Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Forward Looking Statements
This Form 10-Q contains information that includes or is based upon forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward looking statements give the expectations or forecasts of future events of Assured Guaranty Ltd. (AGL) and its subsidiaries (collectively with AGL, Assured Guaranty or the Company). These statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and relate to future operating or financial performance.
Any or all of Assured Guaranty’s forward looking statements herein are based on current expectations and the current economic environment and may turn out to be incorrect. Assured Guaranty’s actual results may vary materially. Among factors that could cause actual results to differ adversely are:
• the development, course and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and the governmental and private actions taken in response, the effectiveness, acceptance and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, and the global consequences of the pandemic and such actions, including their impact on the factors listed below ;
• changes in the world’s credit markets, segments thereof, interest rates, credit spreads or general economic conditions;
• developments in the world’s financial and capital markets that adversely affect insured obligors’ repayment rates, Assured Guaranty’s insurance loss or recovery experience, investments of Assured Guaranty or assets it manages;
• reduction in the amount of available insurance opportunities and/or in the demand for Assured Guaranty's insurance;
• the loss of investors in Assured Guaranty's asset management strategies or the failure to attract new investors to Assured Guaranty's asset management business;
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• the possibility that budget or pension shortfalls or other factors will result in credit losses or impairments on obligations of state, territorial and local governments and their related authorities and public corporations that Assured Guaranty insures or reinsures;
• insured losses in excess of those expected by Assured Guaranty or the failure of Assured Guaranty to realize loss recoveries that are assumed in its expected loss estimates for insurance exposures, including as a result of the failure to resolve Assured Guaranty's Puerto Rico exposure in a manner substantially consistent with the support agreements signed to date;
• increased competition, including from new entrants into the financial guaranty industry;
• poor performance of Assured Guaranty's asset management strategies compared to the performance of the asset management strategies of Assured Guaranty's competitors;
• the possibility that investments made by Assured Guaranty for its investment portfolio, including alternative investments and investments it manages, do not result in the benefits anticipated or subject Assured Guaranty to reduced liquidity at a time it requires liquidity or to unanticipated consequences;
• the impact of market volatility on the mark-to-market of Assured Guaranty’s assets and liabilities subject to mark-to-market, including certain of its investments, most of its contracts written in credit default swap (CDS) form, and variable interest entities (VIEs) as well as on the mark-to-market of assets Assured Guaranty manages;
• rating agency action, including a ratings downgrade, a change in outlook, the placement of ratings on watch for downgrade, or a change in rating criteria, at any time, of AGL or any of its insurance subsidiaries, and/or of any securities AGL or any of its subsidiaries have issued, and/or of transactions that AGL’s insurance subsidiaries have insured;
• the inability of Assured Guaranty to access external sources of capital on acceptable terms;
• changes in applicable accounting policies or practices;
• changes in applicable laws or regulations, including insurance, bankruptcy and tax laws, or other governmental actions;
• the failure of Assured Guaranty to successfully integrate the business of BlueMountain Capital Management, LLC (BlueMountain, now known as Assured Investment Management LLC) and its associated entities;
• the possibility that acquisitions made by Assured Guaranty, including its acquisition of BlueMountain (BlueMountain Acquisition), do not result in the benefits anticipated or subject Assured Guaranty to unanticipated consequences;
• difficulties with the execution of Assured Guaranty’s business strategy;
• loss of key personnel;
• the effects of mergers, acquisitions and divestitures;
• natural or man-made catastrophes or pandemics;
• other risk factors identified in AGL’s filings with the United States (U.S.) Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC);
• other risks and uncertainties that have not been identified at this time; and
• management’s response to these factors.
The foregoing review of important factors should not be construed as exhaustive, and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in this Form 10-Q, as well as the risk factors included in AGL's 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or review any forward looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law. Investors are advised, however, to consult any further disclosures the Company makes on related subjects in the Company’s reports filed with the SEC.
If one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or if the Company’s underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may vary materially from what the Company projected. Any forward looking statements in this Form 10-Q reflect the Company’s current views with respect to future events and are subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to its operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity.
For these statements, the Company claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act).
Available Information
The Company maintains an Internet web site at www.assuredguaranty.com . The Company makes available, free of charge, on its web site (under www.assuredguaranty.com/sec-filings ) the Company's annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to
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Section 13 (a) or 15 (d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company files such material with, or furnishes it to, the SEC. The Company also makes available, free of charge, through its web site (under www.assuredguaranty.com/governance ) links to the Company's Corporate Governance Guidelines, its Global Code of Ethics, AGL's Bye-Laws and the charters for its Board committees. In addition, the SEC maintains an Internet site (at www.sec.gov ) that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC.
The Company routinely posts important information for investors on its web site (under www.assuredguaranty.com/company-statements and, more generally, under the Investor Information tab at www.assuredguaranty.com/investor-information and Businesses tab at www.assuredguaranty.com/businesses ). The Company also maintains a social media account on LinkedIn ( www.linkedin.com/company/assured-guaranty/ ). The Company uses its web site and may use its social media account as a means of disclosing material information and for complying with its disclosure obligations under SEC Regulation FD (Fair Disclosure). Accordingly, investors should monitor the Company Statements, Investor Information and Businesses portions of the Company's web site as well as the Company's social media account on LinkedIn, in addition to following the Company's press releases, SEC filings, public conference calls, presentations and webcasts.
The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, the Company's web site or social media account is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this report.
Overview
Business
The Company reports its results of operations in two distinct segments, Insurance and Asset Management, consistent with the manner in which the Company's chief operating decision maker (CODM) reviews the business to assess performance and allocate resources. The Company's Corporate division activities are presented separately.
In the Insurance segment, the Company provides credit protection products to the U.S. and international public finance (including infrastructure) and structured finance markets. The Company applies its credit underwriting judgment, risk management skills and capital markets experience primarily to offer credit protection products to holders of debt instruments and other monetary obligations that protect them from defaults in scheduled payments. If an obligor defaults on a scheduled payment due on an obligation, including a scheduled debt service payment, the Company is required under its unconditional and irrevocable financial guaranty to pay the amount of the shortfall to the holder of the obligation. The Company markets its credit protection products directly to issuers and underwriters of public finance and structured finance securities as well as to investors in such obligations. The Company guarantees obligations issued principally in the U.S. and the United Kingdom (U.K.), and also guarantees obligations issued in other countries and regions, including Western Europe, Canada and Australia. The Company also provides other forms of insurance that are consistent with its risk profile and benefit from its underwriting experience. Premiums are earned over the contractual lives, or in the case of homogeneous pools of insured obligations, the remaining expected lives, of financial guaranty insurance contracts.
In the Asset Management segment, the Company provides investment advisory services, which include the management of collateralized loan obligations (CLOs), opportunity and liquid asset strategy funds, as well as certain legacy hedge and opportunity funds now subject to an orderly wind-down. Assured Investment Management LLC (AssuredIM LLC) and its investment management affiliates (together with AssuredIM LLC, AssuredIM) has managed structured, public finance and credit investments since 2003. AssuredIM provides investment advisory services while leveraging a technology-enabled risk platform, which aims to maximize returns for its clients. The establishment, in the fourth quarter of 2019, of the Asset Management segment diversifies the risk profile and revenue opportunities of the Company. As of March 31, 2021, AssuredIM had $17.5 billion of assets under management (AUM), including $1.2 billion that is managed on behalf of the Company's insurance subsidiaries.
Fees in respect of investment advisory services are the largest component of revenues for the Asset Management segment. AssuredIM is compensated for its investment advisory services generally through management fees which are based on AUM, and may also earn performance fees calculated as a percentage of net profits or based on an internal rate of return referencing distributions made to investors, in each case, in respect of funds, CLOs and/or accounts which it advises.
The Corporate division consists primarily of interest expense on the debt of Assured Guaranty US Holdings Inc. (AGUS) and Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings Inc. (AGMH) (the U.S. Holding Companies), as well as other operating expenses attributed to holding company activities, including administrative services performed by operating subsidiaries for the holding companies.
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The Company reviews its segment results before giving effect to the consolidation of financial guaranty VIEs (FG VIEs) and consolidated investment vehicles (CIVs), intersegment eliminations and certain reclassifications.
Economic Environment and Impact of COVID-19
The novel coronavirus that emerged in Wuhan, China in late 2019 and which causes the coronavirus disease known as COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization in early 2020 and continues to spread throughout the world. Several vaccines have been developed and approved by governments, and distribution of vaccines is proceeding unevenly across the globe. The emergence of COVID-19 and reactions to it, including various closures and capacity and travel restrictions, have had a profound effect on the global economy and financial markets. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been impacting the global economy and the Company for over a year now, its ultimate size, depth, course and duration, and the effectiveness, acceptance and distribution of vaccines for it, remain unknown, and the governmental and private responses to the pandemic continue to evolve. Consequently, and due to the nature of the Company's business, all of the direct and indirect consequences of COVID-19 on the Company are not yet fully known to the Company, and still may not emerge for some time.
As a consequence of the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic activity in the U.S. and throughout the world slowed significantly in early to mid-2020, but began to recover later in the year and, at least in the U.S., continued to expand in the three-month period ended March 31, 2021 (First Quarter 2021). In March 2021, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) reported that real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 4.3% in the fourth quarter of 2020. In its initial estimate, the BEA reported that GDP increased 6.4% for First Quarter 2021. At the end of March 2021, the U.S. unemployment rate, seasonally adjusted, stood at 6.0%, down from 6.7% at the beginning of the period and a pandemic high of 14.7% in April 2020.
In addition to providing for direct payments to individuals, the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, signed into law on March 11, 2021, allocates $350 billion dollars in emergency funding for state, local, territorial, and tribal governments (including nearly $220 billion for states, the District of Columbia, tribes and territories), $130 billion for local governments and nearly $40 billion for colleges and universities. Both the expanding economy evidenced by the GDP and unemployment figures above and the funds from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 will help, either directly or indirectly, many of the obligors of debt the Company insures, which we expect should reduce the number and size of payment defaults and claims on the Company’s insurance policies.
The level and direction of interest rates impact the Company in numerous ways. For example, low interest rates may make the Company’s credit enhancement products less attractive in the market and reduce the level of premiums it can charge for that product, and, over time, also reduce the amount the Company can earn on its largely fixed-income investment portfolio. Specifically, the level of interest rates on the U.S. municipal bonds the Company enhances influences how high a premium the Company can charge for its public finance financial guaranty insurance product, with lower interest rates generally lowering the premium rates the Company may charge. On the other hand, low interest rates increase the amount of excess spread available to support the distressed residential-mortgage-backed securities the Company insures.
The 30-year AAA Municipal Market Data (MMD) rate is a measure of interest rates in the Company's largest financial guaranty insurance market, U.S. public finance. The 30-year AAA MMD rate started First Quarter 2021 at 1.39% and rose towards the middle of the quarter to end the period at 1.75%. Despite the increase, the rate averaged 1.56% throughout the quarter, which is one of the lowest quarterly average rates on record. The Company believes that the policies being pursued by the Federal Reserve are designed to keep general interest rates low. In its March 2021 meeting, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) decided to keep the target range for the federal funds rate at 0% to 0.25%, noting it “expects it will be appropriate to maintain this target range until labor market conditions have reached levels consistent with the Committee’s assessments of maximum employment and inflation has risen to 2 percent and is on track to moderately exceed 2 percent for some time.” In addition, it stated that “the Federal Reserve will continue to increase its holdings of Treasury securities by at least $80 billion per month and of agency mortgage‑backed securities by at least $40 billion per month until substantial further progress has been made toward the Committee’s maximum employment and price stability goals.” At its April 27-28, 2021 meeting, the FOMC kept the federal funds rates unchanged.
The difference, or spread, between the 30-year A-rated General Obligation (GO) relative to the 30-year AAA MMD remained in a tight range of 36-39 basis points (bps) (with an average of 37.5 bps) for the quarter. BBB credit spreads measured on the same basis started the year at 108 bps but narrowed throughout the quarter ending at 78 bps. Both the A and BBB spreads were some of the narrowest levels in over a decade. A larger credit spread is one factor that may allow the Company to charge higher premiums for its public finance financial guaranty insurance product.
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The National Association of Realtors reported that median existing-home sales prices hit a historic high in March 2021 of $329,100, rising by a “record-breaking annual pace of 17.2%”, with all regions posting double-digit price gains. As of the end of March, housing inventory remained at 1.07 million units, close to a record-low of 1.03 million units seen in February 2021 when it was down by 29.5% year-over-year – a record decline. Properties typically sold in 18 days, also a record low. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index, covering all nine U.S. census divisions, reported a 12.0% annual gain in February (the latest data available), up from 11.2% in the previous month. The 20-City Composite posted an 11.9% year-over-year gain, up from 11.1% in the previous month. Home prices in the U.S. impact the performance of the Company's insured residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) portfolio. Improved home prices generally result in fewer losses or more reimbursements with respect to the Company's distressed insured RMBS risks.
The Company believes that state and local governments and entities that were already experiencing significant budget deficits and pension funding and revenue shortfalls, as well as obligations supported by revenue streams most impacted by various closures and capacity and travel restrictions or an economic downturn, are most at risk for increased claims. The Company's surveillance department has established supplemental periodic surveillance procedures to monitor the impact on its insured portfolio of COVID-19 and governmental and private responses to COVID-19, with emphasis on state and local governments and entities that were already experiencing significant budget deficits and pension funding and revenue shortfalls, as well as obligations supported by revenue streams most impacted by various closures and capacity and travel restrictions and related restrictions or an economic downturn. In addition, the Company's surveillance department has been in contact with certain of its credits that it believes may be more at risk from COVID-19 and governmental and private responses to COVID-19. The Company's internal ratings and loss projections for those distressed credits it believes are most likely to be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including RMBS, Puerto Rico and certain other distressed public finance exposures, reflect this augmented surveillance activity. For information about how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the Company's loss projections, see Item 1, Financial Statements, Note 4, Expected Loss to be Paid (Recovered). Through May 6, 2021, the Company has paid only relatively small first-time insurance claims it believes are due at least in part to credit stress arising specifically from COVID-19. The Company currently projects nearly full reimbursement of these relatively small claims.
The Company believes its financial guaranty business model is particularly well-suited to withstand global economic disruptions. If an insured obligor defaults, the Company is required to pay only any shortfall in interest and principal on scheduled payment dates; the Company’s policies forbid acceleration of its obligations without its consent. In addition, many of the obligations the Company insures benefit from debt service reserve funds or other funding sources from which interest and principal may be paid during limited periods of stress, providing the obligor with an opportunity to recover. While the Company believes its guaranty may support the market value of an insured obligation in comparison to a similar uninsured obligation, the Company’s ultimate loss on a defaulted insured obligation is not a function of that underlying obligation’s market price. Rather, the Company’s ultimate loss is the sum of all principal and interest payments it makes under its policy less the sum of all reimbursements, subrogation payments and other recoveries it receives from the obligor or any other sources in connection with the obligation. For contracts accounted for as insurance, its expected losses equal the discounted value of all claim payments it projects making less the discounted value of all recoveries it expects to receive, on a probability-weighted basis. See Item 1, Financial Statements, Note 4, Expected Loss to be Paid (Recovered).
The nature of the financial guaranty business model, which requires the Company to pay only any shortfall in interest and principal on scheduled payment dates, along with the Company’s liquidity practices, reduce the need for the Company to sell investment assets in periods of market distress. As of March 31, 2021, the Company had $ 701 million of short-term investments and $ 95 million of cash. In addition, the Company’s investment portfolio generates cash over time through interest and principal receipts.
The Company began operating remotely in accordance with its business continuity plan in March 2020, instituting mandatory work-from-home policies in its U.S., U.K. and Bermuda offices. The Company is providing the services and communications it normally would, and continues to close new insurance transactions and make insurance claim payments and, in its asset management business, make trades and raise funds.
Key Business Strategies
The Company continually evaluates its business strategies. For example, with the establishment of AssuredIM the Company has increased its focus on asset management and alternative investments. Currently, the Company is pursuing the following key business strategies in three areas: (1) Insurance, (2) Asset Management and Alternative Investments, and (3) Capital Management.
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Insurance
The Company seeks to grow the insurance business through new business production, acquisitions of remaining legacy monolines or reinsurance of their portfolios, and to continue to mitigate losses in its current insured portfolio.
Growth of the Insured Portfolio
The Company seeks to grow its insurance portfolio through new business production in each of its three markets: U.S. public finance, international infrastructure and global structured finance. The Company believes high-profile defaults by municipal obligors, such as Puerto Rico, Detroit, Michigan and Stockton, California as well as events such as the COVID-19 pandemic have led to increased awareness of the value of bond insurance and stimulated demand for the product. The Company believes there will be continued demand for its insurance in this market because, for those exposures that the Company guarantees, it undertakes the tasks of credit selection, analysis, negotiation of terms, surveillance and, if necessary, loss mitigation. The Company believes that its insurance:
• encourages retail investors, who typically have fewer resources than the Company for analyzing municipal bonds, to purchase such bonds;
• enables institutional investors to operate more efficiently; and
• allows smaller, less well-known issuers to gain market access on a more cost-effective basis.
On the other hand, the persistently low interest rate environment and relatively tight U.S. municipal credit spreads have dampened demand for bond insurance compared to the levels before the 2008 financial crisis, and provisions in legislation known as the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, such as the reduction in corporate tax rates, have made municipal obligations less attractive to certain institutional investors. The Company believes that some of the U.S. federal tax increases recently proposed could, if enacted, make municipal obligations more attractive to both institutional and retail investors.
In certain segments of the global infrastructure and structured finance markets the Company believes its financial guaranty product is competitive with other financing options. For example, certain investors may receive advantageous capital requirement treatment with the addition of the Company’s guaranty. The Company considers its involvement in both international infrastructure and structured finance transactions to be beneficial because such transactions diversify both the Company's business opportunities and its risk profile beyond U.S. public finance. The timing of new business production in the international infrastructure and structured finance sectors is influenced by typically long lead times and therefore may vary from period to period.
While volatility and dislocation in the municipal finance market in the U.S. resulted in the Company issuing a reduced number of new insurance policies in late March and into April 2020 compared to the prior year, the Company began writing a higher volume of new insurance business as 2020 progressed, and the trend continued into First Quarter 2021. The $5.5 billion of municipal new issue par sold with the Company's insurance was the most the Company insured in any first quarter since 2010, and the Company's 65% share of insured municipal par sold was better than the Company's market share in any quarter since 2014. See "-- Results of Operations by Segment -- Insurance Segment" below.
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U.S. Municipal Market Data and Bond Insurance Penetration Rates (1)
Based on Sale Date
First Quarter 2021 First Quarter 2020 Year Ended December 31, 2020
(dollars in billions, except number of issues and percent)
Par:
New municipal bonds issued $ 104.5 $ 87.8 $ 451.8
Total insured $ 8.5 $ 4.8 $ 34.2
Insured by Assured Guaranty $ 5.5 $ 2.3 $ 19.7
Number of issues:
New municipal bonds issued 2,698 2,119 11,857
Total insured 514 360 2,140
Insured by Assured Guaranty 252 161 982
Bond insurance market penetration based on:
Par 8.1 % 5.5 % 7.6 %
Number of issues 19.1 % 17.0 % 18.0 %
Single A par sold 27.0 % 19.1 % 28.3 %
Single A transactions sold 56.7 % 52.6 % 54.3 %
$25 million and under par sold 21.3 % 20.4 % 20.9 %
$25 million and under transactions sold 21.9 % 20.8 % 21.0 %
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(1) Source: The amounts in the table are those reported by Thomson Reuters. The table excludes Corporate-CUSIP transactions insured by Assured Guaranty, which the Company also considers to be public finance business.
The Company also considers opportunities to acquire financial guaranty portfolios, whether by acquiring financial guarantors who are no longer actively writing new business or their insured portfolios. These transactions enable the Company to improve its future earnings and deploy excess capital.
Loss Mitigation
In an effort to avoid, reduce or recover losses and potential losses in its insurance portfolios, the Company employs a number of strategies.
In the public finance area, the Company believes its experience and the resources it is prepared to deploy, as well as its ability to provide bond insurance or other contributions as part of a solution, result in more favorable outcomes in distressed public finance situations than would be the case without its participation. This has been illustrated by the Company's role in the Detroit, Michigan; Stockton, California; and Jefferson County, Alabama financial crises, and more recently by the Company's role in negotiating the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) restructuring support agreement (RSA) (PREPA RSA) and the Puerto Rico Sales Tax Financing Corporation (COFINA) plan of adjustment. The Company will also, where appropriate, pursue litigation to enforce its rights, and it has initiated a number of legal actions to enforce its rights with respect to obligations of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (Commonwealth) and various obligations of its related authorities and public corporations.
On May 5, 2021, Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp. (AGM) and Assured Guaranty Corp. (AGC) entered into a plan support agreement (HTA/CCDA PSA) with certain other stakeholders, the Commonwealth, and the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico (FOMB) with respect to the Puerto Rico Highways and Transportation Authority (PRHTA) and the Puerto Rico Convention Center District Authority (PRCCDA). On February 22, 2021, AGM and AGC agreed to support the revised Puerto Rico General Obligation (GO) and Public Buildings Authority (PBA) plan support agreement (GO/PBA PSA, and together with the HTA/CCDA PSA and the PREPA RSA, Support Agreements) subject to reaching a satisfactory resolution with respect to the PRHTA and PRCCDA bonds. With the signing of the HTA/CCDA PSA and the expiration of the related termination rights of AGM and AGC under the GO/PBA PSA, AGM and AGC became bound to the GO/PBA PSA. As a consequence, 93.5% of Assured Guaranty’s net par outstanding to Puerto Rico credits as of March 31, 2021, is now covered by a Support Agreement. The closings of the transactions contemplated by each of the Support Agreements are subject to a number of conditions, including approval by the Title III court of the related plans of adjustment and execution of acceptable final documentation, and there can be no assurance that the resolutions contemplated by the
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Support Agreements will be achieved, but the Company believes these developments mark a milestone in its Puerto Rico loss mitigation efforts. For more information about developments in Puerto Rico and related recovery litigation being pursued by the Company, see Item 1, Financial Statements, Note 3, Outstanding Exposure and the Insured Portfolio section below.
The Company is currently working with the servicers of some of the RMBS it insures to encourage the servicers to provide alternatives to distressed borrowers that will encourage them to continue making payments on their loans to help improve the performance of the related RMBS.
In some instances, the terms of the Company's policy give it the option to pay principal on an accelerated basis on an obligation on which it has paid a claim, thereby reducing the amount of guaranteed interest due in the future. The Company has at times exercised this option, which uses cash but reduces projected future losses. The Company may also facilitate the issuance of refunding bonds, by either providing insurance on the refunding bonds or purchasing refunding bonds, or both. Refunding bonds may provide the issuer with payment relief.
Asset Management and Alternative Investments
AssuredIM is a diversified asset manager that serves as investment adviser to CLOs, opportunity and liquid strategy funds, as well as certain legacy hedge and opportunity funds now subject to an orderly wind-down. As of March 31, 2021, AssuredIM is a top-twenty five CLO manager by AUM, as published by CreditFlux. AssuredIM is actively pursuing opportunity strategies focused on healthcare and asset-based lending and liquid strategies relating to municipal obligations.
Over time, the Company seeks to broaden and further diversify its Asset Management segment leading to increased AUM and a fee-generating platform. The Company intends to leverage the AssuredIM infrastructure and platform to grow its Asset Management segment both organically and through strategic combinations.
The Company monitors certain operating metrics that are common to the asset management industry. These operating metrics include, but are not limited to, funded AUM and unfunded capital commitments (together, AUM) and investment advisory management and performance fees. The Company considers the categorization of its AUM by product type to be a useful lens in monitoring the Asset Management segment. AUM by product type assists in measuring the duration of AUM for which the Asset Management segment has the potential to earn management fees and performance fees. For a discussion of the metric AUM, please see “— Results of Operations by Segment — Asset Management Segment.”
Additionally, the Company believes that AssuredIM provides the Company an opportunity to deploy excess capital at attractive returns improving the risk-adjusted return on a portion of the investment portfolio and potentially increasing the amount of dividends certain of its insurance subsidiaries are permitted to pay under applicable regulations. The Company allocated $750 million of capital to invest in funds managed by AssuredIM plus $550 million of general account assets now managed by AssuredIM under an Investment Management Agreement (IMA). The Company is using these allocations to (a) launch new products (CLOs, opportunity funds and liquid strategy funds) on the AssuredIM platform and (b) enhance the returns of its own investment portfolio.
As of March 31, 2021, AG Asset Strategies LLC (AGAS) had committed $587 million to funds managed by AssuredIM (AssuredIM Funds), including $252 million that has yet to be funded. This capital was committed to several funds, each dedicated to a single strategy including CLOs, asset-based finance, healthcare structured capital and municipal bonds.
Under the IMA with AssuredIM, AGM and AGC have together allocated $250 million to municipal obligation strategies and $300 million to CLO strategies. All of these strategies are consistent with the investment strengths of AssuredIM and the Company's plans to continue to grow its investment strategies.
Capital Management
The Company has developed strategies to efficiently manage capital within the Assured Guaranty group.
From 2013 through May 6, 2021, the Company has repurchased 124.1 million common shares for approximately $3,767 million, representing approximately 64% of the total shares outstanding at the beginning of the repurchase program in 2013. On November 2, 2020, the Board of Directors (the Board) authorized an additional $250 million of share repurchases. Under this and previous authorizations, as of May 6, 2021, the Company was authorized to purchase $147 million of its common shares. Shares may be repurchased from time to time in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. The timing, form and amount of the share repurchases under the program are at the discretion of management and will depend on a variety of factors, including funds available at the parent company, other potential uses for such funds, market conditions, the
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Company's capital position, legal requirements and other factors, some of which factors may be impacted by the direct and indirect consequences of the course and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and evolving governmental and private responses to the pandemic. The repurchase program may be modified, extended or terminated by the Board at any time and it does not have an expiration date. See Item 1, Financial Statements, Note 14, Shareholders' Equity, for additional information about the Company's repurchases of its common shares.
Summary of Share Repurchases
Amount Number of Shares Average price
per share
(in millions, except per share data)
2013 - 2020 $ 3,662 121.51 $ 30.14
2021 (First Quarter) 77 1.99 38.83
2021 (through May 6) 28 0.61 45.57
Cumulative repurchases since the beginning of 2013 $ 3,767 124.11 $ 30.35
Accretive Effect of Cumulative Repurchases (1)
First Quarter 2021 As of March 31, 2021
(per share)
Net income (loss) attributable to AGL $ 0.22
Adjusted operating income 0.21
Shareholders' equity attributable to AGL $ 33.49
Adjusted operating shareholders' equity 30.26
Adjusted book value 53.20
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(1) Represents the estimated accretive effect of cumulative repurchases since the beginning of 2013.
The Company also considers the appropriate mix of debt and equity in its capital structure, and may repurchase some of its debt from time to time. Since the second quarter of 2017, AGUS has purchased $154 million in principal of AGMH's outstanding Junior Subordinated Debentures. The Company may choose to make additional purchases of this or other Company debt in the future.
MAC Merger
On February 24, 2021, the Company received the last regulatory approval required to merge MAC with and into AGM, with AGM as the surviving company. The merger was effective on April 1, 2021. Upon the merger all direct insurance policies issued by MAC became direct insurance obligations of AGM. As a result, the Company wrote off the $16 million carrying value of MAC's insurance licenses in First Quarter 2021. This restructuring of the Company's U.S. insurance subsidiaries will simplify the organizational and capital structure, reduce costs, and increase the future dividend capacity of the U.S. insurance subsidiaries.
Executive Summary
This executive summary of management’s discussion and analysis highlights selected information and may not contain all of the information that is important to readers of this Quarterly Report. For a more detailed description of events, trends and uncertainties, as well as the capital, liquidity, credit, operational and market risks and the critical accounting policies and estimates affecting the Company, this Quarterly Report should be read in its entirety and in addition to AGL's 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
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Financial Performance of Assured Guaranty
Financial Results
First Quarter
2021 2020
(in millions, except per share amounts)
GAAP
Net income (loss) attributable to AGL $ 11 $ (55)
Net income (loss) attributable to AGL per diluted share $ 0.14 $ (0.59)
Weighted Average diluted shares 77.5 92.6
Non-GAAP
Adjusted operating income (loss) (1) (2) $ 43 $ 33
Adjusted operating income per diluted share (2) $ 0.55 $ 0.36
Weighted Average diluted shares 77.5 93.4
Segment results
Insurance $ 79 $ 85
Asset Management (7) (9)
Corporate (29) (39)
Other — (4)
Adjusted operating income (loss) 43 33
Insurance Segment
Gross written premiums (GWP) $ 87 $ 64
Present value of new business production (PVP) (1)
86 51
Gross par written 5,472 3,033
Asset Management Segment
Inflows-third party $ 873 $ 11
Inflows-intercompany 145 77
As of March 31, 2021 As of December 31, 2020
Amount Per Share Amount Per Share
(in millions, except per share amounts)
Shareholders' equity attributable to AGL $ 6,430 $ 84.67 $ 6,643 $ 85.66
Adjusted operating shareholders' equity (1) 6,032 79.44 6,087 78.49
Adjusted book value (1) 8,851 116.56 8,908 114.87
Gain (loss) related to the effect of consolidating VIEs (VIE consolidation) included in adjusted operating shareholders' equity 1 0.02 2 0.03
Gain (loss) related to VIE consolidation included in adjusted book value (9) (0.12) (8) (0.10)
Common shares outstanding (3) 75.9 77.5
____________________
(1) See “—Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for a definition of the financial measures that were not determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP), a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP measure, if available, and for additional details.
(2) "Adjusted operating income" is the Company's segment measure.
(3) See "— Overview— Key Business Strategies – Capital Management" above for information on common share repurchases.
Several primary drivers of volatility in net income or loss are not necessarily indicative of credit impairment or improvement, or ultimate economic gains or losses such as: changes in credit spreads of insured credit derivative obligations,
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changes in fair value of assets and liabilities of VIEs and committed capital securities (CCS), changes in fair value of credit derivatives related to the Company's own credit spreads, and changes in risk-free rates used to discount expected losses.
Other factors that drive volatility in net income include: changes in expected losses and recoveries, the amount and timing of the refunding and/or termination of insured obligations, realized gains and losses on the investment portfolio (including credit impairment), changes in foreign exchange rates, the effects of large settlements, commutations, acquisitions, the effects of the Company's various loss mitigation strategies, and changes in the fair value of investments in AssuredIM Funds. Changes in the fair value of AssuredIM Funds affect the amount of management and performance fees earned. Changes in laws and regulations, among other factors, may also have a significant effect on reported net income or loss in a given reporting period.
Condensed Consolidated Results of Operations
Condensed Consolidated Results of Operations
Three Months Ended March 31,
2021 2020
Revenues:
Net earned premiums $ 103 $ 103
Net investment income 70 80
Asset management fees 24 23
Net realized investment gains (losses) (3) (5)
Net change in fair value of credit derivatives (19) (77)
Fair value gains (losses) on CCS (19) 48
Fair value gains (losses) on FG VIEs 5 (9)
Fair value gains (losses) on CIVs 16 (12)
Foreign exchange gains (losses) on remeasurement — (62)
Other income (loss) — 7
Total revenues 177 96
Expenses:
Loss and loss adjustment expenses (LAE) 30 20
Interest expense 21 22
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs (DAC) 3 3
Employee compensation and benefit expenses 60 64
Other operating expenses 57 45
Total expenses 171 154
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes and equity in earnings of investees 6 (58)
Equity in earnings of investees 9 (4)
Income (loss) before income taxes 15 (62)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes — (4)
Net income (loss) 15 (58)
Less: Noncontrolling interests 4 (3)
Net income (loss) attributable to AGL $ 11 $ (55)
Effective tax rate (0.9) % 7.1 %
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First Quarter 2021 Compared with First Quarter 2020
Net income attributable to AGL for First Quarter 2021 was higher compared to the three-month period ended March 31, 2020 (First Quarter 2020) primarily due to:
• de minimis foreign exchange gains on remeasurement in First Quarter 2021 compared with losses in First Quarter 2020,
• lower fair value losses on credit derivatives in First Quarter 2021 compared with First Quarter 2020, and
• fair value gains on CIVs in First Quarter 2021 compared to losses in First Quarter 2020.
These increases were offset in part by:
• fair value losses on CCS in First Quarter 2021 compared with gains in First Quarter 2020, and
• the write-off of an indefinite lived intangible asset, recorded in other operating expenses, representing the insurance licenses of Municipal Assurance Corp. (MAC), which was merged with and into AGM on April 1, 2021.
The Company’s effective tax rate reflects the proportion of income recognized by each of the Company’s operating subsidiaries, with U.S. subsidiaries generally taxed at the U.S. marginal corporate income tax rate of 21%, U.K. subsidiaries taxed at the U.K. marginal corporate tax rate of 19%, French subsidiaries taxed at the French marginal corporate tax rate of 27.5%, and no taxes for the Company’s Bermuda subsidiaries Assured Guaranty Re Ltd (AG Re), Assured Guaranty Re Overseas Ltd. (AGRO) and Cedar Personnel Ltd., unless subject to U.S. tax by election or as a U.S. controlled foreign corporation. The effective tax rate in First Quarter 2021 was lower than in First Quarter 2020 due primarily to the portion of income in different jurisdictions.
Shareholders' equity attributable to AGL declined, on both a nominal and per-share basis, due mainly to unrealized losses on the fixed-maturity investment portfolio. Share repurchases and dividends also reduced shareholders' equity attributable to AGL.
Adjusted operating shareholders' equity and adjusted book value decreased on a nominal basis due to share repurchases and dividends, partially offset, in the case of adjusted book value, by net premiums written on new business production. On a per share basis, adjusted operating shareholders' equity and adjusted book value, benefited from the repurchase of an additional 2.0 million shares in First Quarter 2021. See "Accretive Effect of Cumulative Repurchases" table above.
Other Matters
LIBOR Sunset
In 2017, the U.K.’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) announced that after 2021 it would no longer compel banks to submit the rates required to calculate London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR). On November 30, 2021, ICE Benchmark Administration (IBA), the administrator of U.S. Dollar LIBOR, announced that it would cease the publication of the overnight and 1, 3, 6 and 12-month U.S. Dollar LIBOR settings immediately following the LIBOR publication on June 30, 2023, rather than at the end of 2021. On March 5, 2021, IBA and FCA confirmed a representative panel of banks will continue setting 1, 3, 6 and 12-month U.S. Dollar LIBOR through June 2023. The Company believes that the continued publication of U.S. Dollar LIBOR on the current basis after that date is unlikely.
The Company has exposure to LIBOR in four areas of its operations: (i) issuers of obligations the Company insures have obligations, assets and hedges that reference LIBOR, and some loss mitigation securities held in the investment portfolio reference LIBOR, (ii) debt issued by the U.S. Holding Companies currently pay, or will convert to, a floating interest rate tied to LIBOR, (iii) CCS from which the Company benefits pay interest tied to LIBOR, and (iv) certain obligations issued by, and certain assets owned by, its CIVs pay interest tied to LIBOR. While the documents relevant to the CIVs were entered into after the initial LIBOR sunset was announced and generally contain fallback language contemplating the discontinuance of LIBOR, documents relevant to the other three areas were entered into before the initial LIBOR sunset was announced and generally contain less robust fallback language.
On April 6, 2021, New York's governor signed into law legislation that provides, among other things, that any LIBOR based-contracts governed by New York law that contain inadequate fall back language will, by operation of law, use the Secured Overnight Finance Rate (SOFR) as a benchmark replacement when LIBOR ceases to exist (NY Legacy LIBOR Law).
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While each exposure is contract-specific, most LIBOR provisions relevant to the Company are governed by New York law, so the NY Legacy LIBOR Law is a helpful development for those contracts relevant to the Company with less robust fallback language and where parties are unlikely to negotiate a new rate. The Company believes that there are still issues to be addressed in substituting SOFR for LIBOR in those contracts relevant to it. For example, at present SOFR lacks a forward-looking term structure, which presents an operational challenge as the applicable interest rate will not be known until a period ends. On April 20, 2021, the Alternative Reference Rates Committee announced they are working toward recommending a forward-looking SOFR term rate.
The Company has initiated a dialogue with relevant trustees, calculation agents, auction agents, servicers and other parties responsible for implementing the rate change in these transactions. Most have not yet committed to a course of action.
Income Taxes
The U.S. Internal Revenue Service and Department of the Treasury issued final and proposed regulations in October 2020 relating to the tax treatment of passive foreign investment companies (PFICs). The final regulations are not expected to have a material impact to the company’s business operation or its shareholders and the proposed regulations are continuing to be evaluated.
Results of Operations
Business Segments
The Company reports its results of operations in two distinct segments, Insurance and Asset Management, consistent with the manner in which the Company's CODM reviews the business to assess performance and allocate resources. The following describes the components of each segment, along with the Corporate division and Other categories. The Insurance and Asset Management segments are presented without giving effect to the consolidation of FG VIEs and those AssuredIM investment vehicles for which the Company is deemed the primary beneficiary (consolidated investment vehicles, or CIVs as described in Note 9, Variable Interest Entities).
The Insurance segment primarily consists of the Company's insurance subsidiaries that provide credit protection products to the U.S. and international public finance (including infrastructure) and structured finance markets. The Insurance segment is presented without giving effect to the consolidation of FG VIEs and therefore includes premiums and losses of all financial guaranty contracts, whether or not the associated FG VIEs are consolidated, and also includes its share of earnings from AssuredIM Funds in which the Insurance segment invests.
The Asset Management segment consists of AssuredIM, which provides asset management services to outside investors as well as to AGM, AGC and, until its merger with AGM on April 1, 2021, MAC, (collectively, the U.S. Insurance Subsidiaries) and AGAS. The Asset Management segment includes asset management fees attributable to CIVs and inter-segment asset management fees earned from the U.S. Insurance Subsidiaries. The Asset Management segment presents fund expenses and reimbursable fund expenses netted in other operating expenses, whereas on the condensed consolidated statement of operations, reimbursable expenses are shown as a component of asset management fees.
The Corporate division primarily consists of interest expense on the debt of the U.S. Holding Companies, as well as other operating expenses attributed to AGL, the U.S. Holding Companies and other corporate activities, including administrative services performed by operating subsidiaries for the holding companies.
Other items primarily consist of intersegment eliminations, reclassification of the reimbursement of fund expenses to revenue, and consolidation adjustments, including the effect of consolidating FG VIEs and CIVs.
The Company does not report assets by reportable segment as the CODM does not use assets to assess performance and allocate resources and only reviews assets at a consolidated level.
The Company analyzes the operating performance of each segment using "adjusted operating income." See “-- Non-GAAP Financial Measures -- Adjusted Operating Income” below for definition of "adjusted operating income" (formerly known as non-GAAP operating income) and Item 1, Financial Statements, Note 2, Segment Information. Results for each segment include specifically identifiable expenses as well as allocations of expenses among legal entities based on time studies and other cost allocation methodologies based on headcount or other metrics. Total adjusted operating income includes the effect of consolidating both FG VIEs and investment vehicles. The effect of consolidating such entities, including the related
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eliminations, is included in "other" in the tables below, which represents the CODM's view, consistent with the management approach guidance for presentation of segment metrics.
The following table summarizes adjusted operating income from the Company's business segment operations and also provides a reconciliation of the segment measure to net income on a consolidated GAAP basis. See also Item 1, Financial Statements, Note 2, Segment Information.
First Quarter
2021 2020
(in millions)
Adjusted operating income (loss) by segment:
Insurance $ 79 $ 85
Asset management (7) (9)
Corporate (29) (39)
Other — (4)
Adjusted operating income (loss) $ 43 $ 33
Reconciliation to net income (loss) attributable to AGL:
Plus pre-tax adjustments:
Realized gains (losses) on investments $ (3) $ (5)
Non-credit impairment unrealized fair value gains (losses) on credit derivatives (19) (88)
Fair value gains (losses) on CCS (19) 48
Foreign exchange gains (losses) on remeasurement of premiums receivable and loss and LAE reserves 1 (57)
Total pre-tax adjustments (40) (102)
Plus tax effect on pre-tax adjustments 8 14
Net income (loss) attributable to AGL $ 11 $ (55)
Results of Operations by Segment
Insurance Segment Results
Insurance Results
First Quarter
2021 2020
(in millions)
Revenues
Net earned premiums and credit derivative revenues $ 107 $ 107
Net investment income 73 83
Other income (loss) (1) 6
Total revenues 179 196
Expenses
Loss expense 30 18
Amortization of DAC 3 3
Employee compensation and benefit expenses 36 41
Other operating expenses 37 22
Total expenses 106 84
Equity in earnings of investees 19 (9)
Adjusted operating income (loss) before income taxes 92 103
Provision (benefit) for income taxes 13 18
Adjusted operating income (loss) $ 79 $ 85
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Insurance New Business Production
Gross Written Premiums and
New Business Production
First Quarter
2021 2020
(in millions)
GWP
Public Finance—U.S. $ 79 $ 29
Public Finance—non-U.S. 5 34
Structured Finance—U.S. 3 1
Structured Finance—non-U.S. — —
Total GWP $ 87 $ 64
PVP (1):
Public Finance—U.S. $ 81 $ 29
Public Finance—non-U.S. 3 21
Structured Finance—U.S. 2 1
Structured Finance—non-U.S. — —
Total PVP $ 86 $ 51
Gross Par Written (1):
Public Finance—U.S. $ 5,427 $ 2,641
Public Finance—non-U.S. — 377
Structured Finance—U.S. 45 15
Structured Finance—non-U.S. — —
Total gross par written $ 5,472 $ 3,033
Average rating on new business written A- BBB+
____________________
(1) PVP and Gross Par Written in the table above are based on "close date," when the transaction settles. See “– Non-GAAP Financial Measures – PVP or Present Value of New Business Production.”
U.S. public finance GWP and PVP in First Quarter 2021 both increased over 170% compared with First Quarter 2020, primarily driven by several large transactions as well as an increase in market volume and insured penetration. The average rating of U.S. public finance par written was A-. The Company's gross par written represented 65% of the total U.S. municipal market insured issuance in First Quarter 2021.
The Company has consistently written new non-U.S. public finance business every quarter since the end of 2015. Business activity in the international infrastructure and structured finance sectors typically has long lead times and therefore may vary from period to period.
Net Earned Premiums and Credit Derivative Revenues
Premiums are earned over the contractual lives, or in the case of insured obligations backed by homogeneous pools of assets, the remaining expected lives, of financial guaranty insurance contracts. The Company periodically estimates remaining expected lives of its insured obligations backed by homogeneous pools of assets and makes prospective adjustments for such changes in expected lives. Scheduled net earned premiums decrease each year unless replaced by a higher amount of new business, reassumptions of previously ceded business or books of business acquired in a business combination. See Item 1, Financial Statements, Note 5, Contracts Accounted for as Insurance, Financial Guaranty Insurance Premiums, for additional information.
Net earned premiums due to accelerations are attributable to changes in the expected lives of insured obligations driven by (a) refundings of insured obligations or (b) terminations of insured obligations either through negotiated agreements or the exercise of the Company's contractual rights to make claim payments on an accelerated basis.
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Refundings occur in the public finance market and had been at historically high levels until recently primarily due to the low interest rate environment, which allowed many municipalities and other public finance issuers to refinance their debt obligations at lower rates. The premiums associated with the insured obligations of municipalities and other public finance issuers are generally received upfront when the obligations are issued and insured. When such issuers pay down insured obligations prior to their originally scheduled maturities, the Company is no longer on risk for payment defaults, and therefore accelerates the recognition of the nonrefundable deferred premium revenue remaining. Provisions in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act regarding the termination of the tax-exempt status of advance refunding bonds have resulted in fewer refundings.
Terminations are generally negotiated agreements with beneficiaries resulting in the extinguishment of the Company’s insurance obligation. Terminations are more common in the structured finance asset class, but may also occur in the public finance asset class. While each termination may have different terms, they all result in the expiration of the Company’s insurance risk, the acceleration of the recognition of the associated deferred premium revenue and the reduction of any remaining premiums receivable.
Net Earned Premiums and Credit Derivative Revenues
First Quarter
2021 2020
(in millions)
Financial guaranty insurance: 71
Public finance
Scheduled net earned premiums $ 72 $ 70
Accelerations:
Refundings 16 15
Terminations — —
Total accelerations 16 15
Total public finance 88 85
Structured finance scheduled net earned premiums 15 18
Specialty insurance and reinsurance 1 1
Total net earned premiums 104 104
Credit derivative revenues 3 3
Total net earned premiums and credit derivative revenues $ 107 $ 107
Net earned premiums in First Quarter 2021 were consistent with First Quarter 2020. Public finance scheduled net earned premiums increased slightly, offsetting the decline in structured finance net earned premiums due to the scheduled decline in structured finance par outstanding. At March 31, 2021, $3.8 billion of net deferred premium revenue remained to be earned over the life of the insurance contracts.
Net Investment Income and Equity in Earnings of Investees
Net investment income is a function of the yield that the Company earns on fixed-maturity securities and short-term investments, and the size of such portfolio.The investment yield is a function of market interest rates at the time of investment as well as the type, credit quality and maturity of the securities in this portfolio.
Equity method investments in the Insurance segment include the U.S. Insurance Subsidiaries' investments in AssuredIM Funds, as well as other alternative investments. The income (loss) on such investments is presented as a separate line item, "equity in earnings of investees," and typically represents the change in net asset value (NAV) of AssuredIM Funds and the Company's share of earnings of its other investees. The Insurance segment is authorized to invest up to $750 million in AssuredIM Funds. As of March 31, 2021, the Insurance segment has total commitments to AssuredIM Funds of $587 million of which $335 million represents net invested capital and $252 million is undrawn.
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Net Investment Income and Equity in Earnings of Investees
First Quarter
2021 2020
(in millions)
Net investment income
Managed by third parties $ 51 $ 62
Internally managed:
AssuredIM 4 —
Loss mitigation and other securities 17 20
Intercompany loans 2 3
Gross investment income 74 85
Investment expenses (1) (2)
Net investment income $ 73 $ 83
Equity in earnings of investees
AssuredIM Funds $ 10 $ (10)
Other 9 1
Equity in earnings of investees 19 (9)
Net investment income for First Quarter 2021 decreased compared to First Quarter 2020, primarily due to lower average balances in the fixed-maturity investment portfolio, which declined due to dividends paid by the insurance subsidiaries that were used for AGL share repurchases, lower reinvestment short-term yields, and lower income on securities purchased for loss mitigation purposes. The overall pre-tax book yield was 3.23% as of March 31, 2021 and 3.41% as of March 31, 2020. Excluding the internally managed portfolio, pre-tax book yield was 2.94% as of March 31, 2021 and 3.14% as of March 31, 2020.
Equity in earnings of AssuredIM Funds in First Quarter 2021 was primarily attributable to changes in the NAV of CLO funds. In First Quarter 2020, equity in earnings of AssuredIM Funds was a loss primarily attributable to CLO and asset-based funds. In addition to the Insurance segment's investments in AssuredIM Funds, other alternative investments also generated gains of $9 million.
Other Income (Loss)
Other income (loss) consists of recurring items such as foreign exchange gain (loss) on remeasurement, ancillary fees on financial guaranty policies for commitments and consents, and if applicable, other revenue items on financial guaranty insurance and reinsurance contracts such as loss mitigation recoveries and other non-recurring items.
Other Income (Loss)
First Quarter
2021 2020
(in millions)
Foreign exchange gain (loss) on remeasurement (1) $ — $ (5)
Other (1) 11
Total other income (loss) $ (1) $ 6
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(1) Primarily related to cash.
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Economic Loss Development
The insured portfolio includes policies accounted for under three separate accounting models depending on the characteristics of the contract and the Company’s control rights. For a discussion of methodologies used in estimating the expected loss to be paid (recovered) for all contracts and the accounting policies for measurement and recognition under GAAP for each type of contract, see the notes listed below in Part II. Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, of the Company's 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K:
• Note 5 for expected loss to be paid (recovered)
• Note 6 for contracts accounted for as insurance
• Note 7 for contracts accounted for as credit derivatives
• Note 10 for FG VIEs
• Note 11 for fair value methodologies for credit derivatives and FG VIEs’ assets and liabilities
In order to efficiently evaluate and manage the economics of the entire insured portfolio, management compiles and analyzes expected loss information for all policies on a consistent basis. The discussion of losses that follows encompasses expected losses on all contracts in the insured portfolio regardless of accounting model, unless otherwise specified. Net expected loss to be paid (recovered) primarily consists of the present value of future: expected claim and LAE payments, expected recoveries from issuers or excess spread, cessions to reinsurers, expected recoveries/payables for breaches of representations and warranties, and the effects of other loss mitigation strategies. Assumptions used in the determination of the net expected loss to be paid (recovered) such as delinquency, severity, and discount rates and expected time frames to recovery were consistent by sector regardless of the accounting model used.
Current risk-free rates are used to discount expected losses at the end of each reporting period and therefore changes in such rates from period to period affect the expected loss estimates reported. Changes in risk-free rates used to discount losses affect economic loss development, and loss and LAE; however, the effect of changes in discount rates are not indicative of actual credit impairment or improvement in the period. The following table presents the range and weighted average discount rates used to discount expected losses (recoveries).
Risk-Free Rates
Risk-Free Rates used in Expected Loss for U.S. Dollar Denominated Obligations
Range Weighted Average
As of March 31, 2021 0.00 % - 2.49% 0.88 %
As of December 31, 2020 0.00 % - 1.72% 0.60 %
As of March 31, 2020 0.00 % - 1.39% 0.64 %
As of December 31, 2019 0.00 % - 2.45% 1.94 %
The primary components of economic loss development are presented in the tables that follow and the drivers of economic loss development are discussed below.
Net Expected Loss to be Paid (Recovered) and
Net Economic Loss Development (Benefit)
By Accounting Model
Net Expected Loss to be Paid/ (Recovered) Net Economic Loss Development (Benefit)
As of First Quarter
March 31, 2021 December 31, 2020 2021 2020
(in millions)
Insurance $ 417 $ 471 16 (1)
FG VIEs 53 59 (6) 6
Credit derivatives 2 (1) 3 (8)
Total
$ 472 $ 529 $ 13 $ (3)
Net exposure rated below-investment-grade (BIG) $ 7,514 $ 7,988
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Net Expected Loss to be Paid (Recovered) and
Net Economic Loss Development (Benefit)
By Sector
Net Expected Loss to be Paid/(Recovered) Net Economic Loss Development/(Benefit)
As of First Quarter
March 31, 2021 December 31, 2020 2021 2020
(in millions)
U.S. public finance (1) $ 228 $ 305 $ 15 $ 56
Non-U.S. public finance 24 36 (12) 3
Structured finance
U.S. RMBS 181 148 11 (63)
Other structured finance 39 40 (1) 1
Structured finance 220 188 10 (62)
Total $ 472 $ 529 $ 13 $ (3)
Effect of changes in the risk-free rates included in economic loss development (benefit) $ (48) $ 31
____________________
(1) The total net expected loss for troubled U.S. public finance exposures is net of a credit for estimated future recoveries of $994 million as of March 31, 2021 and $1,154 million as of December 31, 2020 for claims already paid.
First Quarter 2021 Net Economic Loss Development
Public Finance Economic Loss Development: Public finance expected loss to be paid primarily related to U.S. exposures, which had BIG net par outstanding of $5.4 billion as of March 31, 2021 compared with $5.4 billion as of December 31, 2020. The Company projects that its total net expected loss across its troubled U.S. public finance exposures as of March 31, 2021 will be $228 million compared with $305 million as of December 31, 2020. Economic loss development on U.S. public finance exposures in First Quarter 2021 was $15 million, which was primarily attributable to Puerto Rico exposures. The economic benefit was approximately $12 million for non-U.S. public finance exposures during First Quarter 2021 mainly due to the restructuring of certain exposures and the impact of higher Euro Interbank Offered Rate (Euribor).
U.S. RMBS: The economic loss development attributable to U.S. RMBS was $11 million and was mainly related to a reduction of excess spread of $58 million, partially offset by changes in discount rates, which was a gain of $33 million, and improved performance in certain transactions and higher recoveries for secured charged-off loans.
See Item 1, Financial Statements, Note 4, Expected Loss to be Paid (Recovered) for additional information.
First Quarter 2020 Net Economic Loss Development
Public Finance: Public finance expected loss to be paid primarily related to U.S. exposures, which had BIG net par outstanding of $5.6 billion as of March 31, 2020 compared with $5.8 billion as of December 31, 2019. The Company projected that its total net expected loss across its troubled U.S. public finance exposures as of March 31, 2020 would be $493 million, compared with $531 million as of December 31, 2019. Economic loss development on U.S. exposures in First Quarter 2020 was $56 million, which was primarily attributable to Puerto Rico exposures. The economic loss development was approximately $3 million for non-U.S. exposures during First Quarter 2020 due to the weaker outlook of the performance of a troubled U.K. road.
U.S. RMBS: The net benefit attributable to U.S. RMBS was $63 million and was mainly related to higher excess spread on certain transactions supported by large portions of fixed rate assets (either originally fixed or modified to be fixed) and with insured floating rate debt linked to LIBOR, which decreased in First Quarter 2020. The economic development attributable to changes in discount rates was a loss of $32 million in First Quarter 2020.
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Insurance Segment Loss and LAE
The primary differences between net economic loss development and the amount reported as loss and LAE in the condensed consolidated statements of operations are that loss and LAE: (1) considers deferred premium revenue in the calculation of loss reserves and loss and LAE for financial guaranty insurance contracts, (2) eliminates loss and LAE related to consolidated FG VIEs, and (3) does not include estimated losses on credit derivatives.
Loss and LAE reported in the Insurance segment adjusted operating income (i.e., adjusted loss and LAE) includes loss and LAE on financial guaranty insurance contracts without giving effect to eliminations related to consolidation of FG VIEs, and also includes losses on credit derivatives.
For financial guaranty insurance contracts, each transaction’s expected loss to be expensed is compared with the deferred premium revenue of that transaction. Expected loss to be expensed represents past or expected future net claim payments that have not yet been expensed. Such amounts will be expensed in future periods as deferred premium revenue amortizes into income on financial guaranty insurance policies. Expected loss to be expensed is the Company's projection of incurred losses that will be recognized in future periods, excluding accretion of discount. When the expected loss to be expensed exceeds the deferred premium revenue, a loss is recognized in income for the amount of such excess. Therefore, the timing of loss recognition in income does not necessarily coincide with the timing of the actual credit impairment or improvement reported in net economic loss development. Transactions (particularly BIG transactions) acquired in a business combination or seasoned portfolios assumed from legacy financial guaranty insurers generally have the largest deferred premium revenue balances. Therefore the largest differences between net economic loss development and loss and LAE on financial guaranty insurance contracts generally relate to those policies.
The amount of loss and LAE recognized in the Insurance segment, which includes all policies regardless of form, is a function of the amount of economic loss development discussed above and the deferred premium revenue amortization in a given period, on a contract-by-contract basis.
While expected loss to be paid (recovered) is an important liquidity measure that provides the present value of amounts that the Company expects to pay or recover in future periods on all contracts, expected loss to be expensed is important because it presents the Company’s projection of net expected losses that will be recognized in the condensed consolidated statement of operations in future periods as deferred premium revenue amortizes into income for financial guaranty insurance policies.
The following table presents the Insurance segment loss and LAE, net of reinsurance.
Insurance Segment
Loss and LAE (Benefit)
First Quarter
2021 2020
(in millions)
U.S. public finance $ 26 $ 59
Non-U.S. public finance (8) —
Structured finance
U.S. RMBS 12 (44)
Other structured finance — 3
Structured finance 12 (41)
Total loss and LAE (benefit) $ 30 $ 18
The primary components of the Insurance segment loss and LAE expense were as follows:
• Loss and LAE in First Quarter 2021 was mainly driven by loss expense on certain Puerto Rico transactions and U.S. RMBS exposures. For First Quarter 2021, these losses were partially offset by a benefit in certain European exposures.
• Loss and LAE in First Quarter 2020 was mainly driven by higher losses on certain Puerto Rico exposures, partially offset by a benefit on first lien U.S. RMBS exposures.
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For additional information on the expected timing of net expected losses to be expensed see Item 1, Financial Statements, Note 5, Contracts Accounted for as Insurance, Financial Guaranty Insurance Losses.
Other Operating Expenses
The increase in other operating expenses was primarily attributable to the write-off of a $16 million intangible asset attributable to MAC insurance licenses. MAC was merged with and into AGM on April 1, 2021. See Item 1, Financial Statements, Note 1, Business and Basis of Presentation, for additional information.
Ratings
Demand for the financial guaranties issued by the Company's insurance subsidiaries may be impacted by changes in the credit ratings assigned to them by the rating agencies. The financial strength ratings (or similar ratings) assigned to AGL’s insurance subsidiaries, along with the date of the most recent rating action (or confirmation) by the rating agency assigning the rating, are shown in the table below. Ratings are subject to continuous rating agency review and revision or withdrawal at any time. In addition, the Company periodically assesses the value of each rating assigned to each of its companies, and as a result of such assessment may request that a rating agency add or drop a rating from certain of its companies.
S&P Global Ratings, a division of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC Kroll Bond Rating
Agency Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. A.M. Best Company,
Inc.
AGM AA (stable) (7/16/20) AA+ (stable) (10/29/20) A2 (stable) (8/13/19) —
AGC AA (stable) (7/16/20) AA (stable) (10/29/20) (1) —
MAC (2) AA (stable) (7/16/20) AA+ (stable) (10/29/20) — —
AG Re AA (stable) (7/16/20) — — —
AGRO AA (stable) (7/16/20) — — A+ (stable) (7/13/20)
Assured Guaranty UK Limited (AGUK) AA (stable) (7/16/20) AA+ (stable) (10/29/20) A2 (stable) (8/13/19) —
Assured Guaranty (Europe) SA (AGE) AA (stable) (7/16/20) AA+ (stable) (10/29/20) — —
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(1) AGC requested that Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (Moody’s) withdraw its financial strength ratings of AGC in January 2017, but Moody's denied that request. Moody’s continues to rate AGC A3 (stable).
(2) An April 1, 2021, the Company executed a multi-step transaction to merge MAC with and into AGM, with AGM as the surviving company. See Item 1, Financial Statements, Note 1, Business and Basis of Presentation, for additional information.
There can be no assurance that any of the rating agencies will not take negative action on the financial strength ratings (or similar ratings) of AGL's insurance subsidiaries in the future or cease to rate one or more of AGL's insurance subsidiaries, either voluntarily or at the request of that subsidiary.
For a discussion of the effects of rating actions on the Company beyond potential effects on the demand for its insurance products, see Item 1, Financial Statements, Note 7, Reinsurance and "--Liquidity and Capital Resources--" section below.
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Asset Management Segment Results
Asset Management Results
First Quarter
2021 2020
(in millions)
Revenues
Management fees (1) $ 19 $ 16
Performance fees 1 —
Other income — 1
Total revenues 20 17
Expenses
Employee compensation and benefit expenses 19 18
Amortization of intangible assets 3 3
Other operating expenses 7 7
Total expenses 29 28
Adjusted operating income (loss) before income taxes (9) (11)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes (2) (2)
Adjusted operating income (loss) $ (7) $ (9)
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(1) The Asset Management segment presents reimbursable fund expenses netted in other operating expenses, whereas on the condensed consolidated statement of operations such reimbursable expenses are shown gross as revenues.
Asset Management Fees
Management fees are generated by CLOs, opportunity funds, liquid strategies, and the wind-down funds. CLO fees are the net management fees that AssuredIM retains after rebating the portion of these fees that pertains to the CLO Equity that is held directly by AssuredIM Funds. Management fees from opportunity funds and liquid strategies are mainly attributable to several healthcare funds that ware launched in 2020, in which the Insurance segment’s U.S. Insurance Subsidiaries invest, along with two previously established opportunity funds in their harvest periods. The Company also generates fees from legacy hedge and opportunity funds now subject to an orderly wind-down.
The following table presents management fees for First Quarter 2021 and First Quarter 2020.
Management Fees
First Quarter
2021 2020
(in millions)
CLOs $ 12 $ 5
Opportunity funds and liquid strategies 4 2
Wind-down funds 3 9
Total management fees $ 19 $ 16
Net CLO fees increased in First Quarter 2021 compared with First Quarter 2020, largely driven by the sale of CLO equity to third parties from legacy funds, the recovery of previously deferred CLO fees, and the issuance of several new CLOs. The COVID-19 pandemic and downgrades in loan markets had triggered over-collateralization provisions in CLOs in 2020, resulting in the deferral of CLO management fees, the majority which reversed by First Quarter 2021. CLO inflows of $922 million were mainly due to the issuance of two CLOs during the quarter. CLO AUM includes CLO Equity that is held by various AssuredIM Funds of $250 million as of March 31, 2021, and $265 million as of December 31, 2020. This CLO Equity corresponds to the majority of the non-fee earning CLO AUM, as AssuredIM typically rebates the CLO fees back to AssuredIM Funds. Fee-earning CLO AUM increased 17% in First Quarter 2021.
Management fees from opportunity funds and liquid strategies are mainly attributable to two new healthcare funds launched in 2020, along with fees from previously established funds and other funds created since the establishment of
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AssuredIM, and fees from an IMA with the U.S. Insurance Subsidiaries. Opportunity funds and liquid strategies' AUM increased to $1,897 million as of March 31, 2021, from $1,869 million as of December 31, 2020 driven by the increase in fund value, and additional commitments, offset by the return of capital in previously established funds in their harvest period.
Management fees from wind down funds declined as distributions to investors continued throughout First Quarter 2021. The AUM of wind-down funds as of March 31, 2021 was $1,297 million compared with $1,623 million as of December 31, 2020.
Rollforward of
Assets Under Management
First Quarter 2021
CLOs Opportunity Funds Liquid Strategies Wind-Down Funds Total
(in millions)
AUM, December 31, 2020 $ 13,856 $ 1,486 $ 383 $ 1,623 $ 17,348
Inflows-third party 813 60 — — 873
Inflows-intercompany 109 36 — — 145
Outflows:
Redemptions — — — — —
Distributions (356) (217) — (329) (902)
Total outflows (356) (217) — (329) (902)
Net flows 566 (121) — (329) 116
Change in value (91) 148 1 3 61
AUM, March 31, 2021 $ 14,331 $ 1,513 $ 384 $ 1,297 $ 17,525
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Components of
Assets Under Management
CLOs Opportunity Funds Liquid Strategies Wind-Down Funds Total
(in millions)
As of March 31, 2021:
Funded AUM $ 14,222 $ 982 $ 384 $ 1,275 $ 16,863
Unfunded AUM 109 531 — 22 662
Fee earning AUM $ 11,960 $ 1,210 $ 384 $ 858 $ 14,412
Non-fee earning AUM 2,371 303 — 439 3,113
Intercompany AUM
Funded AUM $ 451 $ 119 $ 363 $ — $ 933
Unfunded AUM 99 154 — — 253
As of December 31, 2020:
Funded AUM $ 13,809 $ 992 $ 383 $ 1,601 $ 16,785
Unfunded AUM 47 494 — 22 563
Fee earning AUM $ 10,248 $ 1,176 $ 383 $ 1,133 $ 12,940
Non-fee earning AUM 3,608 310 — 490 4,408
Intercompany AUM
Funded AUM $ 405 $ 126 $ 362 $ — $ 893
Unfunded AUM 40 137 — — 177
Assets Under Management
The Company uses AUM as a metric to measure progress in its Asset Management segment. Management fee revenue is based on a variety of factors and is not perfectly correlated with AUM. However, we believe AUM is a useful metric for assessing the relative size and scope of our asset management business. The Company uses measures of its AUM in its decision making process and intends to use a measure of change in AUM in its calculation of certain components of management compensation. Investors also use AUM to evaluate companies that participate in the asset management business. AUM refers to the assets managed, advised or serviced by the Asset Management segment and equals the sum of the following:
• the amount of aggregate collateral balance and principal cash of AssuredIM's CLOs, including CLO Equity that may be held by AssuredIM Funds. This also includes CLO assets managed by BlueMountain Fuji Management, LLC (BM Fuji). AssuredIM is not the investment manager of BM Fuji-advised CLOs, but rather has entered into a services agreement and a secondment agreement with BM Fuji pursuant to which AssuredIM provides certain services associated with the management of BM Fuji-advised CLOs and acts in the capacity of service provider, and
• the net asset value of all funds and accounts other than CLOs, plus any unfunded commitments. Changes in NAV attributable to movements in fund value of certain private equity funds are reported on a quarter lag.
The Company's calculation of AUM may differ from the calculation employed by other investment managers and, as a result, this measure may not be directly comparable to similar measures presented by other investment managers. The calculation also differs from the manner in which AssuredIM affiliates registered with the SEC report “Regulatory Assets Under Management” on Form ADV and Form PF in various ways.
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The Company also uses several other measurements of AUM to understand and measure its AUM in more detail and for various purposes, including its relative position in the market and its income and income potential:
• “Third-party AUM” refers to the assets AssuredIM manages or advises on behalf of third-party investors. This includes current and former employee investments in AssuredIM Funds. For CLOs, this also includes CLO Equity that may be held by AssuredIM Funds.
• “Intercompany AUM” refers to the assets AssuredIM manages or advises on behalf of the Company. This includes investments from affiliates of Assured Guaranty along with general partners' investments of AssuredIM (or its affiliates) into the AssuredIM Funds.
• “Funded AUM” refers to assets that have been deployed or invested into the funds or CLOs.
• “Unfunded AUM” refers to unfunded capital commitments from closed-end funds and CLO warehouse funds.
• “Fee earning AUM” refers to assets where AssuredIM collects fees and has elected not to waive or rebate fees to investors.
• “Non-fee earning AUM” refers to assets where AssuredIM does not collect fees or has elected to waive or rebate fees to investors. AssuredIM reserves the right to waive some or all fees for certain investors, including investors affiliated with AssuredIM and/or the Company. Further, to the extent that the Company's wind-down and/or opportunity funds are invested in AssuredIM managed CLOs, AssuredIM may rebate any management fees and/or performance compensation earned from the CLOs to the extent such fees are attributable to the wind-down and opportunity funds’ holdings of CLOs also managed by AssuredIM.
Corporate Division Results
Corporate Results
First Quarter
2021 2020
(in millions)
Revenues
Net investment income $ — $ 1
Loss on extinguishment of debt
— (5)
Total revenues — (4)
Expenses
Interest expense 23 25
Employee compensation and benefit expenses 5 5
Other operating expenses 4 5
Total expenses 32 35
Equity in earnings of investees — (5)
Adjusted operating income (loss) before income taxes (32) (44)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes (3) (5)
Adjusted operating income (loss) $ (29) $ (39)
The loss on extinguishment of debt, recorded in other income (loss), is related to AGUS's purchase of a portion of the principal amount of AGMH's outstanding Junior Subordinated Debentures. The loss represents the difference between the amount paid to purchase AGMH's debt and the carrying value of the debt, which includes the unamortized fair value adjustments that were recorded upon the acquisition of AGMH in 2009.
Interest expense relates to debt issued by the U.S. Holding Companies. Intersegment interest expense of $2 million in First Quarter 2021 and $3 million in First Quarter 2020, related primarily to the $250 million AGUS debt to the U.S. Insurance Subsidiaries, which was borrowed in October 2019 in connection with the BlueMountain Acquisition.
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Compensation and benefits expenses allocated to the Corporate division are based on time studies and represent the costs incurred and time spent on holding company activities, capital management, corporate oversight and governance. Other expenses include Board of Director expenses, legal fees and other direct or allocated expenses.
Equity in earnings of investees was a loss in First Quarter 2020 due to a write down of AGUS' investment in an investment firm that provides investment banking services in the global infrastructure sector.
Other
Other primarily consists of intersegment eliminations, reclassifications of reimbursable fund expenses to revenue, and consolidation adjustments, including the effect of consolidating FG VIEs and AssuredIM investment vehicles. The net effect on adjusted operating income (loss) of these items is presented in the table below. See Item 1, Financial Statements, Note 2, Segment Information.
VIE Consolidation Effect on
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to AGL
First Quarter
2021 2020
(in millions)
Effect of consolidating:
FG VIEs $ — $ (4)
Investment vehicles — —
VIE consolidation effect $ — $ (4)
The types of VIEs the Company consolidates when it is deemed to be the primary beneficiary primarily include (1) entities whose debt obligations the insurance subsidiaries insure, and (2) investment vehicles such as collateralized financing entities and AssuredIM Funds. The Company eliminates the effects of intercompany transactions between its consolidated VIEs and its insurance and asset management subsidiaries, as well as intercompany transactions between CIVs.
Generally, the consolidation of the AssuredIM investment vehicles and FG VIEs has a significant gross-up effect on the Company's assets, liabilities and cash flows. The majority of the economic interest the Company holds in consolidated AssuredIM Funds is held by the insurance subsidiaries and presented in the Insurance segment. The ownership interests of the Company's consolidated AssuredIM Funds, to which the Company has no economic rights, are reflected as either redeemable or nonredeemable noncontrolling interests in the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements. See Item 1, Financial Statements, Note 9, Variable Interest Entities, for additional information.
Reconciliation to GAAP
Reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) Attributable to AGL
To Adjusted Operating Income (Loss)
First Quarter
2021 2020
(in millions)
Net income (loss) attributable to AGL $ 11 $ (55)
Less pre-tax adjustments:
Realized gains (losses) on investments (3) (5)
Non-credit impairment unrealized fair value gains (losses) on credit derivatives (19) (88)
Fair value gains (losses) on CCS (19) 48
Foreign exchange gains (losses) on remeasurement of premiums receivable and loss and LAE reserves 1 (57)
Total pre-tax adjustments (40) (102)
Less tax effect on pre-tax adjustments 8 14
Adjusted operating income (loss) $ 43 $ 33
Gain (loss) related to VIE consolidation (net of tax provision (benefit) of $- and $(1)) included in adjusted operating income $ — $ (4)
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Net Realized Investment Gains (Losses)
The table below presents the components of net realized investment gains (losses).
Net Realized Investment Gains (Losses)
First Quarter
2021 2020
(in millions)
Gross realized gains on available-for-sale securities $ 3 $ 7
Gross realized losses on available-for-sale securities (2) (1)
Credit impairment and intend to sell (4) (11)
Net realized investment gains (losses) $ (3) $ (5)
Credit impairment in First Quarter 2021 and First Quarter 2020 was related primarily to an increase in the allowance for credit loss on loss mitigation securities. Shut-downs due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions contributed to the increase in the allowance for credit loss in First Quarter 2020.
Non-Credit Impairment Unrealized Fair Value Gains (Losses) on Credit Derivatives
Changes in the fair value of credit derivatives occur because of changes in the Company's own credit rating and credit spreads, collateral credit spreads, notional amounts, credit ratings of the referenced entities, expected terms, realized gains (losses) and other settlements, interest rates, and other market factors. The components of changes in fair value of credit derivatives related to credit derivative revenues and changes in expected losses are included in Insurance segment results. Non-economic changes in unrealized fair value gains and losses on credit derivatives are not included in the Insurance segment measure of adjusted operating income because they do not represent actual claims or losses and are expected to reverse to zero as the exposure approaches its maturity date. Changes in the fair value of the Company’s credit derivatives that do not reflect actual or expected claims or credit losses have no impact on the Company’s statutory claims-paying resources, rating agency capital or regulatory capital positions. Unrealized gains (losses) on credit derivatives may fluctuate significantly in future periods.
The impact of changes in credit spreads will vary based upon the volume, tenor, interest rates, and other market conditions at the time fair values are determined. In addition, since each transaction has unique collateral and structural terms, the underlying change in fair value of each transaction may vary considerably. The fair value of credit derivative contracts also reflects the change in the Company’s own credit cost based on the price to purchase credit protection on AGC. The Company determines its own credit risk based on quoted CDS prices traded on AGC at each balance sheet date. Generally, a widening of credit spreads of the underlying obligations results in unrealized losses and the tightening of credit spreads of the underlying obligations results in unrealized gains. A widening of the CDS prices traded on AGC has an effect of offsetting unrealized losses that result from widening general market credit spreads, while a narrowing of the CDS prices traded on AGC has an effect of offsetting unrealized gains that result from narrowing general market credit spreads. Due to the relatively low volume and characteristics of CDS contracts remaining in AGM's portfolio, changes in AGM's credit spreads do not significantly affect the fair value of these CDS contracts.
The valuation of the Company’s credit derivative contracts requires the use of models that contain significant, unobservable inputs, and are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The models used to determine fair value are primarily developed internally based on market conventions for similar transactions that the Company observed in the past. There has been very limited new issuance activity in this market since 2009 and as of March 31, 2021, market prices for the Company’s credit derivative contracts were generally not available. Inputs to the estimate of fair value include various market indices, credit spreads, the Company’s own credit spread, and estimated contractual payments. See Item 1, Financial Statements, Note 10, Fair Value Measurement, for additional information.
During First Quarter 2021, non-credit impairment fair value losses were generated primarily as a result of the decreased cost to buy protection on AGC, as the market cost of AGC's credit protection decreased during the period. These losses were partially offset by the higher discount rates.
During First Quarter 2020, non-credit impairment fair value losses were generated primarily as a result of wider spreads of the underlying collateral and lower discount rates. These were partially offset by gains due to the increased cost to
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buy protection on AGC, as the market cost of AGC's credit protection increased during the period. For those CDS transactions that were pricing at or above their floor levels, when the cost of purchasing CDS protection on AGC, which management refers to as the CDS spread on AGC, increased, the implied spreads that the Company would expect to receive on these transactions decreased. See Item 1, Financial Statements, Note 6, Contracts Accounted for as Credit Derivatives, for additional information.
Sensitivity to Changes in Credit Spread
The following table summarizes the estimated change in fair values on the net balance of the Company’s credit derivative positions assuming an immediate shift in the net spreads assumed by the Company. The net spread is affected by the spread of the underlying collateral and the credit spreads on AGC.
Effect of Changes in Credit Spread
As of March 31, 2021 As of December 31, 2020
Credit Spreads (1) Estimated Net
Fair Value
(Pre-Tax) Estimated Change
in Gain/(Loss)
(Pre-Tax) Estimated Net
Fair Value
(Pre-Tax) Estimated Change
in Gain/(Loss)
(Pre-Tax)
(in millions)
Increase of 25 bps $ (229) $ (109) $ (221) $ (121)
Base Scenario (120) — (100) —
Decrease of 25 bps (77) 43 (81) 19
All transactions priced at floor (54) 66 (63) 37
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(1) Includes the effects of changes in the net spreads assumed by the Company.
Fair Value Gains (Losses) on CCS
Fair value losses on CCS in First Quarter 2021 were primarily due to a tightening in market spreads. Fair value gains on CCS in First Quarter 2020 were primarily due to a widening in market spreads during the quarter. Fair value of CCS is heavily affected by, and in part fluctuates with, changes in market spreads and interest rates, credit spreads and other market factors and are not expected to result in an economic gain or loss.
Foreign Exchange Gain (Loss) on Remeasurement
Foreign exchange gains and losses in both periods primarily relate to remeasurement of long-dated premiums receivables, for which the Company records the present value of future installment premiums, and are mainly due to changes in the exchange rate of the pound sterling and euro relative to the U.S. dollar.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The Company discloses both (a) financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP and (b) financial measures not determined in accordance with GAAP (non-GAAP financial measures). Financial measures identified as non-GAAP should not be considered substitutes for GAAP financial measures. The primary limitation of non-GAAP financial measures is the potential lack of comparability to financial measures of other companies, whose definitions of non-GAAP financial measures may differ from those of the Company.
The Company believes its presentation of non-GAAP financial measures provides information that is necessary for analysts to calculate their estimates of Assured Guaranty’s financial results in their research reports on Assured Guaranty and for investors, analysts and the financial news media to evaluate Assured Guaranty’s financial results.
GAAP requires the Company to consolidate:
• certain FG VIEs, which the Company does not own and where its exposure is limited to its obligation under the financial guaranty insurance contract, and
• certain investment vehicles for which the Company is deemed the primary beneficiary.
The Company provides the effect of VIE consolidation that is embedded in each non-GAAP financial measure, as applicable. The Company believes this information may also be useful to analysts and investors evaluating Assured Guaranty's
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financial results. In the case of both the consolidated FG VIEs and the CIVs, the economic effect of each of the consolidated FG VIEs and CIVs is reflected primarily in the results of the Insurance segment.
Management and the Board of Directors use non-GAAP financial measures further adjusted to remove the effect of VIE consolidation (which the Company refers to as its core financial measures), as well as GAAP financial measures and other factors, to evaluate the Company’s results of operations, financial condition and progress towards long-term goals. The Company uses core financial measures in its decision-making process for and in its calculation of certain components of management compensation. The core financial measures that the Company uses to help determine compensation are: (1) adjusted operating income, further adjusted to remove the effect of VIE consolidation, (2) adjusted operating shareholders' equity, further adjusted to remove the effect of VIE consolidation, (3) growth in adjusted book value per share, further adjusted to remove the effect of VIE consolidation, and (4) PVP.
Management believes that many investors, analysts and financial news reporters use adjusted operating shareholders’ equity and/or adjusted book value, each further adjusted to remove the effect of VIE consolidation, as the principal financial measures for valuing AGL’s current share price or projected share price and also as the basis of their decision to recommend, buy or sell AGL’s common shares. Management also believes that many of the Company’s fixed income investors also use adjusted operating shareholders' equity, further adjusted to remove the effect of VIE consolidation to evaluate the Company’s capital adequacy.
Adjusted operating income, further adjusted for the effect of VIE consolidation enables investors and analysts to evaluate the Company’s financial results in comparison with the consensus analyst estimates distributed publicly by financial databases.
The following paragraphs define each non-GAAP financial measure disclosed by the Company and describe why it is useful. To the extent there is a directly comparable GAAP financial measure, a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure and the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is presented below.
Adjusted Operating Income
Management believes that adjusted operating income is a useful measure because it clarifies the understanding of the operating results of the Company. Adjusted operating income is defined as net income (loss) attributable to AGL, as reported under GAAP, adjusted for the following:
1) Elimination of realized gains (losses) on the Company’s investments, except for gains and losses on securities classified as trading. The timing of realized gains and losses, which depends largely on market credit cycles, can vary considerably across periods. The timing of sales is largely subject to the Company’s discretion and influenced by market opportunities, as well as the Company’s tax and capital profile.
2) Elimination of non-credit-impairment unrealized fair value gains (losses) on credit derivatives that are recognized in net income, which is the amount of unrealized fair value gains (losses) in excess of the present value of the expected estimated economic credit losses, and non-economic payments. Such fair value adjustments are heavily affected by, and in part fluctuate with, changes in market interest rates, the Company's credit spreads, and other market factors and are not expected to result in an economic gain or loss.
3) Elimination of fair value gains (losses) on the Company’s CCS that are recognized in net income. Such amounts are affected by changes in market interest rates, the Company's credit spreads, price indications on the Company's publicly traded debt, and other market factors and are not expected to result in an economic gain or loss.
4) Elimination of foreign exchange gains (losses) on remeasurement of net premium receivables and loss and LAE reserves that are recognized in net income. Long-dated receivables and loss and LAE reserves represent the present value of future contractual or expected cash flows. Therefore, the current period’s foreign exchange remeasurement gains (losses) are not necessarily indicative of the total foreign exchange gains (losses) that the Company will ultimately recognize.
5) Elimination of the tax effects related to the above adjustments, which are determined by applying the statutory tax rate in each of the jurisdictions that generate these adjustments.
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See “— Results of Operations by Segment — Reconciliation to GAAP”, for a reconciliation of net income (loss) attributable to AGL to adjusted operating income (loss).
Adjusted Operating Shareholders’ Equity and Adjusted Book Value
Management believes that adjusted operating shareholders’ equity is a useful measure because it excludes the fair value adjustments on investments, credit derivatives and CCS that are not expected to result in economic gain or loss.
Adjusted operating shareholders’ equity is defined as shareholders’ equity attributable to AGL, as reported under GAAP, adjusted for the following:
1) Elimination of non-credit-impairment unrealized fair value gains (losses) on credit derivatives, which is the amount of unrealized fair value gains (losses) in excess of the present value of the expected estimated economic credit losses, and non-economic payments. Such fair value adjustments are heavily affected by, and in part fluctuate with, changes in market interest rates, credit spreads and other market factors and are not expected to result in an economic gain or loss.
2) Elimination of fair value gains (losses) on the Company’s CCS. Such amounts are affected by changes in market interest rates, the Company's credit spreads, price indications on the Company's publicly traded debt, and other market factors and are not expected to result in an economic gain or loss.
3) Elimination of unrealized gains (losses) on the Company’s investments that are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) (excluding foreign exchange remeasurement). The AOCI component of the fair value adjustment on the investment portfolio is not deemed economic because the Company generally holds these investments to maturity and therefore should not recognize an economic gain or loss.
4) Elimination of the tax effects related to the above adjustments, which are determined by applying the statutory tax rate in each of the jurisdictions that generate these adjustments.
Management uses adjusted book value, further adjusted for VIE consolidation, to measure the intrinsic value of the Company, excluding franchise value. Growth in adjusted book value per share, further adjusted for VIE consolidation (core adjusted book value), is one of the key financial measures used in determining the amount of certain long-term compensation elements to management and employees and used by rating agencies and investors. Management believes that adjusted book value is a useful measure because it enables an evaluation of the Company’s in-force premiums and revenues net of expected losses. Adjusted book value is adjusted operating shareholders’ equity, as defined above, further adjusted for the following:
1) Elimination of deferred acquisition costs, net. These amounts represent net deferred expenses that have already been paid or accrued and will be expensed in future accounting periods.
2) Addition of the net present value of estimated net future revenue. See below.
3) Addition of the deferred premium revenue on financial guaranty contracts in excess of expected loss to be expensed, net of reinsurance. This amount represents the present value of the expected future net earned premiums, net of the present value of expected losses to be expensed, which are not reflected in GAAP equity.
4) Elimination of the tax effects related to the above adjustments, which are determined by applying the statutory tax rate in each of the jurisdictions that generate these adjustments.
The unearned premiums and revenues included in adjusted book value will be earned in future periods, but actual earnings may differ materially from the estimated amounts used in determining current adjusted book value due to changes in foreign exchange rates, prepayment speeds, terminations, credit defaults and other factors.
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Reconciliation of Shareholders’ Equity Attributable to AGL
To Adjusted Book Value
As of March 31, 2021 As of December 31, 2020
After-Tax Per Share After-Tax Per Share
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts)
Shareholders’ equity attributable to AGL $ 6,430 $ 84.67 $ 6,643 $ 85.66
Less pre-tax adjustments:
Non-credit impairment unrealized fair value gains (losses) on credit derivatives (10) (0.14) 9 0.12
Fair value gains (losses) on CCS 33 0.43 52 0.66
Unrealized gain (loss) on investment portfolio excluding foreign exchange effect 463 6.10 611 7.89
Less taxes (88) (1.16) (116) (1.50)
Adjusted operating shareholders’ equity 6,032 79.44 6,087 78.49
Pre-tax adjustments:
Less: Deferred acquisition costs 124 1.63 119 1.54
Plus: Net present value of estimated net future revenue 181 2.38 182 2.35
Plus: Net unearned premium reserve on financial guaranty contracts in excess of expected loss to be expensed 3,359 44.24 3,355 43.27
Plus taxes (597) (7.87) (597) (7.70)
Adjusted book value $ 8,851 $ 116.56 8,908 114.87
Gain (loss) related to VIE consolidation included in adjusted operating shareholders' equity (net of tax provision of $0 and $0) $ 1 $ 0.02 $ 2 $ 0.03
Gain (loss) related to VIE consolidation included in adjusted book value (net of tax benefit of $4 and $2) $ (9) $ (0.12) $ (8) $ (0.10)
Net Present Value of Estimated Net Future Revenue
Management believes that this amount is a useful measure because it enables an evaluation of the value of the present value of estimated net future revenue for contracts other than financial guaranty insurance contracts (such as specialty insurance and reinsurance contracts and credit derivatives). This amount represents the net present value of estimated future revenue from these contracts (other than credit derivatives with net expected losses), net of reinsurance, ceding commissions and premium taxes.
Future installment premiums are discounted at the approximate average pre-tax book yield of fixed-maturity securities purchased during the prior calendar year, other than loss mitigation securities. The discount rate is recalculated annually and updated as necessary. Net present value of estimated future revenue for an obligation may change from period to period due to a change in the discount rate or due to a change in estimated net future revenue for the obligation, which may change due to changes in foreign exchange rates, prepayment speeds, terminations, credit defaults or other factors that affect par outstanding or the ultimate maturity of an obligation. There is no corresponding GAAP financial measure.
PVP or Present Value of New Business Production
Management believes that PVP is a useful measure because it enables the evaluation of the value of new business production for the Company by taking into account the value of estimated future installment premiums on all new contracts underwritten in a reporting period as well as additional installment premium on existing contracts (which may result from supplements or fees or from the issuer not calling an insured obligation the Company projected would be called), whether in insurance or credit derivative contract form, which management believes GAAP gross written premiums and changes in fair value of credit derivatives do not adequately measure. PVP in respect of contracts written in a specified period is defined as gross upfront and installment premiums received and the present value of gross estimated future installment premiums.
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Future installment premiums are discounted at the approximate average pre-tax book yield of fixed-maturity securities purchased during the prior calendar year, other than loss mitigation securities. The discount rate is recalculated annually and updated as necessary. Under GAAP, financial guaranty installment premiums are discounted at a risk-free rate. Additionally, under GAAP, management records future installment premiums on financial guaranty insurance contracts covering non-homogeneous pools of assets based on the contractual term of the transaction, whereas for PVP purposes, management records an estimate of the future installment premiums the Company expects to receive, which may be based upon a shorter period of time than the contractual term of the transaction.
Actual installment premiums may differ from those estimated in the Company's PVP calculation due to factors including, but not limited to, changes in foreign exchange rates, prepayment speeds, terminations, credit defaults, or other factors that affect par outstanding or the ultimate maturity of an obligation.
Reconciliation of GWP to PVP
First Quarter 2021 First Quarter 2020
Public Finance Structured Finance Public Finance Structured Finance
U.S. Non - U.S. U.S. Non - U.S. Total U.S. Non - U.S. U.S. Non - U.S. Total
(in millions)
Total GWP $ 79 $ 5 $ 3 $ — $ 87 $ 29 $ 34 $ 1 $ — $ 64
Less: Installment GWP and other GAAP adjustments (1) 34 3 1 — 38 — 34 1 — 35
Upfront GWP 45 2 2 — 49 29 — — — 29
Plus: Installment premium PVP 36 1 — — 37 — 21 1 — 22
Total PVP $ 81 $ 3 $ 2 $ — $ 86 $ 29 $ 21 $ 1 $ — $ 51
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(1) Includes present value of new business on installment policies discounted at the prescribed GAAP discount rates, GWP adjustments on existing installment policies due to changes in assumptions, and other GAAP adjustments.
Insured Portfolio
Financial Guaranty Exposure
The following tables present information in respect of the financial guaranty insured portfolio to supplement the disclosures and discussion provided in Item 1, Financial Statements, Note 3, Outstanding Exposure.
The following table presents the financial guaranty portfolio by sector, net of cessions to reinsurers. It includes all financial guaranty contracts outstanding as of the dates presented, regardless of the form written (i.e., credit derivative form or traditional financial guaranty insurance form) or the applicable accounting model (i.e., insurance, derivative or VIE consolidation) along with each sector's average rating.
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Financial Guaranty Portfolio
Net Par Outstanding and Average Internal Rating by Sector
As of March 31, 2021 As of December 31, 2020
Sector Net Par
Outstanding Avg.
Rating Net Par
Outstanding Avg.
Rating
(dollars in millions)
Public finance:
U.S.:
General obligation $ 72,411 A- $ 72,268 A-
Tax backed 35,259 A- 34,800 A-
Municipal utilities 25,268 A- 25,275 A-
Transportation 15,083 BBB+ 15,179 BBB+
Healthcare 8,901 BBB+ 8,691 BBB+
Infrastructure finance 6,342 A- 5,843 A-
Higher education 6,293 A- 6,127 A-
Housing revenue 1,142 BBB 1,149 BBB
Investor-owned utilities 642 A- 644 A-
Renewable energy 196 A- 204 A-
Other public finance-U.S. 1,404 A- 1,417 A-
Total public finance—U.S. 172,941 A- 171,597 A-
Non-U.S.:
Regulated utilities 19,074 BBB+ 19,370 BBB+
Infrastructure finance 17,422 BBB 17,819 BBB
Sovereign and sub-sovereign 11,561 A+ 11,682 A+
Renewable energy 2,581 A- 2,708 A-
Pooled infrastructure 1,461 AAA 1,449 AAA
Total public finance—non-U.S. 52,099 A- 53,028 A-
Total public finance 225,040 A- 224,625 A-
Structured finance:
U.S.:
RMBS 2,850 BBB- 2,990 BBB-
Life insurance transactions 2,561 AA- 2,581 AA-
Pooled corporate obligations 1,126 AA 1,193 AA
Financial products 781 AA- 820 AA-
Consumer receivables 722 A 768 A-
Other structured finance 638 A- 600 A-
Total structured finance—U.S. 8,678 A 8,952 A
Non-U.S.:
RMBS 348 A 357 A
Other structured finance 204 A+ 219 A+
Total structured finance—non-U.S. 552 A 576 A
Total structured finance 9,230 A 9,528 A
Total net par outstanding $ 234,270 A- $ 234,153 A-
Second-to-pay insured par outstanding represents transactions the Company has insured that are already insured by another financial guaranty insurer and where the Company's obligation to pay under its insurance of such transactions arises only if both the obligor on the underlying insured obligation and the primary financial guaranty insurer default. The Company underwrites such transactions based on the underlying insured obligation without regard to the primary financial guaranty insurer and internally rates the transaction the higher of the rating of the underlying obligation and the rating of the primary financial guarantor. The second-to-pay insured par outstanding as of both March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 was $5.6
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billion. The par on second-to-pay exposure where the ratings of the primary financial guaranty insurer and underlying insured transaction were BIG was $90 million and $91 million as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.
Exposure to Puerto Rico
The Company had insured exposure to general obligation bonds of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico or the Commonwealth) and various obligations of its related authorities and public corporations aggregating $3.7 billion net par as of March 31, 2021, all of which was rated BIG. Beginning on January 1, 2016, a number of Puerto Rico exposures have defaulted on bond payments, and the Company has now paid claims on all of its Puerto Rico exposures except the Municipal Finance Agency (MFA), the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA), and the University of Puerto Rico (U of PR).
The following tables present information in respect of the Puerto Rico exposures to supplement the disclosures and discussions provided in Item 1, Financial Statements, Note 3, Outstanding Exposure.
Exposure to Puerto Rico
By Company
As of March 31, 2021
Net Par Outstanding
AGM AGC AG Re Eliminations (1) Total
Net Par Outstanding Gross
Par Outstanding
(in millions)
Puerto Rico Exposures Subject to a Support Agreement
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico - GO (2)
$ 574 $ 185 $ 353 $ — $ 1,112 $ 1,150
PBA (2) 2 134 — (2) 134 140
Subtotal - GO/PBA PSA 576 319 353 (2) 1,246 1,290
PRHTA (Transportation revenue) (2) 244 472 180 (79) 817 817
PRHTA (Highway revenue) (2)
399 63 31 — 493 493
PRCCDA — 152 — — 152 152
Subtotal - HTA/CCDA PSA 643 687 211 (79) 1,462 1,462
PREPA (2)
489 71 216 — 776 787
Subtotal Subject to a Support Agreement 1,708 1,077 780 (81) 3,484 3,539
Other Puerto Rico Exposures
MFA 151 23 49 — 223 232
Puerto Rico Infrastructure Financing Authority (PRIFA) — 15 1 — 16 16
PRASA and U of PR — 2 — — 2 2
Subtotal Other Puerto Rico Exposures 151 40 50 — 241 250
Total exposure to Puerto Rico $ 1,859 $ 1,117 $ 830 $ (81) $ 3,725 $ 3,789
___________________
(1) Net par outstanding eliminations relate to second-to-pay policies under which an Assured Guaranty insurance subsidiary guarantees an obligation already insured by another Assured Guaranty insurance subsidiary.
(2) As of the date of this filing, the seven-member financial oversight board established by the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA) has certified a filing under Title III of PROMESA for these exposures.
The following tables show the scheduled amortization of the general obligation bonds of Puerto Rico and various obligations of its related authorities and public corporations insured by the Company. The Company guarantees payments of interest and principal when those amounts are scheduled to be paid and cannot be required to pay on an accelerated basis. In the event that obligors default on their obligations, the Company would only pay the shortfall between the principal and interest due in any given period and the amount paid by the obligors.
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Amortization Schedule
of Net Par of Puerto Rico
As of March 31, 2021
Scheduled Net Par Amortization
2021 (2Q) 2021 (3Q) 2021 (4Q) 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 - 2030 2031 - 2035 2036 - 2040 2041 - 2042 Total
(in millions)
Puerto Rico Exposures Subject to a Support Agreement
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico - GO $ — $ 16 $ — $ 37 $ 14 $ 73 $ 68 $ 268 $ 491 $ 145 $ — $ 1,112
PBA — 12 — — 7 — 6 54 38 17 — 134
Subtotal - GO/PBA PSA — 28 — 37 21 73 74 322 529 162 — 1,246
PRHTA (Transportation revenue) — 18 — 28 33 4 29 167 242 251 45 817
PRHTA (Highway revenue) — 35 — 40 32 32 34 40 227 53 — 493
PRCCDA — — — — — — — 19 104 29 — 152
Subtotal - HTA/CCDA PSA — 53 — 68 65 36 63 226 573 333 45 1,462
PREPA — 28 — 28 95 93 68 362 102 — — 776
Subtotal Subject to a Support Agreement — 109 — 133 181 202 205 910 1,204 495 45 3,484
Other Puerto Rico Exposures
MFA — 43 — 43 23 19 18 77 — — — 223
PRIFA — — — — 2 — — — — 10 4 16
PRASA and U of PR — — — — — 1 — — 1 — — 2
Subtotal Other Puerto Rico Exposures — 43 — 43 25 20 18 77 1 10 4 241
Total $ — $ 152 $ — $ 176 $ 206 $ 222 $ 223 $ 987 $ 1,205 $ 505 $ 49 $ 3,725
Amortization Schedule
of Net Debt Service of Puerto Rico
As of March 31, 2021
Scheduled Net Debt Service Amortization
2021 (2Q) 2021 (3Q) 2021 (4Q) 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 - 2030 2031 - 2035 2036 - 2040 2041 - 2042 Total
(in millions)
Puerto Rico Exposures Subject to a Support Agreement
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico - GO $ — $ 45 $ — $ 94 $ 70 $ 128 $ 119 $ 480 $ 623 $ 159 $ — $ 1,718
PBA — 16 — 7 13 6 13 71 49 18 — 193
Subtotal - GO/PBA PSA — 61 — 101 83 134 132 551 672 177 — 1,911
PRHTA (Transportation revenue) — 40 — 69 73 42 67 334 367 300 47 1,339
PRHTA (Highway revenue) — 48 — 64 54 53 53 122 277 55 — 726
PRCCDA — 3 — 7 7 7 7 51 127 31 — 240
Subtotal - HTA/CCDA PSA — 91 — 140 134 102 127 507 771 386 47 2,305
PREPA 3 43 3 62 128 122 91 427 110 — — 989
Subtotal Subject to a Support Agreement 3 195 3 303 345 358 350 1,485 1,553 563 47 5,205
Other Puerto Rico Exposures
MFA — 49 — 52 29 24 22 86 — — — 262
PRIFA — — — 1 3 1 1 4 3 13 4 30
PRASA and U of PR — — — — — 1 — — 1 — — 2
Subtotal Other Puerto Rico Exposures — 49 — 53 32 26 23 90 4 13 4 294
Total $ 3 $ 244 $ 3 $ 356 $ 377 $ 384 $ 373 $ 1,575 $ 1,557 $ 576 $ 51 $ 5,499
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Financial Guaranty Exposure to U.S. RMBS
The following table presents information in respect of the U.S. RMBS exposures to supplement the disclosures and discussion provided in Item 1, Financial Statements, Note 3, Outstanding Exposure, and Note 4, Expected Loss to be Paid (Recovered). U.S. RMBS exposures represent 1.2% of the total net par outstanding, and BIG U.S. RMBS represent 19.2% of total BIG net par outstanding.
Distribution of U.S. RMBS by Year Insured and Type of Exposure as of March 31, 2021
Year
insured: Prime
First Lien Alt-A
First Lien Option
ARMs Subprime
First Lien Second
Lien Total Net Par
Outstanding
(in millions)
2004 and prior $ 15 $ 14 $ — $ 473 $ 31 $ 533
2005 35 168 20 203 94 520
2006 34 33 2 142 168 379
2007 — 270 21 863 226 1,380
2008 — — — 38 — 38
Total exposures $ 84 $ 485 $ 43 $ 1,719 $ 519 $ 2,850
Exposures rated BIG $ 51 $ 273 $ 20 $ 936 $ 162 $ 1,442
Liquidity and Capital Resources
AGL and its U.S. Holding Companies
Sources and Uses of Funds
The liquidity of AGL and its U.S. Holding Companies is largely dependent on dividends from their operating subsidiaries (see Insurance Subsidiaries, Distributions From Insurance Subsidiaries below for a description of dividend restrictions) and their access to external financing. The operating liquidity requirements of AGL and the U.S. Holding Companies include:
• interest on debt issued by AGUS and AGMH,
• dividends on AGL's common shares, and
• the payment of operating expenses.
AGL and its U.S. Holding Companies may also require liquidity to:
• make capital investments in their operating subsidiaries,
• fund acquisitions of new businesses,
• purchase the Company's outstanding debt, or
• in the case of AGL, to repurchase its common shares pursuant to its share repurchase authorization.
In the ordinary course of business, the Company evaluates its liquidity needs and capital resources in light of holding company expenses and dividend policy, as well as rating agency considerations. The Company also subjects its cash flow projections and its assets to a stress test, maintaining a liquid asset balance of one time its stressed operating company net cash flows. Management believes that AGL will have sufficient liquidity to satisfy its needs over the next twelve months.
Long-Term Debt Obligations
The Company has outstanding long-term debt issued by the U.S. Holding Companies. See Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 14, Long-Term Debt and Credit Facilities of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, and Guarantor and U.S. Holding Companies' Summarized Financial Information , below.
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U.S. Holding Companies
Long-Term Debt and Intercompany Loans
As of March 31, 2021 As of December 31, 2020
(in millions)
Effective Interest Rate Final Maturity Principal Amount
AGUS - long-term debt
7% Senior Notes 6.40% 2034 $ 200 $ 200
5% Senior Notes 5.00% 2024 500 500
Series A Enhanced Junior Subordinated Debentures 3 month LIBOR +2.38% (1) 2066 150 150
AGUS long-term debt subtotal 850 850
AGUS - intercompany loans from insurance subsidiaries
AGC/AGM/MAC 3.50% 2030 250 250
AGRO 6 month LIBOR +3.00% (1) 2023 30 30
AGUS intercompany loans subtotal 280 280
Total AGUS 1,130 1,130
AGMH
6 7 / 8 % Senior Notes
6.88% 2101 100 100
6.25% Senior Notes 6.25% 2102 230 230
5.6% Senior Notes 5.60% 2103 100 100
Junior Subordinated Debentures 1 Month LIBOR +2.215% (1) 2066 300 300
Total AGMH 730 730
AGMH's long-term debt purchased by AGUS (154) (154)
U.S. Holding Company debt $ 1,706 $ 1,706
From time to time, AGL and its subsidiaries have entered into intercompany loan facilities. For example, on October 25, 2013, AGL, as borrower, and AGUS, as lender, entered into a revolving credit facility pursuant to which AGL may, from time to time, borrow for general corporate purposes. Under the credit facility, AGUS committed to lend a principal amount not exceeding $225 million in the aggregate. The commitment under the revolving credit facility terminates on October 25, 2023 (the loan commitment termination date). The unpaid principal amount of each loan will bear semi-annual interest at a fixed rate equal to 100% of the then applicable interest rate as determined under Internal Revenue Code Section 1274(d). Accrued interest on all loans will be paid on the last day of each June and December and at maturity. AGL must repay the then unpaid principal amounts of the loans, if any, by the third anniversary of the loan commitment termination date. AGL has not drawn upon the credit facility.
See the Company's 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Part II. Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 14, Long-Term Debt and Credit Facilities, for additional information.
Guarantor and U.S. Holding Companies' Summarized Financial Information
AGL fully and unconditionally guarantees the payment of the principal of, and interest on, the $1,130 million aggregate principal amount of senior notes issued by the U.S. Holding Companies, and the $450 million aggregate principal amount of junior subordinated debentures issued by the U.S. Holding Companies, and the AGC/AGM/MAC intercompany loans. The following tables include summarized financial information for AGL and the U.S. Holding Companies, excluding their investments in subsidiaries.
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As of March 31, 2021
AGL U.S. Holding Companies
(in millions)
Assets
Investments and cash (1) $ 90 $ 193
Receivables from affiliates (2) 30 —
Receivable from U.S. Holding Companies — —
Other assets 1 55
Liabilities
Long term debt — 1,222
Loans payable to affiliate — 280
Payable to affiliates (2) 15 9
Payable to AGL — —
Other liabilities 3 163
____________________
(1) As of March 31, 2021 weighted average durations of AGL and U.S. Holding Companies' fixed-maturity securities (excluding AGUS' investment in AGMH's debt) were 5.2 years and 1.8 years, respectively.
(2) Represents receivable and payables with non-guarantor subsidiaries.
First Quarter 2021
AGL U.S. Holding Companies
(in millions)
Revenues $ — $ —
Expenses
Interest expense — 23
Other expenses 8 1
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes (8) (24)
Equity in earnings of investees — —
Net income (loss) (8) (21)
The following table presents significant cash flow items for AGL and the U.S. Holding Companies (other than investment income, operating expenses and taxes) related to distributions from subsidiaries and outflows for debt service, dividends and other capital management activities.
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AGL and U.S. Holding Companies
Significant Cash Flow Items
First Quarter 2021
AGL U.S. Holding Companies
(in millions)
Dividends received from subsidiaries $ — $ 95
Interest paid (1) — (8)
Investments in subsidiaries — (15)
Dividends paid (18) —
Repurchases of common shares (2) (77) —
____________________
(1) Includes $1 million and $7 million paid by AGUS and AGMH, respectively.
(2) See Item 1, Financial Statements, Note 14, Shareholders' Equity, for additional information about share repurchases and authorizations.
Generally, dividends paid by a U.S. company to a Bermuda holding company are subject to a 30% withholding tax. After AGL became tax resident in the U.K., it became subject to the tax rules applicable to companies resident in the U.K., including the benefits afforded by the U.K.’s tax treaties. The income tax treaty between the U.K. and the U.S. reduces or eliminates the U.S. withholding tax on certain U.S. sourced investment income (to 5% or 0%), including dividends from U.S. subsidiaries to U.K. resident persons entitled to the benefits of the treaty.
For more information, see also Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 14, Long-Term Debt and Credit Facilities of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.
External Financing
From time to time, AGL and its subsidiaries have sought external debt or equity financing in order to meet their obligations. External sources of financing may or may not be available to the Company, and if available, the cost of such financing may not be acceptable to the Company.
Insurance Subsidiaries
Sources and Uses of Funds
Liquidity of the insurance subsidiaries is primarily used to pay for:
• operating expenses,
• claims on the insured portfolio,
• dividends or other distributions to AGL, AGUS and/or AGMH, as applicable,
• reinsurance premiums,
• principal of and, interest on, surplus notes,where applicable, and
• capital investments in their own subsidiaries, where appropriate.
Management believes that the insurance subsidiaries’ liquidity needs for the next twelve months can be met from current cash, short-term investments and operating cash flow, including premium collections and coupon payments as well as scheduled maturities and paydowns from their respective investment portfolios. The Company targets a balance of its most liquid assets including cash and short-term securities, Treasuries, agency RMBS and pre-refunded municipal bonds equal to 1.5 times its projected operating company cash flow needs over the next four quarters. The Company intends to hold and has the ability to hold securities in an unrealized loss position until the date of anticipated recovery of amortized cost.
Beyond the next twelve months, the ability of the operating subsidiaries to declare and pay dividends may be influenced by a variety of factors, including market conditions, general economic conditions, and, in the case of the Company's insurance subsidiaries, insurance regulations and rating agency capital requirements.
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Financial Guaranty Policies
Insurance policies issued provide, in general, that payments of principal, interest and other amounts insured may not be accelerated by the holder of the obligation. Amounts paid by the Company therefore are typically in accordance with the obligation’s original payment schedule, unless the Company accelerates such payment schedule, at its sole option. Premiums received on financial guaranty contracts are paid either upfront or in installments over the life of the insured obligations.
Payments made in settlement of the Company’s obligations arising from its insured portfolio may, and often do, vary significantly from year to year, depending primarily on the frequency and severity of payment defaults and whether the Company chooses to accelerate its payment obligations in order to mitigate future losses. Direct and indirect consequences of COVID-19 are continuing to cause financial distress to many of the obligors and assets underlying obligations guaranteed by the Company, and may result in further increases in claims and loss reserves. The Company believes that state and local governments and entities that were already experiencing significant budget deficits and pension funding and revenue shortfalls, as well as obligations supported by revenue streams most impacted by various closures and capacity and travel restrictions or an economic downturn, are most at risk for increased claims. The size and depth of the COVID-19 pandemic, its course and duration and the direct and indirect consequences of governmental and private responses to it, and the effectiveness and acceptance of vaccines for it, remain unknown, so the Company cannot predict the ultimate size of any increases in claims that may result from the pandemic.
In addition, the Company has net par exposure to the general obligation bonds of Puerto Rico and various obligations of its related authorities and public corporations aggregating $3.7 billion, all of which is rated BIG. Beginning in 2016, the Commonwealth and certain related authorities and public corporations have defaulted on obligations to make payments on its debt. Information regarding the Company's exposure to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and its related authorities and public corporations is set forth in Item 1, Financial Statements, Note 3, Outstanding Exposure, Note 4, Expected Loss to be Paid (Recovered) and Item 2, Management Discussion and Analysis, Insured Portfolio.
In connection with the acquisition of AGMH, AGM agreed to retain the risks relating to the debt and strip policy portions of the leveraged lease business. In a leveraged lease transaction, a tax-exempt entity (such as a transit agency) transfers tax benefits to a tax-paying entity by transferring ownership of a depreciable asset, such as subway cars. The tax-exempt entity then leases the asset back from its new owner.
If the lease is terminated early, the tax-exempt entity must make an early termination payment to the lessor. A portion of this early termination payment is funded from monies that were pre-funded and invested at the closing of the leveraged lease transaction (along with earnings on those invested funds). The tax-exempt entity is obligated to pay the remaining, unfunded portion of this early termination payment (known as the strip coverage) from its own sources. AGM issued financial guaranty insurance policies (known as strip policies) that guaranteed the payment of these unfunded strip coverage amounts to the lessor, in the event that a tax-exempt entity defaulted on its obligation to pay this portion of its early termination payment. Following such events, AGM can then seek reimbursement of its strip policy payments from the tax-exempt entity, and can also sell the transferred depreciable asset and reimburse itself from the sale proceeds.
Currently, all the leveraged lease transactions in which AGM acts as strip coverage provider are breaching a rating trigger related to AGM and are subject to early termination. However, early termination of a lease does not result in a draw on the AGM policy if the tax-exempt entity makes the required termination payment. If all the leases were to terminate early and the tax-exempt entities did not make the required early termination payments, then AGM would be exposed to possible liquidity claims on gross exposure of approximately $631 million as of March 31, 2021. To date, none of the leveraged lease transactions that involve AGM has experienced an early termination due to a lease default and a claim on the AGM policy. As of March 31, 2021, approximately $1.7 billion of cumulative strip par exposure had been terminated since 2008 on a consensual basis. The consensual terminations have resulted in no claims on AGM.
The terms of the Company’s CDS contracts generally are modified from standard CDS contract forms approved by International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. in order to provide for payments on a scheduled "pay-as-you-go" basis and to replicate the terms of a traditional financial guaranty insurance policy. However, the Company may also be required to pay if the obligor becomes bankrupt or if the reference obligation were restructured if, after negotiation, those credit events are specified in the documentation for the credit derivative transactions. Furthermore, the Company may be required to make a payment due to an event that is unrelated to the performance of the obligation referenced in the credit derivative. If events of default or termination events specified in the credit derivative documentation were to occur, the Company may be required to make a cash termination payment to its swap counterparty upon such termination. Any such payment would probably occur prior to the maturity of the reference obligation and be in an amount larger than the amount due for that period on a “pay-as-you-go” basis.
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The transaction documentation with one counterparty for $76 million of CDS insured by the Company requires the Company to post collateral, subject to a cap, to secure its obligation to make payments under such contracts. As of March 31, 2021, AGC did not have to post collateral to satisfy these requirements and the maximum posting requirement was $76 million.
Distributions From Insurance Subsidiaries
The Company anticipates that for the next twelve months amounts paid by AGL’s direct and indirect insurance subsidiaries as dividends or other distributions will be a major source of the holding companies' liquidity. The insurance subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends depends upon their financial condition, results of operations, cash requirements, other potential uses for such funds, and compliance with rating agency requirements, and is also subject to restrictions contained in the insurance laws and related regulations of their states of domicile. For more information, see Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 17, Insurance Company Regulatory Requirements, of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 for a complete discussion of the Company's dividend restrictions applicable to AGC, AGM, AG Re and AGRO.
Dividend restrictions by insurance subsidiary are as follows:
• The maximum amount available during 2021 for AGM (a subsidiary of AGMH) to distribute as dividends without regulatory approval is estimated to be approximately $275 million, none of which is estimated to be available for distribution in the second quarter of 2021.
• The maximum amount available during 2021 for AGC (a subsidiary of AGUS) to distribute as ordinary dividends is approximately $94 million, of which approximately $24 million is available for distribution in the second quarter of 2021.
• Based on the applicable law and regulations, in 2021 AG Re (a subsidiary of AGL) has the capacity to (i) make capital distributions in an aggregate amount up to $129 million without the prior approval of the Bermuda Monetary Authority (the Authority) and (ii) declare and pay dividends in an aggregate amount up to approximately $257 million as of March 31, 2021. Such dividend capacity is further limited by (i) the actual amount of AG Re’s unencumbered assets, which amount changes from time to time due in part to collateral posting requirements and which was approximately $230 million as of March 31, 2021, and (ii) the amount of statutory surplus, which as of March 31, 2021 was $152 million.
• Based on the applicable law and regulations, in 2021 AGRO (an indirect subsidiary of AGRe) has the capacity to (i) make capital distributions in an aggregate amount up to $21 million without the prior approval of the Authority and (ii) declare and pay dividends in an aggregate amount up to approximately $107 million as of March 31, 2021. Such dividend capacity is further limited by (i) the actual amount of AGRO’s unencumbered assets, which amount changes from time to time due in part to collateral posting requirements and which was approximately $402 million as of March 31, 2021, and (ii) the amount of Statutory surplus, which as of March 31, 2021 was $286 million.
Distributions From / Contributions To
Insurance Company Subsidiaries
First Quarter
2021 2020
(in millions)
Dividends paid by AGC to AGUS $ 13 $ 85
Dividends paid by AGM to AGMH 82 72
Contributions from AGM to AGE SA — (26)
Ratings Impact on Financial Guaranty Business
A downgrade of one of AGL’s insurance subsidiaries may result in increased claims under financial guaranties issued by the Company if counterparties exercise contractual rights triggered by the downgrade against insured obligors, and the insured obligors are unable to pay. See Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 6, Contracts Accounted for as Insurance, of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.
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Assumed Reinsurance
Some of the Company’s insurance subsidiaries (Assuming Subsidiaries) assumed financial guaranty insurance from legacy third-party bond insurers. The agreements under which such Assuming Subsidiaries assumed such business are generally subject to termination at the option of the ceding company (a) if the Assuming Subsidiary fails to meet certain financial and regulatory criteria; (b) if the Assuming Subsidiary fails to maintain a specified minimum financial strength rating; or (c) upon certain changes of control of the Assuming Subsidiary. Upon termination due to one of the above events, the Assuming Subsidiary typically would be required to return to the ceding company unearned premiums (net of ceding commissions) and loss reserves, calculated on a U.S. statutory basis, attributable to the assumed business (plus in certain cases, an additional required amount), after which the Assuming Subsidiary would be released from liability with respect to such business.
As of March 31, 2021, if each third-party company ceding business to an Assuming Subsidiary had a right to recapture such business, and chose to exercise such right, the aggregate amounts those subsidiaries could be required to pay to all such ceding companies would be approximately $284 million, including $242 million by AGC and $42 million by AG Re.
Committed Capital Securities
Each of AGC and AGM have entered into put agreements with four separate custodial trusts allowing each of AGC and AGM, respectively, to issue an aggregate of $200 million of non-cumulative redeemable perpetual preferred securities to the trusts in exchange for cash. Each custodial trust was created for the primary purpose of issuing $50 million face amount of CCS, investing the proceeds in high-quality assets and entering into put options with AGC or AGM, as applicable. The Company is not the primary beneficiary of the trusts and therefore the trusts are not consolidated in Assured Guaranty's financial statements.
The trusts provide AGC and AGM access to new equity capital at their respective sole discretion through the exercise of the put options. Upon AGC's or AGM's exercise of its put option, the relevant trust will liquidate its portfolio of eligible assets and use the proceeds to purchase AGC or AGM preferred stock, as applicable. AGC or AGM may use the proceeds from its sale of preferred stock to the trusts for any purpose, including the payment of claims. The put agreements have no scheduled termination date or maturity. However, each put agreement will terminate if (subject to certain grace periods) specified events occur. Both AGC and AGM continue to have the ability to exercise their respective put options and cause the related trusts to purchase their preferred stock.
Prior to 2008 or 2007, the amounts paid on the CCS were established through an auction process. All of those auctions failed in 2008 or 2007, and the rates paid on the CCS increased to their respective maximums. The annualized rate on the AGC CCS is one-month LIBOR plus 250 bps, and the annualized rate on the AGM Committed Preferred Trust Securities is one-month LIBOR plus 200 bps. LIBOR may be discontinued. See "— Executive Summary — Other Matters — LIBOR Sunset" above and the Risk Factor captioned "The Company may be adversely impacted by the transition from LIBOR as a reference rate" under Operational Risks in Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors in AGL's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.
Investment Portfolio
The Company’s principal objectives in managing its investment portfolio are to support the highest possible ratings for each operating company, to manage investment risk within the context of the underlying portfolio of insurance risk, to maintain sufficient liquidity to cover unexpected stress in the insurance portfolio, and to maximize after-tax net investment income.
Changes in interest rates affect the value of the Company’s fixed-maturity portfolio. As interest rates fall, the fair value of fixed-maturity securities generally increases and as interest rates rise, the fair value of fixed-maturity securities generally decreases. The Company’s portfolio of fixed-maturity securities primarily consists of high-quality, liquid instruments. Other invested assets includes interest in AssuredIM Funds, and other alternative investments. For more information about the Investment Portfolio and a detailed description of the Company’s valuation of investments see Item 1, Financial Statements, Note 10, Fair Value Measurement and Note 8, Investments and Cash.
The disruption in the financial markets related to COVID-19 contributed to credit impairment losses on certain loss mitigation securities in First Quarter 2020, which were recognized in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.
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Investment Portfolio
Carrying Value
As of
March 31, 2021 December 31, 2020
(in millions)
Fixed-maturity securities: $ 8,687 $ 8,773
Short-term investments 701 851
Other invested assets 211 214
Total $ 9,599 $ 9,838
The Company’s fixed-maturity securities and short-term investments had a duration of 4.5 years and 4.3 years as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020. Generally, the Company’s fixed-maturity securities are designated as available-for-sale. For more information about the Investment Portfolio and a detailed description of the Company’s valuation of investments see Item 1, Financial Statements, Note 8, Investments and Cash.
Fixed-Maturity Securities By Contractual Maturity
The amortized cost and estimated fair value of the Company’s available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities, by contractual maturity, are shown below. Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.
Distribution of Fixed-Maturity Securities
by Contractual Maturity
As of March 31, 2021
Amortized
Cost Estimated
Fair Value
(in millions)
Due within one year $ 364 $ 371
Due after one year through five years 1,586 1,700
Due after five years through 10 years 1,938 1,989
Due after 10 years 3,487 3,723
Mortgage-backed securities:
RMBS 541 530
CMBS 351 374
Total $ 8,267 $ 8,687
Fixed-Maturity Securities By Rating
The following table summarizes the ratings distributions of the Company’s investment portfolio as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020. Ratings reflect the lower of Moody’s and S&P Global Ratings, a division of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC (S&P) classifications, except for bonds purchased for loss mitigation or other risk management strategies, which use Assured Guaranty’s internal ratings classifications.
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Distribution of
Fixed-Maturity Securities by Rating
As of
Rating March 31, 2021 December 31, 2020
AAA 15.2 % 15.5 %
AA 38.1 38.3
A 25.0 25.4
BBB 12.8 12.0
BIG (1) 8.2 8.1
Not rated 0.7 0.7
Total 100.0 % 100.0 %
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(1) Includes primarily loss mitigation and other risk management assets. See Item I, Financial Statements, Note 8, Investments and Cash, for additional information.
Other Invested Assets
Other invested assets primarily consist of equity method investments, including investments in renewable and clean energy and private equity fund managed by a third party, and investments in AssuredIM Funds that are not consolidated. See Item. 1, Financial Statements, Note 9, Variable Interest Entities.
The Insurance segment accounts for AGAS’s percentage ownership of AssuredIM Funds as equity method investments with changes in NAV presented in the Insurance segment adjusted operating income. See Commitments below.
Fair Value of AGAS’s Interest
in AssuredIM Funds
As of
March 31, 2021 December 31, 2020
(in millions)
AssuredIM Funds by strategy (1)
CLOs $ 143 $ 100
Municipal bonds 106 105
Healthcare 71 97
Asset-based 48 43
Total $ 368 $ 345
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(1) Except for certain healthcare amounts of $71 million as of March 31, 2021 and $91 million as of December 31, 2020 that did not meet the criteria for consolidation, these amounts represent the carrying value (NAV) of AGAS's investments in the funds that are consolidated at the AGL reporting level because the Company is also the asset manager of these funds and is deemed the primary beneficiary.
Restricted Assets
Based on fair value, investments and other assets that are either held in trust for the benefit of third party ceding insurers in accordance with statutory requirements, placed on deposit to fulfill state licensing requirements, or otherwise pledged or restricted totaled $257 million and $262 million as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. The investment portfolio also contains securities that are held in trust by certain AGL subsidiaries or otherwise restricted for the benefit of other AGL subsidiaries in accordance with statutory and regulatory requirements in the amount of $1,271 million and $1,511 million, based on fair value, as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.
Commitments
The Company agreed to purchase up to $125 million of limited partnership interests and other similar investments, of which $91 million was not yet funded as of March 31, 2021.
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The Company is authorized to invest up to $750 million in AssuredIM Funds. As of March 31, 2021, the Insurance segment has total commitments to AssuredIM Funds of $587 million of which $335 million represents net invested capital and $252 million is undrawn .
AssuredIM
Sources and Uses of Funds
AssuredIM's sources of liquidity are (1) net working capital, (2) cash from operations, including management and performance fees (which are unpredictable as to amount and timing), and (3) capital contributions from AGUS (in First Quarter 2021 and First Quarter 2020 $15 million and $30 million, respectively, had been contributed to supplement working capital). As of March 31, 2021, AssuredIM had $21 million in cash and short-term investments.
AssuredIM's liquidity needs primarily include (1) paying operating expenses including compensation, (2) paying dividends or other distributions to AGUS, and (3) capital to support growth and expansion of the asset management business.
Leases
The Company has entered into several lease agreements for office space in Bermuda, New York, San Francisco, London, Paris, and other locations with various lease terms.
During the fourth quarter of 2020, the Company entered into an agreement to sublease additional office in the building where its New York City headquarters is located, for approximately 52,000 square feet to relocate AssuredIM. This sublease with additional $32 million of future rental payments commenced in First Quarter 2021 and expires in 2032.
During the second quarter of 2021, the Company entered into a renewed lease agreement for its existing Bermuda office space. This lease, with an additional $2 million of future rental payments, commenced in the second quarter of 2021 and expires in April 2026.
Consolidated VIEs
The Company manages its liquidity needs by evaluating cash flows without the effect of consolidated VIEs; however, the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements reflect the financial position of Assured Guaranty as well as Assured Guaranty's consolidated VIEs. See Item. 1, Financial Statements, Note 9, Variable Interest Entities, for additional information. The primary sources and uses of cash at Assured Guaranty's consolidated VIEs are as follows:
• FG VIEs. The primary sources of cash in FG VIEs are the collection of principal and interest on the collateral supporting its insured debt obligations, and the primary uses of cash are the payment of principal and interest due on the insured obligations.
• Investment Vehicles. The primary sources and uses of cash in the CIVs are raising capital from investors, using capital to make investments, generating cash income from its investments, paying expenses, distributing cash flow to investors and issuing debt or borrowing funds to finance investments (CLOs and warehouses).
Credit Facilities of CIVs
On December 23, 2020, BlueMountain CLO XXXI Ltd. (CLO XXXI), as borrower, entered into a credit facility pursuant to which CLO XXXI may borrow for purposes of purchasing loans during the CLO warehouse stage. Under the CLO XXXI credit facility, the principal amount may not exceed $360 million. The current available commitment is determined by an advance rate of 75% based on the amount of equity contributed to the warehouse. Based on the current advance rate and amount of equity contributed, the available commitment for CLO XXXI as of March 31, 2021 was $90 million. As of March 31, 2021 CLO XXXI has drawn down $68 million. The scheduled maturity date under the credit facility is December 22, 2021. The unpaid principal amounts will bear interest at a rate of 3-month LIBOR plus 130 bps. Accrued interest on all loans will be paid on the maturity date or the closing date of the CLO, whichever is earlier.
The CLO warehouse was in compliance with all financial covenants under its credit facility as of March 31, 2021.
As of December 31, 2020, €20 million (or $25 million) and €1 million (or $1 million) had been drawn under a BlueMountain EUR 2021-1 CLO DAC (EUR 2021-1) credit facility with counterparties dated August 26, 2020 by EUR 2021-1
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and AssuredIM, respectively. During First Quarter 2021, EUR 2021-1 and AssuredIM repaid the borrowings under this credit facility.
Condensed Consolidated Cash Flows
The condensed consolidated statements of cash flow include the cash flows of the Insurance and Asset Management subsidiaries and holding companies as well as the cash flows of the consolidated FG VIEs and CIVs.
Condensed Consolidated Cash Flow Summary
First Quarter
2021 2020
(in millions)
Net cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities before effect of VIE consolidation $ (42) $ (97)
Effect of VIE consolidation (1) (424) (67)
Net cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities (466) (164)
Net cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities before effect of VIE consolidation 81 242
Effect of VIE consolidation (1)
44 147
Net cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities 125 389
Dividends paid (18) (20)
Repurchases of common shares (77) (116)
Repurchase of debt — (21)
Net cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities before effect of VIE consolidation (12) (11)
Effect of VIE consolidation (1) 496 (12)
Net cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities (2) 389 (180)
Effect of exchange rate changes — (7)
Cash and restricted cash at beginning of period 298 183
Total cash and restricted cash at the end of the period $ 346 $ 221
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(1) VIE consolidation includes the effects of FG VIEs and CIVs.
(2) Claims paid on consolidated FG VIEs are presented in the condensed consolidated cash flow statements as a component of paydowns on FG VIEs' liabilities in financing activities as opposed to operating activities.
Cash flows from operations, excluding the effect of consolidating VIEs, was an outflow of $42 million in First Quarter 2021 and an outflow of $97 million in First Quarter 2020. The decrease in cash outflows during 2021 was primarily due to a $43 million increase in gross premiums received (net of commissions) and as well as lower payments for operating expenses. Cash flows from operations attributable to the effect of VIE consolidation was negative in 2021 and 2020 due to the inclusion of investing activities of CIVs, which included cash outflows for purchases of investments, offset by sales of investments.
Investing activities primarily consisted of net sales (purchases) of fixed-maturity and short-term investments, and paydowns on and sales of FG VIEs’ assets. The decrease in investing cash inflows during 2021 was mainly attributable to higher sales of securities in 2020 to fund higher share repurchases and claim payments.
Financing activities primarily consisted of share repurchases, dividends, debt extinguishment and paydowns of FG VIEs’ liabilities. In First Quarter 2021 it also included issuances of CLOs, bank borrowings and repayment of warehouse financing debt.
From April 1 through May 6, 2021, the Company repurchased an additional 0.6 million of common shares. As of May 6, 2021, the Company was authorized to purchase $147 million of its common shares. For m ore information about th e Company's share repurchases and authorizations, see Item 1, Financial Statements, Note 14, Shareholders' Equity.
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ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
As of March 31, 2021, there were no material changes in the market risks that the Company is exposed to since December 31, 2020.