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Long-Term Debt and Credit Facilities
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Long-Term Debt and Credit Facilities  
Long-Term Debt and Credit Facilities

15. Long-Term Debt and Credit Facilities

Long-Term Debt Obligations

        The Company's long term debt has been issued by AGUS and AGMH and notes payable to the Financial Products Companies were issued by refinancing vehicles consolidated by AGM. With respect to the notes payable, the funds borrowed were used to finance the purchase of the underlying obligations of AGM-insured obligations which had breached triggers allowing AGM to exercise its right to accelerate payment of a claim in order to mitigate loss. The assets purchased are classified as assets acquired in refinancing transactions and recorded within "other invested assets" on the consolidated balance sheets. The terms of the notes payable match the terms of the assets. See Note 9, Investments.

        AGL fully and unconditionally guarantees the following debt obligations issued by AGUS: (1) 7.0% Senior Notes and (2) 8.50% Senior Notes. AGL also fully and unconditionally guarantees the following obligations issued by AGMH: (1) 67/8% Quarterly Income Bonds Securities ("QUIBS"), (2) 6.25% Notes and (3) 5.60% Notes. In addition, AGL guarantees, on a junior subordinated basis, AGUS's Series A, Enhanced Junior Subordinated Debentures and $300 million of AGMH's outstanding Junior Subordinated Debentures.

Accounting Policy

        Long-term debt is recorded at principal amounts net of any unamortized original issue discount and unamortized Acquisition Date fair value adjustment for AGMH debt. Discount is accreted into interest expense over the life of the applicable debt.

Debt Issued by AGUS

        7.0% Senior Notes.    On May 18, 2004, AGUS issued $200.0 million of 7.0% senior notes due 2034 ("7.0% Senior Notes") for net proceeds of $197.3 million. Although the coupon on the Senior Notes is 7.0%, the effective rate is approximately 6.4%, taking into account the effect of a cash flow hedge executed by the Company in March 2004.

        8.50% Senior Notes.    On June 24, 2009, AGL issued 3,450,000 equity units for net proceeds of approximately $166.8 million in a registered public offering. The net proceeds of the offering were used to pay a portion of the consideration for the AGMH Acquisition. Each equity unit consists of (i) a forward purchase contract and (ii) a 5% undivided beneficial ownership interest in $1,000 principal amount 8.50% senior notes due 2014 issued by AGUS. Under the purchase contract, holders are required to purchase, and AGL is required to issue, between 3.8685 and 4.5455 of AGL common shares for $50 no later than June 1, 2012. The actual number of shares purchased will be based on the average closing price of the common shares over a 20-trading day period ending three trading days prior to June 1, 2012. More specifically, if the average closing price per share for the relevant period (the "Applicable Market Value") is equal to or exceeds $12.93, the settlement rate will be 3.8685 shares. If the Applicable Market Value is less than or equal to $11.00, the settlement rate will be 4.5455 shares, and if it is between $11.00 and $12.93, the settlement rate will be equal to the quotient of $50.00 and the Applicable Market Value. The notes are pledged by the holders of the equity units to a collateral agent to secure their obligations under the purchase contracts. Interest on the notes is payable, initially, quarterly at the rate of 8.50% per year. The notes are subject to a mandatory remarketing between December 1, 2011 and May 1, 2012 (or, if not remarketed during such period, during a designated three business day period in May 2012). In the remarketing, the interest rate on the notes will be reset and certain other terms of the notes may be modified, including to extend the maturity date, to change the redemption rights (as long as there will be at least two years between the reset date and any new redemption date) and to add interest deferral provisions. If the notes are not successfully remarketed, the interest rate on the notes will not be reset and holders of all notes will have the right to put their notes to the Company on the purchase contract settlement date at a put price equal to $1,000 per note ($50 per equity unit) plus accrued and unpaid interest. The notes are redeemable at AGUS' option, in whole but not in part, upon the occurrence and continuation of certain events at any time prior to the earlier of the date of a successful remarketing and the purchase contract settlement date. The aggregate redemption amount for the notes is equal to an amount that would permit the collateral agent to purchase a portfolio of U.S. Treasury securities sufficient to pay the principal amount of the notes and all scheduled interest payment dates that occur after the special event redemption date to, and including the purchase contract settlement date; provided that the aggregate redemption amount may not be less than the principal amount of the notes. Other than in connection with certain specified tax events or specified events related to changes in the accounting treatment of the purchase contracts or equity units, the notes may not be redeemed by AGUS prior to June 1, 2014.

        Series A Enhanced Junior Subordinated Debentures.    On December 20, 2006, AGUS issued $150.0 million of the Debentures due 2066 for net proceeds of $149.7 million. The Debentures pay a fixed 6.40% rate of interest until December 15, 2016, and thereafter pay a floating rate of interest, reset quarterly, at a rate equal to 3 month LIBOR plus a margin equal to 2.38%. AGUS may elect at one or more times to defer payment of interest for one or more consecutive periods for up to ten years. Any unpaid interest bears interest at the then applicable rate. AGUS may not defer interest past the maturity date.

Debt Issued by AGMH

        67/8% QUIBS.    On December 19, 2001, AGMH issued $100.0 million face amount of 67/8% QUIBS due December 15, 2101, which are callable without premium or penalty.

        6.25% Notes.    On November 26, 2002, AGMH issued $230.0 million face amount of 6.25% Notes due November 1, 2102, which are callable without premium or penalty in whole or in part.

        5.60% Notes.    On July 31, 2003, AGMH issued $100.0 million face amount of 5.60% Notes due July 15, 2103, which are callable without premium or penalty in whole or in part.

        Junior Subordinated Debentures.    On November 22, 2006, AGMH issued $300.0 million face amount of Junior Subordinated Debentures with a scheduled maturity date of December 15, 2036 and a final repayment date of December 15, 2066. The final repayment date of December 15, 2066 may be automatically extended up to four times in five-year increments provided certain conditions are met. The debentures are redeemable, in whole or in part, at any time prior to December 15, 2036 at their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption or, if greater, the make-whole redemption price. Interest on the debentures will accrue from November 22, 2006 to December 15, 2036 at the annual rate of 6.40%. If any amount of the debentures remains outstanding after December 15, 2036, then the principal amount of the outstanding debentures will bear interest at a floating interest rate equal to one-month LIBOR plus 2.215% until repaid. AGMH may elect at one or more times to defer payment of interest on the debentures for one or more consecutive interest periods that do not exceed ten years. In connection with the completion of this offering, AGMH entered into a replacement capital covenant for the benefit of persons that buy, hold or sell a specified series of AGMH long-term indebtedness ranking senior to the debentures. Under the covenant, the debentures will not be repaid, redeemed, repurchased or defeased by AGMH or any of its subsidiaries on or before the date that is 20 years prior to the final repayment date, except to the extent that AGMH has received proceeds from the sale of replacement capital securities. The proceeds from this offering were used to pay a dividend to the shareholders of AGMH.

Debt Issued by AGM

        Notes Payable represents debt, issued by VIEs consolidated by AGM, to the Financial Products Companies that were transferred to Dexia Holdings prior to the AGMH Acquisition. The funds borrowed were used to finance the purchase of the underlying obligations of AGM-insured obligations which had breached triggers allowing AGM to exercise its right to accelerate payment of a claim in order to mitigate loss. The assets purchased are classified as assets acquired in refinancing transactions and recorded in "other invested assets." The term of the notes payable matches the terms of the assets acquired in refinancing transactions. On the Acquisition Date, the fair value of this note payable was $164.4 million, representing a premium of $9.5 million, which is being amortized over the term of the debt.

        The principal and carrying values of the Company's long-term debt are presented in the table below.

Principal and Carrying Amounts of Debt

 
  As of December 31,
2011
  As of December 31,
2010
 
 
  Principal   Carrying
Value
  Principal   Carrying
Value
 
 
  (in millions)
 

AGUS:

                         

7.0% Senior Notes

  $ 200.0   $ 197.6   $ 200.0   $ 197.6  

8.50% Senior Notes

    172.5     172.0     172.5     171.0  

Series A Enhanced Junior Subordinated Debentures

    150.0     149.9     150.0     149.8  
                   

Total AGUS

    522.5     519.5     522.5     518.4  

AGMH:

                         

67/8% QUIBS

    100.0     67.4     100.0     67.0  

6.25% Notes

    230.0     136.0     230.0     135.0  

5.60% Notes

    100.0     53.5     100.0     53.0  

Junior Subordinated Debentures

    300.0     158.2     300.0     152.5  
                   

Total AGMH

    730.0     415.1     730.0     407.5  

AGM:

                         

Notes Payable

    97.1     103.7     119.3     127.0  
                   

Total AGM

    97.1     103.7     119.3     127.0  
                   

Total

  $ 1,349.6   $ 1,038.3   $ 1,371.8   $ 1,052.9  
                   

        Principal payments due under the long-term debt are as follows:

Expected Maturity Schedule of Debt

Expected Withdrawal Date
  AGUS   AGMH   AGM   Total  
 
  (in millions)
 

2012

  $   $   $ 31.9   $ 31.9  

2013

            20.1     20.1  

2014

    172.5         13.7     186.2  

2015

            8.9     8.9  

2016

            5.1     5.1  

2017-2036

    200.0         17.4     217.4  

2037-2056

                 

2057-2076

    150.0     300.0         450.0  

Thereafter(1)

        430.0         430.0  
                   

Total

  $ 522.5   $ 730.0   $ 97.1   $ 1,349.6  
                   

(1)
Due dates are between 2101 and 2103.

Interest Expense

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2011   2010   2009  
 
  (in millions)
 

AGUS:

                   

7.0% Senior Notes

  $ 13.5   $ 13.5   $ 13.5  

8.50% Senior Notes

    16.1     16.0     8.3  

Series A Enhanced Junior Subordinated Debentures

    9.8     9.8     9.8  
               

AGUS total

    39.4     39.3     31.6  

AGMH:

                   

67/8% QUIBS

    7.2     7.2     3.6  

6.25% Notes

    15.4     15.4     7.7  

5.60% Notes

    6.1     6.1     3.1  

Junior Subordinated Debentures

    24.9     24.9     12.4  
               

AGMH total

    53.6     53.6     26.8  

AGM:

                   

Notes Payable

    6.1     6.7     4.4  
               

AGM total

    6.1     6.7     4.4  
               

Total

  $ 99.1   $ 99.6   $ 62.8  
               

Recourse Credit Facilities

2009 Strip Coverage Facility

        In connection with the AGMH Acquisition, AGM agreed to retain the risks relating to the debt and strip policy portions of the leveraged lease business. The liquidity risk to AGM related to the strip policy portion of the leveraged lease business is mitigated by the strip coverage facility described below.

        In a leveraged lease transaction, a tax-exempt entity (such as a transit agency) transfers tax benefits to a tax-paying entity by transferring ownership of a depreciable asset, such as subway cars. The tax-exempt entity then leases the asset back from its new owner.

        If the lease is terminated early, the tax-exempt entity must make an early termination payment to the lessor. A portion of this early termination payment is funded from monies that were pre-funded and invested at the closing of the leveraged lease transaction (along with earnings on those invested funds). The tax-exempt entity is obligated to pay the remaining, unfunded portion of this early termination payment (known as the "strip coverage") from its own sources. AGM issued financial guaranty insurance policies (known as "strip policies") that guaranteed the payment of these unfunded strip coverage amounts to the lessor, in the event that a tax-exempt entity defaulted on its obligation to pay this portion of its early termination payment. AGM can then seek reimbursement of its strip policy payments from the tax-exempt entity, and can also sell the transferred depreciable asset and reimburse itself from the sale proceeds.

        One event that may lead to an early termination of a lease is the downgrade of AGM, as the strip coverage provider, or the downgrade of the equity payment undertaker within the transaction, in each case, generally to a financial strength rating below double-A. Upon such downgrade, the tax exempt entity is generally obligated to find a replacement credit enhancer within a specified period of time; failure to find a replacement could result in a lease default, and failure to cure the default within a specified period of time could lead to an early termination of the lease and a demand by the lessor for a termination payment from the tax exempt entity. However, even in the event of an early termination of the lease, there would not necessarily be an automatic draw on AGM's policy, as this would only occur to the extent the tax exempt entity does not make the required termination payment.

        AIG International Group, Inc. is one entity that has acted as equity payment undertaker in a number of transactions in which AGM acted as strip coverage provider. AIG was downgraded in the third quarter of 2008 and AGM was downgraded by Moody's in the fourth quarter of 2008. As a result of those downgrades, as of December 31, 2011, 45 leveraged lease transactions in which AGM acts as strip coverage provider were breaching either a ratings trigger related to AIG or a ratings trigger related to AGM. For such 45 leveraged lease transactions, if early termination of the leases were to occur and the tax-exempt entities do not make the required early termination payments, then AGM would be exposed to possible liquidity claims on gross exposure of approximately $1.0 billion as of December 31, 2011. S&P's downgrade of AGM to AA- in November 2011 did not have an additional impact on the transactions. However, if AGM were downgraded to A+ by S&P or A1 by Moody's, as of December 31, 2011, another 26 leveraged lease transactions in which AGM acts as strip coverage provider would be affected. For such 26 leveraged lease transactions, if early termination of the leases were to occur and the tax-exempt entities do not make the required early termination payments, then AGM would be exposed to possible liquidity claims on gross exposure of an additional approximately $992 million as of December 31, 2011. 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 guaranty. It is difficult to determine the probability that the Company will have to pay strip provider claims or the likely aggregate amount of such claims. At December 31, 2011, approximately $593 million of cumulative strip par exposure had been terminated on a consensual basis. The consensual terminations have resulted in no claims on AGM.

        On July 1, 2009, AGM and DCL, acting through its New York Branch ("Dexia Crédit Local (NY)"), entered into a credit facility (the "Strip Coverage Facility"). Under the Strip Coverage Facility, Dexia Crédit Local (NY) agreed to make loans to AGM to finance all draws made by lessors on AGM strip policies that were outstanding as of November 13, 2008, up to the commitment amount. The commitment amount of the Strip Coverage Facility was $1 billion at closing of the AGMH Acquisition but is scheduled to amortize over time. As of December 31, 2011, the maximum commitment amount of the Strip Coverage Facility has amortized to $980.5 million. It may also be reduced in 2014 to $750 million, if AGM does not have a specified consolidated net worth at that time.

        Fundings under this facility are subject to certain conditions precedent, and their repayment is collateralized by a security interest that AGM granted to Dexia Crédit Local (NY) in amounts that AGM recovers—from the tax-exempt entity, or from asset sale proceeds—following its payment of strip policy claims. The Strip Coverage Facility will terminate upon the earliest to occur of an AGM change of control, the reduction of the commitment amount to $0, and January 31, 2042.

        The Strip Coverage Facility's financial covenants require that AGM and its subsidiaries maintain a maximum debt-to-capital ratio of 30% and maintain a minimum net worth of 75% of consolidated net worth as of July 1, 2009, plus, starting July 1, 2014, 25% of the aggregate consolidated net income (or loss) for the period beginning July 1, 2009 and ending on June 30, 2014 or, if the commitment amount has been reduced to $750 million as described above, zero. The Company is in compliance with all covenants as of the date of this filing.

        The Strip Coverage Facility contains restrictions on AGM, including, among other things, in respect of its ability to incur debt, permit liens, pay dividends or make distributions, dissolve or become party to a merger or consolidation. Most of these restrictions are subject to exceptions. The Strip Coverage Facility has customary events of default, including (subject to certain materiality thresholds and grace periods) payment default, bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings and cross-default to other debt agreements.

        As of December 31, 2011, no amounts were outstanding under this facility, nor have there been any borrowings during the life of this facility.

2006 Credit Facility

        On November 6, 2006, AGL and certain of its subsidiaries entered into a $300.0 million five-year unsecured revolving credit facility (the "2006 Credit Facility") with a syndicate of banks. Under the 2006 Credit Facility, each of AGC, AGUK, AG Re, AGRO and AGL was entitled to request the banks to make loans to such borrower or to request that letters of credit be issued for the account of such borrower.

        The 2006 Credit Facility expired on November 6, 2011. The Company has determined it has sufficient liquidity and has decided not to enter into a new revolving credit facility at this time. The Company had never borrowed under the 2006 Credit Facility.

Limited Recourse Credit Facilities

AG Re Credit Facility

        On July 31, 2007, AG Re entered into a limited recourse credit facility ("AG Re Credit Facility") with a syndicate of banks which provides up to $200.0 million for the payment of losses in respect of the covered portfolio. The AG Re Credit Facility expires in June 2014. The facility can be utilized after AG Re has incurred, during the term of the facility, cumulative municipal losses (net of any recoveries) in excess of the greater of $260 million or the average annual debt service of the covered portfolio multiplied by 4.5%. The obligation to repay loans under this agreement is a limited recourse obligation payable solely from, and collateralized by, a pledge of recoveries realized on defaulted insured obligations in the covered portfolio, including certain installment premiums and other collateral.

        As of December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 no amounts were outstanding under this facility nor have there been any borrowings during the life of this facility.

AGM Credit Facility

        On April 30, 2005, AGM entered into a limited recourse credit facility ("AGM Credit Facility") with a syndicate of international banks which provided up to $297.5 million for the payment of losses in respect of the covered portfolio. AGM terminated the AGM Credit Facility in December 2011. There were no borrowings under the AGM Credit Facility during its life. The AGM Credit Facility has been replaced, effective as of January 1, 2012, with a new $435 million excess of loss reinsurance facility for the benefit of AGM and AGC. See Note 12, Reinsurance and Other Monoline Exposures.

Letters of Credit

        AGC entered into a letter of credit agreement in December 2011 with Bank of New York Mellon totaling approximately $2.9 million in connection with a 2008 lease for office space, which space was subsequently sublet. This agreement replaces a previous letter of credit for $2.9 million with Royal Bank of Scotland which was terminated in December 2011. The previous letter of credit was outstanding as of December 31, 2010 and the current letter of credit was outstanding as of December 31, 2011.

Committed Capital Securities

        On April 8, 2005, AGC entered into separate agreements (the "Put Agreements") with four custodial trusts (each, a "Custodial Trust") pursuant to which AGC may, at its option, cause each of the Custodial Trusts to purchase up to $50.0 million of perpetual preferred stock of AGC (the "AGC Preferred Stock"). The custodial trusts were created as a vehicle for providing capital support to AGC by allowing AGC to obtain immediate access to new capital at its sole discretion at any time through the exercise of the put option. If the put options were exercised, AGC would receive $200.0 million in return for the issuance of its own perpetual preferred stock, the proceeds of which may be used for any purpose, including the payment of claims. The put options have not been exercised through the date of this filing. Initially, all of AGC CCS were issued to a special purpose pass-through trust (the "Pass-Through Trust"). The Pass-Through Trust was dissolved in April 2008 and the AGC CCS were distributed to the holders of the Pass-Through Trust's securities. Neither the Pass-Through Trust nor the custodial trusts are consolidated in the Company's financial statements.

        Income distributions on the Pass-Through Trust Securities and AGC CCS were equal to an annualized rate of one-month LIBOR plus 110 basis points for all periods ending on or prior to April 8, 2008. Following dissolution of the Pass-Through Trust, distributions on the AGC CCS Securities are determined pursuant to an auction process. On April 7, 2008 this auction process failed, thereby increasing the annualized rate on the AGC CCS to one-month LIBOR plus 250 basis points. Distributions on the AGC preferred stock will be determined pursuant to the same process.

        In June 2003, $200.0 million of "AGM CPS Securities", money market preferred trust securities, were issued by trusts created for the primary purpose of issuing the AGM CPS Securities, investing the proceeds in high-quality commercial paper and selling put options to AGM, allowing AGM to issue the trusts non-cumulative redeemable perpetual preferred stock (the "AGM Preferred Stock") of AGM in exchange for cash. There are four trusts, each with an initial aggregate face amount of $50 million. These trusts hold auctions every 28 days, at which time investors submit bid orders to purchase AGM CPS Securities. If AGM were to exercise a put option, the applicable trust would transfer the portion of the proceeds attributable to principal received upon maturity of its assets, net of expenses, to AGM in exchange for AGM Preferred Stock. AGM pays a floating put premium to the trusts, which represents the difference between the commercial paper yield and the winning auction rate (plus all fees and expenses of the trust). If an auction does not attract sufficient clearing bids, however, the auction rate is subject to a maximum rate of one-month LIBOR plus 200 basis points for the next succeeding distribution period. Beginning in August 2007, the AGM CPS Securities required the maximum rate for each of the relevant trusts. AGM continues to have the ability to exercise its put option and cause the related trusts to purchase AGM Preferred Stock. The trusts provide AGM access to new capital at its sole discretion through the exercise of the put options. The Company does not consider itself to be the primary beneficiary of the trusts.

Committed Capital Securities
Fair Value Gain (Loss)

 
  Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2011   2010   2009  
 
  (in millions)
 

AGC CCS

  $ 20.2   $ 7.1   $ (47.1 )

AGM CPS

    14.9     2.1     (75.8 )