency Transaction, forthwith upon becoming aware:-

 

(i)         of any event which constitutes an Act of Insolvency with respect to the relevant Principal; or
 
(ii)        of any breach of any of the warranties given in paragraph 16.5 or of any event or circumstance which has the result that any such warranty would be untrue if repeated by reference to the then current facts;
 

it will inform Borrower of that fact and will, if so required by Borrower, furnish it with such additional information as it may reasonably request.

 

16.4       Status of agency transaction

 

(i)               Each Agency Transaction shall be a transaction between the relevant Principal and Borrower and no person other than the relevant Principal and Borrower shall be a party to or have any rights or obligations under an Agency Transaction.  Without limiting the foregoing, Lender shall not be liable as principal for the performance of an Agency Transaction, but this is without prejudice to any liability of Lender under any other provision of this clause; and

 

(ii)              all the provisions of the Agreement shall apply separately as between Borrower and each Principal for whom the Agent has entered into an Agency transaction or Agency Transactions as if each such Principal were a party to a separate

 

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agreement with Borrower in all respects identical with this Agreement other than this paragraph and as if the Principal were Lender in respect of that agreement;

 

PROVIDED THAT

 

if there occurs in relation to the Agent an Event of Default or an event which would constitute an Event of Default if Borrower served written notice under any sub-clause of paragraph 14, Borrower shall be entitled by giving written notice to the Principal (which notice shall be validly given if given to Lender in accordance with paragraph 21) to declare that by reason of that event an Event of Default is to be treated as occurring in relation to the Principal.  If Borrower gives such a notice then an Event of Default shall be treated as occurring in relation to the Principal at the time when the notice is deemed to be given; and

 

if the Principal is neither incorporated in nor has established a place of business in Great Britain, the Principal shall for the purposes of the agreement referred to in paragraph 16.4(ii) be deemed to have appointed as its agent to receive on its behalf service of process in the courts of England the Agent, or if the Agent is neither incorporated nor has established a place of business in Great Britain, the person appointed by the Agent for the purposes of this Agreement, or such other  person as the Principal may from time to time specify in a written notice given to the other Party.

 

The foregoing provisions of this paragraph do not affect the operation of the Agreement as between Borrower and Lender in respect of any transactions into which Lender may enter on its own account as principal.

 

16.5        Warranty of authority by Lender acting as agent

 

Lender warrants to Borrower that it will, on every occasion on which it enters or purports to enter into a transaction as an Agency Transaction, have been duly authorised to enter into that Loan and perform the obligations arising under such transaction on behalf of the person whom it specifies as the Principal in respect of that transaction and to perform on behalf of that person all the obligations of that person under the agreement referred to in paragraph 16.4(ii).

 

17.          TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT

 

Each Party shall have the right to terminate this Agreement by giving not less than 15 Business Days’ notice in writing to the other Party (which notice shall specify the date of termination) subject to an obligation to ensure that all Loans which have been entered into but not discharged at the time such notice is given are duly discharged in accordance with this Agreement.

 

18.          SINGLE AGREEMENT

 

Each Party acknowledges that, and has entered into this Agreement and will enter into each Loan in consideration of and in reliance upon the fact that, all Loans constitute a

 

21


 

single business and contractual relationship and are made in consideration of each other.  Accordingly, each Party agrees:

 

(i)         to perform all of its obligations in respect of each Loan, and that a default in the performance of any such obligations shall constitute a default by it in respect of all Loans; and
 
(ii)        that payments, deliveries and other transfers made by either of them in respect of any Loan shall be deemed to have been made in consideration of payments, deliveries and other transfers in respect of any other Loan.
 

19.          SEVERANCE

 

If any provision of this Agreement is declared by any judicial or other competent authority to be void or otherwise unenforceable, that provision shall be severed from the Agreement and the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.  The Agreement shall, however, thereafter be amended by the Parties in such reasonable manner so as to achieve as far as possible, without illegality, the intention of the Parties with respect to that severed provision.

 

20.          SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE

 

Each Party agrees that in relation to legal proceedings it will not seek specific performance of the other Party’s obligation to deliver or redeliver Securities, Equivalent Securities, Collateral or Equivalent Collateral but without prejudice to any other rights it may have.

 

21.          NOTICES

 

21.1        Any notice or other communication in respect of this Agreement may be given in any manner set forth below to the address or number or in accordance with the electronic messaging system details set out in paragraph 4 of the Schedule and will be deemed effective as indicated:

 

(i)         if in writing and delivered in person or by courier, on the date it is delivered;
 
(ii)        if sent by telex, on the date the recipient’s answerback is received;
 
(iii)       if sent by facsimile transmission, on the date that transmission is received by a responsible employee of the recipient in legible form (it being agreed that the burden of proving receipt will be on the sender and will not be met by a transmission report generated by the sender’s facsimile machine);
 
(iv)      if sent by certified or registered mail (airmail, if overseas) or the equivalent (return receipt requested), on the date that mail is delivered or its delivery is attempted; or
 
(v)       if sent by electronic messaging system, on the date that electronic message is received,
 

unless the date of that delivery (or attempted delivery) or the receipt, as applicable, is not a Business Day or that communication is delivered (or attempted) or received, as

 

22


 

applicable, after the Close of Business on a Business Day, in which case that communication shall be deemed given and effective on the first following day that is a Business Day.

 

21.2        Either party may by notice to the other change the address, telex or facsimile number or electronic messaging system details at which notices or other communications are to be given to it.

 

22.          ASSIGNMENT

 

Neither Party may charge assign or transfer all or any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior consent of the other Party.

 

23.          NON-WAIVER

 

No failure or delay by either Party (whether by course of conduct or otherwise) to exercise any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege as herein provided.

 

24.          GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION

 

24.1        This Agreement is governed by, and shall be construed in accordance with, English law.

 

24.2        The courts of England have exclusive jurisdiction to hear and decide any suit, action or proceedings, and to settle any disputes, which may arise out of or in connection with this Agreement (respectively, “ Proceedings ” and “ Disputes ”) and, for these purposes, each party irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of the courts of England.

 

24.3        Each party irrevocably waives any objection which it might at any time have to the courts of England being nominated as the forum to hear and decide any Proceedings and to settle any Disputes and agrees not to claim that the courts of England are not a convenient or appropriate forum.

 

24.4        Each of Party A and Party B hereby respectively appoints the person identified in paragraph 5 of the Schedule pertaining to the relevant Party as its agent to receive on its behalf service of process in the courts of England.  If such an agent ceases to be an agent of Party A or party B, as the case may be, the relevant Party shall promptly appoint, and notify the other Party of the identity of its new agent in England.

 

25.          TIME

 

Time shall be of the essence of the Agreement.

 

26.          RECORDING

 

The Parties agree that each may record all telephone conversations between them.

 

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27.          WAIVER OF IMMUNITY

 

Each Party hereby waives all immunity (whether on the basis of sovereignty or otherwise) from jurisdiction, attachment (both before and after judgement) and execution to which it might otherwise be entitled in any action or proceeding in the courts of England or of any other country or jurisdiction relating in any way to this Agreement and agrees that it will not raise, claim or cause to be pleaded any such immunity at or in respect of any such action or proceeding.

 

28.          MISCELLANEOUS

 

28.1        This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the Parties with respect to its subject matter and supersedes all oral communication and prior writings with respect thereto.

 

28.2        The Party (the “ Relevant Party ”) who has prepared the text of this Agreement for execution (as indicated in paragraph 7 of the Schedule) warrants and undertakes to the other Party that such text conforms exactly to the text of the standard form Global Master Securities Lending Agreement posted by the International Securities Lenders Association on its website on 7 May 2000 except as notified by the Relevant Party to the other Party in writing prior to the execution of this Agreement.

 

28.3        No amendment in respect of this Agreement will be effective unless in writing (including a writing evidenced by a facsimile transmission) and executed by each of the Parties or confirmed by an exchange of telexes or electronic messages on an electronic messaging system.

 

28.4        The obligations of the Parties under this Agreement will survive the termination of any Loan.

 

28.5        The warranties contained in paragraphs 12, 13, 16 and 28.2 will survive termination of this Agreement for so long as any obligations of either of the Parties pursuant to this Agreement remain outstanding.

 

28.6        Except as provided in this Agreement, the rights, powers, remedies and privileges provided in this Agreement are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, powers, remedies and privileges provided by law.

 

28.7        This Agreement (and each amendment in respect of it) may be executed and delivered in counterparts (including by facsimile transmission), each of which will be deemed an original.

 

28.8        A person who is not a party to this Agreement has no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any terms of this Agreement, but this does not affect any right or remedy of a third party which exists or is available apart from that Act.

 

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EXECUTED by the PARTIES

 

 

 

 

 

BY

)   

/s/ Guy Cools

 

 

     [Managing Director]

 

 

 

 

)   

 

 

 

 

ON BEHALF OF

)   

FSA ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC

 

 

 

 

)    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BY)

)   

Jean Le Naour    /s/ Jean Le Naour     Didier Casas /s/ Dider Casas

 

 

 

 

)   

Chief Financial Officer                       General Secretary

 

 

 

 

Acting pursuant to a special power of attorney granted by the
Board of Directors of Dexia
Crédit
Local on November 13 th , 2008

 

 

 

ON BEHALF OF

)   

DEXIA CRÉDIT LOCAL

 

 

 

 

)   

 

 

 

 

IN THE PRESENCE OF

)   

 

 

25

 

EXECUTION COPY

 

COMMITTED SECURITIES LENDING FACILITY ANNEX

 

TO THE GLOBAL MASTER SECURITIES LENDING AGREEMENT (GMSLA 2000)

 

BETWEEN

 

FSA ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC AND DEXIA CRÉDIT LOCAL

 

This Committed Securities Lending Facility Annex (this “Annex” ) shall act as an amendment to and form part of the Global Master Securities Lending Agreement dated as of November 13, 2008 (the “GMSLA Base Agreement” and the GMSLA Base Agreement, together with this Annex, the “Agreement” ) between FSA Asset Management LLC ( “Party A” , “FSAM” , or “Borrower” ) and Dexia Crédit Local ( “Party B” , “DCL” or “Lender” ).  Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used in this Annex have the same meanings assigned to them in the GMSLA Base Agreement.  In connection with the loan of Securities and delivery of Collateral (the “Transactions” ) pursuant to the Agreement, Party A and Party B agree as follows:

 

1.  Definitions

 

Paragraph 2.1 of the GMSLA Base Agreement shall be amended by

 

(a) amending and restating the following definition:

 

“Act of Insolvency” means, in relation to any Person, that such Person (a) is dissolved (other than pursuant to a consolidation, amalgamation or merger); (b) makes a general assignment, arrangement or composition with or for the benefit of its creditors; (c) institutes or has instituted against it a proceeding seeking a judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy or any other relief under any bankruptcy or insolvency law or other similar law affecting creditors’ rights, or a petition is presented for its winding-up or liquidation, and, in the case of any such proceeding or petition instituted or presented against it, such proceeding or petition (i) results in a judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy or the entry of an order for relief or the making of an order for its winding-up or liquidation or (ii) is not dismissed, discharged, stayed or restrained in each case within thirty calendar days of the institution or presentation thereof; (d) has a resolution passed for its winding-up, official management or liquidation (other than pursuant to a consolidation, amalgamation or merger); (e) seeks or becomes subject to the appointment of an administrator, provisional liquidator, conservator, receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for it or for all or substantially all its assets; (f) has a secured party take possession of all or substantially all its assets or has a distress, execution, attachment, sequestration or other legal process levied, enforced or sued on or against all or substantially all its assets and such secured party maintains possession, or any such process is not dismissed, discharged, stayed or restrained, in each case within thirty

 


 

calendar days thereafter; or (g) causes or is subject to any event with respect to it which, under the applicable laws of any jurisdiction, has an analogous effect to any of the events specified in clauses (a) to (f) (inclusive).

 

and (b) inserting the following definitions:

 

“Affiliate” means, in relation to any Person, any entity controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Person, any entity that controls, directly or indirectly, the Person or any entity directly or indirectly under common control with the Person (where, for the avoidance of doubt, two entities shall be considered under “common control” where they are each controlled, directly or indirectly, by the same third entity).  For this purpose, “control” of any entity or Person means ownership of a majority of the voting power of the entity or Person.

 

 “Best Available Eligible Securities” means those Eligible Securities available to be transferred by Borrower to Lender as Collateral in connection with the Agreement which fall into the highest of the Priority Categories specified on Schedule A to this Annex.

 

BONY ” shall have the meaning set forth in the definition of “Market Value”.

 

 “Capital Commitment Agreement” means the Capital Commitment Agreement dated as of November 13, 2008 among Dexia Holdings Inc., FSAH and Borrower, as the same may from time to time be amended.

 

Change in Control ” means that any “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act) other than Dexia S.A. shall be or have the right to be (whether by means of warrants, options or otherwise), or shall become or obtain currently exercisable rights by means of warrants or options to become, the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly through ownership of one or more Affiliates, of more than 50% of the total equity interest of Borrower.

 

“Collateral Posting Requirements” means any requirement for either of the GIC Issuers to post specified collateral to secure a GIC.  For the avoidance of doubt, a “requirement” to post collateral includes a provision in a GIC that, upon a relevant downgrade of FSA, the relevant GIC Issuer has the option to post collateral (or effect one or more other cures), failing which the GIC would become subject to termination (either automatically or at the then election of the relevant GIC holder).

 

“Commitment Effective Date” means November 13, 2008.

 

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“Commitment Fee Period” means each period commencing on and including one Commitment Fee Period End Date and ending on but excluding the next succeeding Commitment Fee Period End Date.

 

“Commitment Fee Period End Date” means each of (i) the Commitment Effective Date (which shall be the first Commitment Fee Period End Date) and (ii) the last Business Day of each calendar quarter which occurs after (or which includes) the Commitment Effective Date; provided that the Facility Termination Date shall be the last Commitment Fee Period End Date.

 

“Confirmation” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(d) of this Annex.

 

“Designated Office” means, with respect to a Party, a branch or office of that Party which is specified in this Annex.

 

“Eligible Securities” means all securities owned by Borrower as of the date of the Agreement, and any securities purchased by Borrower after the date of the Agreement which are included in one of the categories of securities listed on Schedule A; provided , however, that in the case of any security for which (A) the issuance of such a guarantee would result in such security being eligible for pledge or sale by the New York Branch of DCL pursuant to the Term Auction Facility, the Discount Window or other financing programs of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (and such security would not already be so eligible) and (B) Lender has specifically requested, with at least 30 Business Days’ prior notice, that Borrower arrange for FSA to issue such a guarantee (and reasonably cooperated with Borrower and FSA in connection therewith), such security shall be (or continue to be) an Eligible Security hereunder only if guaranteed by FSA as to scheduled payments of principal and interest in a manner which permits transfers of the benefit of the guarantee together with any transfer of the relevant security, in accordance with the form of policy delivered pursuant to Section 4 below and FSA’s customary terms for transferable secondary asset guarantees (such requirement the “Transferable Guarantee Requirement” ).

 

Escrow Agent ” means an independent third party banking institution (i) having a rating assigned to its short-term unsecured indebtedness at least equal to A-1 by S&P and P-1 by Moody’s, and (ii) licensed in and acting through an office, branch or agency in New York City, specified by Lender at least 5 Business Days prior to the relevant Settlement Date.

 

“Facility Amount” means (i) prior to the effective date of the FSA/FSAIC Facilities, U.S. $3.5 billion and (ii) from and after the FSA/FSAIC Facilities Effective Date, U.S. $3.5 billion minus an amount which is 90 percent of the FSA/FSAIC Facilities Amount.

 

“Facility Termination Date” means the earlier of (i) the Scheduled Facility Termination Date or (ii) any date specified by Lender in a notice to Borrower

 

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as the Facility Termination Date following the occurrence, and during the continuance, of an Event of Default in relation to Borrower.

 

“FSA” means Financial Security Assurance Inc., a New York stock insurance company.

 

FSA/FSAIC Facilities ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(a)(i) of this Annex.

 

“FSA/FSAIC Facilities Amount” means, from and after the FSA/FSAIC Facilities Effective Date, the sum of (i) the maximum cash proceeds that would be available to FSAM in accordance with sales made under the FSA/FSAIC Sale Facility and (ii) the maximum cash proceeds and/or market value of securities that FSAM would be eligible to obtain under the FSA/FSAIC Repo Facility, in each case (1) based on (x) the economic value of assets actually held by FSAM as of September 30, 2008 that are eligible for sale or pledge under such FSA/FSAIC Sale Facility or FSA/FSAIC Repo Facility, as applicable, in accordance with the quarterly determination of such economic value by FSAH for purposes of its September 30, 2008 financial statements, provided that the parties acknowledge that in the case of the FSA/FSAIC Sale Facility the eligible assets actually held by FSAM are limited to U.S. domestic municipal securities (where the classification of securities as “U.S. domestic municipal securities” is to be based on the list and/or description of such securities approved by the New York Insurance Department and the Oklahoma Insurance Department, as applicable), and (y) the haircut or discount from such economic value that would be applicable to a sale or pledge of such assets in accordance with the terms of the FSA/FSAIC Sale Facility or FSA/FSAIC Repo Facility, and (2) subject to the maximum commitment amount under the relevant FSA/FSAIC Facility.

 

FSA/FSAIC Facilities Effective Date ” means such date, if any, on which FSA and FSAIC shall have received their respective regulatory approvals of the New York Insurance Department and the Oklahoma Insurance Department, as applicable, contemplated by Section 6(a)(i) to enter into the FSA/FSAIC Facilities.

 

FSA/FSAIC Repo Facility ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(a)(i) of this Annex.

 

FSA/FSAIC Sale Facility ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(a)(i) of this Annex.

 

FSAIC ” means FSA Insurance Company, an Oklahoma insurance company.

 

FSA Policies ” means each of (i) the financial guaranty insurance policy delivered by FSA to Lender in relation to Borrower’s payment obligations under this Agreement pursuant to Section 4(g)(i) below and (ii) each financial guaranty insurance policy (if any) issued in relation to Eligible Securities as

 

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contemplated by Section 4(g)(ii) below and the definition of “Eligible Securities”.

 

FSAH ” means Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd.

 

“GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied as in effect from time to time.

 

GIC ” mean a guaranteed investment contract or other similar agreement issued by a GIC Issuer and guaranteed by FSA, and “GICs” means all such GICs collectively.

 

“GIC Eligible Securities” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a) of this Annex.

 

“GIC Issuer ” means either FSA Capital Management Services LLC or FSA Capital Markets Services LLC, and “ GIC Issuers ” means both such entities collectively.

 

“Governmental Authority” means any national or federal government, any state, regional, local or other political subdivision thereof with jurisdiction and any Person with jurisdiction exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government.

 

Insolvency Event ” means with respect to a Person that such Person is or becomes financially insolvent or is unable generally to pay its debts as they become due or fails or admits in writing in a judicial, regulatory or administrative proceeding or filing its inability generally to pay its debts as they become due.

 

“Intended Use” means FSAM’s application of Loaned Securities to make advances to the GIC Issuers for the purpose of enabling the GIC Issuers to satisfy their respective Collateral Posting Requirements under their respective GICs.

 

 “Market Value” means on any date and with respect to any Eligible Securities or GIC Eligible Securities, the market value of such Eligible Securities or GIC Eligible Securities as most recently determined on or prior to such date by The Bank of New York ( “BONY” ) in its capacities as clearing agent for Borrower or custodian in connection with provisions of the GICs relating to Collateral Posting Requirements or in connection with repurchase and/or securities lending agreements to which Borrower or either of the GIC Issuers are party, in accordance with BONY’s pricing methodology thereunder consistently applied on a weekly basis to the extent commercially practicable; provided , however, that (i) Lender may request BONY to update its estimate of the market value of any Eligible Securities from time to time and any such updated estimate shall be given effect with respect to the determination of the Market Value of Eligible Securities as of

 

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the Settlement Date for any Transaction, (ii) Lender shall be entitled to determine market value as of the Settlement Date of GIC Eligible Securities to be delivered by Lender on the Settlement Date for any Transaction, but Lender shall determine such market value in the same manner as BONY, (iii) the Market Value of GIC Eligible Securities that have been posted as collateral in accordance with the terms and conditions of a GIC (or the related custodian agreement therefor) shall be the market value determined by the custodian for the GIC in connection therewith and (iv) with respect to any Eligible Securities or GIC Eligible Securities for which neither BONY nor a GIC Custodian has made a market value determination in the capacity described above, Lender shall determine the market value in good faith based on the pricing services and/or pricing methodologies generally applied by Borrower to estimate the market value of Eligible Securities for purposes of its periodic financial statements or other internal purposes.  For purposes of the GMSLA Base Agreement, except Paragraph 9 thereof, the Market Value of Loaned Securities and Collateral shall not be determined on each Business Day but shall be based on the most recent determination of market value in accordance with the foregoing (i.e., a weekly determination, to the extent commercially practicable, or if more recent the determination of market value as of the Settlement Date).

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of Paragraph 9 of the GMSLA Base Agreement, “Market Value” shall continue to have the meaning set forth in the GMSLA Base Agreement.

 

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service Inc. or its successor.

 

“Notice of Termination” means any written notice duly executed and delivered by Lender to Borrower in accordance with Section 7 of this Annex in which Lender elects to designate the Facility Termination Date as the earlier of (i) the fifth (5 th ) anniversary of the date of Borrower’s receipt of such Notice or (ii) the seventh (7 th ) anniversary of the Commitment Effective Date (or, if such fifth (5 th ) or seventh (7 th ) anniversary, as applicable is not a Business Day, the first day following such fifth (5 th ) or seventh (7 th ) anniversary, as applicable, that is a Business Day).

 

“Person” means any natural person, corporation, general or limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, association, unincorporated entity of any kind, or Governmental Authority.

 

Pledge and Intercreditor Agreement ” means the Pledge and Intercreditor Agreement dated as of November 13, 2008 among DCL, Dexia Bank Belgium S.A., FSAM and FSA, as the same may from time to time be amended.

 

 “Requirement of Law” means any law, treaty, rule, regulation, code, directive, policy, order or requirement or determination of an arbitrator

 

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or a court or other Governmental Authority whether now or hereafter enacted or in effect.

 

Representative Haircut ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a) of this Annex.

 

“Revolving Credit Agreement” means the Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of June 30, 2008 between Dexia Crédit Local and Borrower, as the same may from time to time be amended.

 

 “Scheduled Facility Termination Date” means (i) on the date of this Annex, the fifth (5 th ) anniversary of the Commitment Effective Date; (ii) on any date thereafter prior to Borrower’s receipt of a Notice of Termination from Lender, the fifth (5 th ) anniversary of such date; and (iii) on any date on or after Borrower’s receipt of a Notice of Termination from Lender, the fifth (5 th ) anniversary of the date of such receipt; provided that (i) if the Facility Termination Date would otherwise occur on a date that falls after the seventh (7 th ) anniversary of the Commitment Effective Date, it shall instead occur  on the seventh (7 th ) anniversary of the Commitment Effective Date, and (ii) if the Facility Termination Date would otherwise occur on a date that is not a Business Day, the Facility Termination Date shall instead occur on the first day following such date that is a Business Day.

 

Securities Lending Conditions Precedent ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(e) of this Annex.

 

Securities Loan Request ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(b) of this Annex.

 

“Securities Priority List” means a priority listing of the Best Available Eligible Securities for purposes of the Agreement maintained by Borrower and a copy of which Borrower has provided to Lender, as most recently updated by Borrower and notified to Lender through the date of determination.

 

“Specified Borrower Entity” means each of Borrower, either of the GIC Issuers, FSAH and FSA.

 

 “S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw Hill Companies Inc., or its successor.

 

“Transaction Documents” means the Agreement and each Confirmation delivered in connection herewith.

 

Transferable Guarantee Requirement ” shall have the meaning set forth in the definition of “Eligible Securities”.

 

Unutilized Commitment ” means on any date (x) the Facility Amount minus (y) the Utilized Commitment.

 

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Utilized Commitment ” means on any date the aggregate Market Value of all Securities which are the subject of an outstanding Loan to Borrower hereunder on or prior to such date (measuring Market Value as of the Settlement Date of each relevant Transaction).

 

2.  Commitment; Facility Amount

 

(a)           From the Commitment Effective Date to the Facility Termination Date, Lender agrees to enter in Transactions on the terms set forth below from time to time upon request by Borrower, subject to and in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Annex and the GMSLA Base Agreement.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Lender shall have no obligation to enter into any proposed Transaction on any proposed Settlement Date to the extent that the Market Value of the relevant Loaned Securities thereunder would exceed the Unutilized Commitment in effect at such time.

 

(b)           FSAM agrees to pay to DCL on the last day of each Commitment Fee Period after the date hereof and on the Facility Termination Date a nonrefundable fee equal to the daily average Facility Amount during the related Commitment Fee Period multiplied by 0.50% per annum.

 

(c)           Notwithstanding any other term of this Annex, it shall be a condition precedent to the effectiveness of DCL’s obligations under Section 2(a) above that FSAM shall have caused FSA to deliver the FSA Policy contemplated by Section 4(g)(i) of this Annex to DCL.

 

3.  Loans of Securities

 

Paragraph 3 of the GMSLA Base Agreement is hereby deleted and replaced with the following:

 

(a) As soon as reasonably practicable, Borrower shall prepare, subject to Lender’s reasonable review and confirmation, a listing of the different categories of securities which are eligible to be posted to meet the Collateral Posting Requirements in relation to one or more of the GICs ( “GIC Eligible Securities” ), together with a listing of the “haircut” reasonably representative of the haircut applied to the market value of each such category of GIC Eligible Securities in determining the collateral value credit given to a posting of such GIC Eligible Securities under the Collateral Posting Requirements of the GICs (with respect to any category of GIC Eligible Securities, and as may be more particularly specified in relation to a particular Securities Loan Request by Borrower as provided below, the “Representative Haircut” ).

 

(b) Borrower shall initiate each proposed Transaction by submitting a written request for Lender’s review, which shall set forth (i) information identifying, and specifying the principal amount of, each category of GIC Eligible Security proposed to be lent to Borrower as a Loaned Security, and any more specific Representative Haircuts applicable in connection with the Collateral Posting Requirements expected to be met with the proposed Loaned Securities, (ii) Borrower’s estimate of the Market Value of the proposed Loaned Securities, (iii) information identifying, and specifying the principal amount of, each security proposed to be pledged to Lender as Collateral for the proposed Transaction (iv) Borrower’s estimate of the Market Value of the proposed Collateral, (iv) a date not earlier than one (1) Business Day following, and not later than three (3) Business Days following, the effective

 

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date of such request as the Settlement Date for the proposed Transaction, and (v) a date not later than the Facility Termination Date as the termination date for the proposed Transaction (a “Securities Loan Request” ).  Any such Securities Loan Request shall be effective (x) on the Business Day made, if delivered to Lender at or before 4:30 p.m. (Paris time) on such Business Day, or (y) otherwise, on the Business Day immediately following the date of its delivery to Lender.

 

(c) In making a Securities Loan Request, Borrower shall identify as Collateral for the relevant Transaction only the Best Available Eligible Securities based on the Securities Priority List as of the date of such Securities Loan Request. Borrower agrees to use good faith, commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that the Securities Priority List is updated from time to time to reflect the Best Available Eligible Securities, and Lender shall have the right to consult with Borrower from time to time, as to whether the Securities Priority List accurately reflects the Best Available Eligible Securities.

 

(d) Upon Lender’s receipt of a Securities Loan Request with respect to a proposed Transaction, Lender shall within one (1) Business Day deliver to Borrower a confirmation (i) confirming that the GIC Eligible Securities requested by Borrower are available to Lender in the requisite amounts or, if such GIC Eligible Securities are not so available to Lender, identifying replacement GIC Eligible Securities having an equivalent value for purposes of the Collateral Posting Requirements based on their Market Value and Representative Haircut, (ii) confirming whether Lender concurs with Borrower’s determination that the proposed Collateral represents the Best Available Eligible Securities, (iii) notifying Borrower of Lender’s determination regarding the Market Value of the proposed Collateral (and any adjustment to the required Collateral arising from the identification of replacement GIC Eligible Securities under (i)) and Lender’s determination regarding the Market Value of the proposed Loaned Securities and (iv) confirming the Settlement Date and the termination date (each, a “Confirmation” ).  Each Confirmation shall be deemed incorporated herein by reference with the same effect as if set forth herein at length.  Any failure by Lender to deliver a Confirmation pursuant to this Section 3(d) shall not relieve Lender of its obligations to transfer Loaned Securities on the Settlement Date in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

(e) Provided each of the Securities Lending Conditions Precedent set forth in this Section 3(e) shall have been satisfied (or waived by Lender), and subject to Borrower’s rights under Section 3(f), Lender shall transfer the Loaned Securities to Borrower, and the related Collateral shall be concurrently transferred by Borrower to Lender, in each case in accordance with the account details specified in such Confirmation or such standing account details as may be agreed between Lender and Borrower from time to time.  For purposes of this Section 3(e), the “Securities Lending Conditions Precedent” shall be satisfied with respect to any proposed Transaction if:

 

(i)            on the proposed Settlement Date, either (x) the rating assigned to FSA’s financial strength by S&P is lower than AA- or (y) the rating assigned to FSA’s financial strength by Moody’s is lower than Aa3;

 

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(ii)                                the representations and warranties of Borrower under Paragraph 13 of the GMSLA Base Agreement, as amended and supplemented by Section 4 of this Annex, shall be true and correct in all material respects on the Settlement Date for such proposed Transaction as though made on and as of such Settlement Date;

 

(iii)                             no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the Settlement Date for such proposed Transaction;

 

(iv)                               the FSA Policies shall be in full force and effect;

 

(v)                                  Lender shall have received such corporate resolutions, certificates, opinions of counsel and other documents in connection herewith as Lender may, in its reasonable discretion, have required; and

 

(vi)                               the Collateral shall be Eligible Securities.

 

(f) Each Confirmation, together with the Agreement, shall be conclusive evidence of the terms of the Transaction covered thereby unless objected to in writing by Borrower no more than two (2) Business Days after the date such Confirmation is received by Borrower.  An objection sent by Borrower with respect to any Confirmation must state specifically that the writing is an objection, must specify the provision(s) of such Confirmation being objected to by Borrower, must set forth such provision(s) in the manner that Borrower believes such provisions should be stated, and must be received by Lender no more than two (2) Business Days after such Confirmation is received by Borrower.

 

(g) On the termination date for one or more Transactions, termination of the applicable Transaction(s) will be effected by transfer by Lender to Borrower of Equivalent Collateral, and any Income in respect thereof received by Lender and not previously transferred or credited to Borrower, against the simultaneous transfer of Equivalent Securities and any other amounts payable and outstanding under the Agreement in respect of such Transaction(s) by Borrower to Lender, in each case in accordance with the account details specified in the related Confirmation(s) or such standing account details as may be agreed between Lender and Borrower from time to time.

 

(h) If, after the date of this Annex, the adoption of or any change in any Requirement of Law or in the interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or compliance by Lender with any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any central bank or other Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over Lender made subsequent to the date hereof:

 

(i) shall subject Lender to any tax of any kind whatsoever with respect to the Agreement or any Transaction, or change the basis of taxation of payments to Lender in respect thereof (except for changes in the rate of tax on Lender’s overall net income);

 

(ii) shall impose, modify or hold applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan or similar requirement against assets held by, deposits or other liabilities in or for the account of, advances, loans or other extensions of credit by, or any other acquisition of funds by, any office of Lender; or

 

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(iii) shall impose on Lender any other condition due to the Agreement or the Transactions;

 

and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to Lender of entering into, continuing or maintaining Transactions or to reduce any amount receivable under the Agreement in respect thereof; then, in any such case, Borrower shall pay Lender, within 30 days after written demand therefor is received by Borrower any additional amounts necessary to compensate Lender for such increased cost payable or reduced amount receivable.  If Lender becomes aware that it is entitled to claim any additional amounts pursuant to this Section 3(h), it shall notify Borrower in writing of the event by reason of which it has become so entitled within a reasonable period after Lender becomes aware thereof.  A certificate as to the calculation of any additional amounts payable pursuant to this subsection shall be submitted by Lender to Borrower and shall be conclusive and binding upon Borrower in the absence of manifest error.  This covenant shall survive the Facility Termination Date, and the transfer by Borrower of any or all Equivalent Securities.

 

If Lender shall have reasonably determined that the adoption of or any change in any Requirement of Law regarding capital adequacy or in the interpretation or application thereof or compliance by Lender or any corporation controlling Lender with any request or directive regarding capital adequacy (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority made subsequent to the date hereof does have the effect of reducing the rate of return on Lender’s or such corporation’s capital as a consequence of its obligations hereunder to a level below that which Lender or such corporation could have achieved but for such adoption, change or compliance (taking into consideration Lender’s or such corporation’s policies with respect to capital adequacy) by an amount deemed by Lender to be material, then, from time to time, within 30 days after submission by Lender to Borrower of a written request therefor, Borrower shall pay to Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate Lender for such reduction.  A certificate as to the calculation of any additional amounts payable pursuant to this subsection shall be submitted by Lender to Borrower and shall be conclusive and binding upon Borrower in the absence of manifest error.  This covenant shall survive the Facility Termination Date, and the transfer by Borrower of any or all Equivalent Securities.

 

(i) From and after the Facility Termination Date, Lender shall have no further obligation to loan Securities to Borrower.  On the Facility Termination Date, Borrower shall be obligated to transfer Equivalent Securities, together with all accrued and unpaid interest and other amounts due and payable to Lender hereunder.  Following the Facility Termination Date, Lender shall not be obligated to transfer any Equivalent Collateral to Borrower until payment in full to Lender of all amounts due hereunder; provided , however, that upon Borrower’s request, Lender shall transfer to Borrower Equivalent Collateral with respect to which Lender shall have received Equivalent Securities and such other amounts payable to Lender in respect of such Securities in accordance with the requirements of this Annex, provided that an Event of Default in relation to Borrower is not then continuing and the transfer of such Equivalent Collateral would not result in a Margin deficit.

 

(j)  In order to effect simultaneous delivery of Collateral and Securities as contemplated by Paragraph 5.1 or Paragraph 8.6 of the GMSLA Base Agreement or otherwise in accordance

 

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with the Agreement, either party may require that delivery in respect of one or more Transactions take place through the use of an Escrow Agent, provided that the notice requiring use of an Escrow Agent for purposes of the Agreement shall have been given not later than 10 Business Days prior to the relevant Settlement Date.  Any costs or expenses incurred in connection with establishing such escrow arrangement shall be borne by the party requiring such arrangement.

 

4.                              Borrower’s Warranties:

 

Paragraph 13 shall be amended by (i) deleting clauses (a) and (b); (ii) renumbering clauses (c) and (d) as, respectively, clauses (a) and (b); (iii) deleting the word “and” from the end of new clause (a); (iv) replacing the period at the end of new clause (b) with a semicolon; and (v) inserting the following after new clause (b):

 

(c) Borrower is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, and has all requisite power and authority, corporate and otherwise, to conduct its business as now conducted and to own its properties.  Borrower has full power and authority to enter into the Transaction Documents and to incur its obligations provided for herein and therein, all of which have been duly authorized by all proper and necessary corporate action on the part of Borrower.  The Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Borrower and constitutes the valid and legally binding agreement of Borrower, enforceable against Borrower in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be affected by bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity.  Upon execution and delivery thereof, each Confirmation will constitute a valid and legally binding obligation of Borrower, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be affected by bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity.

 

(d)  All consents and approvals of, and all notices to and filings with, any governmental entities or regulatory bodies required as a condition to the valid execution, delivery or performance by Borrower of the Transaction Documents have been obtained or made.  Neither the execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents nor compliance with the terms and provisions thereof will conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute a default under (i) any of the terms, conditions or provisions of the limited liability company agreement of Borrower, (ii) any law, regulation or order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, determination or award of any court or governmental instrumentality or (iii) any agreement or instrument to which Borrower is a party or by which it is bound .

 

(e)  The consolidated financial statements of FSA and its consolidated subsidiaries heretofore furnished or made available to Lender are complete and correct and fairly present the consolidated financial condition of FSA and its consolidated subsidiaries as at the dates thereof and the results of operations for the periods covered thereby (subject, in the case of quarterly statements, to normal, year-end audit adjustments).  Such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP .

 

(f)  As of the date of the Agreement, other than as may have been disclosed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2007, or the Quarterly Reports on Form

 

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10-Q for the quarters ending March 31, 2008 and June 30, 2008 and September 30, 2008, in each case as filed by FSAH with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, there is no action, suit, investigation or proceeding pending against, or to Borrower’s knowledge threatened against or affecting, Borrower before any court or arbitrator or any governmental body, agency or official which, if adversely determined, would have a material adverse effect (actual or prospective) on Borrower’s business, properties or financial position or which seeks to terminate or calls into question the validity or enforceability of the Transaction Documents .

 

(g)  Borrower has caused FSA to deliver to Lender (i) a financial guaranty insurance policy in relation to Borrower’s payment obligations under the Agreement in form and substance the same as the financial guaranty insurance policy previously issued by FSA to Dexia Crédit Local in relation to the Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of June 30, 2008 between Borrower and Dexia Crédit Local (it being understood that FSA will not guarantee securities delivery obligations of Borrower hereunder but will guarantee payment obligations of Borrower under the Agreement arising from failure to perform any obligations to return Loaned Securities or termination thereof as described in Paragraphs 9 and 10 of the GMSLA Base Agreement) and (ii) the form of financial guaranty insurance policy that may be issued in relation to certain Eligible Securities delivered by Borrower to Lender as Collateral in accordance with the Agreement, which shall include a provision allowing Lender to transfer such Collateral with the benefit of such FSA guaranty (the “FSA Policies” ).

 

(h) Borrower is not (i) a “holding company,” or a “subsidiary company” of a “holding company,” or of a “subsidiary company” of a “holding company,” within the meaning of the U.S. Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, or (ii) required to be registered as an “investment company” as defined in (or subject to regulation under) the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940.  Neither the making of the Loans, or the application of the proceeds or repayment thereof by Borrower, nor the consummation of other transactions contemplated hereunder, will violate any provision of the U.S. Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940 or any rule, regulation or order of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

(i) All financial data or information concerning the Collateral that has been delivered by or on behalf of Borrower to Lender is, to the best knowledge of Borrower, true, complete and correct in all material respects.

 

(j) Immediately prior to the transfer of Collateral by Borrower to Lender, such Collateral is free and clear of any lien, security interest, claim, option, charge, encumbrance or impediment to transfer (including any “adverse claim” as defined in Section 8-102(a)(1) of the UCC but excluding any liens or encumbrances to be released simultaneously with the transfer to Lender hereunder), and is not subject to any rights of setoff, any prior sale, transfer, assignment, or participation by Borrower or any agreement by Borrower to assign, convey, transfer or participate, in whole or in part, and Borrower (x) is the sole legal record and beneficial owner of and owns or (y) has the right to transfer such Collateral to Lender.  Although the Parties intend that all transactions hereunder be sales and purchases and not loans, in the event any such transaction is deemed to be a loan, the provisions of the Agreement are effective to create in favor of Lender a valid security interest in all right, title and interest of Borrower in, to and under the Collateral and Lender shall have a valid,

 

13


 

perfected and enforceable first priority security interest in the Collateral, subject to no lien or rights of others other than as granted herein.

 

(k) There are (i) no outstanding rights, options, warrants or agreements on the part of Borrower for a purchase, sale or issuance in connection with any of the Collateral and (ii) no agreements on the part of Borrower to issue, sell or distribute any of the Collateral.

 

5.                              Events of Default

 

Paragraph 14.1 of the GMSLA Base Agreement is hereby amended by (a) replacing clause (v) with the following “(v) (A) an Act of Insolvency occurring with respect to any Specified Borrower Entity (with Borrower, for the avoidance of doubt, being the Defaulting Party in relation to any Act of Insolvency with respect to any Specified Borrower Entity) or (B) an Act of Insolvency occurring with respect to Lender”; (b) replacing clause (vi) with the following: “(vi) any representation or warranty of Lender or Borrower herein or any statement or representation made in any application, certificate, report or opinion delivered in connection herewith shall prove to have been incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed made”; (c) replacing clause (vii) with the following: “(vii) an Insolvency Event shall have occurred and be continuing in relation to FSA”; (d) replacing clause (x) with the following: “(x) a default shall be made in the due observance or performance by Lender or Borrower of any other term, covenant or agreement contained in the Agreement and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of five (5) Business days (or, in the case of any default under Section 6(a) of this Annex, thirty (30) days) after written notice thereof to the Defaulting Party by the Non-Defaulting Party;”; and (e) deleting the word “, or” from the end of clause (ix), replacing the period at the end of clause (x) with “;”, and inserting the following after clause (x): “(xi) a Change in Control shall have occurred and be continuing; (xii) any “Event of Default” shall have occurred and be continuing in relation to Borrower under the Revolving Credit Agreement; (xiii) any “Termination Event” shall have occurred and be continuing under the Capital Commitment Agreement; or (xiv) any of the FSA Policies shall cease to be in full force and effect, enforceable against FSA in accordance with its terms (with Borrower, for the avoidance of doubt, being the Defaulting Party in relation to any such Event of Default relating to the FSA Policies)”.

 

6.                                  Covenants

 

(a)  Alternative Facilities Covenants of Borrower and FSA .

 

                                                            (i)                                      FSA has made application to the New York Insurance Department, and FSAIC has made application to the Oklahoma Insurance Department, for the approval of facilities whereby (x) FSA and FSAIC could severally purchase from Borrower up to U.S. $1 billion in total (in cash sales proceeds) of municipal securities held in Borrower’s investment portfolio as of September 30, 2008, to be allocated between FSA and FSAIC pro rata in accordance with their invested assets excluding subsidiaries (the “FSA/FSAIC Sale Facility” ) and (y) FSA and FSAIC could severally enter into repurchase or securities lending agreements with Borrower whereby Borrower could obtain up to U.S. $1.5 billion in total (based upon cash proceeds and/or the market value of securities received) of financing for assets held in Borrower’s investment portfolio as of September 30, 2008, also to be allocated between FSA and FSAIC pro rata in accordance with their invested assets excluding subsidiaries (the “FSA/FSAIC Repo Facility” ; and together with the FSA/FSAIC Sale Facility the

 

14


 

“FSA/FSAIC Facilities” ).  Borrower, and each of FSA and FSAIC by their respective signatures below, each agree to use their best efforts to secure approvals as soon as reasonably practicable and, to the extent that such approvals are secured, to utilize (or, in the case of FSA and FSAIC, allow Borrower to utilize) the FSA/FSAIC Facilities to obtain liquidity or securities for the Intended Uses prior to Borrower’s requesting a Transaction under the Agreement.

 

                                                            (ii)  In addition, Borrower, and each of FSA and FSAIC by their respective signatures below, each agree that under the FSA/FSAIC Facilities, to the extent that such approvals are secured, Borrower, FSA and FSAIC shall use good faith, commercially reasonable efforts to have sold or pledged to FSA or FSAIC, as applicable, those securities for which the economic value (based on the most recent determination thereof by Borrower, FSA and FSAIC in accordance with their internal accounting procedures, it being understood that such economic value is not required to be determined more frequently than once per quarter) most greatly exceeds their Market Value (in dollar and not percentage terms).

 

                                                            (iii) FSA and FSAIC are each a party to this Annex solely for the purpose of agreeing to their respective undertakings set forth in subparagraphs (a)(i) and (ii) above and neither FSA nor FSAIC has any rights or obligations under this Annex (other than, in the case of FSA, in accordance with the terms, and subject to the conditions, of the FSA Policies or pursuant to any pledge by Borrower to FSA of its rights under the Agreement).

 

                                                            (iv)  In addition to and not in limitation of subsection (a)(i) above, Borrower agrees to use good faith, commercially reasonable efforts to utilize other available sources of liquidity or securities for the Intended Uses, to the extent that any such other available sources of liquidity or securities for the Intended Uses can be utilized on terms and conditions no less favourable to Borrower than the terms and conditions available to Borrower under the Agreement, as reasonably determined by Borrower, prior to requesting a Transaction under the Agreement.

 

                                                            (v)                                  For purposes of Paragraph 14.1(x) of the GMSLA Base Agreement, the reference to “Borrower” shall be deemed to include FSA and FSAIC in relation to their respective obligations under subparagraphs (a)(i) and (ii) above.

 

(b)  Other Borrower Covenants .  Borrower covenants and agrees that until the later to occur of (x) the Facility Termination Date and (y) the performance of all obligations of Borrower hereunder:

 

                                                            (i)                                      General Affirmative Covenants .  Borrower will maintain its corporate existence in good standing, will comply in all material respects with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority noncompliance with which would have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or operations or on its ability to meet its obligations hereunder, and will continue to engage in business of the same general type as that engaged in by Borrower on the date hereof.  Borrower will pay and discharge, at or before maturity, all its obligations and liabilities, including, without limitation, tax liabilities, where failure to satisfy such obligations or liabilities in the aggregate would have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, operations or ability to meet its obligations hereunder.

 

15


 

                                                            (ii)                                   Financial Statements .  Borrower will furnish to Lender or make available on FSA’s website, www.fsa.com:

 

(1) as soon as available and in any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of FSA, a consolidated balance sheet of FSA and its consolidated subsidiaries as at the close of such fiscal year and the related consolidated statements of income and changes in financial position for such year, certified by independent public accountants of recognized standing;

 

(2) as soon as available and in any event within 45 days after the end of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year of FSA, a consolidated balance sheet of FSA and its consolidated subsidiaries as at the close of such quarter and the related consolidated statements of income and changes in financial position for such quarter and for the portion of such fiscal year then ended, certified by FSA’s chief financial officer as having been prepared on a basis consistent with the most recent audited consolidated financial statements of FSA and its consolidated subsidiaries, it being understood that the required certifications on Form 10-Q and Form 10-K shall suffice for such purpose; and

 

(3) from time to time, such further information regarding the business, affairs and financial condition of Borrower and its subsidiaries as Lender shall reasonably request.

 

                                                            (iii)  Use of Proceeds .  None of the proceeds of the Loans will be used directly or indirectly for the purpose (whether immediate, incidental or ultimate) of buying or carrying any “margin stock” within the meaning of Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

 

                                                            (iv)  Maintenance of Properties.   Borrower shall (a) maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties and equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted; and (b) use the standard of care typical in the industry in the operation and maintenance of its facilities, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on Borrower.

 

                                                            (v)  Maintenance of Insurance.   Borrower shall maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies or with a captive insurance company that is an Affiliate of Borrower as to which Lender may request reasonable evidence of financial responsibility, insurance with respect to its properties in such amounts with such deductibles and covering such risks as are customarily carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in localities where Borrower or any of its subsidiaries operates.

 

7.                                        Termination

 

                                                Paragraph 17 of the GMSLA Base Agreement is hereby deleted and replaced with the following:

 

“Lender may, at any time, in its sole and absolute discretion, terminate its commitment to enter into Transactions under the Agreement, by delivering a Notice of Termination to

 

16


 

Borrower in accordance with the notice provisions of the Agreement, with any such termination to be effective on the earliest of (i) the fifth (5 th ) anniversary of the date of Borrower’s receipt of such Notice, (ii) the seventh (7 th ) anniversary of the Commitment Effective Date (or, if such fifth (5 th ) or seventh (7 th ) anniversary, as applicable, is not a Business Day, the first day following such fifth (5 th ) or seventh (7 th ) anniversary, as applicable, that is a Business Day) or (iii) any date on which Borrower shall benefit from alternative liquidity and/or credit enhancement in relation to the Eligible Securities such that this Agreement becomes unnecessary or redundant, and Borrower consents to such termination of Lender’s commitment, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

 

Lender and Borrower further agree that: (i) Lender shall not have a right to designate an early termination of any Transaction under Paragraph 8.2 of the GMSLA Base Agreement and (ii) Borrower’s designation of an early termination under Paragraph 8.3 of the GMSLA Base Agreement shall require not less than 5 Business Days’ irrevocable prior written notice to Lender, (iii) an early termination of any Transaction shall occur where any Collateral security delivered in connection therewith ceases to be an Eligible Security because the Transferable Guarantee Requirement becomes applicable thereto and such security fails to satisfy such requirement, unless either (x) such failure to satisfy the Transferable Guarantee Requirement is cured or (y) Borrower has delivered Alternative Collateral consisting of Eligible Securities, in either case on or prior to the 10 th Business Day following the date of such failure (it being understood that such failure will give rise only to an early termination of the relevant Transaction and not to an Event of Default hereunder) and (iv) any Transaction not terminated prior to the Facility Termination Date shall terminate on the Facility Termination Date.”

 

8.                                        Assignment

 

                                                Paragraph 22 of the GMSLA Base Agreement is hereby deleted and replaced by the following:

 

“Lender may assign any of its rights or obligations hereunder to (i) any office or Affiliate of Lender, (ii) to any bank having a rating assigned to its long-term, unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness equal to at least “AA-” by S&P and “Aa3” by Moody’s, provided that such assignment could not reasonably be expected to give rise to any additional cost or liability of Borrower under Section 3(h) of the Annex to this Agreement as of the date of such assignment, or (iii) with the prior written consent of Borrower (which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld), to any third party; provided that, from and after the occurrence of an Event of Default, Lender may assign any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the consent of Borrower.  Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of Lender, and any purported assignment without such consent shall be void.”

 

9.                                        Set-Off

 

Borrower hereby grants to Lender a right of set-off against any amounts standing to the credit of Borrower (including any of its offices or divisions) on the books of any office of Lender in any demand deposit or other account maintained with such office.

 

17


 

10.                                  Optional Reduction Of Facility By Borrower

 

With the mutual consent of Lender and Borrower, not to be unreasonably withheld, Borrower may reduce the Unutilized Commitment portion of the Facility Amount at any time in whole, or from time to time in part by an amount equal to U.S. $5,000,000 or any larger amount in increments of U.S. $1,000,000, by delivering to Lender written notice specifying the amount of such reduction and the date on which such reduction is to become effective (which date may not be earlier than the date of delivery of such notice).

 

11.                        Offices

 

The Parties agree that they will lend or borrow Securities as the case may be through the following Designated Offices:

 

Party A:

 

New York

 

 

 

Party B:

 

New York and Paris

 

 

Executed on this 13th day of November 2008

 

 

BY

)   /s/  Guy Cools

 

 

  [Managing Director]

 

 

 

 

 

)

 

 

 

 

ON BEHALF OF

)   FSA ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC

 

 

 

 

 

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BY

)   Jean Le Naour   /s/ Jean Le Naour   Didier Casas  /s/ Dider Casas

 

 

 

 

 

)   Chief Financial Officer

General Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

Acting pursuant to a special power of attorney granted by the

 

 

Board of Directors of Dexia Crédit Local on November 13 th , 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ON BEHALF OF

)    DEXIA CRÉDIT LOCAL

 

 

 

 

 

)

 

 

 

 

IN THE PRESENCE OF

)

 

 

18


 

BY

)   /s/  Robert P. Cochran

 

 

[Chairman and Chief Executive Officer]

 

 

 

 

 

)

 

 

 

 

ON BEHALF OF

)    FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC.

 

 

 

 

 

)

 

 

 

 

IN THE PRESENCE OF

)   /s/  Gregory J. Flemming

 

 

 

 

solely for the purpose of the undertakings of FSA set forth in Sections 6(a)(i) and 6(a)(ii) of this Annex.

 

 

 

 

 

 

BY

)   /s/  Robert P. Cochran

 

 

[Chairman and Chief Executive Officer]

 

 

 

 

 

)

 

 

 

 

ON BEHALF OF

)    FSA INSURANCE COMPANY

 

 

 

 

 

)

 

 

 

 

IN THE PRESENCE OF

)   /s/  Gregory J. Flemming

 

 

 

 

solely for the purpose of the undertakings of FSAIC set forth in Sections 6(a)(i) and 6(a)(ii) of this Annex.

 

19

 

SCHEDULE A

 

1.                                  Collateral

 

1.1                            The securities, financial instruments and deposits of currency set out in the table below with a cross marked next to them are acceptable forms of Collateral under the Agreement.

 

1.2                            Unless otherwise agreed between the Parties, the Market Value (as defined in the Annex to the Agreement) of the Collateral delivered pursuant to paragraph 5 by Borrower to Lender under the terms and conditions of the Agreement shall on each Business Day represent not less than the Market Value of the Loaned Securities together with the percentage contained in the row of the table below corresponding to the particular form of Collateral, referred to in the Agreement as the “Margin” .

 

Security Type:

Mark “X” if
acceptable
form of
Collateral:

Priority
Category:

Margin (%):

U.S. Treasury Bonds, Bills and Notes, or other direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed by, the U.S. Government

X

2

0%

Fannie Mae, FHLMC and GNMA debt or agency RMBS or CMBS securities

X

2

0%

Other RMBS or CMBS

X

4

0%

Credit Card ABS

X

4

0%

Auto Loan ABS

X

4

0%

Student Loan ABS

X

4

0%

Municipal Bonds

X

1

0%

CLO/CDO Securities

X

4

0%

Corporate Bonds

X

3

0%

Military Housing Bonds

X

5

0%

Domestic and International Project Finance Bonds

X

5

0%

Domestic Utility Bonds

X

5

0%

NIMs

X

5

0%

“Triple-X” Bonds

X

5

0%

 

20


 

“Refi” Bonds

X

5

0%

Westlake Facility

X

5

0%

Other Miscellaneous Securities owned by Borrower as of the Commitment Effective Date


X

Deemed to have lowest Priority Category.

0%

 

1.3

Basis of Margin Maintenance:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paragraph 5.4 (aggregation) shall not apply*

 

 

o

 

 

 

 

 

 

The assumption is that paragraph 5.4 (aggregation) applies unless the box is ticked.

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.4

Paragraph 5.6 (netting of obligations to deliver Collateral and redeliver Equivalent Collateral) shall not apply*

o

 

 

 

 

 

 

If paragraph 5.4 applies, the assumption is that paragraph 5.6 (netting) applies unless the box is ticked.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.

Base Currency

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Base Currency applicable to the Agreement is United States dollars.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.

Places of Business

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(See definition of Business Day.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.

Designated Office and Address for Notices

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(A)

Designated office of Party A:   New York

 

 

 

 

 

Address for notices or communications to Party A:

 

 

 

Address:

31 West 52 nd  Street

 

 

New York, N.Y.  10019

 

 

 

 

Attention:

FP Operations

 

Facsimile No:

(212) 893-2717

 

Telephone No:

(212) 893-2700

 

Electronic Messaging System Details: gicops@fsa.com

 

 

 

 

with copies to:

 

 

 

 

 

Financial Security Assurance Inc.

 

Address:

31 West 52 nd  Street

 

 

New York, N.Y.  10019

 

 

 

 

Attention:

General Counsel

 

21


 

 

Facsimile:

(212) 857-0541

 

Electronic Messaging System Details: generalcounsel@fsa.com

 

 

 

 

FSA Insurance Company

 

c/o Financial Security Assurance Inc.

 

Address:

31 West 52 nd  Street

 

 

New York, N.Y.  10019

 

 

 

 

Attention:

General Counsel

 

Facsimile:

(212) 857 0541

 

Electronic Messaging System Details: generalcounsel@fsa.com

 

(B)                          Designated office of Party B:

 

Address for notices or communications to Party B:

 

Dexia Crédit Local New York Branch
445 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10022
USA
Phone: (212) 515 7000
Facsimile: (212) 753 5522

 

Attention:

 

Stephan Lefebvre

Head of Financial Markets

Phone: (212) 705 7070

Facsimile: ( 212) 753 7522

Electronic Messaging System Details:  stephan.lefebvre@dexia-us.com

 

Frank Sansone

Treasurer

Phone: (212) 705 0775

Facsimile: (212) 705 0771

Electronic Messaging System Details:  frank.sansone@dexia-us.com

 

John Bambino

Head of BO

Phone: (212) 705 0735

Facsimile: (212) 705 0711

Electronic Messaging System Details:  john.bambino @dexia-us.com

 

with a copy to:

 

Dexia Cr é dit Local

1, Passerelle des Reflets

Tour Dexia La Défense 2

92913 La Défense Cedex

France

 

22


 

 

Attention:

Back Office Operations

 

Phone

33 1 58 58 77 77

 

Facsimile:

33 1 58 58 7290

 

5.

(A)

Agent of Party A for Service of Process

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

Financial Security Assurance (U.K.) Limited

 

 

 

 

 

 

Address:

1 Angel Court

 

 

 

London EC2R 7AE

 

 

 

United Kingdom

 

 

 

 

 

(B)

Agent of Party B for Service of Process

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

Dexia Crédit Local London Branch

 

 

Address:

Shackleton House

 

 

 

4 Battle Bridge Lane

 

 

 

UK - London SE1 2RB

 

 

 

 

6.

Agency

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-

Paragraph 16 may apply to Party A*

o

 

 

 

 

 

-

Paragraph 16 may apply to Party B*

o

 

 

 

 

7.

Party Preparing the Agreement

 

 

 

 

 

Party A*

o

 

 

 

 

Party B*

o

 

23

 



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Exhibit 31.1

Certification

        I, Robert P. Cochran, certify that:

        1.     I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ending September 30, 2008 of Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd.;

        2.     Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

        3.     Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

        4.     The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a 15(f) and 15d 15(f)) for the registrant and have:

        5.     The registrant's other certifying officers(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

Date: November 17, 2008


 

 

By:

 

/s/ ROBERT P. COCHRAN  
       
Name:  Robert P. Cochran
Title:    
Chief Executive Officer



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Exhibit 31.2

Certification

        I Joseph W. Simon, certify that:

        1.     I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ending September 30, 2008 of Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd.;

        2.     Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

        3.     Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

        4.     The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a 15(f) and 15d 15(f)) for the registrant and have:

        5.     The registrant's other certifying officers(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

Date: November 17, 2008


 

 

By:

 

/s/ JOSEPH W. SIMON  
       
Name:  Joseph W. Simon
Title:    
Chief Financial Officer



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Exhibit 32.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer

        In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2008, of Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. (the "Company"), as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, Robert P. Cochran, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, hereby certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

Date: November 17, 2008


 

 

By:

 

/s/ ROBERT P. COCHRAN  
       
Name:  Robert P. Cochran
Title:    
Chief Executive Officer

        A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.




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Exhibit 32.2

Certification of Chief Financial Officer

        In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2008, of Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. (the "Company"), as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, Joseph W. Simon, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, hereby certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

Date: November 17, 2008


 

 

By:

 

/s/ JOSEPH W. SIMON  
       
Name:  Joseph W. Simon
Title:    
Chief Financial Officer

        A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.




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Exhibit 99.1

FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

September 30, 2008



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

September 30, 2008


INDEX

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited):

       

Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited)

    1  

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (unaudited)

    2  

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)

    3  

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

    4  


FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited)

(in thousands, except share data)

 
  At
September 30,
2008
  At
December 31,
2007
 

ASSETS

             

General investment portfolio, available for sale:

             
 

Bonds at fair value (amortized cost of $5,353,766 and $4,857,295)

  $ 5,207,690   $ 5,019,961  
 

Equity securities at fair value (cost of $1,364 and $40,020)

    815     39,869  
 

Short-term investments (cost of $599,357 and $88,972)

    597,988     90,075  

Variable interest entities segment investment portfolio, available for sale:

             
 

Bonds at fair value (amortized cost of $1,129,651 and $1,119,359)

    1,084,158     1,139,568  
 

Guaranteed investments contracts from GIC Affiliates at fair value (amortized cost of $585,573 and $621,054)

    614,834     639,950  
 

Short-term investments (at cost which approximates fair value)

    7,220     8,618  

Assets acquired in refinancing transactions (includes $168,831 and $22,433 at fair value)

    184,684     229,264  
           
   

Total investment portfolio

    7,697,389     7,167,305  

Cash

    26,953     21,770  

Deferred acquisition costs

    308,571     347,870  

Prepaid reinsurance premiums

    1,040,931     1,119,565  

Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses

    229,585     76,478  

Deferred tax asset

    389,360      

Other assets (includes $898,922 and $758,740 at fair value) (See Note 12)

    1,865,403     1,456,620  
           
   

TOTAL ASSETS

  $ 11,558,192   $ 10,189,608  
           

LIABILITIES, MINORITY INTEREST AND SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY

             

Deferred premium revenue

  $ 3,158,663   $ 2,879,378  

Losses and loss adjustment expenses

    1,462,712     274,556  

Variable interest entities segment debt (includes $853,047 at fair value at September 30, 2008)

    1,621,154     2,584,800  

Deferred tax liability

        110,156  

Notes payable to affiliate

    179,712     210,143  

Other liabilities and minority interest (includes $1,191,490 and $702,737 at fair value) (See Note 12)

    2,420,342     1,168,274  
           
   

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND MINORITY INTEREST

    8,842,583     7,227,307  
           

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

             

Preferred stock (5,000.1 shares authorized; 0 shared issued and outstanding; par value of $1,000 per share)

             

Common stock (330 and 344 shares authorized; issued and outstanding; par value of $45,455 and $43,605 per share)

    15,000     15,000  

Additional paid-in capital

    1,409,692     679,692  

Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of deferred income tax provision of $(57,642) and $58,530

    (106,574 )   108,669  

Accumulated earnings

    1,397,491     2,158,940  
           
   

TOTAL SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY

    2,715,609     2,962,301  
           
   

TOTAL LIABILITIES, MINORITY INTEREST AND SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY

  $ 11,558,192   $ 10,189,608  
           

The accompany Notes are an integral part of the Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited).

1



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (unaudited)

(in thousands)

 
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
  2008   2007  

REVENUES

             
 

Net premiums written

  $ 672,923   $ 328,675  
           
 

Net premiums earned

  $ 314,823   $ 264,274  
 

Net investment income from general investment portfolio

    197,246     174,681  
 

Net realized gains (losses) from general investment portfolio

    (1,795 )   (3,128 )
 

Net change in fair value of credit derivatives:

             
   

Realized gains (losses) and other settlements

    98,764     72,400  
   

Net unrealized gains (losses)

    (467,905 )   (352,511 )
           
     

Net change in fair value of credit derivatives

    (369,141 )   (280,111 )
 

Net interest income from variable interest entities segment

    58,116     102,119  
 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments

    16,889     (11,884 )
 

Net unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value

    1,029,492      
 

Income from assets acquired in refinancing transactions

    9,067     16,498  
 

Other income

    21,889     14,221  
           

TOTAL REVENUES

    1,276,586     276,670  
           

EXPENSES

             
 

Losses and loss adjustment expenses

    1,444,088     19,128  
 

Interest expense

    9,391     16,101  
 

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs

    51,435     47,589  
 

Foreign exchange (gains) losses from variable interest entities segment

    1,134     32,733  
 

Interest expense from variable interest entities segment

    100,782     107,366  
 

Other operating expenses

    51,881     77,601  
           

TOTAL EXPENSES

    1,658,711     300,518  
           

INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND MINORITY INTEREST

    (382,125 )   (23,848 )
 

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

    (532,596 )   (32,378 )
           

NET INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE MINORITY INTEREST

    150,471     8,530  
 

Less: Minority interest

    930,196     (52,711 )
           

NET INCOME (LOSS)

    (779,725 )   61,241  

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS), NET OF TAX

             

Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities arising during the period, net of deferred income tax provision (benefit) of $(114,228) and $(10,554)

    (211,633 )   (19,600 )

Less: reclassification adjustment for gains (losses) included in net income, net of deferred income tax provision (benefit) of $1,944 and $2,231

    3,610     4,143  
           

Other comprehensive income (loss)

    (215,243 )   (23,743 )
           

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

  $ (994,968 ) $ 37,498  
           

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of the Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited).

2



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited)

(in thousands)

 
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
  2008   2007  

Cash flows from operating activities:

             
 

Premiums received, net

  $ 583,044   $ 303,624  
 

Credit derivative fees received, net

    73,927     67,911  
 

Other operating expenses paid, net

    (181,141 )   (138,324 )
 

Losses and loss adjustment expenses paid, net

    (436,460 )   (3,494 )
 

Net investment income received from general investment portfolio

    190,579     171,956  
 

Federal income taxes paid

    (8,363 )   (81,349 )
 

Interest paid

    (9,470 )   (16,017 )
 

Interest paid on variable interest entities segment

    (5,395 )   (6,297 )
 

Net investment income received from variable interest entities segment

    22,005     29,494  
 

Net derivative payments in variable interest entities segment

    (8,365 )   (23,906 )
 

Income received from assets acquired in refinancing transactions

    9,843     14,679  
 

Other

    39,252     4,343  
           
   

Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities

    269,456     322,620  
           

Cash flows from investing activities:

             
 

Proceeds from sales of bonds in general investment portfolio

    3,610,359     2,621,282  
 

Proceeds from maturities of bonds in general investment portfolio

    486,689     138,073  
 

Purchases of bonds in general investment portfolio

    (4,570,733 )   (2,941,826 )
 

Net (increase) decrease in short-term investments in general investment portfolio

    (503,003 )   (20,927 )
 

Proceeds from maturities of bonds in variable interest entities segment

    45,500     179,400  
 

Net (increase) decrease in short-term investments in variable interest entities segment

    1,398     17,289  
 

Paydowns of assets acquired in refinancing transactions

    29,326     73,468  
 

Proceeds from sales of assets acquired in refinancing transactions

    4,932     4,339  
 

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

    (2,019 )   (1,072 )
 

Other investments

    (847 )   11,860  
           
   

Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities

    (898,398 )   81,886  
           

Cash flows from financing activities:

             
 

Capital contribution

    500,000      
 

Surplus Notes

    300,000      
 

Dividend Paid

    (10,000 )    
 

Repayment of notes payable to affiliate

    (30,431 )   (74,815 )
 

Repayment of variable interest entities segment debt

    (49,340 )   (190,900 )
 

Repurchase of shares

    (70,000 )   (125,000 )
 

Other

    (3,408 )   (764 )
           
   

Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities

    636,821     (391,479 )
           

Effect of changes in foreign exchange rates on cash balances

    (2,696 )   785  
           

Net increase (decrease) in cash

    5,183     13,812  

Cash at beginning of period

    21,770     29,660  
           

Cash at end of period

  $ 26,953   $ 43,472  
           

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of the Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited).

3



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

1.    ORGANIZATION AND OWNERSHIP

        Financial Security Assurance Inc. ("FSA" or together with its consolidated entities, the "Company"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. (the "Parent"), is an insurance company domiciled in the State of New York. The Company engages in providing financial guaranty insurance on public finance obligations in domestic and international markets including Europe, the Asia Pacific region and elsewhere in the Americas. The Company operates in two business segments: a financial guaranty segment and a variable interest entities ("VIE") segment. Prior to August 2008, the Company provided financial guaranty insurance on both public finance and asset-backed obligations. On August 6, 2008, the Company announced that it would cease providing financial guaranty insurance on asset-backed obligations and instead participate exclusively in the global public finance financial guaranty business.

        Within the financial guaranty segment, the Company insures guaranteed investment contracts ("GICs") issued by FSA Capital Management Services LLC ("FSACM"), FSA Capital Markets Services (Caymans) Ltd. and, prior to April 2003, FSA Capital Markets Services LLC (collectively, the "GIC Affiliates"), affiliates of the Company.

Ownership

        The Parent is a direct subsidiary of Dexia Holdings, Inc. ("Dexia Holdings"), which, in turn, is owned 90% by Dexia Crédit Local S.A. ("Dexia Crédit Local") and 10% by Dexia S.A. ("Dexia"). Dexia is a Belgian corporation whose shares are traded on the NYSE Euronext Brussels and NYSE Euronext Paris markets, as well as on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. Dexia Crédit Local is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dexia. At September 30, 2008, Dexia Holdings owned over 99% of outstanding shares of the Parent.

        On September 30, 2008, Dexia announced that it was receiving a €6.4 billion (approximately $8.8 billion) investment from the governments of Belgium, France, and Luxembourg, as well as existing shareholders, which was followed by changes in Dexia senior management.

        On November 14, 2008, Dexia announced that Dexia and Assured Guaranty Ltd. ("Assured Guaranty") have entered into a purchase agreement for Assured Guaranty to acquire all of Dexia's shares of the Parent (the "Acquisition"), subject to the satisfaction of specified closing conditions, including receipt of regulatory and Assured Guaranty shareholder approvals and confirmation from S&P, Moody's and Fitch that the acquisition of the Parent would not have a negative impact on the financial strength ratings of Assured's insurance company subsidiaries or the Company. The Company cannot estimate whether or when such closing conditions will be satisfied, whether the Acquisition will be completed and, if completed, whether it will be structured as currently contemplated, or what the effects of such a change in control will be on the Company and its results of operations. If the Acquisition is not carried out, Dexia may explore other options with respect to the Parent, including selling the Parent or some of its operations to a third party, which may have a material effect on the Company.

Financial Guaranty

        The financial strength of FSA and its subsidiaries have historically been rated "Triple-A" by the major securities rating agencies and obligations insured by them have historically been generally

4



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

1.    ORGANIZATION AND OWNERSHIP (Continued)


awarded "Triple-A" ratings by reason of such insurance. During the third quarter of 2008, the rating agencies took various ratings actions regarding the Company:

        The ratings agencies stated that their actions regarding the Company were based in part upon rating agency concerns regarding the prospects for new business originations by financial guarantors, as well as uncertainty about future support for the Company under Dexia's new ownership and management, rather than the fundamental credit strength of the insurance company.

        In the third quarter, to address liquidity requirements of the Parent's financial products business, Dexia provided Parent a $5 billion committed, unsecured, standby line of credit (the $5 Billion Line of Credit"). As of November 14, 2008, Parent had drawn $550 million on the $5 Billion Line of Credit. FSA guarantees the repayment of borrowings under the $5 Billion Line of Credit. In addition, on November 13, 2008, the Parent entered into two new agreements with Dexia and its affiliates in support of its GIC operations, which provide additional protection through a $3.5 billion collateral swap facility and a $500 million capital facility to cover economic losses beyond the $316.5 million of pre-tax loss estimated at the end of June 2008.

        The impact of recent developments on the Company, including the ratings agency announcements and the Company's August 2008 decision to cease providing financial guaranty insurance on asset-backed obligations, as well as the impact of recent developments on the financial guaranty insurance industry as a whole, remains uncertain, and could include a long term decrease in demand in the global economy for financial guaranty insurance, as well as increases in the requirements for conducting, or restrictions on the types of business conducted by, financial guaranty insurers.

        Financial guaranty insurance written by the Company typically guarantees scheduled payments on financial obligations. Upon a payment default on an insured obligation, FSA is generally required to pay the principal, interest or other amounts due in accordance with the obligation's original payment schedule or may, at its option, pay such amounts on an accelerated basis. FSA's underwriting policy is to insure obligations that would otherwise be investment grade without the benefit of FSA's insurance.

        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

5



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

1.    ORGANIZATION AND OWNERSHIP (Continued)


serving substantial public purposes, including government office buildings, toll roads, health care facilities and utilities.

        Asset-backed obligations insured by the Company were generally issued in structured transactions and 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. The Company insured synthetic asset-backed obligations that generally took the form of credit default swap ("CDS") obligations or credit-linked notes that reference asset-backed securities ("ABS") or pools of securities or other obligations, with a defined deductible to cover credit risks associated with the referenced securities or loans.

        The Company has refinanced certain poorly performing transactions by employing refinancing vehicles to raise funds, prepay the claim obligations and take control of the assets. These refinancing vehicles are consolidated with the Company and considered part of the financial guaranty segment. Management believes that the assets held by the refinancing vehicles are beyond the reach of the Company and its creditors, even in bankruptcy or other receivership.

Variable Interest Entities

        The Company consolidated the results of certain VIEs, which include FSA Global Funding Limited ("FSA Global") and Premier International Funding Co. ("Premier"). The Company does not own an equity interest in the VIEs.

        FSA Global is a special purpose funding vehicle partially owned by a subsidiary of the Parent. FSA Global issues FSA-insured medium term notes and generally invests the proceeds from the sale of its notes in FSA-insured GICs or other FSA-insured obligations with a view to realizing the yield difference between the notes issued and the obligations purchased with the note proceeds. Premier is principally engaged in debt defeasance for finance lease transactions.

        The Company's management believes that the assets held by FSA Global, Premier and the refinancing vehicles, including those that are eliminated in consolidation, are beyond the reach of the Company and its creditors, even in bankruptcy or other receivership. Substantially all the assets of FSA Global are pledged to secure the repayment, on a pro rata basis, of FSA Global's notes and its other obligations.

2.    BASIS OF PRESENTATION

        The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") for interim financial statements and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows as of and for the period ended September 30, 2008 and for all periods presented. These Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included as an exhibit to the Parent's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements have not been audited by an independent registered public accounting firm in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). The December 31, 2007 consolidated balance sheet was derived from audited financial statements, but

6



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

2.    BASIS OF PRESENTATION (Continued)


does not include all disclosures required by GAAP. The results of operations for the periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the full year. Certain prior-year balances have been reclassified to conform to the 2008 presentation.

        The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make extensive estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the Company's consolidated balance sheets at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the reported amounts of revenues and expenses in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income during the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Such estimates and assumptions include, but are not limited to, losses and loss adjustment expenses, fair value of financial instruments, other-than-temporary impairment, the deferral and amortization of policy acquisition costs and taxes. Actual results may differ from those estimates.

3.    FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT

        The Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 157, "Fair Value Measurements" ("SFAS 157"), effective January 1, 2008. SFAS 157 addresses how companies should measure fair value when required to use fair value measures under GAAP. SFAS 157:

        In February 2007 the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued SFAS No. 159, "The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities" ("SFAS 159"). SFAS 159 provides an option to elect fair value as an alternative measurement for selected financial assets and financial liabilities not previously recorded at fair value. The Company adopted SFAS 159 on January 1, 2008 and elected fair value accounting for certain VIE segment debt and certain assets acquired in refinancing FSA-insured transactions not previously carried at fair value. See Note 4.

        The Company applied its valuation methodologies for its assets and liabilities measured at fair value to all of the assets and liabilities carried at fair value effective January 1, 2008, whether those instruments are carried at fair value as a result of the adoption of SFAS 159 or in compliance with other authoritative accounting guidance. The Company has fair value committees to review and approve valuations and assumptions used in its models. These committees meet quarterly prior to issuing quarterly financial statements.

7



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

3.    FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT (Continued)

        Fair value is based upon pricing received from dealer quotes or alternative pricing sources with reasonable levels of price transparency, internally developed estimates that employ credit-spread algorithms or models that use market-based or independently sourced market data inputs, including yield curves, interest rates, volatilities, debt prices, foreign exchange rates and credit curves. In addition to market information, models also incorporate instrument- specific data, such as maturity date.

        Considerable judgment is necessary to interpret the data to develop the estimates of fair value. The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies may have a material effect on the estimated fair-value amounts.

        The transition adjustment in connection with the adoption of SFAS 157 was an increase of $26.6 million after-tax to beginning retained earnings, which relates to day one gains that had been deferred under EITF 02-03.

8



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

3.    FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT (Continued)

        The following table summarizes the components of the fair-value adjustments included in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income:

 
  Nine Months Ended September 30,  
 
  2008   2007  
 
  (in thousands)
 

REVENUES:

             
 

Net change in fair value of credit derivatives (See Note 10)

  $ (369,141 ) $ (280,111 )
           
 

Net interest income from variable interest entities segment:

             
   

Fair-value adjustments on VIE segment investment portfolio

  $ 3,245   $  
   

Fair-value adjustments on VIE segment derivatives

    (4,956 )    
           
       

Net interest income from variable interest entities segment

  $ (1,711 ) $  
           
 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments:

             
   

VIE segment derivatives(1) (See Note 11)

  $ 16,798   $ (12,151 )
   

Other financial guaranty segment derivatives

    91     267  
           
       

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments

  $ 16,889   $ (11,884 )
           
 

Net unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value

             
   

Financial guaranty segment:

             
     

Assets acquired in refinancing transactions

  $ (7,296 ) $  
     

Committed preferred trust put options

    78,000      
           
       

Net unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value in the financial guaranty segment

    70,704      
           
   

VIE segment:

             
     

Fixed-rate VIE segment debt:

             
       

Fair-value adjustments other than the Company's own credit risk

    28,491      
       

Fair-value adjustments attributable to the Company's own credit risk

    930,297      
           
         

Net unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value in the VIE segment

    958,788      
           
           

Net unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value

  $ 1,029,492   $  
           

EXPENSES:

             
 

Other income(2)

  $ (7,501 )    

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS), NET OF TAX:

             
 

General Investment Portfolio (See Note 5)

  $ (202,538 ) $ (22,874 )
 

Assets acquired in refinancing transactions

    (2,320 )   (869 )
 

VIE Investment Portfolio

    (10,385 )    
           
       

Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes

  $ (215,243 ) $ (23,743 )
           

(1)
Represents derivatives not in designated fair-value hedging relationships.

(2)
Represents fair value adjustments for assets acquired in refinancing transaction portfolio.

9



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

3.    FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT (Continued)

Valuation Hierarchy

        SFAS 157 establishes a three-level valuation hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements. The valuation hierarchy is based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date. The three levels are defined as follows:

        A financial instrument's categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

Inputs to Valuation Techniques

        Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants use in pricing assets or liabilities, including assumptions about risk. Inputs may be observable or unobservable.


Valuation Techniques

        Valuation techniques used for assets and liabilities accounted for at fair value are generally categorized into three types:

10



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

3.    FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT (Continued)

        The Company uses valuation techniques that it concludes are appropriate in the specific circumstances and for which sufficient data are available. In selecting the valuation technique to apply, management considers the definition of an exit price and considers the nature of the asset or liability being valued.

Financial Instruments Carried at Fair Value

        The following is a description of the valuation methodologies the Company uses for financial instruments measured at fair value, including the general classification of such instruments within the valuation hierarchy.

General Investment Portfolio

        The fair value of bonds in the portfolio of investments supporting the financial guaranty segment (excluding assets acquired in refinancing transactions) (the "General Investment Portfolio") is generally based on quoted market prices received from dealer quotes 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. Assets in this category are primarily categorized as Level 2.

        As of September 30, 2008, the Company's equity securities were comprised of common stock of Dexia. The fair value of the common stock is based upon quoted prices and is categorized as Level 1.

        For short-term investments in the General Investment Portfolio, which are those investments with a maturity of less than one year at time of purchase, the carrying amount approximates fair value. These short-term investments include money-market funds and other highly liquid short-term investments, which are categorized as Level 1 on the valuation hierarchy, and foreign government and agency securities, which are categorized as Level 2.

VIE Segment Investment Portfolio

        The "VIE Segment Investment Portfolio" is comprised of investments supporting the VIE liabilities, which are primarily designated as available-for-sale, but in some cases are classified as held-to-maturity. The fair value of bonds in the VIE Segment Investment Portfolio is generally based on quoted market prices received from dealer quotes 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. For assets not valued by quoted market prices received from dealer

11



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

3.    FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT (Continued)


quotes or alternative pricing sources, fair value is based on either internally developed models using market-based inputs or based on broker quotes for identical or similar assets. Valuation results, particularly those derived from valuation models and quotes on certain mortgage and asset-backed securities, could differ materially from amounts that would actually be realized in the market. Assets in the VIE Segment Investment Portfolio are generally categorized as Level 3 on the valuation hierarchy.

        For short-term investments in the VIE Segment Investment Portfolio, which are those investments with a maturity of less than one year at time of purchase, the carrying amount is fair value. These short-term investments include overnight money market funds, which are categorized as Level 1 on the valuation hierarchy.

Assets Acquired in Refinancing Transactions

        For certain assets acquired in refinancing transactions, fair value is either the present value of expected cash flows or a quoted market price as of the reporting date. This portfolio is comprised primarily of bonds, securitized loans, common stock, mortgage loans, real estate and short term investments, of which bonds, common stocks and certain securitized loans are carried at fair value. Mortgage loans are accounted for at fair value when lower than cost. The majority of the assets in this portfolio are categorized as Level 3 in the valuation hierarchy, except for the short-term investments, which are categorized as Level 2.

Credit Derivatives in the Insured Portfolio

        The Company's insured portfolio includes contracts accounted for as derivatives, namely,

        The Company considers all such agreements to be a normal part of its financial guaranty insurance business but, for accounting purposes, these contracts are deemed to be derivative instruments and therefore must be recorded at fair value, with changes in fair value recorded in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income in the line item "net change in fair value of credit derivatives."

        In the case of CDS contracts, a trust that is consolidated by the Company writes a derivative contract that provides for payments to be made if certain credit events occur related to certain specified reference obligations, in exchange for a fee. The need to interpose a trust is a regulatory requirement imposed by the New York State Insurance Department as an exception to its general rule,

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FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

3.    FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT (Continued)

in order to allow the financial guarantors to sell credit protection by entering into credit derivative contracts (albeit indirectly by guaranteeing the trust), while other types of insurance enterprises may neither directly enter into such credit derivative contracts, nor provide such guarantees to a trust. The trust's obligation on the CDS contracts it writes are guaranteed by a financial guaranty contract written by the Company that provides payments to the insured if the trust defaults on its payments under the derivative contract. In these transactions, the Company is considered the counterparty to a financial guaranty contract that is defined as a derivative. The credit event is typically based upon failure to pay or the insolvency of a referenced obligation. In such cases, the claim represents payment for the shortfall amount.

        The Company's accounting policy regarding CDS contract valuations is a "critical accounting policy and estimate" due to the valuation's significance to the financial statements since it requires management to make numerous complex and subjective judgments relating to amounts that are inherently uncertain. CDS contracts are valued using proprietary models because such instruments are unique, complex and are typically highly customized transactions. Valuation models and the related assumptions are continuously reevaluated by management and enhanced, as appropriate, based on market developments and improvements in modeling techniques and the availability of market observable data. Due to the significance of unobservable inputs required to value CDS contracts, they are considered to be Level 3 under the SFAS 157 fair value hierarchy.

        The assumed credit quality of the underlying referenced obligations, the assumed credit spread attributable to credit risk of the underlying referenced obligations exclusive of funding costs, the appropriate reference credit index or price source and credit spread attributable to the Company's own credit risk are significant assumptions that, if changed, could result in materially different fair values. Market perceptions of credit deterioration of the underlying referenced obligation would result in an increase in the expected exit value (amount required to be paid to exit the transaction due to wider credit spreads).

Determination of Current Exit Value Premium:     The estimation of the current exit value premium is derived using a unique credit-spread algorithm for each defined CDS category that utilizes various publicly available credit indices, depending on the types of assets referenced by the CDS contract and the duration of the contract. The "exit price" derived is technically an "entry price" and not an "exit price", i.e., the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability that is required under SFAS 157. This is because a monoline insurer cannot observe "exit prices" for the CDS contract that it writes in a principal market since these contracts are not transferable. While SFAS 157 provides that the transaction (entry) price and the exit price may not be equal if the transaction price includes transaction costs, the Company believes those transaction costs would be the same in an "entry" market and a hypothetical "exit" market and thus it would be inappropriate to record a day one gain when using the estimated "entry price" to determine the exit value premium.

        Management applies judgment when developing these estimates and considers factors such as current prices charged for similar agreements, performance of underlying assets, changes in internal credit assessments or rating agency-based shadow ratings, and the level at which the deductible has been set. Estimates generated from the Company's valuation process may differ materially from values that may be realized in market transactions.

13



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

3.    FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT (Continued)

        In a financial guaranty insurance policy, a deductible is the portion of a loss under that policy that is not covered by the policy, or in other words, the amount of the loss for which the insurer is not responsible. In a CDS contract, the deductible is quoted as a percentage of the contract's notional amount, and is also referred to as the contract's attachment point. For example, for a CDS with a $1 billion notional amount and a 15% deductible, the Company would only be obligated to make a claim payment after the insured incurred more than $150 million (15% of $1 billion) of losses (net of recoveries). The attachment points for each of the Company's CDS contracts vary, as the deductibles are negotiated on a contract-by-contract basis.

        In the ordinary course, the Company does not post collateral to the counterparty as security for the Company's obligation under CDS contracts. As a result, the Company receives a smaller fee than it would for a CDS contract that required the posting of collateral. In order to calculate the exit value premium for CDS that do not require collateral to be posted, the Company applies a factor (the "non-collateral posting factor") to the indicated market premium for CDS contracts that require collateral to be posted. The factor was 62% for the quarter ended September 30, 2008.

        The Company calculates the non-collateral posting factor quarterly based in part on observable market inputs. In the market where transactions are executed, the Company has observed since the beginning of 2008 that when a collateral posting counterparty executes a CDS contract purchasing protection from a non-collateral posting counterparty, it will hold back a minimum of 20% of the CDS premium it charged to provide the CDS protection. The Company believes that the non-collateral posting factor has the effect of adjusting the fair value of these contracts for the Company's credit quality in addition to adjusting the contract to a collateral posting basis. Accordingly, the Company adds to the 20% minimum an additional amount to reflect the market price of CDS protection on FSA. The Company estimated the additional amount as of September 30, 2008 to be 42% using an algorithm that uses as an input FSA's current annual five-year CDS credit spread, which was approximately 1,110 basis points as of September 30, 2008. The Company uses the current five-year CDS credit spread based on its observation that the five-year instrument is the standard contract used to hedge counterparty credit risk.

        Below is an explanation of how the Company determines the current exit value for each of the following types of CDS contracts:


        For each of these types of CDS contracts, the price the Company charges when entering into such contract sometimes differs from the fair value determined by the Company's fair value model at the time when the Company enters into the CDS contract. The Company refers to this difference as the "initial model adjustment," and is not an indicator of a day one gain. The initial model adjustment is needed because of differences between the CDS contract being valued and the reference index. The initial model adjustment is calculated at the inception of a CDS contract in order to calibrate the indicated model fair value of the CDS contract to the contractual premium rate on the trade date.

14



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

3.    FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT (Continued)

         Pooled Corporate CDS Contracts :    A pooled corporate CDS contract insures the default risk of a pool of referenced corporate entities. As there is no observable exchange trading of bespoke pooled corporate CDS, the Company values these contracts using an internal pricing model that uses the mid-point of the bid and ask prices (the "mid-market price") of dealer quotes on specific indexes as inputs to its pricing model, principally the Dow Jones CDX for domestic corporate CDS ("DJ CDX") and iTraxx for European corporate CDS ("iTraxx"). The mid-market price is a practical expedient for the fair-value measurement within a bid-ask spread. For those pooled corporate CDS contracts that include both domestic and foreign reference entities, the Company applies the iTraxx price in proportion to the pool of applicable foreign reference entities comprising the pool by calculating a weighted average of the DJ CDX and iTraxx quoted prices.

        The Company's valuation process for pooled corporate CDS involves stratifying the pools into either investment grade credits or high-yield credits and then by remaining term to maturity, consistent with the reference indexes. Within maturity bands, further distinction is made for contracts that have higher attachment points. Both the DJ CDX and iTraxx indices provide quoted prices for standard attachment and detachment points (or "tranches") for contracts with maturities of three, five, seven and ten years.

        Prices quoted for these tranches do not represent perfect pricing references, but are the only relevant market-based information available for this type of non-traded contract. The recent market volatility in the index tranches has had a significant impact on the estimated fair value of the Company's portfolio of pooled corporate CDS.

         Investment-Grade Pooled Corporate CDS Contracts:     The Company uses quoted prices related to its investment-grade pooled corporate CDS contracts ("IG CDS") by stratifying its IG CDS contracts into four maturity bands: less than 3.5 years; 3.5 to 5.5 years; 5.5 to 7.5 years; and 7.5 to 10 years. Within the maturity bands, further distinction is made for contracts that have a significantly higher starting attachment point (usually 30% or higher).

        The CDX North America IG Index ("CDX IG Index") is comprised of prices sourced from 125 North American investment grade CDS quoted (each, an "Index CDS") and is supported by at least 10 of the largest CDS dealers. In addition to the full capital structure, the CDX IG Index also provides price quotes for various tranches delineated by attachment and detachment points: 0 to 3%; 3 to 7%; 7 to10%; 10 to 15%; 15 to 30% and 30 to 100%. Approximately every six months, a new "series" of the CDX IG Index is published ("on-the-run") based on a new grouping of 125 Index CDS, which changes the composition of the 125 Index CDS of older ("off-the-run") series. Each quarter, the Company compares the composition of the 125 Index CDS in both the on-the-run and off-the run series of the CDX IG index to the CDS pool referenced by the Company's IG CDS contracts (the "reference CDS pool") and uses the average of the series of the CDX IG and iTraxx indices that most closely relates to the credit characteristics of the Company's IG CDS contracts. The Company also remodels each of its contracts to determine if the credit quality remains Super Triple-A and compares the Weighted-Average Rating Factor ("WARF") of the index to the WARF of each of the Company's IG CDS contracts. A "Super Triple-A" credit rating indicates a level of first-loss protection generally exceeding 1.3 times the level required by a rating agency for a Triple-A rating. WARF is a 10,000 point scale developed by Moody's that is used as an indicator of collateral pool risk. A higher WARF indicates a lower average collateral rating.

15



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

3.    FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT (Continued)

        The Company calibrates the quoted index price to the approximate attachment points for its IG CDS contracts by calculating the weighted average of the given quoted tranche prices for IG CDS of a given maturity using the CDX IG Index and iTraxx quoted tranche widths. The relevant widths of the quoted tranches used by the two indices differ. DJ CDX uses tranches of 10 to 15%, 15 to 30%, and 30 to 100%, resulting in tranche widths of five, 15 and 70 percentage points, whereas iTraxx uses tranches of 9 to 12%, 12 to 22% and 22 to 100%, resulting in tranche widths of three, 10 and 78 percentage points.

        The Company's IG CDS contracts typically attach at 10% or higher. The following table indicates FSA's typical attachment points and total tranche widths:

Portfolio Classification
  Index Quoted
Duration
  FSA's Typical
Attachment Point
  FSA's Total
Tranche Width
 
 
  (in years)
   
   
 

Less than 3.5 Yrs

    3     10 %   90  

3.5 to 5.5 Yrs

    5     10     90  

5.5 to 7.5 Yrs:

                   
 

Lower attachment

    7     15     85  
 

Higher attachment

    7     30     70  

7.5 to 10 Yrs:

                   
 

Lower attachment

    10     15     85  
 

Higher attachment

    10     30     70  

        To calculate the weighted average price for the entire tranche width of the Company's IG CDS (the "total tranche width"), a price is obtained for each quoted tranche comprising the total tranche width, and the sum of the weighted average prices is divided by the total tranche width. The price for each quoted tranche is the mid-market of the quoted price for that tranche, weighted by the width of that tranche. The following table illustrates the calculation of the weighted-average price of the Company's IG CDS contracts with a maturity of up to 3.5 years, given quoted CDX IG tranche prices of 131 basis points, 99.5 basis points and 39.5 basis points for the 10 to 15%, 15 to 30%, and 30 to 100% tranches, respectively.

FSA Portfolio Classification   CDX IG Mid-market Price Multiplied by the Tranche Width    
   
 
  Total
Tranche
Width
  Weighted
Average
Price
 
Attachment/Detachment   10 to 15%   15 to 30%   30 to 100%   Total  
Less than 3.5 Yrs   131 bps × 5 = 655.0   99.5 bps × 15 = 1,492.5   39.5 bps × 70 = 2,765.0     4,912.5     90     54.6 bps  

        The Company's Transaction Oversight Department reviews the pooled corporate CDS portfolio regularly and no less than quarterly and factors in any rating changes. Any new reported credit events under a given CDS contract are factored into the contract's deductible level. As such credit events occur, the contract's attachment point is recalculated based on the revised deductible amount to determine if the attachment point for each contract in the portfolio continues to be at a "Super Triple-A" credit rating. At September 30, 2008, there was one IG CDS contract that was determined to be below the "Super Triple-A" credit rating. This contract was determined to have a credit rating considered investment grade as of that date. Accordingly, the Company applies the calculated pricing to all IG CDS in the portfolio consistent with its credit rating.

16



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

3.    FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT (Continued)

        To arrive at the exit value premium applied to each of the Company's IG CDS contracts, the Company:

        Below is an example of the pricing algorithm that is applied to the Company's domestic IG CDS contracts with durations of 3.5 to 5.5 years to determine the exit premium value as of September 30, 2008:

Index
Duration
  Unadjusted
Quoted Price
  Non-collateral
Posting Factor
  Adjusted to
Non-collateral Posting
Contract Value
 
5 yrs     53.9 bps     62.0 %   20.5 bps  

         High-Yield Pooled Corporate CDS Contracts:     In order to estimate the market price for high-yield pooled corporate CDS contracts ("HY CDS"), the Company uses the average of the dealer mid-market prices obtained for the most senior quoted of the respective three year, five-year and seven-year tranches of the CDX North America High Yield Index ("CDX HY Index"). The CDX HY Index is comprised of prices sourced from 100 of the most liquid North American high yield CDS quoted (each, an "Index CDS") and is supported by more than 10 of the largest CDS dealers. In addition to the full capital structure, the CDX HY Index also provides price quotes for various tranches delineated by attachment and detachment points: 0 to 10%; 10 to 15%; 15 to 25%; 25 to 35%; and 35 to 100%. The Company uses an average of the dealer mid-market quotes of the index because the Company believes that dealer price quotes have historically been indicative of where trades have been executed in the high yield market.

        The Company applies a factor to the quoted prices (the "calibration factor"). The calibration factor is intended to calibrate the index price to each of the Company's pooled corporate high-yield CDS contracts, which reference pools of entities that are typically of higher average credit quality than those reflected in the CDX HY index. The calibration factor is determined for each HY CDS contract by calibrating the WARF of the index so that it approximately equals the WARF of each HY CDS contract. To do so, the Company recalculates the index price after removing from the index the reference obligations that have the highest spreads and are not in the relevant HY CDS contract. This recalculated index price is then divided by the unadjusted index to arrive at the calibration factor. As of September 30, 2008, the calibration factor applied to the Company's HY CDS contracts ranged from 65% to 100% of the WARF of the index.

        Approximately every six months, a new "series" of the CDX HY Index is published ("on-the-run") based on a new grouping of 100 Index CDS, which changes the composition of the 100 Index CDS of older ("off-the-run") series. The Company compares the composition of the 100 Index CDS in both the on-the-run and off-the run series of the CDS HY index to the CDS pool referenced by the Company's HY CDS contracts (the "reference CDS pool"). Based on that comparison, the Company determines

17



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

3.    FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT (Continued)


which of the actively quoted series most closely relates to the credit characteristics of the Company's HY CDS contracts, and then uses the average of dealer quotes of that series. The Company also remodels each of its contracts to determine if the credit quality remains Super Triple-A and compares the WARF of the index to the WARF of each of the Company's HY CDS contracts.

        To arrive at the exit value premium that is applied to each of the Company's CDS contracts in a given maturity band, the non-collateral posting factor is applied to the weighted-average market price determined for that maturity band.

        Below is an example of the pricing algorithm that is applied to the Company's domestic HY CDS contracts with durations of 3.5 to 5.5 years, assuming an average calibration factor of 85% to determine the exit premium value as of September 30, 2008:

Index
Duration
  Unadjusted
Quoted Price
  After
Calibration
Factor(1)
  Adjusted to
Non-collateral Posting
Contract Value
 
5 yrs     173.86 bps     147.78 bps     56.2 bps  

         CDS of Funded CDOs and CLOs :    As with pooled corporate CDS, there is no observable exchange trading of CDS of funded CDOs and CLOs. The price of protection charged by a CDS writer is based on the "credit spread component" of the "all-in credit spread" of funded CLOs, as quoted by underwriter participants. As the all-in credit spread for a given CLO may not always be observable in the market, the CDS writer often utilizes an index, published by an underwriter participant, such as the "all-in" London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") spread for Triple-A rated cash-funded CLOs (the "Triple-A CLO Funded Rate") as published by J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. The Triple-A CLO Rate is an all-in credit spread that includes both a funding and credit spread component.

        The CDS protection of a CLO provided by the Company is priced to capture only the credit spread component, as the CDS writer is not providing funding for the CLO, only credit protection. The Company determines the exit value premium for all these CDS contracts in its portfolio that are rated Triple-A with reference to the Triple-A CLO Funded Rate, which was 375 bps as of September 30, 2008. The Company applies a credit component factor to the Triple-A CLO Funded Rate as a means of estimating the fair value of its Triple-A rated contract, which only refers to the credit component. The credit and funding components have been considered consistent at 50% each. The components are

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FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

3.    FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT (Continued)


determined judgmentally based on estimates provided to the Company by external market participants. The credit component factor was 50% as of September 30, 2008.

        To arrive at the exit value premium that is applied to each of the Company' CDO and CLO CDS contracts, the non-collateral posting factor is applied to the weighted-average market price determined for each maturity band.

        The determination of the exit value premium is summarized as follows:

 
  Triple A
CLO Funded Rate
  After Credit
Component Factor
  After Non-collateral
Posting Factor
 

Rate

    375 bps     187.5 bps     71.3 bps  

         Other Structured Obligations Valuation:     For CDS for which observable market value information is not available, management applies its best judgment to estimate the appropriate current exit value premium, and takes into consideration the Company's estimation of the price at which the Company would currently charge to provide similar protection, and other factors such as the nature of the underlying reference credit, the Company's attachment point, and the tenor of the CDS contract.

        The Company generally utilizes reinsurance to purchase protection for CDS contracts it writes in the same way that it employs reinsurance in respect of other financial guaranty insurance policies. The Company's uses of reinsurance to mitigate risk exposures for CDS contracts and financial guaranty insurance policies are nearly identical as they involve the same reinsurers, the same underwriting process evaluating the reinsurers and the same credit risk management and surveillance processes supporting the reinsurance function. The Company enters into reinsurance agreements on CDS contracts primarily on a quota share basis. Under a quota share reinsurance agreement with a reinsurer, the Company cedes to the assuming reinsurer a proportionate share of the risk and premium.

        The determination of the hypothetical exit market is a key factor in determining the fair value of protection purchased (the "ceded" or "reinsurance" contract) with respect to a CDS contract written by a financial guarantor (the "direct contract"). SFAS 157 requires that the valuation premise, used to measure the fair value of an asset, must consider the asset's "highest and best use" from the perspective of market participants. Generally, the valuation premise used for a financial asset is "in-exchange" since this type of asset provides maximum value to market participants on a stand-alone basis. The maximum value of a ceded contract to the CDS writer's exit market participants is in combination with the CDS writer's direct contract. Therefore the appropriate valuation premise to use for a ceded contract is the "in-use" premise.

        The Company determines the fair value of a CDS contract in which it purchases protection from a reinsurer (the "ceded CDS contract") as the proportionate percentage of the fair value of the related written CDS contract, adjusted for any ceding commission and consideration of counterparty risk. In quota share reinsurance agreements, the assuming reinsurer typically pays a ceding commission periodically over the life of the CDS contract to the ceding company that is intended to defray the ceding company's costs for the services it provides to the reinsurer, such as risk selection, underwriting activities and ongoing servicing and reporting. As an element of the fair value of the ceded CDS contract, the ceding commission paid to the ceding company represents the ceding company's profit on

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FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

3.    FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT (Continued)


the ceded CDS contract after considering counterparty credit risk and servicing costs, i.e., the difference between (a) the price of the protection the ceding company purchased from the reinsurer, which is net of the ceding commission, and (b) the price that the ceding company would receive to exit the ceded CDS contract in its principal market, which is comprised of other ceding insurers of comparable credit standing. The Company applies a credit valuation adjustment to the fair value of a ceded CDS contract due from a reinsurer if the reinsurer's credit quality (as determined by CDS price if available, or if not, its credit rating) is less than that of the Company's based upon the premise that the exit market for these contracts would be another monoline financial guarantee insurer that has similar credit rating or spread as the Company.

        The Company insures IR swaps entered into in connection with the issuance of certain public finance obligations. Because the financial guaranty contract insures a derivative, the financial guaranty contract is deemed to be a derivative. Therefore, the contract is required to be carried at fair value, with the change in fair value being recorded in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income. As there is no observable market for these policies, the fair value of these contracts is determined by using an internally developed model. They are therefore classified as Level 3 in the valuation hierarchy.

        Insured NIM securitizations issued in connection with certain mortgage-backed security financings and FG contracts with embedded derivatives are deemed to be hybrid instruments that contain an embedded derivative if they were issued after January 1, 2007. The Company elected to record these financial instruments at fair value under SFAS No. 155, "Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments." Changes in the fair value of these contracts are recorded in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. As there is no observable market for these policies, the fair value of these contracts is based on internally derived estimates and they are therefore classified as Level 3 in the valuation hierarchy.

VIE Segment Derivatives

        On the date of adoption, all derivatives used to hedge VIE debt were valued by obtaining prices from brokers or counterparties, and accordingly were classified as Level 3 in the valuation hierarchy. At September 30, 2008, these derivatives were valued using a pricing model that uses observable market inputs such as interest rate curves, foreign exchange rates and inflation indices. Therefore these derivatives are classified as Level 2 in the valuation hierarchy at September 30, 2008, provided all of the significant model inputs were observable in the market, or Level 3 if not observable in the market.

Committed Preferred Trust Put Options

        As there is no observable market for the Company's committed preferred trust put options, fair value is based on internally derived estimates and therefore these put options are categorized as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

        The Company determined the fair value of the committed preferred trust put options by estimating the fair value of a floating rate security with an estimated market yield reflective of the underlying committed preferred security structure and the relevant coupon based on the capped auction rate.

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FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

3.    FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT (Continued)

VIE Segment Debt

        The fair value of the VIE liabilities for which the Company elected the fair value option as described in Note 4 (the "fair-valued liabilities") is determined based on a discounted cash flow model. Fair value calculated by these models includes assumptions for interest rate curves based on selected benchmark securities and weighted average expected lives. In addition, the valuation of the fair-valued liabilities includes an adjustment to reflect the credit quality of the Company that represents the impact of changes in market credit spreads on these liabilities. The fair-valued liabilities are categorized as Level 3 in the valuation hierarchy.

        The following table presents the financial instruments carried at fair value at September 30, 2008, by caption on the consolidated balance sheet and by SFAS 157 valuation hierarchy.

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

 
  At September 30, 2008  
 
  Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Assets:

                         

General investment portfolio, available for sale:

                         
 

Bonds

  $   $ 5,152,366   $ 55,324   $ 5,207,690  
 

Equity securities

    815             815  
 

Short-term investments

    102,129     495,859         597,988  

VIE segment investment portfolio, available for sale:

                         
 

Bonds

        24,515     1,059,643     1,084,158  
 

GICs

            614,834     614,834  
 

Short-term investments

    7,220             7,220  

Assets acquired in refinancing transactions

        21,530     132,418     153,948  

Other assets:

                         
 

VIE segment derivatives

        555,481     53,498     608,979  
 

Credit derivatives

            211,943     211,943  
 

Committed preferred trust put option

            78,000     78,000  
                   
   

Total assets at fair value

  $ 110,164   $ 6,249,751   $ 2,205,660   $ 8,565,575  
                   

Liabilities:

                         

VIE segment debt

  $   $   $ 853,047   $ 853,047  

Other liabilities:

                         
 

Credit derivatives

            1,191,409     1,191,409  
 

Other financial guarantee segment derivatives

        81         81  
                   
   

Total liabilities at fair value

  $   $ 81   $ 2,044,456   $ 2,044,537  
                   

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FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

3.    FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT (Continued)

Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurements

        Mortgage loans in the portfolio of assets acquired in refinancing transactions are carried at the lower of cost or market on an aggregate basis. As of September 30, 2008, such investments were carried at their fair value of $14.9 million. 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.

Changes in Level 3 Recurring Fair Value Measurements

        The table below includes a rollforward of the balance sheet amounts for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 for financial instruments classified by the Company within Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy. When a determination is made to classify a financial instrument within Level 3, the determination is based upon the significance of the unobservable data to the overall fair value measurement. However, Level 3 financial instruments may include, in addition to the unobservable or Level 3 components, observable components. Accordingly, the gains and losses in the table below include changes in fair value due in part to observable factors that are part of the valuation methodology. Level 3 assets were 19.1% of total assets at September 30, 2008. Level 3 liabilities were 23.1% of total liabilities at September 30, 2008.

22



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

3.    FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT (Continued)

Level 3 Rollforward

 
   
  Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008  
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Change in
Unrealized
Gains/(Losses)
Related to
Financial
Instruments
Held at
September 30,
2008
 
 
   
  Total Pre-tax Realized/Unrealized Gains/(losses)(1) Recorded in:    
   
   
 
 
   
  Purchases,
Issuances,
Settlements,
net
  Transfers
in and/or
out of
Level 3(2)
   
 
 
  Fair Value at
January 1,
2008
  Net
Income
(Loss)
  Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
  Fair Value at
September 30,
2008
 
 
  (in thousands)
 

General investment portfolio, available for sale:

                                           
 

Bonds

  $ 59,840   $   $ (4,972 ) $ 456   $   $ 55,324   $  
 

Equity securities

    39,000     (36,075 )(3)       (2,925 )            

VIE segment investment portfolio, available for sale(4):

                                           
 

Bonds

    1,120,533     3,104   (5)   (63,994 )           1,059,643     3,104  
 

GICs

    639,950         10,364     (35,480 )       614,834      

Assets acquired in refinancing transactions

    170,492     (7,296 )(6)   (3,561 )   (27,217 )       132,418     (7,296 )

VIE segment debt(4)

    (1,852,759 )   940,668   (7)       59,044         (853,047 )   957,100  

VIE segment derivatives(4)

    634,458     (9,364 )(8)           (571,596 )   53,498     6,186  

Committed preferred trust put options

        78,000   (6)               78,000     78,000  

Net credit derivatives(9)

    (537,321 )   (369,141 )(10)       (73,004 )       (979,466 )   (377,384 )

(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)
Transfers are assumed to be made at the beginning of the period.

(3)
Included in net realized gains/(losses) from general investment portfolio.

(4)
Amount in net income (loss) is offset in minority interest. All but $16.2 million of the unrealized loss in other comprehensive income is offset in minority interest.

(5)
Reported in net interest income from variable interest entities segment.

(6)
Reported in net unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value.

(7)
Unrealized gain is reported in net unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value, and interest expense is reported in net interest expense from variable interest entities segment.

(8)
Reported in net interest income from variable interest entities segment if designated in a qualifying fair-value hedging relationship, or net unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments if not so designated.

(9)
Represents net position of credit derivatives. The consolidated balance sheets present gross assets and liabilities based on net counterparty exposure.

(10)
Reported in net change in fair value of credit derivatives.

23



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

4.    FAIR VALUE OPTION

        In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS 159, which is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company adopted SFAS 159 effective January 1, 2008. SFAS 159 provides an option to elect fair value as an alternative measurement for selected financial assets and financial liabilities not previously carried at fair value. The fair-value option may be applied to single eligible instruments, is irrevocable and is applied only to entire instruments and not to portions of instruments. For a discussion of the Company's valuation methodologies, see Note 3.

        The Company's fair value elections were intended to mitigate the volatility in earnings that had been created by recording financial instruments and the related risk management instruments on a different basis of accounting, to eliminate the operational complexities of applying hedge accounting or to conform to the fair value elections made by the Company in 2006 under its International Financial Reporting Standards reporting to Dexia. The requirement, under SFAS 157, to incorporate a reporting entity's own credit risk in the valuation of liabilities which are carried at fair value, has created some additional volatility in earnings as credit risk is not hedged. The following table provides detail regarding the Company's elections by consolidated balance sheet line as of January 1, 2008.

 
  Carrying Value of Financial Instruments   Transition Gain/(Loss) Recorded in Retained Earnings   Adjusted Carrying Value of Financial Instruments  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Assets acquired in refinancing transactions

  $ 163,285   $ 2,537 (1) $ 165,822  

VIE segment debt

    (1,824,676 )   (28,083 )   (1,852,759 )
                   
 

Subtotal

          (25,546 )      
 

Minority interest

          28,083        

Deferred income taxes

          (888 )      
                   
 

Cumulative effect of adoption of SFAS 159

        $ 1,649        
                   

(1)
Includes the reversal of $0.7 million of valuation allowances.

Elections

        On January 1, 2008, the Company elected to record the following at fair value:

24



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

4.    FAIR VALUE OPTION (Continued)

Changes in Fair Value under the Fair Value Option Election

        The following table presents the pre-tax changes in fair value included in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, for items for which the SFAS 159 fair value election was made.

Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Financial Instruments at Fair Value

 
  Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2008
 

Assets acquired in refinancing transactions

  $ (7,296 )

VIE segment debt(1)

    958,788  

        Included in the amounts in the table above are gains of approximately $930.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, that are attributable to widening in the Company's own credit spread.

Aggregate Fair Value and Aggregate Remaining Contractual Principal Balance Outstanding

        The following table reflects the aggregate fair value and the aggregate remaining contractual principal balance outstanding at September 30, 2008, for certain assets acquired in refinancing transactions and VIE segment debt for which the SFAS 159 fair value option has been elected.

 
  At September 30, 2008  
 
  Remaining Aggregate Contractual Principal Amount Outstanding   Fair Value  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Assets acquired in refinancing transactions

  $ 137,825 (1) $ 132,400  

VIE segment debt(2)

    1,681,283     853,047  

(1)
Includes $33.0 million of loans that are 90 days or more past due.

(2)
The fair-value adjustment for VIE segment debt considers interest rate, foreign exchange rates and the Company's own credit risk. The Company economically hedges interest and foreign exchange rate risk through the use of derivatives. The fair-value adjustments on these derivatives are recorded in net unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. See Note 12.

25



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

5.    GENERAL INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO

        The credit quality of fixed-income securities in the General Investment Portfolio based on amortized cost was as follows:

General Investment Portfolio Fixed-Income Securities by Rating

Rating(1)
  At September 30, 2008
Percent of Bonds
 

AAA(2)

    49.0 %

AA

    36.9  

A

    13.5  

BBB

    0.3  

Not Rated

    0.3  
       
 

Total

    100.0 %
       

        The General Investment Portfolio includes bonds insured by FSA ("FSA-Insured Investments"). Of the bonds included in the General Investment Portfolio at September 30, 2008, 6.7% were Triple-A by virtue of insurance provided by FSA, and 29.2% were insured by other monolines (see Note 17). All of the FSA-Insured Investments were investment grade without giving effect to the FSA insurance. The average shadow rating of the FSA-Insured Investments, which is the rating without giving effect to the FSA insurance, was in the Single-A range.

26



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

5.    GENERAL INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO (Continued)

        The amortized cost and fair value of the securities in the General Investment Portfolio were as follows:

General Investment Portfolio by Security Type

 
  At September 30, 2008  
Investment Category
  Amortized
Cost
  Gross
Unrealized
Gains
  Gross
Unrealized
Losses
  Fair Value  
 
  (in thousands)
 

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies

  $ 85,860   $ 1,098   $ (723 ) $ 86,235  

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

    4,386,720     52,170     (168,898 )   4,269,992  

Mortgage-backed securities

    405,890     4,328     (5,634 )   404,584  

Corporate securities

    181,597     1,508     (9,347 )   173,758  

Foreign securities(1)

    267,157     56     (20,555 )   246,658  

Asset-backed securities

    26,542     41     (120 )   26,463  
                   
 

Total bonds

    5,353,766     59,201     (205,277 )   5,207,690  

Short-term investments

    599,357     14     (1,383 )   597,988  
                   
 

Total fixed-income securities

    5,953,123     59,215     (206,660 )   5,805,678  

Equity securities

    1,364         (549 )   815  
                   
 

Total General Investment Portfolio

  $ 5,954,487   $ 59,215   $ (207,209 ) $ 5,806,493  
                   

 

 
  At December 31, 2007  
Investment Category
  Amortized
Cost
  Gross
Unrealized
Gains
  Gross
Unrealized
Losses
  Fair Value  
 
  (in thousands)
 

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies

  $ 85,088   $ 4,046   $ (87 ) $ 89,047  

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

    3,920,509     149,893     (5,837 )   4,064,565  

Mortgage-backed securities

    390,992     5,032     (1,698 )   394,326  

Corporate securities

    190,048     3,866     (1,123 )   192,791  

Foreign securities(1)

    248,006     8,584     (285 )   256,305  

Asset-backed securities

    22,652     279     (4 )   22,927  
                   
 

Total bonds

    4,857,295     171,700     (9,034 )   5,019,961  

Short-term investments

    88,972     2,260     (1,157 )   90,075  
                   
 

Total fixed-income securities

    4,946,267     173,960     (10,191 )   5,110,036  

Equity securities

    40,020     4     (155 )   39,869  
                   
 

Total General Investment Portfolio

  $ 4,986,287   $ 173,964   $ (10,346 ) $ 5,149,905  
                   

(1)
The majority of foreign securities are government issues and are denominated primarily in British pounds.

27



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

5.    GENERAL INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO (Continued)

        The following table shows the gross unrealized losses and fair value of bonds in the General Investment Portfolio, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position:

Aging of Unrealized Losses of Bonds in General Investment Portfolio

 
  At September 30, 2008  
Aging Categories
  Number of
Securities
  Amortized
Cost
  Unrealized
Losses
  Fair Value   Unrealized
Loss as a
Percentage of
Amortized
Cost
 
 
  (dollars in thousands)
 

Less than Six Months(1)

                               
 

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies

        $ 211   $ (2 ) $ 209     (0.9 )%
 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

          1,965,526     (83,582 )   1,881,944     (4.3 )
 

Mortgage-backed securities

          74,237     (1,719 )   72,518     (2.3 )
 

Corporate securities

          92,277     (5,652 )   86,625     (6.1 )
 

Foreign securities

          249,941     (18,841 )   231,100     (7.5 )
 

Asset-backed securities

          2,762     (64 )   2,698     (2.3 )
                           
   

Total

    627     2,384,954     (109,860 )   2,275,094     (4.6 )

More than Six Months but Less than 12 Months(2)

                               
 

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies

          60,912     (699 )   60,213     (1.1 )
 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

          458,769     (48,440 )   410,329     (10.6 )
 

Mortgage-backed securities

          39,324     (2,867 )   36,457     (7.3 )
 

Corporate securities

          17,697     (2,421 )   15,276     (13.8 )
 

Foreign securities

          14,817     (1,714 )   13,103     (11.6 )
 

Asset-backed securities

                       
                           
   

Total

    192     591,519     (56,141 )   535,378     (9.5 )

12 Months or More(3)

                               
 

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies

          358     (22 )   336     (6.1 )
 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

          297,924     (36,876 )   261,048     (12.4 )
 

Mortgage-backed securities

          21,621     (1,048 )   20,573     (4.8 )
 

Corporate securities

          8,782     (1,274 )   7,508     (14.5 )
 

Foreign securities

                       
 

Asset-backed securities

          984     (56 )   928     (5.7 )
                           
   

Total

    165     329,669     (39,276 )   290,393     (11.9 )

Total

                               
 

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies

          61,481     (723 )   60,758     (1.2 )
 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

          2,722,219     (168,898 )   2,553,321     (6.2 )
 

Mortgage-backed securities

          135,182     (5,634 )   129,548     (4.2 )
 

Corporate securities

          118,756     (9,347 )   109,409     (7.9 )
 

Foreign securities

          264,758     (20,555 )   244,203     (7.8 )
 

Asset-backed securities

          3,746     (120 )   3,626     (3.2 )
                         
   

Total

    984   $ 3,306,142   $ (205,277 ) $ 3,100,865     (6.2 )%
                         

(1)
The largest unrealized loss on an individual investment, in terms of absolute dollars, was $1.9 million, or 8.5% of its amortized cost.

(2)
The largest unrealized loss on an individual investment, in terms of absolute dollars, was $3.0 million, or 12.4% of its amortized cost.

(3)
The largest unrealized loss on an individual investment, in terms of absolute dollars, was $2.8 million, or 27.9% of its amortized cost.

28



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

5.    GENERAL INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO (Continued)

 
  At December 31, 2007  
Aging Categories
  Number of
Securities
  Amortized
Cost
  Unrealized
Losses
  Fair Value   Unrealized
Loss as a
Percentage of
Amortized
Cost
 
 
  (dollars in thousands)
 

Less than Six Months(1)

                               
 

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies

        $ 17,043   $ (17 ) $ 17,026     (0.1 )%
 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

          87,782     (1,247 )   86,535     (1.4 )
 

Mortgage-backed securities

          220     (0 )   220     (0.0 )
 

Corporate securities

          4,527     (22 )   4,505     (0.5 )
 

Foreign securities

          37,836     (285 )   37,551     (0.8 )
 

Asset-backed securities

                       
                           
   

Total

    53     147,408     (1,571 )   145,837     (1.1 )

More than Six Months but Less than 12 Months(2)

                               
 

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies

                       
 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

          326,960     (4,132 )   322,828     (1.3 )
 

Mortgage-backed securities

          158     (6 )   152     (3.8 )
 

Corporate securities

          12,297     (433 )   11,864     (3.5 )
 

Foreign securities

                       
 

Asset-backed securities

                       
                           
   

Total

    121     339,415     (4,571 )   334,844     (1.3 )

12 Months or More(3)

                               
 

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies

          2,099     (70 )   2,029     (3.3 )
 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

          11,324     (458 )   10,866     (4.0 )
 

Mortgage-backed securities

          110,896     (1,692 )   109,204     (1.5 )
 

Corporate securities

          28,226     (668 )   27,558     (2.4 )
 

Foreign securities

                       
 

Asset-backed securities

          2,985     (4 )   2,981     (0.1 )
                           
   

Total

    180     155,530     (2,892 )   152,638     (1.9 )

Total

                               
 

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies

          19,142     (87 )   19,055     (0.5 )
 

Obligations of U.S. states and political subdivisions

          426,066     (5,837 )   420,229     (1.4 )
 

Mortgage-backed securities

          111,274     (1,698 )   109,576     (1.5 )
 

Corporate securities

          45,050     (1,123 )   43,927     (2.5 )
 

Foreign securities

          37,836     (285 )   37,551     (0.8 )
 

Asset-backed securities

          2,985     (4 )   2,981     (0.1 )
                         
   

Total

    354   $ 642,353   $ (9,034 ) $ 633,319     (1.4 )%
                         

(1)
The largest unrealized loss on an individual investment, in terms of absolute dollars, was $0.2 million, or 7.7% of its amortized cost.

(2)
The largest unrealized loss on an individual investment, in terms of absolute dollars, was $0.5 million, or 6.9% of its amortized cost.

(3)
The largest unrealized loss on an individual investment, in terms of absolute dollars, was $0.3 million, or 4.5% of its amortized cost.

29



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

5.    GENERAL INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO (Continued)

        In the second quarter of 2008, the Company recorded $38.0 million in OTTI on its investment in Syncora Guarantee Re Ltd. ("SGR") preferred stock. In the third quarter of 2008, the Company sold this investment, recognizing a $1.9 million gain. The realized loss was $36.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008. Management has determined that the unrealized loss on Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. corporate bonds held in the General Investment Portfolio was OTTI at September 30, 2008 and as a result wrote the balance down to fair value of $0.5 million resulting in a charge of $5.8 million, which was recorded as a realized loss.

        Management has determined that the remaining unrealized losses in fixed-income securities at September 30, 2008 are primarily attributable to the current interest rate environment and has concluded that these unrealized losses are temporary in nature based upon (a) the lack of principal or interest payment defaults on these securities, (b) the creditworthiness of the issuers, and (c) the Company's ability and current intent to hold these securities until a recovery in fair value or maturity. As of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, 99.6% and 100%, respectively, of the securities that were in a gross unrealized loss position were rated investment grade. Management has based its conclusions on current facts and circumstances. Events could occur in the future that could change management conclusions about its ability and intent to hold such securities.

        The amortized cost and fair value of fixed-income investments in the General Investment Portfolio as of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, by contractual maturity, are shown below. Actual maturities could differ from contractual maturities because borrowers have the right to call or prepay certain obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

Distribution of Fixed-Income Securities in General Investment Portfolio
by Contractual Maturity

 
  September 30, 2008   December 31, 2007  
 
  Amortized
Cost
  Fair
Value
  Amortized
Cost
  Fair
Value
 
 
  (in thousands)
 

Due in one year or less

  $ 697,963   $ 698,417   $ 148,286   $ 150,306  

Due after one year through five years

    1,073,086     1,091,392     1,353,006     1,423,378  

Due after five years through ten years

    806,998     797,173     816,987     852,469  

Due after ten years

    2,942,644     2,787,649     2,214,344     2,266,630  

Mortgage-backed securities(1)

    405,890     404,584     390,992     394,326  

Asset-backed securities(2)

    26,542     26,463     22,652     22,927  
                   
 

Total fixed-income securities in General Investment Portfolio

  $ 5,953,123   $ 5,805,678   $ 4,946,267   $ 5,110,036  
                   

(1)
Stated maturities for mortgage-backed securities of three to 30 years as of September 30, 2008 and of four to 30 years as of December 31, 2007.

(2)
Stated maturities for asset-backed securities of two to 15 years as of September 30, 2008 and of one to 15 years as of December 31, 2007.

30



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

6.    LOSSES AND LOSS ADJUSTMENT EXPENSES

        The Company establishes loss and loss adjustment expense ("LAE") liabilities based on its estimate of specific and non-specific losses. LAE consists of the estimated cost of settling claims, including legal and other fees and expenses associated with administering the claims process.

        The Company calculates case reserves based upon identified risks inherent in its insured portfolio. If an individual policy risk has a reasonably estimable and probable loss as of the balance sheet date, a case reserve is established. For the remaining policy risks in the portfolio, a non-specific reserve is calculated to account for the statistically estimated inherent credit losses.

        The following table presents the activity in non-specific and case reserves for the nine months ended September 30, 2008. Adjustments to reserves represent management's estimate of the amount required to cover the present value of the net cost of claims, based on statistical provisions for new originations. In order to determine the reasonableness of the non-specific reserve, management uses a methodology that references a calculation of expected loss for risks that are below-investment-grade according to the Company's ratings. In the third quarter of 2008, this reasonableness test required a higher non-specific reserve than the statistical calculation in order to account for the significant deterioration in internal credit ratings for certain first-lien RMBS risks that did not require case basis reserves but which resulted in a need for an increased non-specific reserve.

Reconciliation of Net Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses

 
  Non-Specific   Case   Total  
 
  (in thousands)
 

December 31, 2007

  $ 99,999   $ 98,079   $ 198,078  
 

Incurred

    300,429         300,429  
 

Transfers

    (354,137 )   354,137      
 

Payments and other decreases

        (97,384 )   (97,384 )
               

March 31, 2008 balance

    46,291     354,832     401,123  
 

Incurred

    816,026         816,026  
 

Transfers

    (828,622 )   828,622      
 

Payments and other decreases

        (149,991 )   (149,991 )
               

June 30, 2008 balance

    33,695     1,033,463     1,067,158  
 

Incurred

    327,633         327,633  
 

Transfers

    (252,581 )   252,581      
 

Payments and other decreases

        (161,664 )   (161,664 )
               

September 30, 2008 balance

  $ 108,747   $ 1,124,380   $ 1,233,127  
               

31



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

6.    LOSSES AND LOSS ADJUSTMENT EXPENSES (Continued)

Case Reserve Summary

 
  September 30, 2008  
 
  Gross Par
Outstanding
  Net Par
Outstanding
  Gross Case
Reserve(1)
  Net Case
Reserve(1)
  Number
of Risks
 
 
  (dollars in thousands)
 

Asset-backed—HELOCs

  $ 5,210,736   $ 4,157,011   $ 486,641   $ 389,696     10  

Asset-backed—Alt-A CES

    1,006,954     961,506     195,015     185,871     5  

Asset-backed—Option ARM

    630,982     574,792     166,134     153,058     6  

Asset-backed—Alt-A first-lien

    1,081,662     983,857     64,216     55,983     8  

Asset-backed—NIMs

    103,981     98,975     19,865     19,623     4  

Asset-backed—Subprime

    321,589     292,172     26,205     12,419     7  

Asset-backed—other

    50,823     47,979     6,121     5,830     3  

Public finance

    1,407,993     805,942     176,584     88,716     5  

Financial products portfolio

    1,704,883     1,704,883     213,184     213,184     73  
                       
 

Total

  $ 11,519,603   $ 9,627,117   $ 1,353,965   $ 1,124,380     121  
                       

(1)
The amount of the discount at September 30, 2008 for the total gross and net case reserves was $424.3 million and $393.1 million, respectively.

 
  December 31, 2007  
 
  Gross Par
Outstanding
  Net Par
Outstanding
  Gross Case
Reserve(1)
  Net Case
Reserve(1)
  Number
of Risks
 
 
  (dollars in thousands)
 

Asset-backed—HELOCs

  $ 1,803,340   $ 1,442,657   $ 69,633   $ 56,913     5  

Asset-backed—Subprime

    22,280     18,335     3,399     1,583     2  

Asset-backed—other

    24,905     22,219     4,890     4,684     2  

Public finance

    1,164,248     560,610     96,635     34,899     4  
                       
 

Total

  $ 3,014,773   $ 2,043,821   $ 174,557   $ 98,079     13  
                       

(1)
The amount of the discount at December 31, 2007 for the total gross and net case reserves was $14.5 million and $3.3 million, respectively.

        The table below presents certain assumptions inherent in the calculations of the case and non-specific reserves:

Assumptions for Case and Non-Specific Reserves

 
  September 30,
2008
  December 31,
2007

Case reserve discount rate

  1.93%–5.90%   3.13%–5.90%

Non-specific reserve discount rate

  1.20%–7.95%   1.20%–7.95%

Current experience factor

  15.0   2.0

32



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

6.    LOSSES AND LOSS ADJUSTMENT EXPENSES (Continued)

        In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, loss and loss adjustment expenses were $327.6 million and $1,444.1 million, respectively. The increase for the nine months was driven primarily by deteriorating credit performance in HELOCs, financial products portfolio, Alt-A CES, Option ARMs, Alt-A first lien and public finance transactions. In addition, the non-specific reserves increased by $8.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008. Management's current reserve estimates assume loss levels for transactions backed by second-lien mortgage products will remain at their peaks until mid-2009 and slowly recover to more normal rates by mid-2010. For first-lien mortgage transactions, where losses take longer to develop than in second-lien mortgage transactions, peak conditional default rates are assumed to continue until mid-2010 and then decline linearly over 12 months to 25% of the peak, remain there for three years and then taper down to 5% of peak rates over several years.

        The increase in losses paid is driven by payments on HELOC transactions. Generally, once the overcollateralization is exhausted on an insured HELOC transaction, the Company pays a claim if losses in a period exceed excess spread for the period, and to the extent excess spread exceeds losses, the Company is reimbursed for any losses paid to date. In the third quarter of 2008, the Company paid net claims of $184.9 million on HELOC transactions. This brought the inception to date net claim payments on HELOC transactions to $439.6 million. There were no claims paid on most other classes of insured transactions through September 30, 2008. Most Alt-A CES claims will not be due until 2037. Option ARM claim payments are expected to occur beginning in 2010.

        The Company assigns each insured credit to one of five designated surveillance categories to facilitate the appropriate allocation of resources to monitoring, loss mitigation efforts and rating the credit condition of each risk exposure. Such categorization is determined in part by the risk of loss and in part by the level of routine involvement required. The surveillance categories are organized as follows:

33



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

6.    LOSSES AND LOSS ADJUSTMENT EXPENSES (Continued)

        The table below presents the gross and net par and interest outstanding and deferred premium revenue in the insured portfolio for risks classified as described above:

Par and Interest Outstanding

 
  September 30, 2008  
 
  Gross
Par(1)
  Gross
Interest(1)
  Net
Par(1)
  Net
Interest(1)
  No. of
risks
  Weighted
Avg Life
  Gross
Deferred
Premium
Revenue(2)
  Net
Deferred
Premium
Revenue(2)
 
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

Categories I and II

  $ 541,847   $ 296,135   $ 422,225   $ 212,370     11,563     12.1   $ 3,011   $ 2,043  

Category III

    9,958     4,994     6,767     2,580     93     9.3     102     47  

Category IV

    2,296     582     2,209     559     10     4.7     0     0  

Category V no claim payments

    7,368     2,722     6,454     2,267     37     8.0     42     26  

Category V with claim payments

    5,225     897     4,085     661     18     3.8     4     2  
                                     
 

Total

  $ 566,694   $ 305,330   $ 441,740   $ 218,437     11,721     11.8   $ 3,159   $ 2,118  
                                     

(1)
Includes credit derivatives.

(2)
Excludes credit derivatives.

Case Reserves

 
  September 30,
2008
  December 31,
2007
 
 
  Gross   Net   Gross   Net  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Category V no claim payments

  $ 752,933   $ 687,099   $ 112,629   $ 64,430  

Category V with claim payments

    601,032     437,281     61,928     33,649  
                   
 

Total

  $ 1,353,965   $ 1,124,380   $ 174,557   $ 98,079  
                   

 

 
  At
September 30, 2008
Category V
 
 
  (in thousands)
 

Gross undiscounted cash outflows expected in future

  $ 2,826,948  

Less: Gross estimated recoveries (S&S) in future

    1,048,996  
       
 

Subtotal

    1,777,952  

Less: Discount taken on subtotal

    423,987  
       
 

Gross case reserve

    1,353,965  

Less: Reinsurance recoverable

    229,585  
       
 

Net case reserve

  $ 1,124,380  
       

34



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

6.    LOSSES AND LOSS ADJUSTMENT EXPENSES (Continued)

        Management periodically evaluates its estimates for losses and LAE and establishes reserves that management believes are adequate to cover the present value of the ultimate net cost of claims. The Company will continue, on an ongoing basis, to monitor these reserves and may periodically adjust such reserves, upward or downward, based on the Company's actual loss experience, its mix of business and economic conditions. However, because of the uncertainty involved in developing these estimates, the ultimate liability may differ materially from current estimates.

        Management is aware that there are differences regarding the method of defining and measuring both case reserves and non-specific reserves among participants in the financial guaranty industry. Other financial guarantors may establish case reserves only after a default and use different techniques to estimate probable loss. Other financial guarantors may establish the equivalent of non-specific reserves, but refer to these reserves by various terms, such as, but not limited to, "unallocated losses," "active credit reserves" and "portfolio reserves," or may use different statistical techniques from those used by the Company to determine loss at a given point in time.

7.    VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES SEGMENT DEBT

        At September 30, 2008, interest rates on VIE segment debt were between 1.98% and 6.22% per annum. Payments due under the VIE segment, debt including $989.0 million of future interest accretion on zero coupon obligations for 2008 and each of the next four years ending December 31 and thereafter, are as follows:

Maturity Schedule of VIE Segment Debt

 
  Principal Amount  
 
  (in thousands)
 

2008

  $ 74,390  

2009

    359,172  

2010

    94,428  

2011

    16,900  

2012

    144,265  

Thereafter

    2,749,227  
       
 

Total

  $ 3,438,382  
       

8.    OUTSTANDING EXPOSURE

        The Company's insurance policies typically guarantee the scheduled payments of principal and interest on public finance and asset-backed (including credit derivatives in the insured portfolio) obligations. The gross amount of financial guaranties in force (principal and interest) was $872.0 billion at September 30, 2008 and $857.9 billion at December 31, 2007. The net amount of financial guaranties in force was $660.2 billion at September 30, 2008 and $622.9 billion at December 31, 2007.

        The Company seeks to limit its exposure to losses from writing financial guarantees by underwriting investment-grade obligations, diversifying its portfolio and maintaining rigorous collateral requirements on asset-backed obligations, as well as through reinsurance.

35



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

8.    OUTSTANDING EXPOSURE (Continued)

        The par outstanding of insured obligations in the public finance insured portfolio includes the following amounts by type of issue:

Summary of Public Finance Insured Portfolio(1)

 
  Gross Par Outstanding   Ceded Par Outstanding   Net Par Outstanding  
Types of Issues
  September 30,
2008
  December 31,
2007
  September 30,
2008
  December 31,
2007
  September 30,
2008
  December 31,
2007
 
 
  (in millions)
 

Domestic obligations

                                     
 

General obligation

  $ 156,372   $ 146,883   $ 29,961   $ 32,427   $ 126,411   $ 114,456  
 

Tax-supported

    74,774     69,534     18,438     19,453     56,336     50,081  
 

Municipal utility revenue

    64,545     57,975     13,470     13,610     51,075     44,365  
 

Health care revenue

    23,900     25,843     10,483     11,796     13,417     14,047  
 

Housing revenue

    9,614     9,898     1,927     2,187     7,687     7,711  
 

Transportation revenue

    33,019     29,189     11,394     11,782     21,625     17,407  
 

Education/University

    9,607     7,178     1,668     1,710     7,939     5,468  
 

Other domestic public finance

    2,879     2,773     685     900     2,194     1,873  
                           
   

Subtotal

    374,710     349,273     88,026     93,865     286,684     255,408  

International obligations

    45,767     49,224     18,026     21,925     27,741     27,299  
                           
 

Total public finance obligations

  $ 420,477   $ 398,497   $ 106,052   $ 115,790   $ 314,425   $ 282,707  
                           

(1)
Includes related party gross and net par outstanding of $187 million as of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007.

36



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

8.    OUTSTANDING EXPOSURE (Continued)

        The par outstanding of insured obligations in the asset-backed insured portfolio includes the following amounts by type of collateral:

Summary of Asset-Backed Insured Portfolio

 
  Gross Par Outstanding   Ceded Par Outstanding   Net Par Outstanding  
Types of Collateral
  September 30,
2008
  December 31,
2007
  September 30,
2008
  December 31,
2007
  September 30,
2008
  December 31,
2007
 
 
  (in millions)
 

Domestic obligations

                                     
 

Residential mortgages

  $ 20,183   $ 22,882   $ 2,511   $ 3,108   $ 17,672   $ 19,774  
 

Consumer receivables(2)

    10,735     12,647     1,015     1,076     9,720     11,571  
 

Pooled corporate

    64,968     69,317     8,959     10,110     56,009     59,207  
 

Financial products(1)

    17,823     19,468             17,823     19,468  
 

Other domestic asset-backed

    3,710     4,000     1,768     2,024     1,942     1,976  
                           
   

Subtotal

    117,419     128,314     14,253     16,318     103,166     111,996  

International obligations

    28,798     37,281     4,649     5,642     24,149     31,639  
                           
 

Total asset-backed obligations

  $ 146,217   $ 165,595   $ 18,902   $ 21,960   $ 127,315   $ 143,635  
                           

(1)
The GICs are issued by the GIC Affiliates and are collateralized primarily by floating rate asset-backed securities, which consist of 66.5% non-agency RMBS.

(2)
Includes $183 million and $246 million in gross par outstanding and $172 million and $230 million in net par outstanding relating to related party insurance at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively.

9.    FEDERAL INCOME TAXES

        The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007 was $14.5 million and $17.7 million, respectively. If recognized, the entire amount would favorably affect the effective tax rate. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as part of income taxes. For the period ended September 30, 2008, the Company did not accrue any material amount of expenses related to interest and penalties. Cumulative interest and penalties of $1.5 million have been accrued on the Company's balance sheet at both September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007.

        The Company files consolidated income tax returns in the United States as well as separate tax returns for certain of its subsidiaries in various state, local and foreign jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom, Japan and Australia. With limited exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to income tax examinations for its 2004 and prior tax years for U.S. federal, state, local, or non-U.S. jurisdictions.

37



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

9.    FEDERAL INCOME TAXES (Continued)

        Within the next 12 months, it is reasonably possible that unrecognized tax benefits for tax positions taken on previously filed tax returns will become recognized as a result of the expiration of the statute of limitations for the 2005 tax year, which, absent any extension, will close in September 2009.

        In the third quarter of 2008, the Company recognized a tax benefit of $3.7 million, which includes the benefit of $0.6 million of interest from the expiration of the statute of limitations for the 2004 tax year.

        The 2008 and 2007 effective tax rates differ from the statutory rate of 35% as follows:

 
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
  2008   2007  

Tax provision (benefit) at statutory rate

    (35.0 )%   (35.0 )%

Tax-exempt investments

    (11.5 )   (167.2 )

Minority interest

    (85.2 )   77.4  

Fair-value adjustment for committed preferred trust put options

    (7.1 )    

Tax contingency

    (0.8 )   (13.6 )

Other

    0.2     2.6  
           
 

Total tax provision (benefit)

    (139.4 )%   (135.8 )%
           

        The current-year effective tax rate reflects significant mark to market income in FSA Global Funding debt that was not tax-effected. The prior-year effective tax rate reflects the lower ratio of tax-exempt interest income to year-to-date pre-tax loss due to the significant negative fair value adjustments. The additional losses from the insured RMBS-related transactions led to a distorted budgeted effective tax rate. The Company, therefore, believes it is unable to make a reliable estimate using the effective rate method and has used the actual tax calculated for the period ended September 30, 2008.

Tax Provision (Benefit)

 
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
  2008   2007  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Current Tax provision (benefit)

  $ (134,026 ) $ 63,048  

Deferred tax provision (benefit)

    (398,570 )   (95,426 )
           
 

Total tax provision (benefit)

  $ (532,596 ) $ (32,378 )
           

38



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

10.    NOTES PAYABLE TO AFFILIATE

        The Company had $179.7 million of notes payable to GIC Affiliates at September 30, 2008 and $210.1 million at December 31, 2007. For the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, the Company recorded $9.4 million and $12.0 million, respectively, of interest expense on the notes payable.

        Principal payments due under these notes for each of the remainder of 2008 and next four years ending December 31 and thereafter are as follows:

Maturity Schedule of Notes Payable

 
  Principal Amount  
 
  (in thousands)
 

2008

  $ 10,367  

2009

    8,843  

2010

    6,718  

2011

    20,450  

2012

    23,541  

Thereafter

    109,793  
       
 

Total

  $ 179,712  
       

11.    CREDIT DERIVATIVES IN THE INSURED PORTFOLIO

        Management views credit derivatives contracts as part of its financial guarantee business, under which the Company intends to hold its written and purchased positions for the entire term of the related contracts. The Company's credit derivative portfolio is comprised of (a) CDS contracts that are accounted for at fair value since they do not qualify for the financial guarantee scope exception under SFAS 133 and (b) financial guarantees of other derivative contracts that are required to be marked to market, primarily insured interest rate swaps entered into in connection with the issuance of certain public finance obligations and insured NIM securitizations issued in connection with certain RMBS financings.

        In consultation with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), members of the financial guaranty industry have collaborated to develop a presentation of credit derivatives issued by financial guaranty insurers that is more consistent with that of non-insurers. The tables below illustrate the current required presentation with prior-period balances reclassified to conform to the current presentation. The reclassifications do not affect net income or equity, although they do affect various revenue, asset and liability line items. Changes in fair value are recorded in "Net change in fair value of credit derivatives" in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. The "realized gains (losses) and other settlements" component of this income statement line includes primarily premiums received and receivable on written CDS contracts and premiums paid and payable on purchased contracts. If a credit event occurred that required a payment under the contract terms, this line item would also include losses paid and payable to CDS contract counterparties due to the credit event and losses recovered and recoverable on purchased contracts.

39



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

11.    CREDIT DERIVATIVES IN THE INSURED PORTFOLIO (Continued)

        The components of net change in fair value of credit derivatives are shown in the table below:

Summary of Net Change in Fair Value of Credit Derivatives

 
  Nine Months Ended September 30,  
 
  2008   2007  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Net change in fair value of credit derivatives:

             
 

Realized gains (losses) and other settlements(1)

  $ 98,764   $ 72,400  
 

Net unrealized gains (losses):

             
   

CDS:

             
     

Pooled corporate CDS:

             
       

Investment grade

    19,079     (65,348 )
       

High yield

    (133,858 )   (66,860 )
           
         

Total pooled corporate CDS

    (114,779 )   (132,208 )
     

Funded CLOs and CDOs

    (263,915 )   (196,092 )
     

Other structured obligations

    (71,589 )   (19,910 )
           
           

Total CDS

    (450,283 )   (348,210 )
   

IR swaps and FG contracts with embedded derivatives

    (17,622 )   (4,301 )
           
             

Subtotal

    (467,905 )   (352,511 )
           

Net change in fair value of credit derivatives

  $ (369,141 ) $ (280,111 )
           

        The fair value of credit derivatives are reported in the balance sheet as "other assets" or "other liabilities and minority interest" based on the net gain or loss position with each counterparty. The unrealized component includes the market appreciation or depreciation of the derivative contracts, as discussed in Note 3.

40



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

11.    CREDIT DERIVATIVES IN THE INSURED PORTFOLIO (Continued)

Unrealized Gains (Losses) of Credit Derivative Portfolio(1)

 
  At
September 30,
2008
  At
December 31,
2007
 
 
  (in thousands)
 

Pooled corporate CDS:

             
 

Investment grade

  $ (71,414 ) $ (116,482 )
 

High yield(2)

    (266,116 )   (151,228 )
           
   

Total pooled corporate CDS

    (337,530 )   (267,710 )

Funded CLOs and CDOs

    (519,146 )   (269,204 )

Other structured obligations(2)

    (99,098 )   (34,883 )
           
   

Total CDS

    (955,774 )   (571,797 )

IR swaps and FG contracts with embedded derivatives(2)

    (23,692 )   (6,485 )
           
   

Total credit derivatives

  $ (979,466 ) $ (578,282 )
           

        Prior to the adoption of SFAS 157 on January 1, 2008 (the "Adoption Date"), the Company followed EITF 02-03. Under EITF 02-03, the Company was prohibited from recognizing a profit at the inception of its CDS contracts (referred to as "day one" gains) because the fair value of those derivatives is based on a valuation technique that incorporated unobservable inputs. Accordingly, the Company deferred approximately $40.9 million pre-tax of day one gains related to the fair value of CDS contracts purchased that were not permitted to be recognized under EITF 02-03. As SFAS 157 nullified the guidance in EITF 02-03, on the Adoption Date the Company recognized in beginning retained earnings as a transition adjustment $40.9 million of previously deferred day one gains (pre-tax). See Note 3 for further discussion of the Company's adoption of SFAS 157.

        The negative fair-value adjustments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 were a result of continued widening of credit spreads in the insured CDS portfolio, offset in part by the positive income effects of the Company's own credit spread widening. Despite the structural protections associated with CDS contracts written by FSA, the significant widening of credit spreads on pooled corporate CDS and funded CDOs and CLOs, as with other structured credit products, resulted in a decline in the fair value of these contracts compared with December 31, 2007.

        As the fair value of a CDS contract incorporates all the remaining future payments to be received over the life of the CDS contract, the fair value of that contract will change, in part, solely from the passage of time as fees are received.

41



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

11.    CREDIT DERIVATIVES IN THE INSURED PORTFOLIO (Continued)

        The Company's typical CDS contract is different from CDS contracts entered into by parties that are not financial guarantors because:

42



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

11.    CREDIT DERIVATIVES IN THE INSURED PORTFOLIO (Continued)

        CDS contracts in the asset-backed portfolio represent 58.2% of total asset-backed par outstanding. The tables below summarize the credit rating, net par outstanding and remaining weighted average lives for the primary components of the Company's CDS portfolio. Net par outstanding in the table below is also included in the tables in Note 8.

Selected Information for CDS Portfolio

 
  At September 30, 2008  
 
  Credit Ratings    
   
 
 
   
  Remaining
Weighted
Average
Life
 
 
  Triple-A*(1)   Triple-A   Double-A   Other
Investment
Grades(2)
  Below
Investment
Grade(3)
  Net Par
Outstanding
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
  (in millions)
  (in years)
 

Pooled Corporate CDS:

                                           
 

Investment grade

    99 %   1 %   %   %   % $ 17,826     4.3  
 

High yield

    86     9             5     15,188     2.7  

Funded CDOs and CLOs

    28     65 (4)   6     1         32,517     2.8  

Other structured obligations(5)

    52     17 (4)   12     17     2     8,517     2.9  
                                           
   

Total

    60     33     4     2     1   $ 74,048     3.1  
                                           

 

 
  At December 31, 2007  
 
  Credit Ratings    
   
 
 
   
  Remaining
Weighted
Average
Life
 
 
  Triple-A*(1)   Triple-A   Double-A   Other
Investment
Grades(2)
  Below
Investment
Grade
  Net Par
Outstanding
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
  (in millions)
  (in years)
 

Pooled Corporate CDS:

                                           
 

Investment grade

    91 %   1 %   8 %   %   % $ 22,883     4.1  
 

High yield

    95             5         14,765     3.3  

Funded CDOs and CLOs

    28     72 (4)               33,000     3.4  

Other structured obligations(5)

    62     36 (4)   1     1         13,529     2.1  
                                           
   

Total

    62     34     3     1       $ 84,177     3.4  
                                           

(1)
Triple-A*, also referred to as "Super Triple-A," indicates a level of first-loss protection generally exceeding 1.3 times the level required by a rating agency for a Triple-A rating.

(2)
Various investment grades below Double-A minus.

(3)
Amount includes one CDS with Double-B underlying rating and one CDS with Single-B underlying rating.

(4)
Amounts include transactions previously wrapped by other monolines.

(5)
Primarily infrastructure obligations and European mortgage-backed securities. Also includes $398.0 million and $223.9 million at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively, in U.S. RMBS net par outstanding. All U.S. RMBS exposures were rated Double-A or higher.

43



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

12.    VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES SEGMENT DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

        The Company enters into derivative contracts to manage interest rate and foreign currency exposure in its VIE segment debt and VIE Segment Investment Portfolio. All gains and losses from changes in the fair value of derivatives are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income whether designated in fair-value hedging relationships or not. These derivatives generally include futures, interest rate and currency swap agreements, which are primarily utilized to convert fixed-rate debt and investments into U.S. dollar floating rate debt and investments. Hedge accounting is applied to fair-value hedges provided certain criteria are met. As a result of interest rate fluctuations, fixed-rate assets and liabilities appreciate or depreciate in market value. Gains or losses on the derivative instruments that are linked to the fixed-rate assets and liabilities being hedged are expected to substantially offset this unrealized appreciation or depreciation relating to the risk being hedged.

        The Company uses foreign currency contracts to manage the foreign exchange risk associated with certain foreign currency-denominated assets and liabilities. Gains or losses on the derivative instruments that are linked to the foreign currency denominated assets or liabilities being hedged are expected to substantially offset this variability.

        In order for a derivative to qualify for hedge accounting, it must be highly effective at reducing the risk associated with the exposure being hedged. In order for a derivative to be designated as a hedge, there must be documentation of the risk management objective and strategy, including identification of the hedging instrument, the hedged item and the risk exposure, and how effectiveness is to be assessed prospectively and retrospectively. To assess effectiveness, the Company uses analysis of the sensitivity of fair values to changes in the risk being hedged, as well as dollar value comparisons of the change in the fair value of the derivative to the change in the fair value of the hedged item that is attributable to the risk being hedged. The extent to which a hedging instrument has been and is expected to continue to be effective at achieving offsetting changes in fair value must be assessed and documented at least quarterly. Any ineffectiveness must be reported in current-period earnings. If it is determined that a derivative is not highly effective at hedging the designated exposure, hedge accounting is discontinued.

        An effective fair-value hedge is defined as one whose periodic change in fair value is 80% to 125% correlated with the change in fair value of the hedged item. The difference between a perfect hedge (i.e., the change in fair value of the hedge and hedged item offset one another so that there is zero effect on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, referred to as being "100% correlated") and the actual correlation within the 80% to 125% effectiveness range is the ineffective portion of the hedge. A failed hedge is one whose correlation falls outside of the 80% to 125% effectiveness range. The table below presents the net gain (loss) related to the ineffective portion of the Company's fair-value hedges.

Hedging Ineffectiveness

 
  Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
  2008   2007
 
  (in thousands)

Ineffective portion of fair-value hedges(1)

  $ (1,711 ) N/A

44



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

12.    VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES SEGMENT DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS (Continued)

        The inception-to-date net unrealized gain on the outstanding derivatives held by the VIE segment of $441.6 million and $474.4 million at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively, was recorded in other assets.

        As of January 1, 2008, the Company adopted SFAS 159 and elected the fair value option for certain fixed-rate liabilities in the VIE segment debt portfolio, as described in Note 4. The fair value option allows the fair value adjustment on these liabilities to be recorded in earnings without hedge documentation and effectiveness testing requirements prescribed under SFAS 133. However, when the fair value option is elected, the fair value adjustment of liabilities must incorporate all components of fair value, including valuation adjustments related to the reporting entity's own credit risk. Under hedge accounting, only the component of fair value attributable to the hedged risk (i.e. interest rate risk) was recorded in earnings.

        Fixed-rate assets in the available-for-sale VIE Segment Investment Portfolio that are economically hedged with interest rate swaps have been designated in fair value hedging relationships since November 2007. Under fair value hedge accounting, the fair value adjustments related to the hedged risk are recorded in earnings and adjust the amortized cost basis of the related assets. The interest and fair value adjustments on the derivatives and the interest income and fair value adjustment on the assets attributable to the hedged interest rate risk are recorded in "Net interest income from variable interest entities segment" in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, thereby offsetting each other and reflecting economic inefficiency on the hedging relationship in earnings. The Company does not seek to apply hedge accounting to all of its economic hedges.

45



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

13.    OTHER ASSETS AND OTHER LIABILITIES AND MINORITY INTEREST

        The detailed balances that comprise other assets and other liabilities and minority interest at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007 are as follows:

Other Assets

 
  At September 30,
2008
  At December 31,
2007
 
 
  (in thousands)
 

Other assets:

             
 

VIE segment derivatives at fair value

  $ 608,979   $ 634,458  
 

Credit derivatives at fair value

    211,943     124,282  
 

VIE other invested assets

    303,747     301,599  
 

Tax and loss bonds

    155,352     153,844  
 

Accrued interest in VIE segment investment portfolio

    20,249     14,333  
 

Accrued interest income on general investment portfolio

    69,762     63,317  
 

Salvage and subrogation recoverable

    7,600     39,669  
 

Committed preferred trust put options at fair value

    78,000      
 

Federal income tax receivable

    130,829      
 

Other assets

    278,942     125,118  
           

Total other assets

  $ 1,865,403   $ 1,456,620  
           

Other Liabilities and Minority Interest

 
  At
September 30, 2008
  At
December 31, 2007
 
 
  (in thousands)
 

Other liabilities and minority interest:

             
 

Credit derivatives at fair value

  $ 1,191,409   $ 702,564  
 

Equity participation plan

        101,307  
 

Accrued interest on VIE segment debt

    79,878     69,243  
 

Payable for securities purchased

    32,160      
 

Other liabilities

    163,607     156,927  
 

Minority interest

    953,288     138,233  
           

Total other liabilities and minority interest

  $ 2,420,342   $ 1,168,274  
           

46



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

14.    SEGMENT REPORTING

        The Company operates in two business segments: financial guaranty and variable interest entities. The financial guaranty segment is primarily in the business of providing financial guaranty insurance, which it has historically provided for both public finance and asset-backed obligations. The VIE segment includes the VIEs' operations. See Note 1 for description of business. The following tables summarize the financial information by segment on a pre-tax basis, as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007.

Financial Information Summary by Segment

 
  Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008  
 
  Financial
Guaranty
  Variable
Interest
Entities
  Intersegment
Eliminations
  Total  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Revenues:

                         
 

External

  $ 241,721   $ 1,034,865   $   $ 1,276,586  
 

Intersegment

    1,975         (1,975 )    

Expenses:

                         
 

External

    (1,556,017 )   (102,694 )       (1,658,711 )
 

Intersegment

        (1,975 )   1,975      
                   

Income (loss) before income taxes

    (1,312,321 )   930,196         (382,125 )

Minority interest

        (930,196 )       (930,196 )

GAAP income to operating earnings adjustments

    250,300             250,300  
                   

Pre-tax segment operating earnings (losses)

  $ (1,062,021 ) $   $   $ (1,062,021 )
                   

Segment assets

  $ 9,246,493   $ 2,311,703   $ (4 ) $ 11,558,192  

 

 
  Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007  
 
  Financial
Guaranty
  Variable
Interest
Entities
  Intersegment
Eliminations
  Total  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Revenues:

                         
 

External

  $ 186,703   $ 89,967   $   $ 276,670  
 

Intersegment

    2,513         (2,513 )    

Expenses:

                         
 

External

    (160,353 )   (140,165 )       (300,518 )
 

Intersegment

        (2,513 )   2,513      
                   

Income (loss) before income taxes

    28,863     (52,711 )       (23,848 )

Minority interest

        52,711         52,711  

GAAP income to operating earnings adjustments

    356,358             356,358  
                   

Pre-tax segment operating earnings (losses)

  $ 385,221   $   $   $ 385,221  
                   

Segment assets

  $ 7,187,242   $ 2,803,924   $   $ 9,991,166  

47



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

14.    SEGMENT REPORTING (Continued)

Reconciliations of Segments' Pre-Tax Operating Earnings (Losses) to Net Income (Loss)

 
  Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008  
 
  Financial
Guaranty
  Variable
Interest
Entities
  Intersegment
Eliminations
  Total  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Pretax operating earnings (losses)

  $ (1,062,021 ) $   $   $ (1,062,021 )

Operating earnings to GAAP income adjustments

    (250,300 )           (250,300 )

Tax (provision) benefit

                      532,596  
                         

Net income (loss)

                    $ (779,725 )
                         

 

 
  Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007  
 
  Financial
Guaranty
  Variable
Interest
Entities
  Intersegment
Eliminations
  Total  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Pretax operating earnings (losses)

  $ 385,221   $   $   $ 385,221  

Operating earnings to GAAP income adjustments

    (356,358 )           (356,358 )

Tax (provision) benefit

                      32,378  
                         

Net income (loss)

                    $ 61,241  
                         

        The intersegment revenues and expenses relate to premiums paid by FSA Global on FSA-insured notes.

        GAAP income to operating earnings adjustments are primarily comprised of fair-value adjustments deemed to be non-economic. Such adjustments relate to (1) non-economic fair-value adjustments for credit derivatives in the insured portfolio, (2) non-economic fair-value adjustments for instruments with economically hedged risks and (3) fair-value adjustments attributable to the Company's own credit risk. Management believes that by making such adjustments the measure more closely reflects the underlying economic performance of segment operations.

15.    RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

        In September 2008, the FASB issued Final FASB Staff Position ("FSP") FAS No. 133-1 and FIN 45-4, "Disclosures about Credit Derivatives and Certain Guarantees: An Amendment of FASB Statement No. 133 and FASB Interpretation No. 45; and Clarification of the Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 161" ("FSP 133-1 and FIN 45-4"). FSP 133-1 and FIN 45-4 amend the disclosure requirements of SFAS 133 to require the seller of credit derivatives, including hybrid financial instruments with embedded credit derivatives, to disclose additional information regarding, among other things, the nature of the credit derivative, information regarding the facts and circumstances that may require performance or payment under the credit derivative, and the nature of any recourse provisions the seller can use for recovery of payments made under the credit derivative. FSP 133-1 and FIN 45-4 also amend the disclosure requirements in FASB Interpretation No. 45, "Guarantor's Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others" ("FIN 45") to require additional disclosure about the payment/performance

48



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

15.    RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS (Continued)


risk of a guarantee. The Company will adopt FSP 133 and FIN 45-4 for its financial statements prepared as of December 31, 2008. As FSP 133 and FIN 45-4 only requires additional disclosure concerning credit derivatives and guarantees, the adoption of FSP 133 and FIN 45-4 will not affect the Company's consolidated financial position and result of operations or cash flows.

        In May 2008 the FASB issued SFAS No. 163, "Accounting for Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts—an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 60" ("SFAS 163"). This statement addresses accounting standards applicable to existing and future financial guaranty insurance and reinsurance contracts issued by insurance companies under GAAP, including accounting for claims liability measurement and recognition and premium recognition and related disclosures. SFAS 163 requires the Company to recognize a claim liability when there is an expectation that a claim loss will exceed the unearned premium revenue (liability) on a policy basis based on the present value of expected net cash flows. The premium earnings methodology under SFAS 163 will be based on a constant rate methodology. SFAS 163 does not apply to financial guarantee insurance contracts accounted for as derivatives within the scope of SFAS 133. SFAS 163 also requires the Company to provide expanded disclosures relating to factors affecting the recognition and measurement of financial guaranty contracts. SFAS 163 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, except for the presentation and disclosure requirements related to claim liabilities which are effective for financial statements prepared as of September 30, 2008. The cumulative effect of initially applying SFAS 163 is required to be recognized as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. The Company is currently assessing the impact of SFAS 163 on the Company's consolidated financial position and results of operations.

        In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, "Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, an amendment of SFAS 133" ("SFAS 161"). This statement amends and expands the disclosure requirements for derivative instruments and hedging activities by requiring companies to provide enhanced disclosures about (a) how and why an entity uses derivative instruments, (b) how derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for under SFAS 133 and its related interpretations, and (c) how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect an entity's financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. This statement is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008. Since SFAS 161 requires only additional disclosures concerning derivatives and hedging activities, adoption of SFAS 161 will not affect the Company's consolidated financial position and results of operations or cash flows.

        In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, "Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements" ("SFAS 160"). SFAS 160 will change the accounting for minority interests, which will be recharacterized as noncontrolling interests and classified by the parent company as a component of equity. This statement is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2008, with early adoption prohibited. Upon adoption, SFAS 160 requires retroactive adoption of the presentation and disclosure requirements for existing minority interests and prospective adoption for all other requirements. The Company is currently assessing the impact of SFAS 160 on the Company's consolidated financial position and results of operations.

16.    COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

        In the ordinary course of business, the Company is party to litigation.

49



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

16.    COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Continued)

        On November 15, 2006, the Parent received a subpoena from the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice issued in connection with an ongoing criminal investigation of bid rigging of awards of municipal GICs. On November 16, 2006, the Company received a subpoena from the SEC related to an ongoing industry-wide investigation concerning the bidding of municipal GICs. The subpoenas requested that the Parent and the Company furnish to the DOJ and SEC records and other information with respect to the Parent's municipal GIC business.

        On February 4, 2008, the Parent received a "Wells Notice" from the staff of the Philadelphia Regional Office of the SEC relating to the SEC's investigation concerning the bidding of municipal GICs. 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 the Parent, alleging violations of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Rule 10b-5 thereunder and Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

        As previously disclosed, between March and July 2008 seven putative class action lawsuits were filed in federal court alleging antitrust violations in the municipal derivatives industry; an eighth was filed later in July, 2008. Five of these cases name both the Parent and the Company:

        Three of the cases name the Parent only: (a)  City of Oakland, California, v. AIG Financial Products Corp. (filed on or about April 23, 2008 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ("N.D. Cal."), Case No. 3:08-cv-2116, transferred to the S.D.N.Y. as Case No. 1:08-cv-6340); (b)  County of Alameda, California v. AIG Financial Products Corp. (filed on or about July 8, 2008 in the N.D. Cal., Case No. 3:08-cv-3278, transferred to the S.D.N.Y. as Case No. 1:08-cv-7034); and (c)  City of Fresno, California v. AIG Financial Products Corp. (filed on or about July 17, 2008 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, Case No. 1.08-cv-1045, transferred to the S.D.N.Y. as Case No. 1:08-cv-7355).

        These cases have been coordinated and consolidated for pretrial proceedings in the S.D.N.Y. as MDL 1950, In re Municipal Derivatives Antitrust Litigation, Case No. 1:08-cv-2516 ("MDL 1950"). Interim lead counsel for the MDL 1950 plaintiffs filed a Consolidated Class Action Complaint ("Consolidated Complaint") in August 2008 alleging violations of the federal antitrust laws. Defendants filed motions to dismiss the Consolidated Complaint. Plaintiffs Oakland, Alameda, and Fresno also allege violations under California law, and the MDL 1950 court has determined that it will handle

50



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

16.    COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Continued)


federal claims alleged in the Consolidated Complaint before addressing state claims. 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.

        The Parent and the Company also are named in five non-class actions originally filed in the California Superior Courts alleging violations of California law related to the municipal derivatives industry:

        These five cases have been removed to federal court, and plaintiffs have filed motions to remand all five actions to the state courts in which the cases were filed. The first hearing on a motion to remand has occurred, but the court has not yet issued a ruling. Defendants have noticed each of the removed cases as a tag-along action to MDL 1950, and the parties have completed briefing plaintiffs' opposition to the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation's ("JPML") conditional transfer of the Los Angeles and Stockton actions to MDL 1950 in the S.D.N.Y. These conditional transfer motions and plaintiffs' oppositions to them are scheduled to be addressed at a JPML hearing session in November. 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 the Company, were named as defendants in two civil actions 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: (i)  Charles E. Wilson vs. JPMorgan Chase & Co et al (filed on or about August 8, 2008 in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Alabama), Case No. 01-CV-2008-901907.00, a putative class action; and State of Alabama, ex. rel. Fowler, et al vs. Blount, Parrish & Roton, et al (filed on or about August 28, 2008 in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Alabama), Case No. 01-CV-2008-002780.00. The actions were brought on behalf of rate payers, tax payers and citizens residing in Jefferson County, as well as, in the

51



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

16.    COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Continued)


Fowler action, Citizens for Sewer Accountability, Inc., a not for profit corporation. The first action alleges conspiracy and fraud, and the second alleges corruption and bribery, both in connection with the issuance of the County's debt. The complaints in these lawsuits seek unspecified monetary damages, interest, attorneys' fees and other costs, as well as, in the Fowler matter, a revocation of FSA's charter. The Company cannot reasonably estimate the possible loss or range of loss that may arise from these lawsuits.

        The Parent has also received various regulatory inquiries and requests for information. These include subpoenas duces tecum and interrogatories from the State of Connecticut Attorney General related to antitrust concerns associated with the municipal rating scales employed by Moody's and a proposal by Moody's to assign corporate equivalent ratings to municipal obligations.

17.    EXPOSURE TO MONOLINES

        The tables below summarize the exposure to each financial guaranty monoline insurer by exposure category and the underlying ratings of the Company's insured risks.

Summary of Exposure to Monolines

 
  At September 30, 2008  
 
  Insured Portfolios    
 
 
  FSA
Insured Par
Outstanding(1)
  Ceded Par
Outstanding
  General
Investment
Portfolio(2)
 
 
  (in millions)
  (in thousands)
 

Assured Guaranty Re Ltd. 

  $ 997   $ 33,715   $ 84,233  

Radian Asset Assurance Inc. 

    97     25,189     1,941  

RAM Reinsurance Co. Ltd. 

        12,160      

Syncora Guarantee Inc. 

    1,444     4,797     33,713  

CIFG Assurance North America Inc. 

    199     1,977     25,882  

Ambac Assurance Corporation

    5,055     1,218     621,579  

ACA Financial Guaranty Corporation

    20     949      

Financial Guaranty Insurance Company

    5,513     282     385,993  

MBIA Insurance Corporation(3)

    4,198         582,704  
               
 

Total

  $ 17,523   $ 80,287   $ 1,736,045  
               

(1)
Represents transactions with second-to-pay FSA insurance that were previously insured by other monolines. Based on net par outstanding. Includes credit derivatives in the insured portfolio.

(2)
Based on amortized cost, which includes write-down of securities that were deemed to be OTTI.

(3)
In addition to amounts shown on the table, the VIE Investment Portfolio includes a bond insured by MBIA Insurance Corporation that has an amortized cost of $12.6 million.

52



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

17.    EXPOSURE TO MONOLINES (Continued)

Exposures to Monolines and Ratings of Underlying Risks

 
  At September 30, 2008  
 
  Insured Portfolios(1)    
 
 
  FSA
Insured Par
Outstanding(2)
  Ceded Par
Outstanding
  General
Investment
Portfolio(3)
 
 
  (in millions)
  (in thousands)
 

Assured Guaranty Re Ltd.

                   
 

Exposure(4)

  $ 997   $ 33,715   $ 84,233  
   

Triple-A

    %   6 %   2 %
   

Double-A

    10     40      
   

Single-A

    27     36     81  
   

Triple-B

    22     16     17  
   

Below Investment Grade

    41     2      

Radian Asset Assurance Inc.

                   
 

Exposure(4)

  $ 97   $ 25,189   $ 1,941  
   

Triple-A

    4 %   8 %   %
   

Double-A

        42     100  
   

Single-A

    14     39      
   

Triple-B

    57     10      
   

Below Investment Grade

    25     1      

RAM Reinsurance Co. Ltd.

                   
 

Exposure(4)

  $   $ 12,160   $  
   

Triple-A

    %   14 %   %
   

Double-A

        41      
   

Single-A

        32      
   

Triple-B

        11      
   

Below Investment Grade

        2      

Syncora Guarantee Inc.

                   
 

Exposure(4)

  $ 1,444   $ 4,797   $ 33,713  
   

Triple-A

    29 %   %   %
   

Double-A

        12     17  
   

Single-A

    24     37     80  
   

Triple-B

    24     51      
   

Below Investment Grade

    23          
   

Not Rated

            3  

53



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

17.    EXPOSURE TO MONOLINES (Continued)

 
  At September 30, 2008  
 
  Insured Portfolios(1)    
 
 
  FSA
Insured Par
Outstanding(2)
  Ceded Par
Outstanding
  General
Investment
Portfolio(3)
 
 
  (in millions)
  (in thousands)
 

CIFG Assurance North America Inc.

                   
 

Exposure(4)

  $ 199   $ 1,977   $ 25,882  
   

Triple-A

    %   2 %   %
   

Double-A

    2     27      
   

Single-A

    9     36     100  
   

Triple-B

    89     31      
   

Below Investment Grade

        4      

Ambac Assurance Corporation

                   
 

Exposure(4)

  $ 5,055   $ 1,218   $ 621,579  
   

Triple-A

    6 %     %   %
   

Double-A

    41     8     41  
   

Single-A

    33     37     54  
   

Triple-B

    13     55     4  
   

Below Investment Grade

    7     0     1  

ACA Financial Guaranty Corporation

                   
 

Exposure(4)

  $ 20   $ 949   $  
   

Triple-A

    %   %   %
   

Double-A

    65     73      
   

Single-A

        26      
   

Triple-B

    10     1      
   

Below Investment Grade

    25          

Financial Guaranty Insurance Company

                   
 

Exposure(4)

  $ 5,513   $ 282   $ 385,993  
   

Triple-A

    %   %   %
   

Double-A

    32         32  
   

Single-A

    57     100     65  
   

Triple-B

    9         3  
   

Below Investment Grade

    2          

54



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

17.    EXPOSURE TO MONOLINES (Continued)

 
  At September 30, 2008  
 
  Insured Portfolios(1)    
 
 
  FSA
Insured Par
Outstanding(2)
  Ceded Par
Outstanding
  General
Investment
Portfolio(3)
 
 
  (in millions)
  (in thousands)
 

MBIA Insurance Corporation

                   
 

Exposure(4)

  $ 4,198   $   $ 582,704  
   

Triple-A

    %   %   %
   

Double-A

    53         45  
   

Single-A

    13         48  
   

Triple-B

    34         5  
   

Below Investment Grade

            2  

(1)
Ratings are based on internal ratings.

(2)
Represents transactions with second-to-pay FSA insurance that were previously insured by other monolines.

(3)
Ratings are based on the lower of S&P or Moody's.

(4)
Represent par balances for the insured portfolios and amortized cost for the investment portfolios.

        In July 2008, the Company agreed to re-assume all reinsurance ceded to SGR, which consisted of $8.4 billion in outstanding par, in exchange for the June 30, 2008 statutory-basis ceded unearned premium, net of its applicable ceding commission, any case basis reserves established at that date and a $35.0 million commutation premium. The Company agreed to cede a portion of this business, approximately $6.4 billion of outstanding par with no outstanding case basis reserves, to Syncora Guarantee Inc. ("SGI"), an affiliate of SGR, as of the re-assumption date. Ceded net unearned premiums and future ceded case reserves are secured by collateral then held in a trust. Since SGI was an affiliate of SGR, The Company did not consider the portion of the business bought back from SGR and subsequently ceded to SGI as commuted and as a result did not record any commutation gain on that portion of the business. The Company recorded a commutation gain of $10.0 million on the business it retained, which was recorded in other income in the statement of operations and comprehensive income. In the third quarter 2008, $14.3 million of earned premium related to this commutation.

        In September 2008, the Company agreed to re-assume a portion of the business it ceded to SGI in July for the statutory basis ceded unearned premium, net of its applicable ceding commissions. This resulted in a commutation gain of $10 million, which was recorded in other income in the statement of operations and comprehensive income. In the third quarter of 2008, $1.5 million of earned premium related to this commutation.

        Due to a liquidation order against Bluepoint RE, Limited ("Bluepoint"), the Company is treating all reinsurance ceded to Bluepoint as cancelled as of the date of its liquidation order. The ceded statutory basis unearned premium and case basis reserves with Bluepoint were secured by collateral in a trust and as a result the Company was able to take credit for such balances. Subsequent to

55



FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (Continued)

17.    EXPOSURE TO MONOLINES (Continued)


September 30, 2008, the Company drew down on a portion of the collateral equal to the net statutory basis unearned premium and case basis reserves. In the third quarter 2008, $9.4 million of earned premium related to this commutation.

        In September of 2008, the Company commuted substantially all its ceded and assumed business with Financial Guaranty Insurance Company ("FGIC"). In the third quarter 2008, $1.2 million of earned premium related to this commutation.

18.    OTHER INCOME

        The following table shows the components of other income. In 2008, other income included $20.0 million related to commutation gains (See Note 16).

 
  Nine Months Ended September 30,  
 
  2008   2007  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Realized foreign exchange gain (loss)

  $ 1,835   $ 8,789  

Commutation gain

    20,000      

Net realized gains (losses) from assets acquired in refinancing transactions

    (4,383 )   1,439  

Other

    4,437     3,993  
           
 

Subtotal

  $ 21,889   $ 14,221  
           

19.    SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

        On November 14, 2008, Dexia announced that Dexia and Assured Guaranty Ltd. ("Assured Guaranty") have entered into a purchase agreement for Assured Guaranty to acquire all of Dexia's shares of the Company, subject to the completion of specified closing conditions, including receipt of regulatory and Assured Guaranty shareholder approvals and confirmation from S&P, Moody's and Fitch Guaranty that the acquisition of the Company would not have a negative impact on the financial strength ratings of Assured insurance companies or the Company's insurance subsidiaries. Management is evaluating the potential effect on the consolidated financial statements for the fourth quarter of 2008.

56




QuickLinks

INDEX
FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited) (in thousands, except share data)
FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (unaudited) (in thousands)
FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited) (in thousands)
FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)