SEC Form 3
FORM 3 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
Albert Howard

(Last) (First) (Middle)
31 WEST 52ND STREET

(Street)
NEW YORK NY 10019

(City) (State) (Zip)
2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
02/09/2012
3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
ASSURED GUARANTY LTD [ AGO ]
4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
Director 10% Owner
X Officer (give title below) Other (specify below)
Chief Risk Officer
5. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)
X Form filed by One Reporting Person
Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 4) 2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned (Instr. 4) 3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5) 4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
Common Shares 104,391.8117(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6) D
Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 4) 2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year) 3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 4) 4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5) 6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Options to Acquire Common Shares (7) 04/27/2014 Common Shares 50,000 $18 D
Options to Acquire Common Shares (8) 02/10/2015 Common Shares 15,000 $18.03 D
Options to Acquire Common Shares (9) 02/02/2016 Common Shares 15,000 $25.5 D
Options to Acquire Common Shares (10) 02/08/2017 Common Shares 16,000 $26.7 D
Options to Acquire Common Shares (11) 02/14/2018 Common Shares 12,000 $23.27 D
Options to Acquire Common Shares (12) 02/05/2019 Common Shares 10,000 $7.44 D
Options to Acquire Common Shares (13) 02/24/2020 Common Shares 10,000 $19.79 D
Explanation of Responses:
1. Included in the total are 1,500 restricted stock units awarded on February 14, 2008 pursuant to the Assured Guaranty Ltd. Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "Plan"). These restricted stock units vest on February 14, 2012. Upon vesting, one (1) common share will be delivered for each vested restricted stock unit.
2. Included in the total are 3,500 restricted stock units awarded on February 5, 2009 pursuant to the Plan. These restricted stock units vest as follows: 1/2 on the third anniversary of the date of the award and 1/2 on the fourth anniversary of the date of the award. Upon vesting, one (1) common share will be delivered for each vested restricted stock unit.
3. Included in the total are 15,000 restricted stock units awarded on February 24, 2010 pursuant to the Plan. These restricted stock units vest as follows: 1/3 on the second anniversary of the date of the award, 1/3 on the third anniversary of the date of the award and 1/3 on the fourth anniversary of the date of the award. Upon vesting, one (1) common share will be delivered for each vested restricted stock unit.
4. Included in the total are 15,000 restricted stock units awarded on February 9, 2011 pursuant to the Plan. These restricted stock units vest as follows: 1/4 of the first anniversary of the date of the award, 1/4 on the second anniversary of the date of the award, 1/4 on the third anniversary of the date of the award and 1/4 on the fourth anniversary of the date of the award. Upon vesting, one (1) common share will be delivered for each vested restricted stock unit.
5. Of the total, 759.8946 shares represent dividend equivalents on restricted stock units granted pursuant to the Plan which meets the requirements of Rule 16b-3.
6. Included in the total is an irrevocable election under a supplemental executive retirement plan ("SERP") to have a portion of the reporting person's hypothetical account balance in the SERP invested in 22,744 units in the employer stock fund. Each unit in the employer stock fund represents the right to receive one common share of the Company following a distribution from the SERP following the reporting person's termination of employment with the Company or disability (or in the case of a hardship, if approved by the Compensation Committee) in accordance with the terms of the SERP. Account balances hypothetically invested in the employer stock fund are payable solely in common shares of the Company and may not be transferred into an alternative investment account.
7. Stock option award pursuant to the Plan granted on 04/27/2004. Options vest as follows: 1/3 on the first anniversary of the date of the award, 1/3 on the second anniversary of the date of the award and 1/3 on the third anniversary of the date of the award.
8. Stock option award pursuant to the Plan granted on 02/10/2005. Options vest as follows: 1/3 on the first anniversary of the date of the award, 1/3 on the second anniversary of the date of the award and 1/3 on the third anniversary of the date of the award.
9. Stock option award pursuant to the Plan granted on 02/02/2006. Options vest as follows: 1/3 on the first anniversary of the date of the award, 1/3 on the second anniversary of the date of the award and 1/3 on the third anniversary of the date of the award.
10. Stock option award pursuant to the Plan granted on 02/08/2007. Options vest as follows: 1/3 on the first anniversary of the date of the award, 1/3 on the second anniversary of the date of the award and 1/3 on the third anniversary of the date of the award.
11. Stock option award pursuant to the Plan granted on 02/14/2008. Options vest as follows: 1/3 on the first anniversary of the date of the award, 1/3 on the second anniversary of the date of the award and 1/3 on the third anniversary of the date of the award.
12. Stock option award pursuant to the Plan granted on 02/05/2009. Options vest as follows: 1/3 on the first anniversary of the date of the award, 1/3 on the second anniversary of the date of the award and 1/3 on the third anniversary of the date of the award.
13. Stock option award pursuant to the Plan granted on 02/24/2010. Options vest as follows: 1/3 on the first anniversary of the date of the award, 1/3 on the second anniversary of the date of the award and 1/3 on the third anniversary of the date of the award.
By: James M. Michener, Attorney-in-fact 02/10/2012
** Signature of Reporting Person Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
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