EX-99.2 8 dex992.htm MBIA INSURANCE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries Consolidated Financial Statements

Exhibit 99.2

MBIA INSURANCE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008

and for the periods ended June 30, 2009 and 2008


MBIA INSURANCE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX

 

     PAGE

Consolidated Balance Sheets – June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 (Unaudited)

   2

Consolidated Statements of Operations – Three and six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 (Unaudited)

   3

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholder’s Equity – Six months ended June 30, 2009 (Unaudited)

   4

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – Six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 (Unaudited)

   5

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

   6-63


MBIA INSURANCE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)

(In thousands except per share amounts)

 

     June 30, 2009     December 31, 2008  

Assets

    

Investments:

    

Fixed-maturity securities held as available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost $2,068,094 and $5,805,960)

   $ 1,807,955      $ 5,614,186   

Investments pledged as collateral, at fair value (amortized cost $0 and $1,530,036)

     -        1,567,371   

Investments held-to-maturity, at amortized cost (which approximates fair value)

     1,187,793        1,214,569   

Short-term investments, at fair value (amortized cost $1,500,184 and $1,448,545)

     1,507,064        1,447,343   

Short-term investments held-to-maturity at amortized cost (which approximates fair value)

     914,165        -   

Other investments

     119,209        45,280   
                

Total investments

     5,536,186        9,888,749   

Cash and cash equivalents

     176,325        1,066,793   

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

     2,000,000        3,343,947   

Accrued investment income

     30,398        117,918   

Premiums receivable

     2,130,931        7,744   

Deferred acquisition costs

     977,522        560,632   

Prepaid reinsurance premiums

     2,718,105        216,609   

Receivable for insurance loss recoveries

     1,745,144        458,512   

Reinsurance recoverable on paid and unpaid losses

     246,345        173,548   

Goodwill

     45,566        76,938   

Property and equipment, at cost (less accumulated depreciation of $121,246 and $116,344)

     101,829        101,116   

Receivable for investments sold

     210,352        10,594   

Derivative assets

     695,786        746,936   

Current income taxes

     110,508        325,691   

Deferred income taxes, net

     422,693        1,348,575   

Other assets

     566,202        620,010   
                

Total assets

   $     17,713,892      $ 19,064,312   
                

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

    

Liabilities:

    

Unearned premium revenue

   $ 4,496,977      $ 3,424,402   

Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves

     1,260,652        1,557,884   

Reinsurance premiums payable

     697,315        8,672   

Variable interest entity notes

     2,637,031        1,791,597   

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase

     -        1,343,947   

Long-term debt

     1,054,709        952,655   

Deferred fee revenue

     783,277        42,585   

Payable for investments purchased

     91        34   

Derivative liabilities

     4,132,921        6,219,290   

Other liabilities

     204,638        375,772   
                

Total liabilities

     15,267,611        15,716,838   
                

Commitments and contingencies (See Note 14)

    

Shareholders’ Equity:

    

Series A non-cumulative perpetual preferred stock, par value $1,000 per share, liquidation value $100,000 per share, authorized - 4,000.08, issued and outstanding - 2,759.08

     27,598        27,598   

Common stock, par value $220.80 per share; authorized, issued and outstanding - 67,936 shares

     15,000        15,000   

Additional paid-in capital

     1,016,502        2,183,672   

Retained earnings

     1,652,614        1,255,107   

Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of deferred income tax of $15,929 and $61,895

     (265,433     (133,903
                

Total shareholders’ equity

     2,446,281        3,347,474   
                

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 17,713,892      $ 19,064,312   
                

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

 

2


MBIA INSURANCE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)

(In thousands)

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
   Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2009     2008    2009     2008  

Revenues:

         

Scheduled premiums earned

   $ 79,545      $ 153,865    $ 198,578      $ 310,013   

Refunding premiums earned

     1,288        87,757      2,035        95,552   
                               

Premiums earned (net of ceded premiums of $88,368, $38,021, $210,928 and $64,746)

     80,833        241,622      200,613        405,565   

Net investment income

     83,750        147,535      189,924        299,657   

Fees and reimbursements

     48,412        2,393      85,192        2,149   

Realized gains and other settlements on insured derivatives

     31,906        34,304      63,632        68,062   

Unrealized gains (losses) on insured derivatives

     423,597        3,324,313      2,033,117        (252,790
                               

Net change in fair value of insured derivatives

     455,503        3,358,617      2,096,749        (184,728

Net realized gains (losses)

     605        22,762      8,387        42,039   

Net gains on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange

     12,298        102,286      12,496        162,058   

Investment losses - other-than-temporary impairments

     (91,586     -      (125,730     -   

Non-credit related losses on investments not expected to be sold (recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss)

     85,369        -      85,369        -   
                               

Net investment losses - other-than-temporary impairments

     (6,217     -      (40,361     -   

Net gains on extinguishment of debt

     -        -      488        -   
                               

Total revenues

     675,184        3,875,215      2,553,488        726,740   

Expenses:

         

Losses and loss adjustment

     (734,561     22,344      (98,584     309,952   

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs

     58,484        22,976      116,021        38,529   

Operating

     39,795        40,987      104,819        87,287   

Interest

     53,023        46,664      107,972        93,411   
                               

Total expenses

     (583,259     132,971      230,228        529,179   
                               

Income before income taxes

     1,258,443        3,742,244      2,323,260        197,561   

Provision for income taxes

     412,396        1,322,791      806,092        68,733   

Equity in net income of subsidiaries

     67        -      56        -   
                               
         
                               

Net income

   $     846,114      $     2,419,453    $     1,517,224      $     128,828   
                               

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

 

3


MBIA INSURANCE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (Unaudited)

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2009

(In thousands except per share amounts)

 

   

 

Preferred Stock

 

 

Common Stock

    Additional
Paid-in

Capital
    Retained
Earnings
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
    Total
Shareholders’

Equity
 
  Shares   Amount   Shares     Amount          

Balance, January 1, 2009

  2,759   $ 27,598   100,000      $ 15,000      $ 2,183,672      $ 1,255,107      $ (133,903   $ 3,347,474   

SFAS 163 transition adjustment net of deferred income taxes of $27,170

  —       —     —          —          —          55,346        —          55,346   

Comprehensive income:

               

Net income

  —       —     —          —          —          1,517,224        —          1,517,224   

Other comprehensive loss:

               

Change in unrealized depreciation of investments net of deferred income taxes of $52,145

  —       —     —          —          —          —          6,945        6,945   

Portion of other-than-temporary impairment losses recognized in other comprehensive loss, net of deferred income taxes of $0

 

—  

 

 

—  

 

—  

  

 

 

—  

  

 

 

—  

  

 

 

—  

  

    (85,369     (85,369

Change in foreign currency translation net of deferred income taxes of $25,680

  —       —     —          —          —          —          (53,106     (53,106
                     

Other comprehensive loss

                  (131,530
                     

Total comprehensive income

                  1,441,040   
                     

Redemption of common shares

  —       —     (32,064     (4,809     (1,163,740     —          —          (1,168,549

Increase in par value of common shares

  —       —     —          4,809        (4,809     —          —          —     

Special dividends paid on common shares

  —       —     —          —          —          (1,167,850     —          (1,167,850

Dividends on preferred shares

              (7,213       (7,213

Share-based compensation net of income taxes of $1,299

  —       —     —          —          1,379        —          —          1,379   
                                                       

Balance, June 30, 2009

  2,759   $     27,598       67,936      $     15,000      $ 1,016,502      $ 1,652,614      $ (265,433   $ 2,446,281   
                                                       
                                    2009        

Disclosure of reclassification amount:

               

Change in unrealized depreciation of investments arising during the period, net of taxes

              $ 362,438     

Reclassification adjustment, net of taxes

                (440,862  
                     

Change in net unrealized depreciation, net of taxes

              $ (78,424  
                     

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

 

4


MBIA INSURANCE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)

(In thousands)

 

     Six Months Ended June 30,  
     2009     2008  

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net income

   $ 1,517,224      $ 128,828   

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided (used) by operating activities:

    

Amortization of bond discounts (premiums), net

     (13,839     14,597   

Decrease in accrued investment income

     87,520        6,300   

(Increase) decrease in deferred acquisition costs

     (408,519     63,547   

Decrease in unearned premium revenue

     (1,326,737     (203,452

(Increase) decrease in prepaid reinsurance premiums

     (2,187,836     23,677   

Decrease (increase) in reinsurance premiums receivable

     164,264        (3,788

Increase in loss and loss adjustment expense reserves

     (123,012     (15,470

(Increase) decrease in reinsurance recoverable on paid and unpaid losses

     (63,683     9,485   

Increase in receivable for insurance loss recoveries

     (1,286,632     (114,965

Decrease in receivable from reinsurers on insured derivative contracts

     89,469        -   

(Decrease) increase in payable to reinsurers on recoveries

     (73,861     960   

Increase (decrease) in reinsurance premiums payable

     364,381        (22,147

Depreciation

     3,980        4,528   

Increase (decrease) in deferred fee revenue

     754,913        (204

Decrease in accounts receivable

     22,263        3,261   

Decrease in accrued expenses

     (87,048     (35,013

Net realized (gains) losses on investments

     (8,387     (42,039

Investment losses on other than temporarily impaired investments

     40,361        -   

Unrealized (gains) losses on insured derivatives

     (2,033,117     252,790   

Net (gains) losses on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange

     (12,496     (162,058

Current income tax provision

     213,884        171,047   

Deferred income tax provision

     812,671        103,342   

Gains on extinguishment of debt

     (488     -   

Share-based compensation

     2,678        3,808   

Other, operating

     26,060        89,465   
                

Total adjustments to net income (loss)

     (5,043,211     147,671   
                

Net cash (used) provided by operating activities

     (3,525,987     276,499   
                

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Purchase of fixed-maturity securities

     (331,599     (2,972,311

Increase (decrease) in payable for investments purchased

     57        (26,707

Sale of fixed-maturity securities

          5,646,737         1,997,220   

Increase in receivable for investments sold

     (199,758     (66,566

Redemption of fixed-maturity securities

     1,722        1,003   

Redemptions of held-to-maturity investments

     26,776        35,301   

Purchase of short-term investments, net

     (135,543     (665,137

Purchase sale of other investments, net

     (69,073     (71

Capital expenditures

     (3,094     (2,487

Disposals of capital assets

     508        -   

Other, investing

     (40,056     765   
                

Net cash provided (used) by investing activities

     4,896,677        (1,698,990
                

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Principal paydown of variable interest entity notes

     (50,972     (28,778

Other borrowings and deposits

     -        (824

Capital issuance costs

     -        (6,209

Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt

     102,054        981,153   

Repayment for retirement of short-term debt

     -        (6,225

Capital contribution from MBIA Inc.

     -        486,500   

Redemption of common shares

     (1,137,177     -   

Special dividend paid on common shares

     (1,167,850     -   

Dividends paid on preferred shares

     (7,213     -   
                

Net cash (used) provided by financing activities

     (2,261,158     1,425,617   
                

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

     (890,468     3,126   

Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period

     1,066,793        121,266   
                

Cash and cash equivalents - end of period

   $ 176,325      $ 124,392   
                

Supplemental cash flow disclosures:

    

Income taxes refunded

   $ (215,255   $ (210,224

Interest paid:

    

Other borrowings and deposits

     -        1,092   

Long-term debt

     66,686        -   

Variable interest entity notes

     41,871        27,834   

Non cash items:

    

Share-based compensation

   $ 2,678      $ 3,808   

Dividends declared but not paid

     1,005        -   

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

 

5


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 1: Business and Organization

MBIA Insurance Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of MBIA Inc. (“MBIA”). The guarantees of MBIA Insurance Corporation and its subsidiaries, (“MBIA Corp.”) insure structured finance and asset-backed obligations, privately issued bonds used for the financing of public purpose projects, which are primarily located outside of the United States (“U.S.”) and that include toll roads, bridges, airports, public transportation facilities and other types of infrastructure projects serving a substantial public purpose, and obligations of sovereign and sub-sovereign issuers. Structured finance and asset-backed securities (“ABSs”) typically are securities repayable from expected cash flows generated by a specified pool of assets, such as residential and commercial mortgages, insurance policies, consumer loans, corporate loans and bonds, trade and export receivables, leases for equipment, aircraft and real property, and infrastructure projects. Additionally, insurance policies include payments due under credit and other derivatives, including termination payments that may become due upon certain events including the insolvency or payment default of MBIA Corp.

The financial guarantees issued by MBIA Corp. provide unconditional and irrevocable guarantees of the payment of the principal of, and interest or other amounts owing on, insured obligations when due or, in the event MBIA Corp. has the right at its discretion to accelerate insured obligations upon default or otherwise, upon MBIA Corp.’s acceleration. Certain investment agreement contracts written by MBIA Inc. are insured by MBIA Corp. and if MBIA Inc. were to have insufficient assets to pay amounts due upon maturity or termination, MBIA Corp. would make such payments. Additionally, insurance policies include payments due under credit and other derivatives, including termination payments that may become due upon certain events including the insolvency or payment default of MBIA Corp.

MBIA Corp. writes business both in the U.S. and outside of the U.S. Business outside of the U.S. is generally written through MBIA UK Insurance Limited (“MBIA UK”), a financial guarantee insurance company licensed in the United Kingdom. MBIA Corp. also owns MBIA Assurance S.A. (“MBIA Assurance”), a French insurance company. On December 28, 2007, MBIA Assurance was restructured with MBIA UK (by way of dissolution or winding-up without liquidation) and governed by the terms of article 1844-5 of the French Civil Code. The restructuring involved (i) the transfer of all of MBIA Assurance’s assets and liabilities to MBIA UK; (ii) the simultaneous transfer of the portfolio of MBIA Assurance’s financial guarantees to MBIA UK; and (iii) the dissolution without liquidation of MBIA Assurance. Consequently, all previously insured MBIA Assurance policies are now insured by MBIA UK. MBIA UK writes financial guarantee insurance in the member countries of the European Union and other regions outside the United States. In February 2007, MBIA Corp. incorporated a new subsidiary, MBIA México, S.A. de C.V. (“MBIA Mexico”), through which it writes financial guarantee insurance in Mexico. These subsidiaries principally provide insurance for public infrastructure financings, structured finance transactions and certain obligations of financial institutions in the international markets. Pursuant to a reinsurance agreement with MBIA Insurance Corporation, a substantial amount of the risk insured by MBIA Mexico and MBIA UK is reinsured by MBIA Corp.

MBIA Corp. also manages a business through one other subsidiary, Capital Markets Assurance Corporation (“CMAC”), acquired in February 1998 when MBIA Inc. merged with CapMAC Holdings, Inc. (“CapMAC”). The net insured exposure of this subsidiary is 100% reinsured by MBIA Insurance Corporation.

MBIA Corp.’s business has historically relied upon the triple-A credit ratings of MBIA Insurance Corporation. The loss of those ratings in the second quarter of 2008 resulted in a dramatic reduction in MBIA Corp.’s insurance activities. As of June 30, 2009, MBIA Insurance Corporation was rated BBB with a negative outlook by Standard & Poor’s Corporation (“S&P”) and B3 with a negative outlook by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”).

In February 2009, after receiving the required regulatory approvals, MBIA Inc. established and capitalized National Public Finance Guarantee Corporation (“National”), as a U.S. public finance-only financial guarantor, which was previously named MBIA Insurance Corp. of Illinois (“MBIA Illinois”) and previously owned by MBIA Insurance Corporation. In connection with this establishment, MBIA Insurance Corporation paid dividends and returned capital to MBIA Inc. Refer to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries included in Exhibit 99.3 of MBIA Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 for additional information about these transactions and changes to MBIA Corp.’s legal entity structure.

Liquidity

Liquidity risk arises in MBIA Corp. when claims on insured exposures result in payment obligations, when operating cash inflows fall due to depressed new business writings, lower investment income, or unanticipated expenses, or when invested assets experience credit defaults or significant declines in fair value.

 

6


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

In general, MBIA Corp.’s financial guarantee contracts and credit default swap (“CDS”) contracts cannot be accelerated, thereby mitigating liquidity risk. Under the terms of MBIA Corp.’s insured CDS contract, the insured counterparty may have a right to terminate the CDS contract upon an insolvency or payment default of MBIA Corp. However, defaults, credit impairments and adverse capital markets conditions such as MBIA Corp. is currently experiencing, can create payment requirements as MBIA Corp. has made irrevocable pledges to pay principal and interest, or other amounts owing on insured obligations, when due. Additionally, MBIA Corp. requires cash for the payment of operating expenses, as well as principal and interest related to its surplus notes and preferred stock issuance. MBIA Corp. also provides guarantees to the holders of MBIA’s asset/liability products debt obligations. If MBIA’s asset/liability products segment were to be unable to service the principal and interest payments on its debt and investment agreements, the holders of the insured liabilities would make a claim under the MBIA Corp. insurance policies. MBIA Corp. has lent $2.0 billion to MBIA’s asset/liability products segment on a secured basis for the purpose of minimizing the risk that such claim would be made. The loan matures in the fourth quarter of 2011. The timing of the repayment may be affected by the performance of assets in the asset/liability product’s investment portfolio.

Since the fourth quarter of 2007, MBIA Corp. made $3.7 billion of cash payments, before reinsurance, associated with insured second-lien RMBS securitizations, as well as settlement payments relating to CDS contracts referencing CDO-squared and multi-sector CDOs. Among MBIA Corp.’s outstanding insured portfolio, these types of insured exposures have exhibited the highest degree of payment volatility and continue to pose material liquidity risk to MBIA Corp. As a result of the current economic stress, MBIA Corp. could incur additional payment obligations beyond these mortgage-related exposures, which may be substantial, increasing the stress on MBIA Corp.’s liquidity.

In order to monitor liquidity risk and maintain appropriate liquidity resources for payments associated with MBIA Corp.’s residential mortgage related exposures, MBIA Corp. employs a stress scenario-based liquidity model using the same “Roll Rate Default Methodology” as used in its loss reserving. Using this methodology, MBIA Corp. estimates the level of payments that would be required to be made under low probability stress-level default assumptions of the underlying collateral taking into account MBIA Corp.’s obligation to cover such defaults under our insurance policies. These estimated payments, together with all other significant operating, financing and investing cash flows are forecasted over the next 24-month period on a monthly basis and then annually thereafter to the final maturity of the longest dated outstanding insured obligation. The stress-loss scenarios and cash flow forecasts are frequently updated to account for changes in risk factors and to reconcile differences between forecasted and actual payments.

In addition to MBIA Corp.’s residential mortgage stress scenario, it also monitors liquidity risk using a Monte Carlo estimation of potential stress-level claims for all insured principal and interest payments due in the next 12-month period. These probabilistically determined payments are then compared to MBIA Corp.’s invested assets. This theoretic liquidity model supplements the scenario-based liquidity model described above providing MBIA Corp. with a robust set of liquidity metrics with which to monitor its risk position.

MBIA Corp. manages its investment portfolios in a conservative manner to maintain cash and liquid securities in an amount in excess of all stress scenario payment requirements. To the extent MBIA Corp.’s liquidity resources fall short of its target liquidity cushions under the stress-loss scenario testing, MBIA Corp. will seek to increase its cash holdings position, primarily through the sale of high-quality bonds held in its investment portfolio.

Note 2: Significant Accounting Policies

MBIA Corp. has disclosed its significant accounting policies in “Note 2: Significant Accounting Policies” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Exhibit 99.3 to MBIA Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008. The following significant accounting policies provide an update to those included under the same captions in Exhibit 99.3 to MBIA Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements are unaudited and include the accounts of MBIA Insurance Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiaries, as well as all other entities in which MBIA Corp. has a controlling financial interest. These statements do not include all of the information and disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for annual periods. These statements should be read in conjunction with MBIA Corp’s consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008. The accompanying consolidated financial statements have not been audited by an independent registered public accounting firm in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), but in the opinion of management such financial statements include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair statement of MBIA Corp’s financial position and results of operations.

The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. As additional information becomes available or actual amounts become determinable, the recorded estimates are revised and reflected in operating results. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

The results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 may not be indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2009. The December 31, 2008 balance sheet was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP for annual periods. Certain amounts have been reclassified in prior years’ financial statements to conform to the current presentation.

In addition, MBIA Corp. evaluated all events subsequent to June 30, 2009 through August 5, 2009 for inclusion in MBIA Corp.’s consolidated financial statements and/or accompanying notes.

 

7


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Financial Guarantee Insurance Premiums

Unearned Premium Revenue and Receivable for Future Premiums

MBIA Corp. records financial guarantee insurance premiums in accordance with the guidance provided in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. (“SFAS”) 163, “Accounting for Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts.” SFAS 163 requires MBIA Corp. to recognize a liability for unearned premium revenue at the inception of financial guarantee insurance and reinsurance contracts on a contract-by-contract basis. Unearned premium revenue recognized at inception of a contract is measured at the present value of the premium due. For most financial guarantee insurance contracts, MBIA Corp. receives the entire premium due at the inception of the contract, and recognizes unearned premium revenue liability at that time. For certain other financial guarantee contracts, MBIA Corp. receives premiums in installments over the term of the contract. Unearned premium revenue and a receivable for future premiums is recognized at the inception of an installment contract, and measured at the present value of premiums expected to be collected over the contract period or expected period using a risk-free discount rate as required by SFAS 163. SFAS 163 only allows the expected period to be used in the present value determination of unearned premium revenue and receivable for future premiums for contracts where (a) the insured obligation is contractually prepayable, (b) prepayments are probable, (c) the amount and timing of prepayments are reasonably estimable, and (d) a homogenous pool of assets is the underlying collateral for the insured obligation. MBIA Corp. has determined that substantially all of its installment contracts meet the conditions required by SFAS 163 to be treated as expected period contracts. The receivable for future premiums is reduced as installment premiums are collected. MBIA Corp. reports the accretion of the discount on installment premiums receivable as premium revenue and discloses the amount recognized in “Note 4: Insurance Premiums.” MBIA Corp. assesses the receivable for future premiums for collectability each reporting period, adjusts the receivable for uncollectible amounts and recognizes any write-off as operating expense and discloses the amount recognized in “Note 4: Insurance Premiums.” As premium revenue is recognized, the unearned premium revenue liability is reduced.

Premium Revenue Recognition

SFAS 163 requires financial guarantee insurance and reinsurance contracts issued by insurance enterprises to recognize and measure premium revenue based on the amount of insurance protection provided to the period in which the insurance protection is provided. Premium revenue is measured by applying a constant rate to the insured principal amount outstanding in a given period to recognize a proportionate share of the premium received or expected to be received on a financial guarantee insurance contract. A constant rate for each respective financial guarantee insurance contract is determined as the ratio of (a) the present value of premium received or expected to be received over the period of the contract to (b) the sum of all insured principal amounts outstanding during each period over the term of the contract. As premium revenue is recognized, unearned premium revenue liability is reduced.

An issuer of an insured financial obligation may retire the obligation prior to its scheduled maturity through legal defeasance in satisfaction of the obligation according to its indenture, which results in MBIA Corp.’s obligation being extinguished under the financial guarantee contract. MBIA Corp. recognizes any remaining unearned premium revenue on the insured obligation as premium revenue in the period the contract is extinguished to the extent the unearned premium revenue has been collected.

Non-refundable commitment fees are considered insurance premiums and are initially recorded under unearned premium revenue in the consolidated balance sheets when received. Once the related financial guarantee insurance policy is issued, the commitment fees are recognized as premium written and earned using the constant rate method. If the commitment agreement expires before the related financial guarantee is issued, the non-refundable commitment fee is immediately recognized as premium written and earned at that time.

Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses

SFAS 163 requires a claim liability (loss reserve) to be recognized on a contract-by-contract basis when the present value of expected net cash outflows to be paid under the contract using a risk-free rate as of the measurement date exceeds the unearned premium revenue. A claim liability is subsequently remeasured each reporting period for expected increases or decreases due to changes in the likelihood of default and potential recoveries. Subsequent changes to the measurement of claim liability are recognized as claim expense in the period of change. Measurement and recognition of claim liability is reported gross of any reinsurance. MBIA Corp. estimates the likelihood of possible claims payments and possible recoveries using probability-weighted expected cash flows based on information available as of the measurement date, including market information. Accretion of the discount on a claim liability is included in claim expense. MBIA Corp.’s claim liability and accruals for loss adjustment expenses incurred are disclosed in “Note 10: Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves.”

 

8


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Other-Than-Temporary Impairments on Investment Securities

MBIA Corp.’s consolidated statement of operations reflects the full impairment (the difference between a security’s amortized cost basis and fair value) on debt securities that MBIA Corp. intends to sell or would more likely than not be required to sell before the expected recovery of the amortized cost basis. For available-for-sale and held-to-maturity debt securities that management has no intent to sell and believes that it is more likely than not will not be required to be sold prior to recovery, only the credit loss component of the impairment is recognized in earnings, while the rest of the fair value loss is recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income. The credit loss component recognized in earnings is identified as the amount of cash flows not expected to be received over the remaining term of the security as projected using MBIA Corp.’s cash flow projections and base assumptions.

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of acquiring a business enterprise over the fair value of the net assets acquired. Under SFAS 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” goodwill is tested for impairment at least annually. An impairment loss is triggered if the estimated fair value of an operating segment is less than its carrying value.

As a result of the aforementioned establishment of National, the $77 million of goodwill reflected in MBIA Corp.’s consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2008 has been allocated between National and MBIA Insurance Corporation, based on the relative fair values of each entity as of January 1, 2009. Of the $77 million, $46 million was allocated to MBIA Insurance Corporation. MBIA Corp.’s next annual impairment test will be performed on January 1, 2010.

Fee and Reimbursement Revenue Recognition

MBIA Corp. collects insurance related fees for services performed in connection with certain transactions. In addition, MBIA Corp. may be entitled to reimbursement of third-party insurance expenses that it incurs in connection with certain transactions. Depending upon the type of fee received and whether it is related to an insurance policy, the fee is either earned when it is received or deferred and earned over the life of the related transaction. Work, waiver and consent, termination, administrative and management fees are earned when the related services are completed and the fee is received. Structuring fees are earned on a straight-line basis over the life of the related insurance policy. Expense reimbursements are recognized when received.

Note 3: Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In May 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS 165, “Subsequent Events,” which establishes general standards of accounting for and disclosure of events that occur after the balance sheet date but before the financial statements are issued. SFAS 165 is effective for MBIA Corp. in the interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2009 and should be applied prospectively. MBIA Corp. adopted this standard as of the second quarter of 2009. The adoption of this standard did not have an effect on MBIA Corp.’s consolidated balance sheets, results of operations or cash flows.

In April 2009, the FASB issued FSP FAS 157-4, “Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly,” which amends SFAS 157-3, “Determining the Fair Value of a Financial Asset When the Market for That Asset Is Not Active,” to provide additional guidance to highlight and expand on the factors that should be considered when there has been a significant decrease in market activity for a financial asset or financial liability being measured. The FSP also provides additional factors that entities should consider to determine whether events or circumstances indicate that a transaction is or is not orderly (i.e., distressed). FSP FAS 157-4 is effective for MBIA Corp. in the interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2009. MBIA Corp. adopted this standard as of the second quarter of 2009. The adoption of this standard did not have a material effect on MBIA Corp.’s consolidated balance sheets, results of operations or cash flows.

 

9


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

In April 2009, the FASB issued FSP FAS 115-2 and FAS 124-2, “Recognition and Presentation of Other-Than-Temporary Impairments,” which amends SFAS 115 and SFAS 124, “Accounting for Certain Investments Held by Not-for-Profit Organizations,” to amend the recognition criteria for other-than-temporary impairment guidance and to improve the presentation of other-than-temporary impairments in the financial statements. This FSP replaces the existing requirement that the entity’s management assert it has both the ability and intent to hold an impaired security until recovery with a requirement that management assert (a) it does not have the intent to sell the security and (b) it is more likely than not it would not have to sell the security before recovery of its cost basis. When these two criteria are met, the entity will recognize only the credit component of an other-than-temporary impairment of a debt security in earnings and the remaining portion in other comprehensive income. MBIA Corp. adopted this standard as of the second quarter of 2009. There was no cumulative-effect adjustment for the adoption of this standard as there were no previously impaired securities which were determined to have portions which would ultimately be recovered. Refer to “Note 7: Investment Income and Gains and Losses “ for further information on MBIA Corp.’s investment securities and other-than-temporary impairments.

In April 2009, the FASB issued FSP FAS 107-1 and APB 28-1, “Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments,” which amends SFAS 107, “Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments,” to require disclosures about fair value of financial instruments within the scope of SFAS 107 in interim and annual financial statements, and the method(s) and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value of those financial instruments. This FSP also amends APB Opinion No. 28, “Interim Financial Reporting,” to require those disclosures in all interim financial statements. MBIA Corp. adopted the FSP in the second quarter of 2009. As the standard requires only additional disclosures, the adoption of FSP FAS 107-1 and APB 28-1 did not have an impact on MBIA Corp.’s consolidated balance sheets, results of operations or cash flows. Refer to “Note 5: Fair Value of Financial Instruments” for further information.

In May 2008, the FASB issued SFAS 163, effective prospectively as of January 1, 2009. SFAS 163 amends SFAS 60, “Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises” to clarify that financial guarantee insurance contracts issued by insurance enterprises are included within the scope of SFAS 60 as amended by SFAS 163. SFAS 163 amends the recognition and measurement of premium revenue, and claim liabilities on financial guarantee insurance and reinsurance contracts, and expands disclosure requirements. Recognition and measurement of unearned premium revenue and receivable for future premiums are also amended by SFAS 163. SFAS 163 does not apply to financial guarantee insurance contracts that are derivative instruments included within the scope of SFAS 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” as amended. SFAS 163 nullifies the guidance for financial guarantee insurance contracts included in Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. (“EITF”) 85-20, “Recognition of Fees for Guaranteeing a Loan.” Refer to “Note 4: Insurance Premiums” for disclosures related to premiums and “Note 10: Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves” for disclosures related to loss reserves.

Upon the adoption and implementation of SFAS 163, MBIA Corp. recorded a cumulative transition adjustment of $55 million net of tax, $83 million pre-tax, as an increase to its beginning retained earnings balance as of January 1, 2009. The cumulative transition adjustment represents the recognized changes in assets and liabilities resulting from the adoption of SFAS 163. The following table summarizes the adjustments made to MBIA Corp.’s assets and liabilities as of January 1, 2009 on a pre-tax basis:

 

In thousands

   Increase / (Decrease)  

Assets:

  

Deferred acquisition costs

   $ 8,731   

Prepaid reinsurance premiums

     313,660   

Reinsurance recoverable on paid and unpaid losses

     4,563   

Premiums receivable

     2,287,451   

Deferred income taxes, net

     (27,170

Liabilities:

  

Unearned premium revenue

   $ 2,381,487   

Loss and LAE reserves

     (174,220

Reinsurance premiums payable

     324,262   

 

10


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

In December 2008, the FASB issued FSP FAS 140-4 and FASB Interpretation No. (“FIN”) 46(R)-8, “Disclosures by Public Entities (Enterprises) about Transfers of Financial Assets and Interests in Variable Interest Entities,” which requires enhanced disclosures about transfers of financial assets and involvement with variable interest entities (“VIEs”). MBIA Corp. adopted FSP FAS 140-4 and FIN 46(R)-8 for financial statements prepared as of December 31, 2008 and is effective for interim reporting periods until the adoption of SFAS 167, “Amendments to FASB Interpretation No. 46(R).” Refer to “Recent Accounting Developments” for discussion of SFAS 167. Since FSP FAS 140-4 and FIN 46(R)-8 only requires additional disclosures concerning transfers of financial assets and interests in VIEs, adoption of FSP FAS 140-4 and FIN 46(R)-8 did not affect MBIA Corp.’s consolidated balance sheets, results of operations or cash flows. Refer to “Note 9: Variable Interest Entities” for disclosures required by FSP FAS 140-4 and FIN 46(R)-8.

In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities—an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133.” SFAS 161 expands the disclosure requirements about an entity’s derivative instruments and hedging activities. The disclosure provisions of SFAS 161 apply to all entities with derivative instruments subject to SFAS 133 and its related interpretations. The provisions also apply to related hedged items, bifurcated derivatives, and non-derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as hedging instruments. MBIA Corp. adopted the disclosure provisions of SFAS 161 on January 1, 2009. Since SFAS 161 requires only additional disclosures concerning derivatives and hedging activities, adoption of SFAS 161 did not affect MBIA Corp.’s consolidated balance sheets, results of operations or cash flows. Refer to “Note 8: Derivative Instruments” for disclosures required by SFAS 161.

In February 2008, the FASB issued FSP FAS 157-2, “Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157,” which delayed the effective date of SFAS 157, “Fair Value Measurements,” to fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008, for all non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities, except those that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually). The adoption of FSP FAS 157-2 on January 1, 2009 did not have a material impact on MBIA Corp.’s consolidated balance sheets, results of operations or cash flows.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements–an amendment of ARB 51.” SFAS 160 requires reporting entities to present noncontrolling (minority) interest as equity (as opposed to liability or mezzanine equity) and provides guidance on the accounting for transactions between an entity and noncontrolling interests. The presentation and disclosure requirements are to be applied retrospectively. MBIA Corp. adopted SFAS 160 on January 1, 2009 and the adoption of SFAS 160 did not have a material impact on MBIA Corp.’s consolidated balance sheets, results of operations or cash flows.

Recent Accounting Developments

In June 2009, the FASB issued SFAS 168, “The FASB Accounting Standards Codification and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles—a replacement of FASB Statement No. 162.” The FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“Codification”) will become the single source of authoritative GAAP to be applied by nongovernmental entities. On the effective date of SFAS 168, the Codification will supersede all then-existing non-SEC accounting and reporting standards. SFAS 168 will be effective for MBIA Corp. for financial statements issued for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. MBIA Corp. will adopt this standard as of the third quarter of 2009. The Codification is not intended to change GAAP but rather reorganize divergent accounting literature into an accessible and user-friendly system which will materially impact cited references of GAAP in MBIA Corp.’s Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

In June 2009, the FASB issued SFAS 167 which amends FIN 46(R) to include qualifying special purpose entities (“QSPEs”) in its scope and to require the holder of a variable interest or variable interests in a VIE to determine whether it holds a controlling financial interest in a VIE. A holder of a variable interest (or combination of variable interests) that provides a controlling financial interest in a VIE is considered the primary beneficiary and is required to consolidate the VIE. SFAS 167 amends FIN 46(R) to deem controlling financial interest as both a) the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and b) the obligation to absorb losses or the rights to receive benefits of the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. SFAS 167 amends FIN 46(R) to eliminate the quantitative approach for determining the primary beneficiary of a VIE. SFAS 167 requires an ongoing reassessment of whether a holder of a variable interest is the primary beneficiary of a VIE, which amends the guidance in FIN 46(R) that requires reconsideration of whether a holder of a variable interest is the primary beneficiary only when specific events occurred. SFAS 167 nullifies FSP FAS 140-4 and FIN 46(R)-8 and amends FIN 46(R) to require enhanced disclosures for a holder of a variable interest in a VIE that are generally consistent with the disclosures required by FSP FAS 140-4 and FIN 46(R)-8. SFAS 167 is effective for MBIA Corp. as of January 1, 2010 and earlier application is prohibited. MBIA Corp. is currently evaluating the potential impact of adopting this standard.

 

11


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

In June 2009, the FASB issued SFAS 166, “Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets—an amendment of FASB Statement No. 140,” to remove the concept of a QSPE. It also clarifies whether a transferor has surrendered control over transferred financial assets and meets the conditions to derecognize transferred financial assets or a portion of an entire financial asset that meets the definition of a participating interest. SFAS 166 amends SFAS 140, “Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities,” to require enhanced disclosures about transfers of financial assets and a transferor’s continuing involvement with transferred financial assets. SFAS 166 is effective for MBIA Corp. as of January 1, 2010 and earlier application is prohibited. MBIA Corp. is currently evaluating the potential impact of adopting this standard.

Note 4: Insurance Premiums

MBIA Corp. recognizes and measures premiums related to financial guarantee (non-derivative) insurance and reinsurance contracts in accordance with SFAS 163. Refer to “Note 2: Significant Accounting Policies” and “Note 3: Recent Accounting Pronouncements” for a description of MBIA Corp.’s accounting policy for insurance premiums and the impact of the adoption of SFAS 163 on MBIA Corp.’s financial statements.

As of June 30, 2009, MBIA Corp. reported premiums receivable of $2.1 billion primarily related to installment policies for which premiums will be collected over the estimated term of the contracts. Premiums receivable for an installment policy is initially measured at the present value of premiums expected to be collected over the expected period or contract period of the policy using a risk-free discount rate. Premiums receivable for policies that use the expected period of risk due to expected prepayments are adjusted in subsequent measurement periods when prepayment assumptions change using the risk-free discount rate as of remeasurement date. The weighted average risk-free rate used to discount future installment premiums was 2.97% and the weighted average expected collection term of the premiums receivable was 7.87 years. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, the accretion of the premiums receivable was $15 million and $28 million, respectively, and is reported in “Scheduled premiums earned” on MBIA Corp.’s consolidated statements of operations.

As of June 30, 2009, MBIA Corp. reported reinsurance premiums payable of $697 million, which represents the portion of MBIA Corp.’s premiums receivable that is due to reinsurers. The reinsurance premiums payable is accreted and paid to reinsurers as premiums due to MBIA Corp. are accreted and collected.

The following table presents a roll forward of MBIA Corp.’s premiums receivable for the six months ended June 30, 2009:

 

In millions    Six Months Ended June 30, 2009
                     Adjustments           

Premiums
Receivable as of
December 31,
2008

   SFAS 163
Transition
Adjustment
   Premium
Payments
Received
    Premiums
from New
Business
Written
   Changes in
Expected
Term of
Policies
    Accretion of
Premiums
Receivable
Discount
   Other     Premiums
Receivable as

of June 30,
2009
   Reinsurance
Premium

Payable as of
June 30, 2009
$ 8    $ 2,288    $ (167   $ -    $ (20   $ 28    $ (6   $  2,131    $  697
                                                              

The following table presents the undiscounted future amount of premiums expected to be collected and the period in which those collections are expected to occur:

 

12


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

In millions

   Expected
    Collection of    
Premiums

Three months ended:

  

September 30, 2009

   $ 76

December 31, 2009

     80

Twelve months ended:

  

December 31, 2010

     279

December 31, 2011

     248

December 31, 2012

     218

December 31, 2013

     176

Five years ended:

  

December 31, 2018

     640

December 31, 2023

     408

December 31, 2028 and thereafter

     618
      

Total

   $ 2,743
      

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, MBIA Corp. reported premiums earned of $81 million and $201 million, respectively, which includes $80 million and $199 million of scheduled premiums earned and $1 million and $2 million of refunding premiums earned, respectively. Refunding premiums earned represent premiums earned on policies for which the underlying insured obligations have been refunded, called, or terminated and for which MBIA Corp.’s obligation has been extinguished.

The following table presents the expected unearned premium revenue balance and the future expected premiums earned revenue as of and for the periods presented:

 

              Future Expected Premium    
Earnings
         

In millions

       Unearned    
Premium
Revenue
   Upfront        Installments            Accretion        Total
Future Expected
Premium
Earnings

Three months ended:

              

June 30, 2009

   $ 4,497            

September 30, 2009

     4,370    $ 55    $ 72    $ 15    $ 142

December 31, 2009

     4,246      54      70      14      138

Twelve months ended:

              

December 31, 2010

     3,780      208      258      54      520

December 31, 2011

     3,361      192      227      50      469

December 31, 2012

     2,994      178      189      45      412

December 31, 2013

     2,679      166      149      42      357

Five years ended:

              

December 31, 2018

     1,498      653      528      162      1,343

December 31, 2023

     773      404      321      103      828

December 31, 2028 and thereafter

     -      392      381      126      899
                              

Total

      $ 2,302    $ 2,195    $ 611    $ 5,108
                              

 

13


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Note 5: Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Financial Instruments

The following table presents the carrying value and fair value of financial instruments reported on MBIA Corp.’s consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008:

 

     June 30, 2009    December 31, 2008

In millions

       Carrying Value            Estimated Fair    
Value
       Carrying Value            Estimated Fair Value    

Assets:

           

Fixed-maturity securities and short-term investments, held as available-for-sale, at fair value

   $ 3,315    $ 3,315    $ 8,629    $ 8,629

Investments held-to-maturity, at amortized cost

     2,102      1,950      1,215      1,215

Other investments

     119      119      45      45

Cash and cash equivalents

     176      176      1,067      1,067

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

     2,000      2,000      3,344      3,344

Receivable for investments sold

     210      210      11      11

Derivative assets

     696      696      747      747

Note Receivable

     470      470      423      423

Liabilities:

           

Variable interest entity notes

     2,637      2,419      1,792      1,792

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase

     -      -      1,344      1,344

Long-term debt

     1,055      426      953      524

Derivative liabilities

     4,133      4,133      6,219      6,219

Financial Guarantees:

           

Gross

     5,758      6,592      4,983      6,078

Ceded

     2,964      3,913      390      407

Valuation Techniques

The valuation techniques for fair valuing financial instruments included in the preceding table are described below. MBIA Corp.’s assets and liabilities recorded at fair value have been categorized according to the fair value hierarchy prescribed by SFAS 157 within the following “Fair Value Measurements” section.

Fixed-Maturity Securities Held As Available-for-Sale

U.S. Treasury and government agency—U.S. Treasury securities are liquid and have quoted market prices. Fair value of U.S. Treasuries is based on live trading feeds. U.S. Treasury securities are categorized in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. Government agency securities include debentures and other agency mortgage pass-through certificates as well as to-be-announced (“TBA”) securities. TBA securities are liquid and have quoted market prices based on live data feeds. Fair value of mortgage pass-through certificates is obtained via a simulation model, which considers different rate scenarios and historical activity to calculate a spread to the comparable TBA security. Government agency securities use market-based and observable inputs. As such, these securities are classified as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

 

14


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Foreign governments—The fair value of foreign government obligations are generally based on observable inputs in active markets. When quoted prices are not available, fair value is determined based on a valuation model that has as inputs interest rate yield curves, cross-currency basis index spreads, and country credit spreads for structures similar to the bond in terms of issuer, maturity and seniority. These bonds are generally categorized in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Bonds that contain significant inputs that are not observable are categorized as Level 3 while bonds that have quoted prices in an active market are classified as Level 1.

Corporate obligations—The fair value of corporate bonds is obtained using recently executed transactions or market price quotations where observable. When observable price quotations are not available, fair value is determined based on cash flow models with yield curves, bond or single name CDS spreads and diversity scores as key inputs. Corporate bonds are generally categorized in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy; in instances where significant inputs are unobservable, they are categorized in Level 3 of the hierarchy. Corporate obligations may be classified as Level 1 if quoted prices in an active market are available.

Mortgage-backed securities and asset-backed securities—Mortgage-backed securities (“MBSs”) and ABSs are valued based on recently executed prices. When position-specific external price data is not observable, the valuation is based on prices of comparable securities. In the absence of market prices, MBSs and ABSs are valued as a function of cash flow models with observable market-based inputs (e.g. yield curves, spreads, prepayments and volatilities). MBSs and ABSs are categorized in Level 3 if significant inputs are unobservable, otherwise they are categorized in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

State and municipal bonds—The fair value of state and municipal bonds is estimated using recently executed transactions, market price quotations and pricing models that factor in, where applicable, interest rates, bond or CDS spreads and volatility. These bonds are generally categorized in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy; in instances where significant inputs are unobservable, they are categorized in Level 3.

Investments Held-To-Maturity

The fair value of investments held-to-maturity is obtained using recently executed transactions or market price quotations where observable. When position-specific external price data is not observable, the valuation is based on prices of comparable securities. When observable price quotations are not available, fair value is determined based on internal cash flow models with yield curves and bond spreads of comparable entities as key inputs.

Other Investments

Other investments include MBIA Corp.’s interest in equity securities (including exchange-traded closed-end funds), money market mutual funds and perpetual securities. Fair value of other investments is determined by using quoted prices, live trades, or valuation models that use market-based and observable inputs. Other investments are categorized in Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

Other investments also include premium tax credit investments that are carried at amortized cost. The carrying value of these investments approximates fair value.

Cash and Cash Equivalents, and Receivable for Investments Sold

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents and receivable for investments sold approximate their fair values as they are short-term in nature.

Securities Purchased Under Agreements to Resell

The fair value of securities purchased under agreements to resell are determined based on the underlying securities received or cash loans that back the repurchase agreements depending on the observability of significant inputs, are categorized in Level 2 or 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

Note Receivable

The note receivable represents a non-recourse loan secured by collateral pledged by the counterparty to the note receivable. The fair value of the note receivable is calculated as the most recent appraised value of the underlying collateral pledged against the note receivable. The appraisal was performed by an independent third party during the current year.

Variable Interest Entity Notes

The fair value of VIE notes is obtained using recently executed transactions or market price quotations where observable. When position-specific external price data is not observable, the valuation is based on prices of comparable securities.

 

15


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

When observable price quotations are not available, fair value is determined based on internal cash flow models of the underlying collateral with yield curves and bond spreads of comparable entities as key inputs.

Securities Sold Under Agreements to Repurchase

The fair value of securities sold under agreements to repurchase are determined based on the underlying securities that back the repurchase agreements and depending on the observability of significant inputs, are categorized in Level 2 or 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

Long-term Debt

Long-term debt consists of long-term notes, debentures and surplus notes. The fair value of long-term debt is estimated based on quoted market prices for the same or similar securities.

Derivatives

The derivative contracts that MBIA Corp. insures cannot be legally traded and generally do not have observable market prices. In the cases with no active price quote, MBIA Corp. uses a combination of internal and third-party models to estimate the fair value of these contracts. Most insured CDSs are valued using an enhanced Binomial Expansion Technique (“BET”) model (originally developed by Moody’s). Significant inputs include collateral spreads, diversity scores and recovery rates. For a limited number of other insured derivatives, MBIA Corp. uses industry standard models as well as proprietary models such as Black-Scholes option models and dual-default models, depending on the type and structure of the contract. The valuation of these derivatives includes the impact of MBIA Corp.’s credit standing and the credit standing of its reinsurers. All of these derivatives are categorized as Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy as a significant percentage of their value is derived from unobservable inputs. For insured swaps (other than CDSs), MBIA Corp. uses internally and vendor developed models with market-based inputs (e.g. interest rate, foreign exchange rate, spreads), and are classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Insured Derivatives

The majority of MBIA Corp.’s derivative exposure is in the form of credit derivative instruments insured by MBIA Corp. Prior to 2008, MBIA Corp. insured CDSs entered into by LaCrosse Financial Products LLC (“LaCrosse”), an entity that is consolidated into MBIA’s financial statements under the FIN 46(R) criteria. In February 2008, MBIA Corp. ceased insuring such derivative instruments except in transactions reducing its existing insured derivative exposure.

In most cases, MBIA Corp.’s insured credit derivatives are measured at fair value as they do not qualify for the financial guarantee scope exception under SFAS 133. Because they are highly customized and there is generally no observable market for these derivatives, MBIA Corp. estimates their value in a hypothetical market based on internal and third-party models simulating what a bond insurer would charge to guarantee the transaction at the measurement date. This pricing would be based on expected loss of the exposure calculated using the value of the underlying collateral within the transaction structure.

Description of MBIA Corp.’s Insured Credit Derivatives

The majority of MBIA Corp.’s insured credit derivatives reference structured pools of cash securities and CDSs. MBIA Corp. generally insured the most senior liabilities of such transactions, and at transaction closing MBIA Corp.’s exposure generally had more subordination than needed to achieve triple-A ratings from credit rating agencies (referred to as “Super Triple-A” exposure). The gross notional amount of such transactions totaled $133.6 billion as of June 30, 2009. The collateral backing MBIA Corp.’s insured derivatives was cash securities and CDSs referencing primarily corporate, asset-backed, residential mortgage-backed, commercial mortgage-backed, commercial real estate (“CRE”) loans, and collateralized debt obligation (“CDO”) securities.

Most of MBIA Corp.’s insured CDS contracts require that MBIA Corp. make payments for losses of the principal outstanding under the contracts when losses on the underlying referenced collateral exceed a predetermined deductible. The total notional amount and MBIA Corp.’s maximum payment obligation under these contracts as of June 30, 2009 was $79.1 billion. The underlying referenced collateral for contracts executed in this manner largely consist of investment grade corporate debt, structured commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”) pools and, to a lesser extent, corporate and multi-sector CDOs (in CDO-squared transactions).

MBIA Corp. also has guarantees under principal protection fund programs, which are also accounted for as derivatives. Under these programs MBIA Corp. guaranteed the return of principal to investors and are protected by a daily portfolio rebalancing obligation that is designed to minimize the risk of loss to MBIA Corp. As of June 30, 2009, the maximum amount of future payments that MBIA Corp. would be required to make under these guarantees was $49 million, but MBIA Corp. has not made any payments to date relating to these guarantees. The unrealized gains (losses) on these derivatives for the years ended 2007 and 2008 and the six months ended June 30, 2009 were $0, reflecting the extremely remote likelihood that MBIA Corp. will incur a loss.

 

16


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Changes in fair value of the insured derivatives are recorded in “Net change in fair value of insured derivatives.” The net change in the fair value of MBIA Corp.’s insured derivatives has two primary components; (i) realized gains (losses) and other settlements on insured derivatives and (ii) unrealized gains (losses) on insured derivatives. “Realized gains (losses) and other settlements on insured derivatives” include (i) net premiums received and receivable on written CDS contracts, (ii) net premiums paid and payable to reinsurers in respect of CDS contracts, (iii) net amounts received or paid on reinsurance commutations, (iv) losses paid and payable to CDS contract counterparties due to the occurrence of a credit event or settlement agreement, (v) losses recovered and recoverable on purchased CDS contracts due to the occurrence of a credit event or commutation agreement and (vi) fees relating to CDS contracts. The “Unrealized gains (losses) on insured derivatives” include all other changes in fair value of the derivative contracts.

 

17


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Considerations Regarding an Observable Market for MBIA’s Corp.’s Insured Derivatives

In determining fair value, MBIA Corp.’s valuation approach always uses observable market prices if available and reliable. Market prices are generally available for traded securities and market standard CDSs but are less available or accurate for highly customized CDSs. Most of the derivative contracts MBIA Corp. insures are the latter as they are non-traded structured credit derivative transactions. In contrast, typical market CDSs are standardized, liquid instruments that reference tradable securities such as corporate bonds that themselves have observable prices. These market standard CDSs also involve collateral posting, and upon a default of the underlying reference obligation, can be settled in cash.

MBIA’s insured CDS contracts do not contain typical CDS market standard features as they have been designed to replicate MBIA Corp.’s financial guarantee insurance policies. At inception of the transactions, MBIA Corp.’s insured CDS instruments provided protection on pools of securities or CDSs with either a stated deductible or subordination beneath the MBIA-insured tranche. MBIA Corp. is not required to post collateral in any circumstances. Payment by MBIA under an insured CDS is due after the aggregate amount of defaults of the underlying reference obligations, based on fair value determination with respect to each defaulted reference obligation, exceed the deductible or subordination in the transaction. Once such defaults exceed the deductible or the subordination MBIA is obligated to pay the fair value, as determined under the ISDA contract, of any subsequent reference obligations that default. Some contracts also provide for further deferrals of payment at MBIA Corp.’s option. In the event of MBIA Corp’s failure to pay a claim under the insured CDS or the insolvency of MBIA, the insured CDS contract provides that the counterparty can terminate the CDS and make a claim for the amount due, which would be based on the fair value of the insured CDS at such time. An additional difference between MBIA Corp.’s CDS and typical market standard contracts is that MBIA Corp.’s contract, like its financial guarantee contracts, cannot be accelerated by the counterparty in the ordinary course of business. Similar to MBIA Corp.’s financial guarantee insurance, all insured CDS policies are unconditional and irrevocable and MBIA Corp.’s obligations thereunder cannot be transferred unless the transferees are also licensed to write financial guarantee insurance policies. Note that since insured CDS contracts are accounted for as derivatives under SFAS 133, MBIA Corp. did not defer the charges associated with underwriting the CDS policies and they were expensed at origination.

MBIA Corp.’s payment obligations are structured to prevent large one-time claims upon an event of default of underlying reference obligations and to allow for payments over time (i.e. “pay-as-you-go” basis) or at final maturity. However, the size of payments will ultimately depend on the timing and magnitude of losses. There are three types of payment provisions:

 

  (i) timely interest and ultimate principal;

 

  (ii) ultimate principal only at final maturity; and

 

  (iii) payments upon settlement of individual referenced collateral losses in excess of policy-specific deductibles and subordination. The deductible or loss threshold is the amount of losses experienced with respect to the underlying or referenced collateral that would be required to occur before a claim against MBIA Corp. insurance policy can be made.

MBIA Corp. had transferred some of the risk of loss on these contracts using reinsurance to other financial guarantee insurance and reinsurance companies. The fair value of the transfer under the reinsurance contract with the reinsurers is accounted for as a derivative asset. These derivative assets are valued consistently with MBIA Corp.’s SFAS 157 valuation policies.

Valuation Modeling of MBIA-Insured Derivatives

As a result of the significant differences between market standard CDS contracts and the CDS contracts insured by MBIA, MBIA Corp. believes there are no relevant third-party exit value market observations for its insured structured credit derivative contracts and, therefore, no principal market as described in SFAS 157. In the absence of a principal market, MBIA Corp. values these insured credit derivatives in a hypothetical market where market participants are assumed to be other comparably-rated primary financial guarantors. Since there are no observable transactions in the financial guarantee market that could be used to value MBIA Corp.’s transactions, MBIA Corp. generally uses internal and third-party models, depending on the type and structure of the contract, to estimate the fair value of its insured derivatives.

MBIA Corp.’s primary model for insured CDSs simulates what a bond insurer would charge to guarantee a transaction at the measurement date, based on the market-implied default risk of the underlying collateral and the remaining structural protection in a deductible or subordination. This approach assumes that bond insurers would be willing to accept these contracts from MBIA Corp. at a price equal to what they could issue them for in the current market. While the premium charged by financial guarantors is not a direct input into MBIA Corp.’s model, the model estimates such premium and this premium increases as the probability of loss increases, driven by various factors including rising credit spreads, negative credit migration, lower recovery rates, lower diversity score and erosion of deductible or subordination.

 

18


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

1. Valuation Model Overview

Approximately 99.3% of the balance sheet fair value of insured credit derivatives as of June 30, 2009 is valued using the BET model, which is a probabilistic approach to calculating expected loss on MBIA Corp.’s exposure based on market variables for underlying referenced collateral. The BET was originally developed by Moody’s to estimate a probability distribution of losses on a diverse pool of assets. MBIA Corp. has made modifications to this technique in an effort to incorporate more market information and provide more flexibility in handling pools of dissimilar assets: a) MBIA Corp. uses market credit spreads to determine default probability instead of using historical loss experience, and b) for collateral pools where the spread distribution is characterized by extremes, MBIA Corp. models each segment of the pool individually instead of using an overall pool average.

There are three steps within BET modeling to arrive at fair value for a structured transaction: pool loss estimation, loss allocation to separate tranches of the capital structure and calculation of the change in value.

 

   

The pool loss estimation is calculated by reference to the following (described in further detail under “Model Inputs” below):

 

   

credit spreads of the underlying collateral. This is based on actual spreads or spreads on similar collateral with similar ratings, or in some cases is benchmarked,

 

   

diversity score of the collateral pool as an indication of correlation of collateral defaults, and

 

   

recovery rate for all defaulted collateral.

 

   

Losses are allocated to specific tranches of the transaction according to their subordination level within the capital structure.

 

   

For example, if the expected total collateral pool loss is 4% and the transaction has an equity tranche and three progressively more senior C, B, and A tranches with corresponding underlying subordination levels of 0%, 3%, 5% and 10%, then the 4% loss will have the greatest impact on the equity tranche. It will have a lower, but significant impact on the C tranche and a lesser impact on the B tranche. MBIA Corp. usually insures the Super Triple-A tranche with lowest exposure to collateral losses due to the underlying subordination provided by all junior tranches.

 

   

At any point in time, the unrealized gain or loss on a transaction is the difference between the original price of the risk (the original market-implied expected loss) and the current price of the risk based on the assumed market-implied expected losses derived from the model.

Additional structural assumptions of the model worth noting are listed below:

 

   

Default probability is determined by three factors: credit spread, recovery rate after default and the time period under risk.

 

   

Defaults are modeled spaced out evenly over time.

 

   

Collateral is generally considered on an average basis rather than being modeled separately.

 

   

Correlation is modeled using a diversity score, which is calculated based on rules regarding industry or sector concentrations. Recovery rates are based on historical averages and updated based on market evidence.

MBIA Corp. reviews the model results on a quarterly basis to assess the appropriateness of the assumptions and results in light of current market activity and conditions. This review is performed by internal staff with relevant expertise. If live market spreads are observable for similar transactions, those spreads are an integral part of the analysis. For example, new insured transactions that resemble existing (previously insured) transactions would be considered, as would negotiated settlements of existing transactions. However, this data has been scarce or non-existent in recent periods. As a result, MBIA Corp.’s recent reviews have focused more on internal consistency and relativity, as well as the reasonableness of modeled results given current market conditions.

 

19


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

2. Model Strengths and Weaknesses

The primary strengths of this CDS valuation model are:

 

  1) The model takes account of transaction structure and key drivers of market value. The transaction structure includes par insured, weighted average life, level of deductible or subordination and composition of collateral.

 

  2) The model is a well-documented, consistent approach to marking positions that minimizes the level of subjectivity. Model structure, inputs and operation are well-documented both by Moody’s and by MBIA’s internal controls, creating a strong controls process in execution of the model. MBIA Corp. has also developed a hierarchy for usage of various market-based spread inputs that reduces the level of subjectivity, especially during periods of high illiquidity.

 

  3) The model uses market inputs with the most relevant being credit spreads for underlying referenced collateral, assumed recovery rates specific to the type and rating of referenced collateral, and the diversity score of the entire collateral pool. These are key parameters affecting the fair value of the transaction and all inputs are market-based whenever available and reliable.

The primary weaknesses of this CDS valuation model are:

 

  1) There is no longer a market in which to test and verify the fair values generated by MBIA Corp.’s model, and at June 30, 2009, the model inputs were also either unobservable or highly illiquid, adversely impacting their reliability.

 

  2) There are diverse approaches to estimating fair value of such transactions among other financial guarantee insurance companies.

 

  3) Results may be affected by averaging of spreads and use of a single diversity factor, rather than using specific spreads for each piece of underlying collateral and collateral-specific correlation assumptions. While more specific data could improve the reliability of the results, it is not currently available and neither is a model that could produce more reliable results in the absence of that data.

3. Model Inputs

Specific detail regarding these model inputs are listed below:

a. Credit spreads

The average spread of collateral is a key input as MBIA Corp. assumes credit spreads reflect the market’s assessment of default probability for each piece of collateral. Spreads are obtained from market data sources published by third parties (e.g. dealer spread tables for assets most closely resembling collateral within MBIA Corp.’s transactions) as well as collateral-specific spreads on the underlying reference obligations provided by trustees or market sources. Also, when these sources are not available, MBIA Corp. benchmarks spreads for collateral against market spreads, including in some cases, assumed relationships between the two spreads. This data is reviewed on an ongoing basis for reasonableness and applicability to MBIA Corp.’s derivative portfolio. MBIA Corp. also calculates spreads based on quoted prices and on internal assumptions about expected life, when pricing information is available and spread information is not.

The actual calculation of pool average spread varies depending on whether MBIA Corp. is able to use collateral-specific credit spreads or generic spreads as an input.

 

   

If collateral-specific spreads are available, the spread for each individual piece of collateral is identified and a weighted average is calculated by weighting each spread by the corresponding par exposure.

 

20


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

   

If collateral-specific credit spreads are not available, MBIA Corp. uses generic spread tables based on asset class and average rating of the collateral pool. Average credit rating for the collateral is calculated from the weighted average rating factor (“WARF”) for the collateral portfolio and then mapped to an appropriate spread. WARF is based on a 10,000 point scale designed by Moody’s where lower numbers indicate better credit quality. Ratings are not spaced equally on this scale because the marginal difference in default probability at higher rating quality is much less than at lower rating levels. MBIA Corp. obtains WARF from the most recent trustee’s report or MBIA Corp. calculates it based on the collateral credit ratings. For a WARF calculation, MBIA Corp. identifies the credit ratings of all collateral (using, in order of preference as available, Moody’s, S&P or Fitch ratings), then converts those credit ratings into a rating factor on the WARF scale, averages those factors (weighted by par) to create a portfolio WARF, and then maps the portfolio WARF back into an average credit rating for the pool. MBIA Corp. then applies this pool rating to a market spread table or index appropriate for the collateral type to determine the generic spread for the pool, which becomes the market-implied default input into the BET model.

 

   

If there is a high dispersion of ratings within a collateral pool, the collateral is segmented into different rating buckets and each bucket is used in calculating the overall average.

 

   

When spreads are not available on either a collateral-specific basis or ratings-based generic basis, MBIA uses its hierarchy of spread sources (see below) to identify the most appropriate spread for that asset class to be used in the model.

MBIA Corp. uses the spread hierarchy listed below in determining which source of spread information to use, with the rule being to use CDS spreads where available and cash security spreads as the next alternative. Cash spreads reflect trading activity in funded fixed-income instruments while CDS spreads reflect trading levels for non-funded derivative instruments. While both markets are driven partly by an assessment of the credit quality of the referenced security, there are factors which create significant differences, such as CDS spreads can be driven by speculative activity since the CDS market facilitates both long and short positions without ownership of the underlying security, allowing for significant leverage.

Spread Hierarchy:

 

  1) Actual collateral-specific credit spreads. If up-to-date and reliable market-based spreads are available, they are used.

 

  2) Sector-specific spreads (JP Morgan and Banc of America Securities-Merrill Lynch (“BAS-ML”) spread tables by asset class and rating).

 

  3) Corporate spreads (Bloomberg and Risk Metrics spread tables based on rating).

 

  4) Benchmark from most relevant spread source (for example, if no specific spreads are available and corporate spreads are not directly relevant, an assumed relationship is used between corporate spreads or sector-specific spreads and collateral spreads). Benchmarking can also be based on a combination of market spread data and fundamental credit assumptions.

For example, if current market-based spreads are not available then MBIA Corp. applies either sector-specific spreads from spread tables provided by dealers or corporate cash spread tables. The sector-specific spread applied depends on the nature of the underlying collateral. Transactions with corporate collateral use the corporate spread table. Transactions with asset-backed collateral use one or more of the dealer asset-backed tables. If there are no observable market spreads for the specific collateral, and sector-specific and corporate spread tables are not appropriate to estimate the spread for a specific type of collateral, MBIA Corp. uses the fourth alternative in its hierarchy. An example is tranched corporate collateral, where MBIA Corp. applies corporate spreads as an input with an adjustment for its tranched exposure.

 

21


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

As of June 30, 2009, actual collateral credit spreads were used in one transaction. Sector-specific spreads were used in 19% of the transactions. Corporate spreads were used in 29% of the transactions and spreads benchmarked from the most relevant spread source (number 4 above) were used for 52% of the transactions. When determining the percentages above, there were some transactions where MBIA Corp. incorporated multiple levels within the hierarchy. For example, for some transactions MBIA Corp. used actual collateral-specific credit spreads (number 1 above) in combination with a calculated spread based on an assumed relationship (number 4 above). In those cases, MBIA Corp. classified the transaction as being benchmarked from the most relevant spread source (number 4 above) even though the majority of the average spread was from actual collateral-specific spreads. The spread source can also be identified by whether or not it is based on collateral WARF. No Level 1 spreads are based on WARF, all Level 2 and 3 spreads are based on WARF and some Level 4 spreads are based on WARF. WARF-sourced and/or ratings-sourced credit spread was used for 94% of the transactions.

In the second quarter, of 2009 a reliable source of current credit spreads for residential mortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”) and ABS CDO collateral was not identified as the previous sources stopped publishing this information. These spreads are primarily used as inputs for valuing MBIA Corp.’s insured multi-sector CDO transactions. As a result, MBIA Corp. used the spreads reported at the end of the first quarter of 2009 to calculate the estimated fair value of these transactions. MBIA Corp. believes this is a reasonable estimate because credit trends and market conditions did not change significantly during the second quarter of 2009 and the BET model is not very sensitive to changes in credit spreads for these transactions when spreads are at extreme levels. MBIA Corp. is exploring alternative valuation models for these transactions that do not require a credit spread input, which may be used in future periods.

Over time the data inputs change as new sources become available, existing sources are discontinued or are no longer considered to be reliable or the most appropriate. It is always MBIA Corp.’s objective to move to higher levels on the hierarchy, but MBIA Corp. sometimes moves to lower priority inputs because of discontinued data sources or because MBIA Corp. considers higher priority inputs no longer representative of market spreads. This occurs when transaction volume changes such that a previously used spread index is no longer viewed to reflect current market levels, as was the case for CMBS collateral in insured CDSs beginning in 2008. Refer to section “Input Adjustments for Insured CMBS Derivatives in the Current Market” below.

b. Diversity Scores

The diversity score is a measure to estimate the diversification in a portfolio. The diversity score estimates the number of uncorrelated assets that are assumed to have the same loss distribution as the actual portfolio of correlated assets. For example, if a portfolio of 100 assets had a diversity score of 50, this means that the 100 correlated assets are assumed to have the same loss distribution as 50 uncorrelated assets. A lower diversity score represents higher assumed correlation, increasing the chances of a large number of defaults, and thereby increasing the risk of loss in the senior tranche. A lower diversity score will generally have a negative impact on the valuation for MBIA Corp.’s senior tranche. The calculation methodology for a diversity score includes the extent to which a portfolio is diversified by industry or asset class, which is either calculated internally or reported by the trustee on a regular basis. Diversity scores are calculated at transaction origination, and adjusted as the collateral pool changes over time. MBIA Corp.’s internal modeling of the diversity score is based on Moody’s methodology but uses MBIA’s internal assumptions on default correlation, including variables such as collateral rating and amount, asset type and remaining life.

c. Recovery Rate

The recovery rate represents the percentage of par expected to be recovered after an asset defaults, indicating the severity of a potential loss. MBIA Corp. generally uses rating agency recovery assumptions which may be adjusted to account for differences between the characteristics and performance of the collateral used by the rating agencies and the actual collateral in MBIA-insured transactions. MBIA Corp may also adjust rating agency assumptions based on the performance of the collateral manager and on empirical market data. In the first six months of 2009, MBIA Corp. lowered recovery rates for CMBS collateral and certain RMBS collateral.

d. Input Adjustments for Insured CMBS Derivatives in the Current Market

Approximately $46.7 billion gross par of MBIA Corp.’s insured derivative transactions as of June 30, 2009 include substantial amounts of CMBS and commercial mortgage collateral. Prior to 2008, MBIA Corp. had used spreads drawn from CMBX indices and CMBS spread tables as pricing input on the underlying referenced collateral in these transactions. In 2008, as the financial markets became illiquid, MBIA Corp. saw a significant disconnect between cumulative loss expectations of market analysts on underlying commercial mortgages, which were based on the continuation of low default and loss rates, and loss expectations implied by the CMBX indices and CMBS spread tables. CMBS collateral in MBIA Corp.’s insured credit derivatives has performed in line with the market.

 

22


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

In addition, due to financial market uncertainty since last year, transaction volume in CMBS and trading activity in the CMBX were both dramatically lower than in prior periods. MBIA Corp. also considered that the implied loss rates within the CMBX index were much higher than that forecast by fundamental researchers and MBIA’s internal analysis. As a result of these issues, MBIA Corp. concluded that the CMBX indices and the CMBS spread tables were unreliable model inputs for the purpose of estimating fair value in MBIA Corp.’s hypothetical market among monoline insurers.

In the first quarter of 2008, MBIA Corp. modified the spread used for these transactions to reflect a combination of market spread pricing and third-party fundamental analysis of CMBS credit. MBIA Corp.’s revised spread input is a CMBX index analog that combines expectations for CMBS credit performance (as forecasted by the average of three investment banks’ research departments) together with the illiquidity premium implied by the CMBX indices. The illiquidity premium MBIA Corp. uses is the senior triple-A tranche spread of the CMBX index that matches the origination vintage of collateral in each transaction. For example, collateral originated in the second half of 2006 uses the triple-A tranche spread of the CMBX series 1 as the illiquidity premium. The sum of the illiquidity premium plus the derived credit spread based on the average cumulative net loss estimates of three investment bank’s research department is used as a CMBX analog index.

e. Nonperformance Risk

In compliance with the requirements of SFAS 157, MBIA Corp.’s valuation methodology for insured credit derivative liabilities incorporates MBIA Corp.’s own nonperformance risk and the nonperformance risk of its reinsurers. MBIA Corp. calculates the fair value by discounting the market value loss estimated through the BET model at discount rates which include MBIA Corp.’s and the reinsurers’ CDS spreads at June 30, 2009. Prior to the second quarter of 2009, MBIA Corp. used the 5-year CDS spread on MBIA Corp. to calculate nonperformance risk. This assumption was compatible with the average life of the CDS portfolio, which was approximately 5 years. In the second quarter, MBIA Corp. has refined this approach to include a full term structure for CDS spreads. Under the refined approach, the CDS spreads assigned to each deal is based on the weighted average life of the deal. This resulted in an increase of $333 million in the derivative liability compared to the amount that would have resulted if MBIA Corp. had continued to use MBIA Corp.’s 5-year CDS spread for all transactions.

In light of recent developments in the CDS and recovery derivative markets for MBIA Corp., in the first six months of 2009, MBIA Corp. limited the effective spread on CDS on MBIA Corp. so that the derivative liability, after giving effect to nonperformance risk, could not be lower than MBIA’s Corp.’s recovery derivative price multiplied by the unadjusted derivative liability. In the second quarter of 2009, the limitation caused by use of MBIA Corp.’s recovery rate increased the derivative liability by $1.0 billion, compared to the amount that would have resulted if no limitation had been applied for recovery rate.

In aggregate, the nonperformance calculation results in a pre-tax derivative liability which is $14.0 billion lower than the liability that would have been estimated if the discount rate were equal to the LIBOR swap rate. Nonperformance risk is a fair value concept and does not contradict MBIA Corp.’s internal view, based on fundamental credit analysis of MBIA Corp.’s economic condition, that MBIA Corp. will be able to pay all claims when due.

MBIA Corp. believes that it is important to consistently apply its valuation techniques. However, MBIA Corp. may consider making changes in the valuation technique if the change results in a measurement that is equally or more representative of fair value under current circumstances.

Financial Guarantees

Gross Financial Guarantees—MBIA Corp. estimates the fair value of its gross financial guarantee liability using a discounted cash flow model with significant inputs that include (i) an assumption of expected loss on financial guarantee policies for which case basis reserves have not been established, (ii) the amount of loss expected on financial guarantee policies for which case basis reserves have been established, (iii) the cost of capital reserves required to support the financial guarantee liability, and (iv) the discount rate. The MBIA Corp. CDS spread and recovery rate are used as the discount rate and incorporates the nonperformance risk of MBIA Corp. As MBIA Corp.’s gross financial guarantee liability represents its obligation to pay claims under its insurance policies, MBIA Corp.’s calculation of fair value does not consider future installment premium receipts or returns on invested upfront premiums as inputs.

The carrying value of MBIA Corp.’s gross financial guarantee liability consists of deferred premium revenue and loss and LAE reserves as reported on MBIA Corp.’s consolidated balance sheets.

Ceded Financial Guarantees—MBIA Corp. estimates the fair value of its ceded financial guarantee liability by calculating the portion of the gross financial guarantee liability that has been ceded to reinsurers. The carrying value of ceded financial guarantee liability consists of prepaid reinsurance premiums and reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses as reported on MBIA Corp.’s consolidated balance sheets.

 

23


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Fair Value Measurements

The following fair value hierarchy tables present information about MBIA Corp.’s assets (including short-term investments) and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008:

 

     Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using     

In millions

   Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
   Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
   Significant
Unobservable Inputs

(Level 3)
   Balance as of
June 30, 2009

Assets:

           

Investments:

           

Fixed-maturity investments:

           

Taxable bonds:

           

U.S. Treasury and government agency

   $ 129    $ 8    $ -    $ 137

Foreign governments

     289      165      70      524

Corporate obligations

     -      451      83      534

Mortgage-backed securities

           

Residential mortgage-backed agency

     -      66      -      66

Residential mortgage-backed non-agency

     -      160      135      295

Commercial mortgage-backed

     -      1      8      9

Asset-backed securities

           

Collateralized debt obligations

     -      -      201      201

Other asset-backed

     -      102      61      163
                           

Total

     418      953      558      1,929

State and municipal bonds

           

Tax exempt bonds

     -      78      74      152

Taxable bonds

     -      51      -      51
                           

Total state and municipal bonds

     -      129      74      203
                           

Total fixed-maturity investments

     418      1,082      632      2,132

Other investments:

           

Other investments

     -      117      -      117

Money market securities

     1,181      2      -      1,183
                           

Total other investments

     1,181      119      -      1,300

Derivative assets

     -      10      685      695
                           

Total assets

   $ 1,599    $ 1,211    $ 1,317    $ 4,127
                           

Liabilities:

           

Derivative liabilities

   $ -    $ 32    $ 4,101    $ 4,133
                           

Total liabilities

   $ -    $ 32    $ 4,101    $ 4,133
                           

 

24


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

     Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using     

In millions

   Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets

(Level 1)
   Significant Other
Observable Inputs

(Level 2)
   Significant
Unobservable
Inputs

(Level 3)
   Balance as of
December 31,
2008

Assets:

           

Investments:

           

Fixed-maturity investments:

           

Taxable bonds:

           

U.S. Treasury and government agency

   $ 538    $ 25    $ -    $ 563

Foreign governments

     369      292      104      765

Corporate obligations

     -      1,081      119      1,200

Mortgage-backed securities

           

Residential mortgage-backed agency

     -      1,188      -      1,188

Residential mortgage-backed non-agency

     -      73      229      302

Commercial mortgage-backed

     -      16      5      21

Asset-backed securities

           

Collateralized debt obligations

     -      -      418      418

Other asset-backed

     -      11      35      46
                           

Total

     907      2,686      910      4,503

State and municipal bonds

           

Tax exempt bonds

     -      3,011      49      3,060

Taxable bonds

     -      81      -      81
                           

Total state and municipal bonds

     -      3,092      49      3,141
                           

Total fixed-maturity investments

     907      5,778      959      7,644

Other investments:

           

Perpetual preferred securities

     -      1      -      1

Other investments

     17      24      -      41

Money market securities

     985      -      -      985
                           

Total other investments

     1,002      25      -      1,027

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

     -      2,795      549      3,344

Derivative assets

     -      -      747      747
                           

Total assets

   $ 1,909    $ 8,598    $ 2,255    $ 12,762
                           

 

25


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Liabilities:

           

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase

   $             -    $             795    $             549    $             1,344

Derivative liabilities

     -      4      6,215      6,219
                           

Total liabilities

   $ -    $ 799    $ 6,764    $ 7,563
                           

Level 3 Analysis

Level 3 assets were $1.3 billion and $2.3 billion as of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively, and represented 32% and 18% of total assets measured at fair value, respectively. Level 3 liabilities were $4.1 billion and $6.8 billion as of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively, and represented 99% and 89% of total liabilities measured at fair value, respectively.

The following tables present information about changes in Level 3 assets (including short-term investments) and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the three months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008:

 

In millions

   Balance,
beginning of
interim
period
   Realized
gains /
(losses)
   Unrealized
gains /
(losses)
included in
earnings
    Unrealized
gains /
(losses)
included in
OCI
    Foreign
exchange
   Purchases,
issuances
and
settlements,
net
    Transfers
in (out) of
Level 3,
net (1)
    Ending
balance
   Change in
Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
for the Period
Included in

Earnings for
Assets still held
at June 30, 2009
 

Assets:

                      

Foreign governments

   $ 24    $ -    $ -      $ -      $ 2    $ 1      $ 43      $ 70    $ -   

Corporate obligations

     100      -      -        (30     -      14        (1     83      -   

Residential mortgage-backed non-agency

     216      -      -        (78     -      6        (9     135      -   

Commercial mortgage-backed

     5      -      -        3        -      -        -        8      -   

Collateralized debt obligations

     379      -      -        (178     -      -        -        201      -   

Other asset-backed

     34      -      -        6        -      21        -        61      -   

State and municipal tax exempt bonds

     78      -      -        -        -      (4     -        74      -   
                                                                    

Total assets

   $ 836    $ -    $ -      $ (277   $ 2    $ 38      $ 33      $ 632    $ -   
                                                                    

In millions

   Balance,
beginning of
interim
period
   Realized
(gains) /

losses
   Unrealized
(gains) /
losses
included in
earnings
    Unrealized
(gains) /
losses
included in
OCI
    Foreign
exchange
   Purchases,
issuances
and
settlements,
net
    Transfers
in (out) of
Level 3,
net (1)
    Ending
balance
   Change in
Unrealized
(Gains) Losses
for the Period
Included in
Earnings for
Liabilities still held
at June 30, 2009
 

Liabilities:

                      

Derivative contracts, net

   $ 3,839    $ -    $ (423   $ -      $ -    $ -      $ -      $ 3,416    $ (164
                                                                    

Total liabilities

   $ 3,839    $ -    $ (423   $ -      $ -    $ -      $ -      $ 3,416    $ (164
                                                                    

 

(1) - Transferred in and out at the end of the period.

 

26


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

In millions

   Balance,
Beginning of
Interim
Period
   Realized
Gains /
(Losses)
    Unrealized
Gains /
(Losses)
Included in
Earnings
    Unrealized
Gains /
(Losses)
Included in
OCI
    Foreign
Exchange
   Purchases,
Issuances
and
Settlements,
net
    Transfers
in (out) of

Level 3,
net (1)
    Ending
Balance
   Change in
Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
for the Period
Included in

Earnings for
Assets still held
at June 30, 2008

Assets:

                     

Foreign governments

   $ 62    $ -      $ -      $ (2   $ -    $ 13      $ -      $ 73    $ -

Corporate obligations

     142      -        -        (4     -      (5     (8     125      -

Commercial mortgage-backed

     117      1        -        (5     -      (30     (76     7      -

Other asset-backed

     31      -        -        2        -      (1     -        32      -
                                                                   

Total assets

   $ 352    $ 1      $ -      $ (9   $ -    $ (23   $ (84   $ 237    $ -
                                                                   

In millions

   Balance,
Beginning of
Interim
Period
   Realized
(Gains) /
Losses
    Unrealized
(Gains) /
Losses
Included in
Earnings
    Unrealized
(Gains) /
Losses
Included in
OCI
    Foreign
Exchange
   Purchases,
Issuances
and
Settlements,
net
    Transfers
in (out) of
Level 3,
net (1)
    Ending
Balance
   Change in
Unrealized
(Gains) Losses
for the Period
Included in
Earnings for

Liabilities still held
at June 30, 2008

Liabilities:

                     

Derivative contracts, net

   $ 7,230    $ (34   $ (3,328   $ -      $ -    $ 33      $ -      $ 3,901    $ 3,327
                                                                   

Total liabilities

   $ 7,230    $ (34   $ (3,328   $ -      $ -    $ 33      $ -      $ 3,901    $ 3,327
                                                                   

 

(1) - Transferred in and out at the end of the period.

Transfers into and out of Level 3 were $43 million and $10 million for the three months ended June 30, 2009, respectively. These transfers were principally for foreign government securities where inputs, which are significant to their valuation, became unobservable during the quarter. These inputs included spreads, yield curves observable at commonly quoted intervals, and market corroborated inputs. For the three months ended June 30, 2009, the net unrealized loss related to the transfers into Level 3 was $0.1 million and the net unrealized loss related to the transfers out of Level 3 was $0.1 million.

Transfers into and out of Level 3 were $1 million and $85 million for the three months ended June 30, 2008, respectively. These transfers were principally for available-for-sale securities where inputs, which are significant to their valuation, became observable during the quarter. These inputs included spreads, prepayment speeds, yield curves observable at commonly quoted intervals, and market corroborated inputs. Commercial mortgage-backed securities comprised the majority of the transferred instruments. For the three months ended June 30, 2008, the net unrealized gain related to the transfers into Level 3 was $0.1 million and the net unrealized loss related to transfers out of Level 3 was $2 million.

The following tables present information about changes in Level 3 assets (including short-term investments) and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008:

 

27


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

In millions

   Balance,
Beginning of
Year
   Realized
Gains /
(Losses)
    Unrealized
Gains /
(Losses)
Included

in
Earnings
    Unrealized
Gains / (Losses)
Included in OCI
    Foreign
Exchange
    Purchases,
Issuances and
Settlements,
net
    Transfers
in (out) of
Level 3,
net (1)
    Ending
Balance
   Change in
Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
for the Period
Included in

Earnings for
Assets still held
at June 30, 2009
 

Assets:

                    

Foreign governments

   $ 104    $ -      $ -      $ (1   $ (2   $ (18   $ (13   $ 70    $ -   

Corporate obligations

     119      -        -        (33     -        10        (13     83      -   

Residential mortgage-backed non-agency

     229      -        -        (85     -        10        (19     135      -   

Commercial mortgage-backed

     5      -        -        3        -        -        -        8      -   

Collateralized debt obligations

     419      -        -        (218     -        -        -        201      -   

Other asset-backed

     35      (9     -        17        -        18        -        61      -   

State and municipal tax exempt bonds

     49      -        -        (1     -        26        -        74      -   

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

     549      -        -        -        -        (549     -        -      -   
                                                                      

Total assets

   $ 1,509    $ (9   $ -      $ (318   $ (2   $ (503   $ (45   $ 632    $ -   
                                                                      
                    

In millions

   Balance,
Beginning

of Year
   Realized
(Gains) /
Losses
    Unrealized
(Gains) /
Losses
Included

in
Earnings
    Unrealized
(Gains) / Losses
Included in OCI
    Foreign
Exchange
    Purchases,
Issuances and
Settlements,
net
    Transfers
in (out) of
Level 3,
net (1)
    Ending
Balance
   Change in
Unrealized
(Gains) Losses
for the Period
Included in
Earnings for

Liabilities still held
at June 30, 2009
 

Liabilities:

                    

Securities sold with agreements to repurchase

   $ 549    $ -      $ -      $ -      $ -      $ (549   $ -      $ -    $ -   

Derivative contracts, net

     5,468      (31     (2,031     -        -        30        (20     3,416      (1,793
                                                                      

Total liabilities

   $ 6,017    $ (31   $ (2,031   $ -      $ -      $ (519   $ (20   $ 3,416    $ (1,793
                                                                      

 

(1) - Transferred in and out at the end of the period.

 

28


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

In millions

   Balance,
Beginning of
Year
   Realized
Gains /
(Losses)
    Unrealized
Gains /
(Losses)
Included

in
Earnings
   Unrealized
Gains /
(Losses)
Included

in OCI
    Foreign
Exchange
   Purchases,
Issuances and
Settlements, net
    Transfers
in (out) of
Level 3,

net (1)
    Ending
Balance
   Change in
Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
for the Period
Included in
Earnings for

Liabilities still held
at June 30, 2008

Assets:

                      

Foreign governments

   $ 37    $ -      $ -    $ (1   $ 1    $ 18      $ 18      $ 73    $ -

Corporate obligations

     151      -        -      (4     -      (19     (3     125      -

Commercial mortgage-backed

     59      1        -      (5     -      49        (97     7      -

Collateralized debt obligations

     -      -        -      -        -      -        -        -      -

Other asset-backed

     34      -        -      -        -      (2     -        32      -
                                                                  

Total assets

   $ 281    $ 1      $ -    $ (10   $ 1    $ 46      $ (82     237    $ -
                                                                  

In millions

   Balance,
Beginning of
Year
   Realized
(Gains) /
Losses
    Unrealized
(Gains) /
Losses
Included

in
Earnings
   Unrealized
(Gains) /
Losses
Included

in OCI
    Foreign
Exchange
   Purchases,
Issuances and
Settlements, net
    Transfers
in (out) of
Level 3,
net (1)
    Ending
Balance
   Change in
Unrealized
(Gains) Losses
for the Period
Included in
Earnings for

Liabilities still held
at June 30, 2008

Liabilities:

                      

Derivative contracts, net

   $ 3,653    $ (68   $ 250    $ -      $ -    $ 66      $ -      $ 3,901    $ 250
                                                                  

Total liabilities

   $ 3,653    $ (68   $ 250    $ -      $ -    $ 66      $ -      $ 3,901    $ 250
                                                                  

 

(1) - Transferred in and out at the end of the period.

Transfers into and out of Level 3 were $43 million and $108 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively. These transfers were principally for available-for-sale securities where inputs, which are significant to their valuation, became observable during the period. These inputs included spreads, prepayment speeds, default speeds, default severities, yield curves observable at commonly quoted intervals, and market corroborated inputs. Non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities, foreign governments and corporate obligations comprised the majority of the transferred instruments. For the six months ended June 30, 2009, the net unrealized loss related to the transfers into Level 3 was $0.1 million and the net unrealized gain related to the transfers out of Level 3 was $24 million.

Transfers into and out of Level 3 were $48 million and $130 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively. These transfers were principally for available-for-sale securities where inputs, which are significant to their valuation, became observable or unobservable during the period. These inputs included spreads, prepayment speeds, yield curves observable at commonly quoted intervals, and market corroborated inputs. Foreign governments and commercial mortgage-backed securities comprised the majority of the transferred instruments. For the six months ended June 30, 2008, the net unrealized gain related to transfers into Level 3 was $1 million and the net unrealized gain related to the transfers out of Level 3 was $6 million.

Gains and losses (realized and unrealized) included in earnings pertaining to Level 3 assets and liabilities for the three months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 are reported on the consolidated statements of operations as follows:

 

29


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

In millions

   Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on Insured
Derivatives
   Net Realized
Gains (Losses)
   Net Gains (Losses) on
Financial Instruments at Fair
Value and Foreign Exchange
 

Total gains (losses) included in earnings

   $ 424    $ 0    $ (2
                      

Change in unrealized gains (losses) for the period included in earnings for assets and liabilities still held at June 30, 2009

   $ 164    $ -    $ -   
                      

 

30


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

In millions

   Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on Insured
Derivatives
   Net Realized
Gains (Losses)
   Net Gains (Losses) on
Financial Instruments at Fair
Value and Foreign Exchange
 

Total gains (losses) included in earnings

   $ 3,327    $ 36    $ (1
                      

Change in unrealized gains (losses) for the period
included in earnings for assets and liabilities still held at June 30, 2008

   $ 3,327    $ -    $ -   
                      

Gains and losses (realized and unrealized) included in earnings pertaining to Level 3 assets and liabilities for the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 are reported on the consolidated statements of operations as follows:

 

In millions

   Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on Insured

Derivatives
    Net Realized
Gains (Losses)
   Net Gains (Losses) on
Financial Instruments at Fair
Value and Foreign Exchange
 

Total gains (losses) included in earnings

   $ 2,032      $ 22    $ 2   
                       

Change in unrealized gains (losses) for the period
included in earnings for assets and liabilities still held at June 30, 2009

   $ 1,793      $ -    $ -   
                       

In millions

   Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on Insured
Derivatives
    Net Realized
Gains (Losses)
   Net Gains (Losses) on
Financial Instruments at Fair
Value and Foreign Exchange
 

Total gains (losses) included in earnings

   $ (250   $ 69    $ (1
                       

Change in unrealized gains (losses) for the period
included in earnings for assets and liabilities still held at June 30, 2008

   $ (250   $ -    $ -   
                       

Note 6: Investments

MBIA Corp.’s fixed-maturity portfolio consists of high-quality (average rating single-A) taxable and tax-exempt investments of diversified maturities. Other investments primarily comprise equity investments. The following tables present the amortized cost and fair value of available-for-sale fixed-maturity and other investments included in the consolidated investment portfolio of MBIA Corp. as of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008:

 

31


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

     June 30, 2009  

In millions

   Amortized Cost    Gross
Unrealized
Gains
   Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    Fair Value    Other-Than-
Temporary
Impairments
 

Fixed-maturity investments:

             

Taxable bonds:

             

U.S. Treasury and government agency

   $ 137    $ 1    $ (1   $ 137    $  -   

Foreign governments

     499      26      (1     524      -   

Corporate obligations

     566      20      (52     534      -   

Mortgage-backed securities

             

Residential mortgage-backed agency

     62      4      -        66      -   

Residential mortgage-backed non-agency

     372      9      (86     295      (69

Commercial mortgage-backed

     13      -      (4     9      (1

Asset-backed securities

             

Collateralized debt obligations

     374      -      (173     201      (15

Other asset-backed

     160      6      (3     163      (0
                                     

Total

     2,183      66      (320     1,929      (85

State and municipal bonds

             

Tax exempt bonds

     151      3      (2     152      -   

Taxable bonds

     51      1      (1     51      -   
                                     

Total state and municipal bonds

     202      4      (3     203      -   
                                     

Total fixed-maturity investments

     2,385      70      (323     2,132      (85
                                     

Other investments:

             

Other investments

     115      2      -        117      -   

Money market securities

     1,183      -      -        1,183      -   
                                     

Total other investments

     1,298      2      -        1,300      -   
                                     

Total available-for-sale investments

   $ 3,683    $ 72    $ (323   $ 3,432      (85
                                     

 

32


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

     December 31, 2008

In millions

   Amortized Cost    Gross Unrealized
Gains
   Gross Unrealized
Losses
    Fair Value

Fixed-maturity investments:

          

Taxable bonds:

          

U.S. Treasury and government agency

   $                     523    $                     40    $                     -      $                     563

Foreign governments

     737      38      (10     765

Corporate obligations

     1,223      29      (52     1,200

Mortgage-backed securities

          

Residential mortgage-backed agency

     1,163      26      (1     1,188

Residential mortgage-backed non-agency

     303      8      (9     302

Commercial mortgage-backed

     25      -      (4     21

Asset-backed securities

          

Collateralized debt obligations

     418      -      -        418

Other asset-backed

     52      -      (6     46
                            

Total

     4,444      141      (82     4,503

State and municipal bonds

          

Tax exempt bonds

     3,273      20      (233     3,060

Taxable bonds

     83      3      (5     81
                            

Total state and municipal bonds

     3,356      23      (238     3,141
                            

Total fixed-maturity investments

     7,800      164      (320     7,644
                            

Other investments:

          

Perpetual preferred securities

     1      -      -        1

Other investments

     45      -      (4     41

Money market securities

     985      -      -        985
                            

Total other investments

     1,031      -      (4     1,027
                            

Total available-for-sale investments

   $ 8,831    $ 164    $ (324   $ 8,671
                            

Fixed-maturity investments carried at fair value of $9 million and $14 million as of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively, were on deposit with various regulatory authorities to comply with insurance laws.

The following table presents the distribution by contractual maturity of available-for-sale fixed-maturity investments at amortized cost and fair value as of June 30, 2009. Contractual maturity may differ from expected maturity because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations.

 

In millions

   Amortized Cost    Fair Value

Due in one year or less

   $             308    $             314

Due after one year through five years

     522      542

Due after five years through ten years

     278      283

Due after ten years through fifteen years

     126      101

Due after fifteen years

     170      158

Mortgage-backed

     447      370

Asset-backed

     534      364
             

Total fixed-maturity investments

   $ 2,385    $ 2,132
             

 

33


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Investments that are held-to-maturity are reported on MBIA Corp.’s balance sheet at amortized cost. These investments, which relate to MBIA Corp.’s consolidated VIEs, consist of floating and fixed rate securities. As of June 30, 2009, the amortized cost and fair value of held-to-maturity investments totaled $2.1 billion and $2.0 billion, respectively. There were no unrecognized gross gains and unrecognized gross losses were $151 million. As of December 31, 2008, the amortized cost and fair value of held-to-maturity investments totaled $1.2 billion. There were no unrecognized gross gains or unrecognized gross losses on these investments as amortized cost was equal to fair value. The following table presents the distribution of held-to-maturity investments by contractual maturity at amortized cost as of June 30, 2009.

 

In millions

   Amortized Cost    Fair Value

Due in one year or less

   $ -    $ -

Due after one year through five years

     1      1

Due after five years through ten years

     1      1

Due after ten years through fifteen years

     -      -

Due after fifteen years

     1,100      949

Mortgage-backed

     102      102

Asset-backed

     900      900
             

Total held-to-maturity investments

   $ 2,104    $             1,953
             

Included in the preceding tables are investments that have been insured by MBIA Corp. and National (“MBIA-Insured Investments”). As of June 30, 2009, MBIA-Insured Investments at fair value represented $286 million or 5% of MBIA Corp.’s total portfolio. Without giving effect to the MBIA guarantee of the MBIA-Insured Investments, the underlying ratings (those given to an investment without the benefit of MBIA Corp.’s guarantee) of the MBIA-Insured Investments as of June 30, 2009 are reflected in the following table. Amounts represent the fair value of such investments including the benefit of MBIA Corp./National guarantee. The ratings in the following table are the lower underlying rating assigned by S&P or Moody’s when an underlying rating exists from either rating agency, or when an external underlying rating is not available, the underlying rating is based on MBIA Corp./National’s best estimate of the rating of such investment.

In millions

Underlying Ratings Scale

   Fair Value

Aaa

   $ 6

Aa

     -

A

     22

Baa

     62

Below investment grade

     196
      

Total

   $             286
      

The following tables present the gross unrealized losses included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) as of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 related to available-for-sale fixed-maturity and other investments. The tables segregate investments that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for less than twelve months from those that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for twelve months or longer.

 

34


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

     June 30, 2009  
     Less than 12 Months     12 Months or Longer     Total  

In millions

   Fair Value    Unrealized
Losses
    Fair Value    Unrealized
Losses
    Fair Value    Unrealized
Losses
 

Fixed-maturity investments:

               

Taxable bonds:

               

U.S. Treasury and government agency

   $ 21    $ -      $ -    $ (1   $ 21    $        (1

Foreign governments

     5      -        10      (1     15    (1

Corporate obligations

     105      (32     119      (20     224    (52

Mortgage-backed securities

               

Residential mortgage-backed non-agency

     190      (82     18      (4     208    (86

Commercial mortgage-backed

     2      (1     6      (3     8    (4

Asset-backed securities

               

Collateralized debt obligations

     201      (173     -      -        201    (173

Other asset-backed

     25      (2     8      (1     33    (3
                                           

Total

     549      (290     161      (30     710    (320

State and municipal bonds

               

Tax exempt bonds

     227      (2     4      -        231    (2

Taxable bonds

     25      (1     -      -        25    (1
                                           

Total state and municipal bonds

     252      (3     4      -        256    (3
                                           

Total

   $ 801    $ (293   $ 165    $ (30   $ 966    $    (323
                                           

 

35


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

     December 31, 2008  
     Less than 12 Months     12 Months or Longer     Total  

In millions

   Fair Value    Unrealized
Losses
    Fair Value    Unrealized
Losses
    Fair Value    Unrealized
Losses
 

Fixed-maturity investments:

               

Taxable bonds:

               

U.S. Treasury and government agency

   $ 5    $ -      $ -    $ -      $ 5    $ -   

Foreign governments

     85      (10     1      -        86      (10

Corporate obligations

     500      (24     160      (28     660      (52

Mortgage-backed securities

               

Residential mortgage-backed agency

     54      -        101      (1     155      (1

Residential mortgage-backed non-agency

     23      (5     19      (4     42      (9

Commercial mortgage-backed

     9      -        7      (4     16      (4

Asset-backed securities

               

Other asset-backed

     18      (4     8      (2     26      (6
                                             

Total

     694      (43     296      (39     990      (82

State and municipal bonds

               

Tax exempt bonds

     2,034      (225     171      (8     2,205      (233

Taxable bonds

     46      (5     -      -        46      (5
                                             

Total state and municipal bonds

     2,080      (230     171      (8     2,251      (238
                                             

Total fixed-maturity investments

     2,774      (273     467      (47     3,241      (320
                                             

Other investments

     90      (4     -      -        90      (4
                                             

Total

   $ 2,864    $ (277   $ 467    $ (47   $ 3,331    $ (324
                                             

The following table present the gross unrealized losses of held-to-maturity investments as of June 30, 2009. There were no gross unrealized gains or losses for held-to-maturity investments as of December 31, 2008. Held-to-maturity investments are reported at amortized cost on MBIA Corp.’s balance sheet. The table segregates investments that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for less than twelve months from those that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for twelve months or longer.

 

     June 30, 2009  
     Less than 12 Months     12 Months or Longer    Total  

In millions

   Fair Value    Unrealized
Losses
    Fair Value    Unrealized
Losses
   Fair Value    Unrealized
Losses
 

Corporate obligations

   $ 949    $ (151   $         -    $         -    $ 949    $ (151
                                            

As of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, MBIA Corp.’s available-for-sale fixed-maturity, other investment and held-to-maturity portfolios’ gross unrealized losses totaled $474 million and $324 million, respectively. The weighted average contractual maturity of securities in an unrealized loss position as of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 was 24 years and 31 years, respectively. As of June 30, 2009, there were 56 securities that were in an unrealized loss position for a continuous twelve-month period or longer with aggregate unrealized losses of $30 million. Within the 56 securities, the book value of 50 securities exceeded market value by more than 5%. As of December 31, 2008, there were 121 securities that were in an unrealized loss position for a continuous twelve-month period or longer with aggregate unrealized losses of $47 million. Within the 121 securities, the book value of 80 securities exceeded market value by more than 5%.

 

36


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

MBIA Corp. has evaluated whether the unrealized losses in its investment portfolios were other than temporary considering the circumstances that gave rise to the unrealized losses, and whether MBIA Corp. has the intent to sell the securities or more likely than not will be required to sell the securities before its anticipated recovery. Based on its evaluation, MBIA Corp. realized other-than-temporary impairment of $6 million on a taxable fixed-maturity security for the three months ended June 30, 2009. For the six months ended June 30, 2009, MBIA Corp. realized other-than-temporary impairments of $40 million. MBIA Corp. determined that the unrealized losses on the remaining securities were temporary in nature because its impairment analysis, including projected future cash flows, indicated that MBIA Corp. would be able to recover the amortized cost of impaired assets. MBIA Corp. also concluded that it does not have the intent to sell these securities and it is more likely than not that it will not have to sell these securities before recovery of their cost basis. In making this conclusion, MBIA Corp. examined the cash flow projections for its investment portfolios, the potential sources and uses of cash in its businesses, and the cash resources availability to its business other than sales of securities. It also considered the existence of any risk management or other plans as of June 30, 2009 that would require the sale of impaired securities. On a quarterly basis, MBIA Corp. will reevaluate the unrealized losses in its investment portfolios and determine whether an impairment loss should be realized in current earnings. Refer to “Note 7: Investment Income and Gains and Losses” for information on realized losses due to other-than-temporary impairments. Additionally, refer to “Note 2: Significant Accounting Policies” for a description of the process used by MBIA Corp. to determine other-than-temporary impairments.

Note 7: Investment Income and Gains and Losses

The following table includes MBIA Corp.’s total investment income:

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,     Six Months Ended June 30,  

In millions

           2009                     2008                     2009                     2008          

Fixed-maturity

   $ 43      $ 131      $ 108      $ 259   

Held-to-maturity

     23        11        43        29   

Short-term investments

     3        8        6        17   

Other investments

     16        1        37        2   
                                

Gross investment income

     85        151        194        307   

Investment expenses

     1        3        4        7   
                                

Net investment income

     84        148        190        300   

Fixed-maturity

        

Gains

     13        28        24        49   

Losses

     (9     (8     (47     (11
                                

Net

     4        20        (23     38   

Other investments

        

Gains

     -        1        2        1   

Losses

     (2     (0     (3     (0
                                

Net

     (2     1        (1     1   

Other

        

Gains

     -        2        1        3   

Losses

     (8     -        (9     -   
                                

Net

     (8     2        (8     3   

Total net realized gains (losses)(1)

     (6     23        (32     42   
                                

Total investment income

   $ 78      $ 171      $ 158      $ 342   
                                

 

(1) - Includes losses from other-than-temporary impairments.

 

37


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Net realized gains (losses) from fixed-maturity investments are generated as a result of the ongoing management of all of MBIA Corp.’s investment portfolios in 2009 and 2008. For the six months ended June 30, 2009, realized losses from fixed-maturity investments of $47 million were primarily related to other-than-temporary impairments of MBIA Corp.’s VIEs.

As discussed in “Note 2: Significant Accounting Policies,” a portion of certain other-than-temporary impairment losses on fixed maturity securities are recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). The following table sets forth the amount of credit loss impairments on fixed maturity securities held by MBIA Corp. as of the dates indicated, for which a portion of the other-than-temporary impairment losses were recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), and the corresponding changes in such amounts.

 

Credit losses recognized in earnings on fixed maturity securities held by MBIA Corp. for which a

portion of the other-than-temporary impairment loss was recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

   (In millions)

Balance, December 31, 2008

   $ -

Credit losses remaining in retained earnings related to adoption of FSP FAS 115-2 and FAS 124-2

     -

Credit loss impairments previously recognized on securities which matured, paid down, prepared or were sold during the period

     -

Credit loss impairments previously recognized on securities impaired to fair value during the period

     -

Credit loss impairment recognized in the current period on securities not previously impaired

     6

Additional credit loss impairments recognized in the current period on securities previously impaired

     -

Increase due to the passage of time on previously recorded credit losses

     -

Accretion of credit loss impairments previously recognized due to an increase in cash flow expected to be collected

     -
      

Balance, June 30, 2009

   $ 6
      

For ABSs (e.g., RMBSs and CDOs), MBIA Corp. estimated expected future cash flows of the security by estimating the expected future cash flows of the underlying collateral and applying those collateral cash flows, together with any credit enhancements such as subordination interests owned by third parties, to the security. The expected future cash flows of the underlying collateral are determined using the remaining contractual cash flows adjusted for future expected credit losses (which considers current delinquencies and nonperforming assets, future expected default rates and collateral value by vintage and geographic region) and prepayments. The expected cash flows of the security are then discounted at the interest rate used to recognize interest income on the security to arrive at a present value amount. The following table presents a summary of the significant inputs considered in determining the measurement of the credit loss component recognized in earnings for each significant class of asset-backed securities as of June 30, 2009.

 

38


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Asset-backed Securities

Expected remaining life of loan losses(1):

  

Range(2)

   12.21% to 56.81%

Weighted average(3)

   25.10%

Current subordination levels(4):

  

Range(2)

   0.00% to 43.70%

Weighted average(3)

   8.86%

Prepayment speed (annual CPR)(5):

  

Range(2)

   3.00% to 15.00%

Weighted average(3)

   13.50%

 

(1) -     Represents future expected credit losses on impaired assets expressed as a percentage of total current outstanding loan balance.

(2) -     Represents the range of inputs/assumptions based upon the individual securities within each category.

(3) -     Calculated by weighting the relevant input/assumption for each individual security by current outstanding amortized cost basis of the security.

(4) -     Represents current level of credit protection (subordination) for the securities, expressed as a percentage of total current underlying loan balance.

(5) -     Values represent high and low points of lifetime vectors of constant prepayment rates.

Net unrealized gains (losses), including related deferred income taxes, reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) within shareholders’ equity consisted of:

 

39


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

In millions

   June 30, 2009     December 31, 2008  

Fixed-maturity:

    

Gains

   $                     70      $                     164   

Losses

     (323     (320

Foreign exchange

     (77     (144
                

Net

     (330     (300

Other investments:

    

Gains

     -        -   

Losses

     -        (4
                

Net

     -        (4
                

Total

     (330     (304

Deferred income taxes provision (benefit)

     (12     (64
                

Unrealized gains (losses), net

   $ (318   $ (240
                

The change in net unrealized gains (losses) consisted of:

 

In millions

  June 30, 2009     December 31, 2008  

Fixed-maturity

  $                     (30   $                     (535

Other investments

    4        (22
               

Total

    (26     (557

Deferred income tax charged (credited)

    52        (155
               

Change in unrealized gains (losses), net

  $ (78   $ (402
               

Note 8: Derivative Instruments

MBIA Corp. has entered into derivative transactions as an additional form of financial guarantee and for purposes of hedging risks associated with existing assets and liabilities and forecasted transactions. MBIA Corp. accounts for derivative transactions in accordance with SFAS 133, as amended, which requires that all such transactions be recorded on MBIA Corp.’s balance sheet at fair value. Fair value of derivative instruments is defined as the price that would be received to sell a derivative asset or paid to transfer a derivative liability (an exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.

Changes in the fair value of derivatives, excluding insured derivatives, are recorded each period in current earnings within “Net gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange” or in shareholders’ equity within “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss),” depending on whether the derivative is designated as a hedge, and if so designated, the type of hedge. Changes in the fair value of insured derivatives are recorded in “Net change in fair value of insured derivatives.” The net change in the fair value of MBIA Corp.’s insured derivatives has two primary components; (i) realized gains (losses) and other settlements on insured derivatives and (ii) unrealized gains (losses) on insured derivatives. “Realized gains (losses) and other settlements on insured derivatives” include (i) net premiums received and receivable on written CDS contracts, (ii) net premiums paid and payable to reinsurers in respect of CDS contracts, (iii) net amounts received or paid on reinsurance commutations, (iv) losses paid and payable to CDS contract counterparties due to the occurrence of a credit event or settlement agreement, (v) losses recovered and recoverable on purchased CDS contracts due to the occurrence of a credit event or settlement agreement and (vi) fees relating to CDS contracts. The “Unrealized gains (losses) on insured derivatives” include all other changes in fair value of the derivative contracts.

MBIA Corp. has entered into derivative transactions that it viewed as an extension of its core financial guarantee business but which do not qualify for the financial guarantee scope exception under SFAS 133 and, therefore, must be recorded at fair value in MBIA Corp.’s balance sheet. MBIA Corp. has insured derivatives primarily consisting of structured pools of CDSs that MBIA Corp. intends to hold for the entire term of the contract absent a negotiated settlement with the counterparty. MBIA Corp. has also provided guarantees on the value of certain structured closed-end funds, which meet the definition of a derivative under SFAS 133. MBIA Corp. reduces risks embedded in its insured portfolio through the use of reinsurance and by entering into derivative transactions. This includes cessions of insured derivatives under reinsurance agreements and capital markets transactions in which MBIA Corp. economically hedges a portion of the credit and market risk associated with its insured credit derivative portfolio. Such arrangements are also accounted for as derivatives under SFAS 133 and recorded in MBIA Corp.’s financial statements at fair value.

 

40


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Credit Derivatives Sold

The following table presents information about credit derivatives sold (insured) by MBIA Corp. that were outstanding as of June 30, 2009. Credit ratings represent the lower of underlying ratings currently assigned by Moody’s, S&P, or MBIA Corp.

 

In millions    Weighted
Average
Remaining
Expected
Maturity
   Notional Value  

Credit Derivatives Sold

      AAA     AA     A     BBB     Below BBB     Total
Notional
   Fair Value
(Asset)
Liability
 

Credit default swaps

   5.7 Years    $ 47,321      $ 23,395      $ 35,067      $ 6,026      $ 21,614      $ 133,423    $ (4,083

Insured swaps

   9.9 Years      -        394        329        3,340        1,312        5,375      (4

Credit linked notes

   29.1 Years      1        -        -        -        -        1      -   

All others

   5.9 Years      -        159        49        -        36        244      (17
                                                          

Total Notional

      $ 47,322      $ 23,948      $ 35,445      $ 9,366      $ 22,962      $ 139,043   
                                                    

Total Fair Value

      $ (432   $ (504   $ (890   $ (285   $ (1,993      $ (4,104
                                                      

The following table presents information about credit derivatives sold (insured) by MBIA Corp. that were outstanding as of December 31, 2008. Credit ratings represent the lower of underlying ratings currently assigned by Moody’s, S&P or MBIA.

 

In millions    Weighted
Average
Remaining
Expected
Maturity
   Notional Value  

Credit Derivatives Sold

      AAA     AA     A    BBB     Below BBB     Total
Notional
   Fair Value
(Asset)
Liability
 

Credit default swaps

   5.8 Years    $ 122,213      $ 5,176      $ 120    $ 1,447      $ 16,077      $ 145,033    $ (6,175

Insured swaps

   16.1 Years      -        1,605        5,720      8,419        1,435        17,179      (5

Total return swaps

   1.7 Years      -        -        200      -        104        304      -   

Credit linked notes

   30.3 Years      -        -        1      -        -        1      -   

All others

   9.4 Years      195        -        288      -        -        483      (14
                                                         

Total Notional

      $ 122,408      $ 6,781      $ 6,329    $ 9,866      $ 17,616      $ 163,000   
                                                   

Total Fair Value

      $ (3,450   $ (481   $ -    $ (37   $ (2,226      $ (6,194
                                                     

Referenced credit ratings assigned by MBIA Corp. to insured credit derivatives are derived by MBIA Corp.’s surveillance group in conjunction with representatives from its new business and risk divisions. In assigning an internal rating, current status reports from issuers and trustees, as well as publicly available transaction-specific information, are reviewed. Also, where appropriate, cash flow analyses and collateral valuations are considered. The maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) on CDSs are estimated as the notional value plus any additional debt service costs, such as interest or other amounts owing on CDSs. Refer to “Note 12: Net Insurance in Force” for further information about MBIA Corp.’s sold credit derivatives including the maximum potential undiscounted payments, recourse provisions and collateral arrangements. The maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) on insured swaps and credit linked notes sold are estimated as the notional value of such contracts.

Financial Statement Impact

As of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, MBIA Corp. reported derivative assets of $696 million and $747 million, respectively, and derivative liabilities of $4.1 billion and $6.2 billion, respectively, which are shown separately on the consolidated balance sheets. In accordance with SFAS 161 the following table presents the amount of derivative assets and liabilities by instrument as of June 30, 2009:

 

41


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

In millions                           

Derivatives Not Designated as

Hedging Instruments under
SFAS 133

   Notional
Amount
Outstanding
   Balance Sheet
Location
   Fair Value    Balance Sheet
Location
   Fair Value  

Credit default swaps - Insured derivatives

   $ 154,933    Derivative assets    $ 690    Derivative liabilities    $ (4,106

Insured swaps

     5,375    Derivative assets      6    Derivative liabilities      (9

Credit linked notes

     1    Derivative assets      -    Derivative liabilities      -   

All other

     244    Derivative assets      -    Derivative liabilities      (18
                            

Total Derivatives

   $ 160,553       $ 696       $ (4,133
                            

The following tables show the effect of derivative instruments on the consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended June 30, 2009:

 

In millions          

Derivatives Not Designated as
Hedging Instruments under
SFAS 133

  

Location of Gain (Loss)

Recognized in Income on
Derivative

   Net Gain (Loss)
Recognized in
Income

Credit default swaps - Insured derivatives

   Unrealized gains (losses) on insured derivatives    $ 420

Insured swaps

   Realized gains (losses) and other settlements on insured derivatives      32

All other

   Unrealized gains (losses) on insured derivatives      4
         

Total

      $ 456
         

The following tables show the effect of derivative instruments on the consolidated statement of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2009:

 

In millions            

Derivatives Not Designated as
Hedging Instruments under
SFAS 133

  

Location of Gain (Loss)

Recognized in Income on
Derivative

   Net Gain (Loss)
Recognized in
Income
 

Credit default swaps - Insured derivatives

   Unrealized gains (losses) on insured derivatives    $ 2,035   

Insured swaps

   Unrealized gains (losses) on insured derivatives      1   

Insured swaps

   Realized gains (losses) and other settlements on insured derivatives      64   

All other

   Unrealized gains (losses) on insured derivatives      (3
           

Total

      $ 2,097   
           

 

42


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Note 9: Variable Interest Entities

MBIA Corp. provides credit enhancement services to issuers of obligations that may involve issuer-sponsored special purpose entities (“SPEs”). An SPE may be considered a VIE as defined by FIN 46(R), “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities–an interpretation of ARB No. 51,” to the extent the SPE’s total equity at risk is not sufficient to permit the SPE to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support or if its equity investors lack any one of the characteristics of a controlling financial interest including (i) the ability to make significant decisions through voting rights, (ii) the right to receive the expected residual returns of the entity, or (iii) the obligation to absorb the expected losses of the entity. The holder of a variable interest that will absorb the majority of the expected losses of the VIE, receive the majority of the expected returns of the VIE, or both, is required to consolidate the VIE. The variable interest holder required to consolidate a VIE is considered to be the primary beneficiary under FIN 46(R). A variable interest holder determines whether it is the primary beneficiary of the VIE at initial recognition of its variable interest in the VIE and reconsiders its determination if certain events occur in a subsequent reporting period.

MBIA Corp. evaluates issuer-sponsored SPEs to determine if the entity is a VIE. For all entities determined to be VIEs, at inception and when reconsideration events occur, MBIA Corp. evaluates whether its guarantee to provide credit protection on obligations issued by VIEs will absorb the majority of the expected losses of the VIE.

MBIA Corp. generally makes this determination based on a qualitative assessment of the design and purpose of the VIE, the capital structure and other variable interests that will absorb expected losses. If MBIA Corp. cannot make the determination based on a qualitative analysis, a quantitative analysis is used. MBIA Corp. generally provided credit protection on the most senior obligations issued by VIEs, and at inception of the contract, its exposure generally had more subordination than necessary to achieve triple-A credit ratings from credit rating agencies. MBIA Corp. generally does not absorb the majority of the expected losses and is not the primary beneficiary as the result of its guarantees of insured obligations issued by VIEs. MBIA Corp. generally considers its guarantee of principal and interest payments of insured obligations, given nonperformance by a nonconsolidated VIE, to be a significant variable interest.

Consolidated VIEs

As of June 30, 2009, consolidated VIE assets and liabilities were $3.0 billion and $6.7 billion, respectively, based on the consolidation of eight VIEs. As of December 31, 2008, consolidated VIE assets and liabilities were $2.3 billion and $8.0 billion, respectively, based on the consolidation of six VIEs. Included in consolidated VIEs as of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 is an entity sponsored and formed by MBIA Corp., LaCrosse Financial Products, LLC (“LaCrosse”), designed to provide credit protection to counterparties in the form of credit derivative instruments. MBIA Corp. provides credit support and issues financial guarantee insurance policies that insure all LaCrosse credit protection obligations. LaCrosse lacks sufficient equity to finance its activities and is deemed a VIE. As primary beneficiary, MBIA Corp. consolidates LaCrosse. In the second quarter of 2009, MBIA Corp. formed an entity to invest in fixed income securities and financial instruments for income and capital appreciation. The entity’s equity at risk does not meet all the conditions of a controlling financial interest and is deemed a VIE. MBIA Corp. holds the majority of the equity of the VIE and is considered the primary beneficiary. In the second quarter of 2009, MBIA Corp. initially consolidated a VIE as the primary beneficiary resulting from a financial guarantee insurance policy that provides credit protection on insured obligations issued by the entity. The maturity dates of the investments held and insured obligations issued by this VIE are in May 2010. In the six months ended June 30, 2009, MBIA Corp. acquired additional variable interests in one consolidated VIE which has outstanding obligations insured by MBIA Corp.

MBIA Corp. determined that it is the primary beneficiary of the consolidated VIEs based on its assessment of potential exposure to expected losses from insured obligations issued by the VIEs and from holding any additional variable interests issued by the VIEs. Creditors of issuer-sponsored VIEs do not have recourse to the general assets of MBIA Corp. In the event of nonpayment of an insured obligation issued by a consolidated VIE, MBIA Corp. is obligated to pay principal and interest, when due, on the respective insured obligation only. MBIA Corp.’s exposure to consolidated VIEs is limited to the credit protection provided on insured obligations and the additional variable interests acquired.

Nonconsolidated VIEs

The following tables present the total assets of nonconsolidated VIEs in which MBIA Corp. holds a significant variable interest as of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008. The tables also present MBIA Corp.’s maximum exposure to loss in comparison to the carrying value of liabilities resulting from financial guarantees and insured CDSs and loss and loss adjustment expense reserves as of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008. MBIA Corp. has aggregated nonconsolidated VIEs based on the underlying credit exposure of the insured obligation. Refer to “Note 8: Derivative Instruments” for information about MBIA Corp.’s valuation of insured derivatives. Additionally, as the majority of MBIA Corp.’s loss and LAE reserves relate to guarantees of VIEs, refer to “Note 10: Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves” for information about MBIA Corp.’s loss and LAE activity.

 

43


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

     June 30, 2009
               Carrying Value of Liabilities

In millions

   VIE Assets    Maximum
Exposure to
Loss
   Unearned
Premium
Revenue
   Derivative
Liabilities
   Loss and Loss
Adjustment

Expense
Reserves

Insurance:

              

Global Structured Finance:

              

Collateralized debt obligations

   $ 61,706    $ 55,983    $ 110    $ 1,941    $ 40

Mortgage-backed residential

     82,966      29,589      147      3      973

Mortgage-backed commercial

     1,886      1,543      8      -      -

Consumer asset-backed

     18,968      11,238      49      -      22

Corporate asset-backed

     59,052      32,763      525      9      -
                                  

Total Global Structured Finance

   $ 224,578    $ 131,116    $ 839    $ 1,953    $ 1,035

Global Public Finance

     28,722      10,993      161      -      -
                                  

Total Insurance

   $     253,300    $ 142,109    $ 1,000    $ 1,953    $ 1,035
                                  
     December 31, 2008
               Carrying Value of Liabilities

In millions

   VIE Assets    Maximum
Exposure to
Loss
   Unearned
Premium
Revenue
   Derivative
Liabilities
   Loss and Loss
Adjustment

Expense
Reserves

Insurance:

              

Global Structured Finance:

              

Collateralized debt obligations

   $ 70,778    $ 51,198    $ 11    $ 2,567    $ 25

Mortgage-backed residential

     94,574      29,677      4      1      1,068

Mortgage-backed commercial

     2,196      1,660      -      -      -

Consumer asset-backed

     21,449      12,832      1      -      22

Corporate asset-backed

     68,101      38,498      43      4      -
                                  

Total Global Structured Finance

   $ 257,098    $ 133,865    $ 59    $ 2,572    $ 1,115

Global Public Finance

     25,561      9,621      85      -      -
                                  

Total Insurance

   $     282,659    $     143,486    $ 144    $ 2,572    $ 1,115
                                  

The maximum exposure to losses as a result of MBIA Corp.’s variable interest in the VIE is represented by net insurance in force. Net insurance in force is the maximum future payments of principal and interest, net of cessions to reinsurers, which may be required under commitments to make payments on insured obligations issued by nonconsolidated VIEs, assuming a full credit event occurs. The maximum exposure to losses presented in the preceding table is included in and not incremental to the net insurance in force presented in Note 12, “Net Insurance in Force.” MBIA Corp. adopted SFAS 163, effective and applied prospectively beginning January 1, 2009, which requires unearned premium revenue to be recognized and measured based on the present value, using the risk-free discount rate, of premiums due or expected to be collected in installments. Therefore, “Unearned Premium Revenue” presented under “Carrying Value of Liabilities” in the preceding nonconsolidated VIEs tables as of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 are based on different accounting estimates due to the change in accounting principle required by SFAS 163.

Balance Sheet Impact of Consolidated VIEs

The following table presents the carrying amounts and classification of assets and liabilities of consolidated VIEs as of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008:

 

44


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

In millions

               June 30, 2009                    December 31, 2008    

Assets:

     

Investments:

     

Fixed-maturity securities held as available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost $581 and $632)

   $ 338    $ 632

Investments held-to-maturity, at amortized cost

     1,188      1,215

Short-term investments held-to-maturity, at amortized cost

     914      31

Other investments

     117      -

Accrued investment income

     1      2

Other assets

     470      423
             

Total assets

   $                         3,028    $                     2,303
             

Liabilities:

     

Variable interest entity notes

     2,637      1,792

Derivative liabilities

     4,101      6,189
             

Total liabilities

   $ 6,738    $ 7,981
             

Note 10: Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves

A summary of MBIA Corp.’s case basis reserve activity is presented in the following table:

 

In millions

               2Q 2009                             1Q 2009              

Gross loss and LAE reserve beginning balance

   $ 1,626      $ 1,558   

Less: reinsurance recoverable

     308        57   

Less: SFAS 163 transition adjustment

     -        179   
                

Net beginning balance

     1,318        1,322   
                

Incurred related to:

    

Current year

     32        (180

Prior years

     (767     631   
                

Total incurred

     (735     451   
                

Net paid (recovered) related to:

    

Current year

     (21     (4

Prior years

     (616     (608
                

Total net paid

     (637     (612
                

Expected recoveries on paid losses

     1,086        157   

Net ending balance

     1,032        1,318   

Plus: reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses

     229        308   
                

Gross loss and LAE reserve ending balance

   $                       1,261      $                   1,626   
                

 

45


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

During the first six months of 2009, MBIA Corp. recognized a $99 million benefit of losses and loss adjustment expenses due to the impact of recording $1.3 billion of estimated recoveries principally in connection with ineligible mortgages in certain insured second-lien RMBS securitizations that are subject to a contractual obligation by the sellers/servicers to repurchase or replace the ineligible mortgage loans. These estimated recoveries were mostly offset by additional losses of $1.2 billion largely related to our second-lien RMBS exposure. MBIA Corp. had a receivable for insurance loss recoveries of $1.7 billion as of June 30, 2009 and $459 million as of December 31, 2008, respectively. Amounts due to reinsurers related to estimated recoveries totaled $63 million as of June 30, 2009, and $13 million as of December 31, 2008, and are included in “Other liabilities” on MBIA Corp.’s consolidated balance sheets.

In the second quarter of 2009, MBIA Corp. revised expected net cash inflows in its loss reserve calculations based on an increasing likelihood of potential recoveries related to ineligible mortgage loans in certain insured second-lien residential mortgage loan securitizations that are subject to a contractual obligation by the sellers/servicers to repurchase or replace ineligible mortgage loans. MBIA Corp.’s updated recovery outlook was principally based on the following factors:

 

  1. The strength of MBIA Corp.’s existing contract claims related to ineligible loan substitution/repurchase obligations;

 

  2. the favorable outcome for MBIA Corp. on Defendants’ motion to dismiss in the action captioned, MBIA v. Countrywide Home Loans, Inc., et al, Index No. 08-602825 (N.Y. Sup. Ct.) where the court allowed MBIA Corp.’s fraud claims against the Countrywide defendants to proceed;

 

  3. the improvement in the financial strength of issuers due to mergers and acquisitions and/or government assistance, which will facilitate their ability to comply with required loan repurchase/substitution obligations. MBIA Corp. is not aware of any provisions that explicitly preclude or limit the successors’ obligations to honor the obligations of the original sponsor. As a result, MBIA Corp. did not make any significant adjustments to its estimated recoveries with respect to the credit risk of these sponsors (or their successors); and

 

  4. evidence of loan repurchase/substitution compliance by issuers for put-back requests made by other harmed parties consistent with MBIA Corp.’s assertions.

Beginning in the first quarter of 2008, MBIA Corp. engaged loan level forensic review consultants to re-underwrite/review a sample of the mortgage loan files underlying MBIA Corp.’s HELOC and CES insured transactions. Certain HELOC and CES transactions that exhibited exceptionally poor performance were chosen for a re-underwriting review. Factors MBIA Corp. believes to be indicative of this poor performance include (i) a material increase in early and late stage delinquencies; (ii) material increases in charged-off loans; (iii) significant decreases in credit enhancement; and (iv) policy payments. MBIA Corp.’s forensic loan review determined that there were significant breaches of mortgage loan representations and material deviations from underwriting guidelines. Accordingly, MBIA Corp. has determined that thousands of loans were in fact contractually ineligible for inclusion in the securitized trusts insured by MBIA Corp. In turn, MBIA Corp. has submitted thousands of ineligible loans for repurchase/substitution to the sponsors or sellers/servicers. The unsatisfactory resolution of these contractual matters in addition to the fraudulent underwriting practices prevalent within certain issuers has led to MBIA Corp. engaging in litigation with these issuers seeking the sellers/servicers to repurchase or replace ineligible mortgage loans and specifically perform under its contractual obligation and damages for both breaches of contractual obligations and fraud. MBIA Corp.’s forensic examination of loan repurchase/substitution requirements for various issuers remains ongoing.

In the second quarter of 2009, MBIA Corp. recognized estimated recoveries of $1.1 billion related to reviewed transactions. Additionally, the estimated recoveries are transaction specific and based upon contractual breaches for loans which have been deemed ineligible and either put back to the originators or sellers/servicers or where analysis has been completed and put-back notices are pending. These estimated recoveries rely upon identified breaches of representations and warranties in specific transactions that MBIA Corp. has already discovered as a result of actual loan file examinations for 23,765 defaulted mortgage loans, which represent approximately 27% of the total number of delinquent or defaulted mortgage loans out of a total aggregate 496,917 loans in 24 insured second-lien mortgage loan securitizations. The aggregate loan population includes current, delinquent and charged-off loans. Estimated recoveries for these 24 transactions of $1.1 billion is based on only those loans that were examined which had substantiated breaches, and does not include any extrapolation of results from the actual loan file examinations to the remaining mortgages in the loan pool. Expected cash inflows from potential recoveries are forecasted to be recovered in 2012 for all transactions and discounted using the aforementioned risk-free rate of 1.625%. MBIA Corp. considered all relevant facts and circumstances, including the factors described above, in developing its assumptions on expected cash inflows, probability of potential recoveries and recovery period. The estimated amount and likelihood of potential recoveries are expected to be revised and supplemented as facts and circumstances change and relevant information is available, including additional information on the mortgage loan pools. MBIA Corp. has utilized the results of the above described loan file examinations to make demands for loan repurchases from originators and services or their successors and, in certain instances, as a part of the basis for litigation filings.

MBIA Corp. will continue to assess the level of expected recoveries as it completes additional forensic reviews on additional loans and progress through the litigation proceedings that are ongoing at this time. As a result of additional loan reviews and the progression of litigation proceedings, MBIA Corp.’s estimate of recoveries could change materially in the future. However, the amount of such additional recoveries cannot be estimated at this time.

 

MBIA Corp.’s Insured Portfolio Management Division (“IPM”) monitors MBIA Corp.’s outstanding insured obligations with the objective of minimizing losses. IPM meets this objective by identifying issuers that, because of deterioration in credit quality or changes in the economic, regulatory or political environment, are at a heightened risk of defaulting on debt service of obligations insured by MBIA Corp. In such cases, IPM works with the issuer, trustee, bond counsel, servicer, underwriter and other interested parties in an attempt to alleviate or remedy the problem and avoid defaults on debt service payments.

Once an obligation is insured, MBIA Corp. typically requires the issuer, servicer (if applicable) and the trustee to furnish periodic financial and asset related information, including audited financial statements, to IPM for review. IPM also monitors publicly available information related to insured obligations. Potential problems uncovered through this review, such as poor financial results, low fund balances, covenant or trigger violations and trustee or servicer problems or other events that could have an adverse impact on the insured obligation, could result in an immediate surveillance review and an evaluation of possible remedial actions. IPM also monitors and evaluates the impact on issuers of general economic conditions, current and proposed legislation and regulations, as well as state and municipal finances and budget developments.

Insured obligations are monitored periodically. The frequency and extent of such monitoring is based on the criteria and categories described below. Insured obligations that are judged to merit more frequent and extensive monitoring or remediation activities due to a deterioration in the underlying credit quality of the insured obligation or the occurrence of adverse events related to the underlying credit of the issuer are assigned to a surveillance category (“Caution List-Low,” “Caution List-Medium,” “Caution List-High,” or “Classified List”) depending on the extent of credit deterioration or the nature of the adverse events. IPM monitors insured obligations assigned to a surveillance category more frequently and, if needed, develops a remediation plan to address any credit deterioration. MBIA Corp. does not establish any case basis reserves for insured obligations that are assigned to “Caution List-Low,” “Caution List-Medium,” or “Caution List-High.” In the event MBIA Corp. expects to pay a claim in excess of the unearned premium revenue with respect to an insured transaction, it places the insured transaction on its “Classified List” and establishes a case basis reserve. The following provides a description of each surveillance category:

“Caution List – Low”—Includes issuers where debt service protection is adequate under current and anticipated circumstances. However, debt service protection and other measures of credit support and stability may have declined since the transaction was underwritten and the issuer is less able to withstand further adverse events. Transactions in this category generally require more frequent monitoring than transactions that do not appear within a surveillance category. IPM subjects issuers in this category to heightened scrutiny.

“Caution List – Medium”—Includes issuers where debt service protection is adequate under current and anticipated circumstances, although adverse trends have developed and are more pronounced than for “Caution List – Low.” Issuers in this category may have breached one or more covenants or triggers. These issuers are more closely monitored by IPM but generally take remedial action on their own.

“Caution List – High”—Includes issuers where more proactive remedial action is needed but where no defaults on debt service payments are expected. Issuers in this category exhibit more significant weaknesses, such as low debt service coverage, reduced or insufficient collateral protection or inadequate liquidity, which could lead to debt service defaults in the future. Issuers in this category have breached one or more covenants or triggers, have not taken conclusive remedial action, and IPM adopts a remediation plan and takes more proactive remedial actions.

 

46


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

“Classified List”—Includes all insured obligations where MBIA Corp. has paid a claim or where a claim payment is expected to exceed its unearned premium revenue. Generally, IPM is actively remediating these credits where possible, including restructurings through legal proceedings, usually with the assistance of specialist counsel and advisors.

The following table provides information about the financial guarantees and related claim liability included in each of MBIA Corp.’s surveillance categories as of June 30, 2009:

 

    Surveillance Categories  

$ in millions

  Caution List-
Low
  Caution List-
Medium
  Caution List-
High
  Classified List     Total  

Number of policies

    230     46     15     117        408   

Number of issues(1)

    35     25     12     88        160   

Remaining weighted average contract period (in years)

    12.5     11.7     7.1     5.8        8.1   

Gross insured contractual payments outstanding:

         

Principal

  $ 6,740   $ 2,222   $ 997   $ 15,316      $ 25,275   

Interest

    5,675     2,301     466     4,795        13,237   
                                 

Total

  $         12,415   $         4,523   $         1,463   $         20,111      $         38,512   
                                 

Gross claim liability

  $ -   $ -   $ -   $ 2,710      $ 2,710   

Less:

         

Gross potential recoveries

    -     -     -     3,218        3,218   

Discount, net

    -     -     -     (218     (218
                                 

Net claim liability

  $ -   $ -   $ -   $ (290   $ (290
                                 

Unearned premium revenue

  $ 165   $ 27   $ 7   $ 97      $ 296   

Claim liability reported in the consolidated balance sheet(2)

  $ -   $ -   $ -   $ 1,229      $ 1,229   

Reinsurance recoverable on claim liability(3)

  $ -   $ -   $ -   $ 218      $ 218   

Receivable for insurance loss recoveries(4)

  $ -   $ -   $ -   $ 1,713      $ 1,713   

 

(1) - An “issue” represents the aggregate of financial guarantee policies that share the same revenue source for purposes of making debt service payments.

(2) - Reported within “Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves” on MBIA Corp.’s consolidated balance sheets.

(3) - Reported within “Reinsurance recoverable on paid and unpaid losses” on MBIA Corp.’s consolidated balance sheets.

(4) - Reported within “Receivable for insurance loss recoveries” on MBIA Corp.’s consolidated balance sheets.

The gross claim liability reported in the preceding table primarily relates to expected future claim payments on insured RMBS transactions. The gross potential recoveries reported in the preceding table primarily relate to estimated recoveries resulting from ineligible mortgage loans in certain insured second-lien residential mortgage loan securitizations that are subject to a contractual obligation by the sellers/servicers to repurchase or replace the ineligible mortgage loans in addition to expected future claim payments on RMBS transactions resulting from expected excess spread generated by performing loans in such transactions.

The following table presents changes in MBIA Corp.’s loss and LAE reserve for the six months ended June 30, 2009. Changes in the loss and LAE reserve attributable to the accretion of the discount on the loss reserve, changes in discount rates, and changes in the timing and amounts of estimated payments and recoveries are recorded in “Loss and loss adjustment expenses” in MBIA Corp.’s statement of operations. LAE reserves that are expected to be settled within a one year period are not discounted. As of June 30, 2009, the weighted average risk-free rate used to discount the claim liability was 2.546%.

 

In millions

   Six months ended June 30, 2009
Net Loss
and LAE
Reserve as
of
December 31,
2008
   SFAS 163
Transition
Adjustment
    Net Loss
Payments for
Cases with
Reserves
    Net
Accretion
of Claim
Liability
Discount
   Net Changes
in Discount
Rates
    Net Changes
in Timing of
Payments
    Changes in
Amount of
Net Payments
   Net Changes in
Assumptions
   Changes in
Unearned
Premium
Revenue
    Net
Change in
LAE
Reserves
   Net Loss
and LAE
Reserve
as of
June 30,
2009
$         1,501    $     (179   $     (1,132   $         8    $         (28   $         (137   $     283    $         739    $         (37   $         14    $         1,032
                                                                              

 

47


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Remediation actions may involve, among other things, waivers or renegotiations of financial covenants or triggers, waivers of contractual provisions, the granting of consents, transfer of servicing, consideration of restructuring plans, acceleration, security or collateral enforcement, actions in bankruptcy or receivership, litigation and similar actions. The types of remedial actions pursued are based on the insured obligation’s risk type and the nature and scope of the event giving rise to the remediation. As part of any such remedial actions, MBIA Corp. seeks to improve its security position and to obtain concessions from the issuer of the insured obligation. From time to time, the issuer of an MBIA Corp.-insured obligation may, with the consent of MBIA Corp., restructure the insured obligation by extending the term, increasing or decreasing the par amount or decreasing the related interest rate, with MBIA Corp. insuring the restructured obligation.

Costs associated with remediating insured obligations assigned to MBIA Corp.’s “Caution List—Low,” “Caution-List—Medium,” “Caution List—High” and “Classified List” are recorded as LAE. LAE is recorded as part of MBIA Corp.’s provision for its loss reserves and included in “Losses and loss adjustment” on MBIA Corp.’s consolidated statements of operations. The following table provides information about the expenses and reserves net of recoveries (gross and net of reinsurance) related to remedial actions for insured obligations included in MBIA Corp.’s surveillance categories:

 

     Three months ended June 30,    Six months ended June 30,

In thousands

           2009                     2008                    2009                     2008        

Loss adjustment expense incurred, gross

   $ 61,657      $         1,652    $         87,069      $         6,108

Loss adjustment expense incurred, net

   $ 3,985      $ 1,578    $ 27,740      $ 5,781

Loss adjustment expense reserve, gross

   $ (732   $ 3,252    $ (732   $ 3,252

Reinsurance recoverable related to loss adjustment expense reserve

   $         22,126      $ 224    $ 22,126      $ 224

Note 11: Income Taxes

MBIA Corp.’s income taxes and the related effective tax rates for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 are as follows:

 

     Three months ended June 30,  

In millions

   2009     2008  

Pre-tax income (loss)

   $       1,258      $       3,742   

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

   $ 412    32.8   $ 1,323    35.3

 

     Six months ended June 30,  

In millions

   2009     2008  

Pre-tax income (loss)

   $       2,323      $       198   

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

   $ 806    34.7   $ 69    34.8

MBIA Corp.’s effective tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2009 was primarily a result of an unrealized net gain recorded on MBIA Corp.’s derivative portfolio, the tax-exempt interest from investments, and the change in the valuation allowance. For the six months ended June 30, 2009, MBIA Corp. has recorded mark-to-market net gains, which are treated as discrete items for purposes of calculating its full year effective tax rate. For the six months ended June 30, 2008, MBIA Corp.’s effective tax rate was primarily driven by unrealized net gain recorded on its derivative portfolio and the tax-exempt interest from investments.

MBIA Corp. has calculated its year-to-date effective tax rate by treating the unrealized net gains on its insured derivative portfolio as a discrete item. As such, these net gains, calculated at the statutory rate of 35%, are an adjustment to the annual effective tax rate that MBIA Corp. has estimated for all other pre-tax income. Given the inability to estimate this item for the full year of 2009, which directly affects MBIA Corp.’s ability to estimate its pre-tax gain or loss and the related effective tax rate for the full year of 2009, MBIA Corp. believes that it is appropriate to treat these unrealized net gains as a discrete item for purposes of calculating the effective tax rate for the quarter. Further changes in the fair value of MBIA Corp.’s derivative portfolio during 2009 will impact MBIA Corp.’s annual effective tax rate.

 

48


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Deferred Tax Asset, Net of Valuation Allowance

MBIA Corp. is required to establish a valuation allowance against its deferred tax asset when it is more likely than not that all or a portion of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. All evidence, both positive and negative, needs to be identified and considered in making the determination. Future realization of the existing deferred tax asset ultimately depends on the existence of sufficient taxable income of appropriate character (for example, ordinary income versus capital gains) within the carryforward period available under the tax law.

As of June 30, 2009, MBIA Corp. reported a net deferred tax asset of $423 million primarily related to unrealized losses recorded on MBIA Corp’s derivative and investment portfolios. Included in the net deferred tax asset of $423 million is a valuation allowance of $11 million. MBIA Corp. did not have a valuation allowance established as of June 30, 2008.

Unrealized Losses on Credit Derivative Contracts

Approximately $833 million of the net deferred tax asset was a result of the cumulative unrealized losses of $2.4 billion, which excludes credit impairments, primarily related to insured credit derivatives. MBIA Corp. believes that it is more likely than not that its total $833 million in deferred tax assets associated with the unrealized losses of $2.4 billion will be realized as MBIA Corp. expects the unrealized losses to substantially reverse over time, at which point the related deferred tax asset will reverse. As such, no valuation allowance with respect to this item was established. In its conclusion, MBIA Corp. considered the following evidence (both positive and negative):

 

   

Due to the long-tail nature of the financial guarantee business, it is important to note that MBIA Corp., even without regard to any new business, will have a steady stream of scheduled premium earnings with respect to the existing insured portfolio. MBIA Corp.’s announcement in February 2008 of a temporary suspension in writing new structured finance transactions and a permanent cessation with respect to insuring new CDS contracts, except in transactions related to the reduction of existing derivative exposure, would not have an impact on the expected earnings related to the existing insured portfolio. Although MBIA Corp. expects the majority of the unrealized losses to reverse at maturity, MBIA Corp. performed a taxable income projection over a 15-year period to determine whether it will have sufficient income to offset its deferred tax assets that will generate future ordinary deductions. In this analysis, MBIA Corp. concluded that premium earnings, even without regard to any new business, combined with investment income, less deductible expenses, will be sufficient to recover the net deferred tax asset of $423 million.

 

   

MBIA Corp.’s taxable income projections used to assess the recoverability of its deferred tax asset include an estimate of future loss and loss adjustment expenses equal to the present value discount of loss reserves already recognized on MBIA Corp.’s balance sheet and an estimate of loss adjustment expense which is generally insignificant. MBIA Corp. does not assume additional losses, with the exception of the accretion of its existing present value loss reserves, because MBIA Corp. establishes case basis reserves on a present value basis based on an estimate of probable losses on specifically identified credits that have defaulted or are expected to default.

 

   

While the ratings downgrades by the rating agencies have limited MBIA Corp.’s ability to write new business, the downgrades did not have a material impact on earnings from the existing insured portfolio, which MBIA Corp. believes will be sufficient to absorb losses in the event that the cumulative unrealized losses become fully impaired.

 

   

With respect to installment policies, MBIA Corp. generally does not have an automatic cancellation provision solely in connection with ratings downgrades. For purposes of projecting future taxable income, MBIA Corp. has applied a haircut to adjust for the possible cancellation of future installment premiums based on recent data. With regards to upfront policies, to the extent that the issuer chooses to terminate a policy, any unearned premium reserve with respect to that policy will be accelerated and earned (i.e. refundings).

 

   

MBIA Corp. treats the CDS contracts as insurance contracts for U.S. tax purposes. MBIA Corp. provides an insurance policy guaranteeing CDS contracts written by LaCrosse. While LaCrosse’s financial information is consolidated into MBIA Corp.’s GAAP financial statements based on the FIN 46(R) criteria, MBIA Corp. does not hold any equity interest with respect to LaCrosse. MBIA Corp.’s income derived from the CDS contracts is treated as premium income for statutory income purposes. In the event that there is a default in which MBIA Corp. is required to pay claims on such CDS contracts, MBIA Corp. believes that the losses should be characterized as an ordinary loss for tax purposes and, as such, the event or impairment will be recorded as case reserves for statutory accounting purposes in recognition of the potential claim payment. For tax purposes, MBIA Corp. follows the statutory accounting principle as the basis for computing its taxable income. Because the federal income tax treatment of CDS contracts is an unsettled area of tax law, in the event that the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) has a different view in which the losses are considered capital losses, MBIA Corp. would be required to establish a valuation allowance against substantially all of the deferred tax asset related to these losses until such time as it had sufficient capital gains to offset the losses. This valuation allowance would have a material adverse effect on MBIA Corp.’s financial condition at the time of its establishment.

 

49


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Capital Losses

MBIA Corp. had realized losses of $31 million, of which $40 million related to other-than-temporary impairments. MBIA Corp. established a valuation allowance against the entire deferred tax asset related to other-than-temporary impairments reduced by expected capital gains.

Unrealized Losses on FAS 115 Securities

As of June 30, 2009, MBIA Corp. had approximately $12 million in deferred tax assets related to unrealized losses on investments. MBIA Corp. intends to hold these investments until maturity or until such time as the value recovers. As such, MBIA Corp. expects the recovery of the value of these securities to par and the related deferred tax assets will reverse over the life of the securities.

After reviewing all of the evidence available, both positive and negative, MBIA believes that MBIA Corp. has appropriately valued the recoverability of its deferred tax assets, net of the valuation allowance, as of June 30, 2009. MBIA Corp. continues to assess the need for additional valuation allowances as additional evidence becomes available.

Ownership Change under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code

Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, imposes annual limitations on the utilization of net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards, other tax carryforwards, and certain built-in losses as defined under that Section, upon an ownership change. In general terms, an ownership change may result from transactions that increase the aggregate ownership of certain stockholders in MBIA’s stock by more than 50 percentage points over a testing period (generally three years).

As of June 30, 2009, MBIA Corp. has not experienced an ownership change under Section 382. However, had one occurred as of June 30, 2009, the ownership change, in itself, would not have had a material impact on MBIA Corp.’s financial position or results of operations. MBIA Corp. has already established a full valuation allowance against its capital loss carryforwards, and MBIA Corp. has the intent to hold securities with unrealized losses as of June 30, 2009 to maturity, or until such time as the value recovers as not to trigger realized losses subject to limitation under Section 382. Additionally, MBIA Corp. expects to have sufficient income to utilize its alternative minimum tax credit, which may be carried forward indefinitely. MBIA Corp. has no net operating loss carryforwards from 2008.

FIN 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes”

The change in the unrecognized tax benefit (“UTB”) at June 30, 2009 is as follows:

 

In thousands

      

Unrecognized tax positions as of December 31, 2008

   $             16,842   

The gross amount of the increase/(decrease) in UTB as a result of tax positions taken:

  

During prior year

     -   

During current year

     152   

The amounts of decreases in the UTB related to settlements with taxing authorities

     (11,826

The reduction to UTB as a result of the applicable statute of limitation

     -   
        

Unrecognized tax positions as of June 30, 2009

   $ 5,168   
        

As of June 30, 2009, the total amount accrued with respect to uncertain tax positions is approximately $5 million. The related interest and penalties accrued was reduced to zero due to an abatement of interest and penalties of $3 million in the French tax settlement as discussed below.

MBIA’s major tax jurisdictions include the U.S., the United Kingdom (“U.K.”) and France. MBIA and its U.S. subsidiaries file a U.S. consolidated federal income tax return and it has been examined through 2005 by the IRS. Currently, MBIA’s U.S. consolidated federal income tax return is under an examination for the 2007 tax year. Also during the first six months of 2009, the IRS completed the partnership audit in relation to an adjustment that had to be accounted for by MBIA Inc. during tax years 2004 through 2006. No material adjustment was made.

The U.K. tax authorities are currently auditing tax years 2005 through 2006, which should be resolved by the end of 2009. The French tax matters have been concluded through 2006. MBIA settled, in February 2009, an unrecognized tax benefit that was established in prior years relating to the timing for recognizing earned premium.

 

50


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

It is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly increase or decrease within the next 12 months due to the possibility of the conclusion of all the tax examinations. The range of this possible change in the amount of uncertain tax benefits cannot be estimated at this time.

Note 12: Net Insurance in Force

MBIA Corp. guarantees the payment of principal of, and interest or other amounts owing on, municipal, asset-backed, mortgage-backed and other non-municipal securities. Additionally, MBIA Corp. has insured CDSs primarily on pools of collateral, which it previously considered part of its core financial guarantee business. The pools of collateral are made up of corporate obligations, but also include commercial and residential mortgage-backed securities-related assets. MBIA Corp.’s net insurance in force represents the aggregate amount of the insured principal of, and interest or other amounts owing on insured obligations, net of cessions to reinsurers. MBIA Corp.’s ultimate exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the issuer of the insured obligation is represented by the net insurance in force in the tables that follow.

The financial guarantees issued by MBIA Corp. provide unconditional and irrevocable guarantees of the payment of the principal of, and interest or other amounts owing on, insured obligations when due. The obligations are generally not subject to acceleration, except that MBIA Corp. may have the right, at its discretion, to accelerate insured obligations upon default or otherwise. Certain guaranteed investment contracts written by MBIA Inc. and guaranteed by MBIA Corp. are terminable upon ratings downgrades, and if MBIA Inc. were to have insufficient assets to pay the termination payments, MBIA Corp. would make such payments. These amounts have been excluded in the tables that follow.

The creditworthiness of each insured obligation is evaluated prior to the issuance of insurance, and each insured obligation must comply with MBIA Corp.’s underwriting guidelines. Further, the payments to be made by the issuer on the bonds or notes may be backed by a pledge of revenues, reserve funds, letters of credit, investment contracts or collateral in the form of mortgages or other assets. The right to such funds or collateral would typically become MBIA Corp.’s upon the payment of a claim by MBIA Corp.

MBIA Corp. maintains underwriting guidelines based on those aspects of credit quality that it deems important for each category of obligation considered for insurance. For global public finance transactions these include economic and social trends, debt and financial management, adequacy of anticipated cash flow, satisfactory legal structure and other security provisions, viable tax and economic bases, adequacy of loss coverage and project feasibility. For global structured finance transactions, MBIA Corp.’s underwriting guidelines, analysis and due diligence focus on counterparty credit and operational quality. MBIA Corp. also analyzes the quality of asset pools, as well as their historical and projected performance. The strength of a structure, including legal segregation of the assets, cash flow analysis, the size and source of first loss protection, asset performance triggers and financial covenants are also reviewed. Such guidelines are subject to periodic review by a senior risk committee, which is responsible for establishing the criteria for MBIA Corp.’s underwriting standards as well as maintaining the standards in its insurance operations.

As of June 30, 2009, net insurance in force, which represents principal and interest or other amounts owing on insured obligations, net of cessions to reinsurers, had an expected maturity range of 1-47 years. The distribution of net insurance in force by geographic location, excluding $5.3 billion and $8.5 billion relating to transactions guaranteed by MBIA Corp. on behalf of various investment management services affiliated companies as of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively, is presented in the following table:

 

51


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

In billions    June 30, 2009     December 31, 2008  

Geographic Location

   Net Insurance
In Force
   % of Net
Insurance In
Force
    Net Insurance
In Force
   % of Net
Insurance In
Force
 

Delaware

   $ 1.2    0.4   $ 3.8    0.3

New York

     1.1    0.4     86.3    7.2

California

     0.6    0.2     163.6    13.7

Nebraska

     0.3    0.1     4.1    0.3

Minnesota

     0.3    0.1     11.1    0.9

Florida

     0.2    0.1     68.0    5.7

Pennsylvania

     0.1    0.0     32.9    2.7

Missouri

     0.0    0.0     10.9    0.9

Alabama

     0.0    0.0     7.4    0.6

Puerto Rico

     0.0    0.0     13.1    1.1
                          

Subtotal

     3.8    1.3     401.2    33.4

Nationally diversified

     168.7    59.4     178.5    14.9

Other states

     0.0    0.0     499.6    41.8
                          

Total United States

     172.5    60.7     1,079.3    90.1
                          

Internationally diversified

     39.3    13.8     43.9    3.6

Country specific

     72.4    25.5     75.1    6.3
                          

Total Non-United States

     111.7    39.3     119.0    9.9
                          

Total

   $         284.2            100.0   $         1,198.3            100.0
                          

 

52


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The net insurance in force by type of bond is presented in the following table:

 

In billions    June 30, 2009     December 31, 2008  

Bond Type

   Net Insurance in
Force
   % of Net
Insurance in
Force
    Net Insurance
In Force
   % of Net
Insurance in
Force
 

Global Public Finance - United States:

          

General obligation

   $ -    0.0   $ 322.2    26.8

General obligation - lease

     -    0.0     69.1    5.8

Municipal utilities

     -    0.0     162.8    13.6

Tax-backed

     -    0.0     111.9    9.3

Transportation

     -    0.0     93.0    7.8

Higher education

     -    0.0     50.5    4.2

Health care

     -    0.0     34.6    2.9

Military housing

     -    0.0     21.7    1.8

Investor-owned utilities(1)

     -    0.0     15.8    1.3

Municipal housing

     -    0.0     15.0    1.3

Student loans

     -    0.0     7.0    0.6

Other(2)

     -    0.0     4.4    0.4
                          

Total United States

     -    0.0     908.0    75.8
                          

Global Public Finance - Non-United States:

          

International utilities

     20.4    7.2     18.6    1.6

Sovereign and sub-sovereign(3)

     18.4    6.5     17.3    1.4

Transportation

     13.6    4.8     14.1    1.2

Local governments(4)

     0.4    0.1     0.9    0.1

Municipal housing

     0.2    0.1     0.2    0.0

Health care

     0.1    0.0     0.1    0.0

Higher education

     0.1    0.0     0.1    0.0
                          

Total Non-United States

     53.2    18.7     51.3    4.3
                          

Total Global Public Finance

     53.2    18.7     959.3    80.1
                          

Global Structured Finance - United States:

          

Collateralized debt obligations(5)

     104.4    36.7     98.3    8.2

Mortgage-backed residential

     28.6    10.1     28.6    2.4

Mortgage-backed commercial

     0.6    0.2     0.7    0.1

Consumer asset-backed:

          

Auto loans

     5.4    1.9     6.8    0.6

Student loans

     2.7    1.0     2.8    0.2

Manufactured housing

     2.6    0.9     2.7    0.2

Other consumer asset -backed

     0.7    0.2     0.9    0.1

Corporate asset-backed:

          

Operating assets:

          

Aircraft portfolio lease securitizations

     3.0    1.1     3.2    0.3

Rental car fleets

     2.7    0.9     3.1    0.3

Secured airline equipment securitization (EETC)

     3.0    1.0     3.1    0.3

Other operating assets

     1.1    0.4     1.6    0.1

Structured insurance securitizations

     8.7    3.1     10.0    0.8

Franchise assets

     1.3    0.5     1.5    0.1

Intellectual property

     4.0    1.4     4.1    0.3

Other corporate asset-backed

     3.6    1.3     3.9    0.3
                          

Total United States

             172.4            60.7             171.3            14.3
                          

 

53


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Global Structured Finance - Non-United States:

          

Collateralized debt obligations(5)

     38.2    13.4     40.2    3.3

Mortgage-backed residential

     3.0    1.0     8.5    0.7

Mortgage-backed commercial

     5.4    1.9     6.2    0.5

Corporate asset-backed:

          

Operating assets:

          

Aircraft portfolio lease securitizations

     1.9    0.7     2.1    0.2

Secured airline equipment securitization (EETC)

     0.4    0.1     0.4    0.0

Structured insurance securitizations

     0.1    0.0     0.1    0.0

Franchise assets

     1.4    0.5     1.2    0.1

Intellectual property

     -    0.0     0.8    0.1

Future flow

     2.1    0.8     2.9    0.2

Other corporate asset-backed

     6.1    2.2     5.3    0.5
                          

Total Non-United States

     58.6    20.6     67.7    5.6
                          

Total Global Structured Finance

     231.0    81.3     239.0    19.9
                          

Total

   $         284.2            100.0   $         1,198.3            100.0
                          

 

 

(1) - Includes investor owned utilities, industrial development and pollution control revenue bonds.

 

(2) - Includes certain non-profit enterprises and stadium related financing.

 

(3) - Includes regions, departments or their equivalent in each jurisdiction as well as sovereign owned entities that are supported by a sovereign state, region or department.

 

(4) - Includes municipal owned entities backed by sponsoring local government.

 

(5) - Includes transactions (represented by structured pools of primarily investment grade corporate credit risks or commercial real estate assets) that do not include typical collateralized debt obligation (“CDO”) structuring characteristics, such as tranched credit risk, cash flow waterfalls, or interest and over-collateralization coverage tests.

MBIA Corp. has entered into certain guarantees of derivative contracts, included in the preceding tables, which do not qualify for the financial guarantee scope exception under SFAS 133. MBIA Corp. generally guarantees the timely payment of principal and interest related to these derivatives upon the occurrence of a credit event with respect to a referenced obligation. The maximum amount of future payments that MBIA Corp. may be required to make under these guarantees is $134.4 billion. This amount is net of $24.1 billion of insured derivatives ceded under reinsurance agreements and capital market transactions in which MBIA Corp. economically hedges a portion of the credit and market risk associated with its insured derivatives. MBIA Corp.’s guarantees of derivative contracts have a legal maximum maturity range of 1-87 years. A small number of insured credit derivative contracts have long-dated maturities, which comprise the longest maturity dates of the underlying collateral. However, the expected maturities of such contracts are much shorter due to amortizations and prepayments in the underlying collateral pools. In accordance with SFAS 133, the fair values of these guarantees as of June 30, 2009 are recorded on the balance sheet as assets and liabilities, representing gross gains and losses, of $696 million and $4.1 billion, respectively. These derivative contracts are discussed further in “Note 8: Derivative Instruments.”

MBIA Corp. may hold recourse provisions with third parties in derivative transactions through both reinsurance and subrogation rights. MBIA Corp.’s reinsurance arrangements provide that should MBIA Corp. pay a claim under a guarantee of a derivative contract, then MBIA Corp. could collect amounts from any reinsurers that have reinsured the guarantee on either a proportional or non-proportional basis, depending upon the underlying reinsurance agreement. MBIA Corp. may also have recourse through subrogation rights whereby if MBIA Corp. makes a claim payment, it is entitled to any rights of the insured counterparty, including the right to any assets held as collateral.

MBIA Corp. has also issued guarantees of certain obligations issued by its investment management affiliates that are not included in the previous tables. These guarantees take the form of insurance policies issued by MBIA Corp. on behalf of the investment management services affiliates. Should one of these affiliates default on its insured obligations, MBIA Corp. will be required to pay all scheduled principal and interest amounts outstanding. As of June 30, 2009, the maximum amount of future payments that MBIA Corp. could be required to make under these guarantees is $5.3 billion. These guarantees, which have a maximum maturity range of 1-39 years, were entered into on an arm’s length basis and are fully collateralized by marketable securities. MBIA Corp. has both direct recourse provisions and subrogation rights in these transactions. If MBIA Corp. is required to make a payment under any of these affiliate guarantees, it would have the right to seek reimbursement from such affiliate and to liquidate any collateral to recover amounts paid under the guarantee.

 

54


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Note 13: Reinsurance

Ceded Exposure

On February 17, 2009, MBIA Corp. ceded all of its U.S. public finance business to National by entering into a Quota Share Reinsurance Agreement with National, effective January 1, 2009 (the “MBIA Corp. Reinsurance Agreement”), and by assigning to National pursuant to a separate assignment agreement its rights, interests and obligations with respect to the U.S. public finance business of Financial Guarantee Insurance Corporation (“FGIC”) that was reinsured by MBIA Corp. pursuant to a reinsurance agreement with FGIC.

The portfolio transferred to National by reinsurance or through the assignment of the FGIC Reinsurance Agreement consists entirely of U.S. public finance business with total net par outstanding of approximately $554 billion. The reinsurance and assignment transactions between MBIA Corp. and National, which became effective as of January 1, 2009, enable covered policyholders and certain ceding insurers to present claims for payment directly to National in accordance with the terms of the cut-through provisions of the MBIA Corp. Reinsurance Agreement and the FGIC Reinsurance Agreement. Under the terms of the cut-through provision in each of those agreements, the covered policyholders and ceding insurers are granted a third-party beneficiary right under the agreement with respect to the applicable cut-through provision only.

The reinsurance and assignment agreements between MBIA Corp. and National (including the right to present claims for payment directly to National described in the previous paragraph) can be terminated upon the mutual agreement of MBIA Corp. and National, which termination is subject to the receipt of insurance regulatory approvals. In addition, the MBIA Reinsurance Agreement may not be terminated if, after giving effect to the termination, the ratings assigned to the underlying securities or bonds would be downgraded or withdrawn. National may also assign the MBIA Reinsurance Agreement under certain circumstances to a reinsurer rated at least as highly as National, which assignment is subject to the receipt of insurance regulatory approvals. In connection with the National Transformation, MBIA Corp. commuted an existing reinsurance agreement with National pursuant to which MBIA Corp. reinsured 100% of all of the policies of MBIA Illinois. The commutation is effective as of January 1, 2009. No penalties were incurred in connection with the commutation.

Reinsurance enables MBIA Corp. to cede exposure for purposes of syndicating risk and increasing its capacity to write new business while complying with its single risk and credit guidelines. MBIA Corp. reinsures exposure to other insurance companies under various treaty and facultative reinsurance contracts, both on a proportional and non-proportional basis. In the event that any or all of the reinsurers are unable to meet their obligations, MBIA Corp. would be liable for such defaulted amounts. When a reinsurer is downgraded by one or more of the rating agencies, less capital credit is given to MBIA Corp. under rating agency models and the overall value of the reinsurance to MBIA Corp. is reduced.

MBIA Corp. generally retains the right to reassume the business ceded to reinsurers under certain circumstances, including a reinsurer’s rating downgrade below specified thresholds. MBIA Corp. will continue to evaluate its use of reinsurance during 2009, which may result in future portfolio commutations from reinsurers.

MBIA Corp. requires certain unauthorized reinsurers to maintain bank letters of credit or establish trust accounts to cover liabilities ceded to such reinsurers under reinsurance contracts. As of June 30, 2009, the total amount available under these letters of credit and trust arrangements was $698 million. MBIA Corp. remains liable on a primary basis for all reinsured risk, and although MBIA Corp. believes that its reinsurers remain capable of meeting their obligations, there can be no assurance of such in the future.

The aggregate amount of insurance in force ceded by MBIA Corp. to reinsurers under reinsurance agreements was $944.4 billion and $76.2 billion as of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. In addition, MBIA Corp. cedes to National the risk that reinsurance under the Third-Party Reinsurance Agreements is not collected for U.S. public finance exposures. The distribution of ceded insurance in force by geographic location is presented in the following table:

 

55


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

In billions    June 30, 2009     December 31, 2008  

Geographic Location

   Ceded
Insurance In
Force
   % of Ceded
Insurance In
Force
    Ceded
Insurance In
Force
   % of Ceded
Insurance In
Force
 

California

   $         162.8    17.2   $ 5.9    7.7

New York

     85.1    9.0     3.1    4.1

Florida

     67.2    7.1     1.4    1.8

Texas

     55.2    5.8     1.7    2.2

Illinois

     51.7    5.5     1.5    2.0

New Jersey

     40.6    4.3     1.6    2.1

Pennsylvania

     31.8    3.4     0.7    0.9

Washington

     30.4    3.2     0.8    1.0

Michigan

     26.9    2.8     0.6    0.8

Massachusetts

     24.5    2.6     2.1    2.8
                          

Subtotal

     576.2    60.9     19.4    25.4

Nationally diversified

     29.7    3.2     20.4    26.8

Other states

     315.7    33.4     11.5    15.1
                          

Total United States

     921.6    97.5     51.3    67.3
                          

Internationally diversified

     11.0    1.2     12.1    15.9

Country specific

     11.8    1.3     12.8    16.8
                          

Total Non-United States

     22.8    2.5     24.9    32.7
                          

Total

   $ 944.4            100.0   $         76.2            100.0
                          

The distribution of ceded insurance in force by type of bond is presented in the following table:

 

In billions    June 30, 2009     December 31, 2008  

Bond Type

   Ceded
Insurance In
Force
   % of Ceded
Insurance In
Force
    Ceded
Insurance In
Force
   % of Ceded
Insurance In
Force
 

Global Public Finance - United States:

          

General obligation

   $         317.5    33.6   $ 6.7    8.9

General obligation - lease

     68.6    7.3     2.1    2.7

Municipal utilities

     161.0    17.0     5.3    7.0

Tax-backed

     112.2    11.9     3.5    4.6

Transportation

     96.7    10.3     6.6    8.7

Higher education

     49.5    5.3     3.3    4.3

Health care

     33.5    3.6     1.1    1.4

Municipal housing

     13.7    1.4     0.8    1.0

Military housing

     22.0    2.3     0.5    0.7

Investor-owned utilities(1)

     16.1    1.7     0.5    0.7

Student loans

     6.6    0.7     0.3    0.4

Other(2)

     4.1    0.4     0.2    0.2
                          

Total United States

     901.5            95.5             30.9            40.6
                          

 

56


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Global Public Finance - Non-United States:

          

Sovereign and sub-sovereign (3)

   3.4    0.4   3.2    4.2

International utilities

   3.0    0.3   2.9    3.8

Transportation

   2.8    0.3   3.2    4.2

Local governments(4)

   0.4    0.0   0.6    0.8

Municipal housing

   0.0    0.0   0.0    0.0

Health care

   0.1    0.0   0.1    0.1

Higher education

   0.0    0.0   0.0    0.0
                      

Total Non-United States

   9.7    1.0   10.0    13.1
                      

Total Global Public Finance

           911.2        96.5           40.9        53.7
                      

Global Structured Finance - United States:

          

Collateralized debt obligations(5)

   15.3    1.6   14.4    18.9

Mortgage-backed residential

   0.9    0.1   1.2    1.6

Mortgage-backed commercial

   0.0    0.0   0.0    0.0

Consumer asset-backed:

          

Auto loans

   0.2    0.0   0.4    0.5

Student loans

   0.2    0.0   0.2    0.3

Manufactured housing

   0.1    0.0   0.1    0.1

Other consumer asset-backed

   0.1    0.0   0.1    0.1

Corporate asset-backed:

          

Operating assets:

          

Aircraft portfolio lease securitizations

   0.4    0.1   0.5    0.7

Rental car fleets

   0.4    0.1   0.7    0.9

Secured airline equipment securitization (EETC)

   0.8    0.1   0.9    1.2

Other operating assets

   0.1    0.0   0.1    0.1

Structured insurance securitizations

   1.3    0.1   1.5    2.0

Franchise assets

   0.1    0.0   0.1    0.1

Intellectual property

   0.1    0.0   0.1    0.1

Other corporate asset-backed

   0.1    0.0   0.2    0.3
                      

Total United States

   20.1    2.1   20.5    26.9
                      

 

57


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Global Structured Finance - Non-United States:

          

Collateralized debt obligations(5)

     9.6    1.0     10.2    13.4

Mortgage-backed residential

     0.1    0.0     0.4    0.5

Mortgage-backed commercial

     0.7    0.1     0.9    1.2

Corporate asset-backed:

          

Operating assets:

          

Aircraft portfolio lease securitizations

     0.4    0.0     0.4    0.6

Secured airline equipment securitization (EETC)

     0.0    0.0     0.0    0.0

Structured insurance securitizations

     0.0    0.0     0.0    0.0

Franchise assets

     0.0    0.0     0.1    0.1

Intellectual property

     0.0    0.0     0.1    0.1

Future flow

     0.6    0.1     1.0    1.3

Other corporate asset-backed

     1.7    0.2     1.7    2.2
                          

Total Non-United States

     13.1    1.4     14.8    19.4
                          

Total Global Structured Finance

     33.2    3.5     35.3    46.3
                          

Total

   $         944.4        100.0   $         76.2        100.0
                          

 

(1) - Includes investor owned utilities, industrial development and pollution control revenue bonds.

 

(2) - Includes certain non-profit enterprises and stadium related financing.

 

(3) - Includes regions, departments or their equivalent in each jurisdiction as well as sovereign owned entities that are supported by a sovereign state, region or department.

 

(4) - Includes municipal owned entities backed by sponsoring local government.

 

(5) - Includes transactions (represented by structured pools of primarily investment grade corporate credit risks or commercial real estate assets) that do not include typical collateralized debt obligation (“CDO”) structuring characteristics, such as tranched credit risk, cash flow waterfalls, or interest and over-collateralization coverage tests.

 

As of June 30, 2009, the aggregate amount of insured par outstanding ceded by MBIA Corp. to reinsurers under reinsurance agreements was $587.6 billion. The following table presents the credit ratings and ratings status, percentage of outstanding par ceded, the reinsurance recoverable, derivative asset, and estimated credit impairments by reinsurer as of June 30, 2009. Estimated credit impairments represent the reinsurers’ portion of amounts MBIA Corp. expects to pay on insured derivative contracts.

 

58


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

In millions                               

Reinsurers

  

Standard &
Poor’s Rating

(Status)

  

Moody’s
Rating

(Status)

   Percentage of
Total Par
Ceded
    Reinsurance
Recoverable
   Derivative
Asset
   Estimated Credit
Impairments on
Insured Derivatives

National Public Finance Guarantee Corporation

   A    Baa1    91.45   $ 194    $ -    $ -

Channel Reinsurance Ltd.

   N/R(2)    RWR(3)    6.04     21      636      320

Assured Guaranty Corp.

   AAA
(Stable)
   Aa2
(RUR)
(4)
   1.06     10      0      -

Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company Ltd.

   AA
(Negative
Outlook)
   Aa3 (Stable)    0.62     15      48      4

Ambac Assurance Corporation

   BBB
(Negative
Watch)
   Ba3
(Developing)
   0.51     2      -      -

Assured Guaranty Re Ltd.

   AA (Stable)    Aa3
(RUR)
(4)
   0.13     2      1      -

Syncora Guarantee Re Ltd.

   R(5)    Ca
(Developing)
   0.06     1      -      -

Overseas Private Investment Corporation

   AAA
(Stable)
   Aaa (Stable)    0.05     -      -      -

Old Republic Insurance Company

   A+ (Negative
Outlook)
   Aa3 (Stable)    0.04     1      -      -

Export Development Corporation

   AAA
(Stable)
   Aaa (Stable)    0.03     -      -      -

Other(1)

   CC or above    Ca or above    0.01     0      -      -

Not currently rated

         0.00     0      -      -
                                

Total

               100.00   $             246    $         685    $                 324
                                

 

(1) - Several reinsurers within this category are not rated by Moody’s.

(2) - Not rated.

(3) - Rating withdrawn.

(4) - Rating under review.

(5) - Regulatory supervision.

MBIA Corp. owns a 17.4% equity interest in Channel Re. In March 2009, Moody’s downgraded Channel Re to B3 with a negative outlook and the rating was subsequently withdrawn. In March 2009, S&P downgraded Channel Re to BB+ and the rating was subsequently withdrawn. As of June 30, 2009, MBIA Corp. expects Channel Re to continue to report negative shareholders’ equity on a GAAP basis primarily due to unrealized losses on its insured credit derivatives based on fair value accounting. As of June 30, 2009, the fair value of the derivative assets related to credit derivatives ceded to Channel Re was $636 million and the reinsurance recoverable from Channel Re was $21 million. After considering the credit risk of Channel Re in fair valuing its derivative assets, MBIA Corp. believes Channel Re has sufficient liquidity supporting its business to fund amounts due to MBIA Corp. In performing its assessment, MBIA Corp. determined that cash and investments, inclusive of approximately $501 million that Channel Re had on deposit in trust accounts for the benefit of MBIA as of June 30, 2009, and borrowing facilities available to Channel Re were in excess of MBIA’s exposure to Channel Re. Although the trust accounts limit the potential for Channel Re to default on its obligations to MBIA, there can be no assurance that Channel Re will not default on its obligations to MBIA that exceed the amounts already held in the trust accounts.

 

59


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Since December 2007, several of MBIA Corp.’s other financial guarantee reinsurers, including Ambac Assurance Corporation, Assured Guaranty Corp., Assured Guaranty Re Ltd., Old Republic Insurance Co., Syncora Guarantee Re Ltd. and Syncora Guarantee Inc. (formerly known as XL Financial Assurance and XL Capital Assurance, respectively), have had their credit ratings either downgraded or put on negative watch by one or more of the major rating agencies. On July 28, 2009 Ambac Assurance Corporation was downgraded by Standard & Poor’s from BBB (Negative Watch) to CC (Negative Outlook). Although there was no material impact on MBIA Corp. for any of these rating agency actions relating to these reinsurers, a further downgrade of one or more of these reinsurers could require the establishment of reserves against any receivables due from the reinsurers.

Premium Summary

The components of financial guarantee net premiums written and earned, including premiums assumed from and ceded to other companies, are presented in the following tables:

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,  
     2009     2008  

In millions

   Written     Earned     Written     Earned  

Direct

   $ (31   $ 165      $ 135      $ 277   

Assumed

     -        4        3        3   
                                

Gross

     (31     169        138        280   

Ceded

     39        (88     (21     (38
                                

Net

   $ 8      $ 81      $ 117      $ 242   
                                
     Six Months Ended June 30,  
     2009     2008  

In millions

   Written     Earned     Written     Earned  

Direct

   $ (60   $ 404      $ 258      $ 465   

Assumed

     -        7        5        6   
                                

Gross

     (60     411        263        471   

Ceded

     (3,434     (210     (40     (65
                                

Net

   $ (3,494   $ 201      $ 223      $ 406   
                                

For the three months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, recoveries received under reinsurance contracts totaled $115 million and $38 million, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 recoveries received under reinsurance contracts totaled $141 million and $46 million, respectively. Ceding commissions received from reinsurers, before deferrals and net of return ceding commissions were $4 million and $7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Ceding commissions received from reinsurers, before deferrals and net of return ceding commissions were $240 million and $13 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Note 14: Commitments and Contingencies

In the normal course of operating its business, MBIA Corp. may be involved in various legal proceedings. Additionally, MBIA Inc. may be involved in various legal proceedings that directly or indirectly impact MBIA Corp.

MBIA Inc. has received subpoenas or informal inquiries from a variety of regulators, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Securities Division of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Attorney General of the State of California, and other states’ regulatory authorities, regarding a variety of subjects, including disclosures made by MBIA Inc. to underwriters and issuers of certain bonds, disclosures regarding MBIA Inc.’s structured finance exposure, MBIA Inc.’s communications with rating agencies, and the methodologies used by rating agencies for determining the credit rating of municipal debt. MBIA Inc. is cooperating fully with each of these regulators and is in the process of satisfying all such requests. MBIA Inc. may receive additional inquiries from these or other regulators and expects to provide additional information to such regulators regarding their inquiries in the future.

 

60


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

On July 23, 2008, the City of Los Angeles filed two complaints in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Los Angeles against MBIA Inc. and others. The first, against MBIA Inc., AMBAC Financial Group, Inc., XL Capital Assurance Inc., ACA Financial Guaranty Corp., Financial Guaranty Insurance Company, and CIFG Assurance North America, Inc., alleged (i) participation in a conspiracy in violation of California’s antitrust laws to maintain a dual credit rating scale that misstated the credit default risk of municipal bond issuers and created market demand for municipal bond insurance and (ii) participation in risky financial transactions in other lines of business that damaged each bond insurer’s financial condition (thereby undermining the value of each of their guaranties), and a failure adequately to disclose the impact of those transactions on their financial condition. These latter allegations form the predicate for five separate causes of action against each of the Insurers: breach of contract, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, fraud, negligence, and negligent misrepresentation. Complaints making the same allegations against MBIA Inc. and nearly all of the same co-defendants were filed in Superior Court, San Francisco County, by the City of Stockton on July 23, 2008, by the City of Oakland on August 28, 2008, by the City of San Francisco on October 8, 2008, by the County of San Mateo on October 23, 2008, by the County of Alameda on October 30, 2008, by the City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power on December 31, 2008, by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District on December 31, 2008, and by the City of Sacramento on January 6, 2009. These cases are now coordinated as Ambac Bond Insurance Cases in San Francisco Superior Court (Judicial Council Coordination Proceeding No. 4555). On April 8, 2009, The Olympic Club filed a complaint against MBIA Inc. in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of San Francisco, making similar allegations of participation in risky financial transactions in other lines of business that allegedly damaged MBIA Inc.’s financial condition, and of a failure adequately to disclose the impact of those transactions on MBIA Inc.’s financial condition. These allegations form the predicate for the same five common law causes of action as those in the Ambac Bond Insurance Cases, as well as a California unfair competition cause of action. The Olympic Club did not include an antitrust cause of action. The Olympic Club case is being coordinated with the Ambac Bond Insurance Cases.

The City of Los Angeles’s second complaint named as defendants certain other financial institutions as well as bond insurers, including MBIA Inc., AMBAC Financial Group, Inc., Financial Security Assurance, Inc., Financial Guaranty Insurance Company and Security Capital Assurance Inc., and alleged fraud and violations of California’s antitrust laws through bid-rigging in the sale of municipal derivatives to municipal bond issuers. Complaints making the same allegations against MBIA Inc. and nearly all of the same co-defendants were filed in Superior Court, Los Angeles County, by the County of San Diego on August 28, 2008, and in Superior Court, San Francisco County, by the City of Stockton on July 23, 2008, by the County of San Mateo on October 7, 2008, and by the County of Contra Costa on October 8, 2008. The City of Los Angeles and City of Stockton actions were removed to federal court and transferred by order dated November 26, 2008, to the Southern District of New York for inclusion in the multidistrict litigation In re Municipal Derivatives Antitrust Litigation, M.D.L. No. 1950; the San Diego County, San Mateo County, and Contra Costa County actions were removed to federal court and transferred to the Southern District of New York for inclusion in that proceeding by order dated February 4, 2009.

On September 30, 2008, MBIA Corp. commenced an action in the New York State Supreme Court against Countrywide Home Loans, Inc., Countrywide Securities Corp. and Countrywide Financial Corp. (collectively, “Countrywide”). The complaint alleges that Countrywide fraudulently induced MBIA to provide financial guaranty insurance on securitizations of home equity lines of credit and closed-end second liens by misrepresenting the true risk profile of the underlying collateral and Countrywide’s adherence to its strict underwriting standards and guidelines. The complaint also alleges that Countrywide breached its representations and warranties and its contractual obligations, including its obligation to cure or repurchase ineligible loans as well as its obligation to service the loans in accordance with industry standards. In an order dated July 8, 2009, the New York State Supreme Court denied Countrywide’s motion to dismiss in part, allowing the fraud cause of action to proceed against all three Countrywide defendants and the contract causes of action to proceed against Countrywide Home Loans, Inc. Defendants filed their answer to the Complaint on August 3, 2009. On July 10, 2009, MBIA Insurance Corporation commenced an action in Los Angeles Superior Court against Bank of America Corporation, Countrywide Financial Corporation, Countrywide Home Loans, Inc, Countrywide Securities Corporation, Angelo Mozilo, David Sambol, Eric Sieracki, Ranjit Kripalani, Jennifer Sandefur, Stanford Kurland, Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc., HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., UBS Securities, LLC, and various Countrywide-affiliated Trusts. The complaint alleges that Countrywide made numerous misrepresentations and omissions of material fact in connection with its sale of certain RMBS, including that the underlying collateral consisting of mortgage loans, had been originated in strict compliance with its underwriting standards and guidelines. MBIA commenced this action as subrogee of the purchasers of the RMBS, who incurred severe losses that have been passed on to MBIA as the insurer of the income streams on these securities.

 

61


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

On October 15, 2008, MBIA Corp. commenced an action in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York against Residential Funding Company, LLC (“RFC”). On December 5, 2008, a notice of voluntary dismissal without prejudice was filed in the Southern District of New York and the complaint was re-filed in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York County. The complaint alleges that RFC fraudulently induced MBIA Corp. to provide financial guarantee policies with respect to five RFC closed-end home equity second-lien and HELOC securitizations, and that RFC breached its contractual representations and warranties, as well as its obligation to repurchase ineligible loans, among other things.

On April 30, 2009, MBIA Corp. and LaCrosse Financial Products (for purposes of this paragraph, collectively, “MBIA”) commenced an action in the Supreme Court of the State of New York against Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and Smith, Inc. and Merrill Lynch International (collectively, “Merrill”). The complaint (amended on May 15, 2009) seeks damages in an as yet indeterminate amount believed to be in excess of several hundred million dollars arising from alleged misrepresentations and breaches of contract in connection with eleven CDS contracts pursuant to which MBIA wrote protection in favor of Merrill and other parties on a total of $ 5.7 billion in collateralized debt obligations arranged and marketed by Merrill. The complaint also seeks rescission of the CDS contracts.

In its determination of expected ultimate insurance losses on financial guarantee contracts, MBIA Corp. has considered the probability of potential recoveries arising out of the contractual obligation by the sellers/servicers to repurchase or replace ineligible mortgage loans in certain second-lien mortgage securitizations, which include potential recoveries that may be affected by the legal actions against Countrywide and RFC. However, there can be no assurance that the Company will prevail in either the Countrywide or RFC actions.

On March 11, 2009, a complaint was filed in the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York against MBIA Inc. and its subsidiaries, MBIA Corp. and National, entitled Aurelius Capital Master, Ltd. et al. v. MBIA Inc. et al., 09-cv-2242 (S.D.N.Y.). The lead plaintiffs, Aurelius Capital Master, Ltd., Aurelius Capital Partners, LP, Fir Tree Value Master Fund, L.P., Fir Tree Capital Opportunity Master Fund, L.P., and Fir Tree Mortgage Opportunity Master Fund, L.P., purport to be acting as representatives for a class consisting of all holders of securities, instruments, or other obligations for which MBIA Corp., before February 18, 2009, issued financial guarantee insurance other than United States municipal/governmental bond securities. The complaint alleges that certain of the terms of the transactions entered into by MBIA Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Transactions”), which were approved by the New York State Department of Insurance, constituted fraudulent conveyances under §§ 273, 274 and 276 of New York Debtor and Creditor Law and a breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing under New York common law. The Complaint seeks, inter alia, (a) a declaration that the alleged fraudulent conveyances are null and void and set aside, (b) a declaration that National is responsible for the insurance polices issued by MBIA Insurance Corporation up to February 17, 2009, and (c) an award of damages in an unspecified amount together with costs, expenses and attorneys’ fees in connection with the action. Defendants’ motion to dismiss is fully briefed. No oral arguments have been scheduled to date.

On April 6, 2009, a complaint was filed in the Court of Chancery for the State of Delaware against two subsidiaries of MBIA Inc., MBIA Corp. and National, entitled Third Avenue Trust and Third Avenue Variable Series Trust v. MBIA Insurance Corp. and MBIA Insurance Corp. of Illinois, CA 4486-UCL. Plaintiffs allege that they are holders of approximately $400 million of surplus notes issued by MBIA Corp. (for purposes of this section, the “Notes”) in January 2008. The complaint alleges (Count I) that certain of the Transactions breached the terms of the Notes and the Fiscal Agency Agreement dated January 16, 2008 pursuant to which the Notes were issued. The complaint also alleges that certain transfers under the Transactions were fraudulent in that they allegedly left MBIA Corp. with “unreasonably small capital” (Count II), “insolvent” (Count III), and were made with an “actual intent to defraud” (Count IV). The complaint seeks a judgment (a) ordering the defendants to unwind the Transactions (b) declaring that the Transactions constituted a fraudulent conveyance, and (c) damages in an unspecified amount. Defendants’ motion to dismiss is fully briefed. Oral arguments are scheduled for August 31, 2009.

On May 13, 2009, a complaint was filed in the New York State Supreme Court against MBIA Inc. and its subsidiaries, MBIA Corp. and National, entitled ABN AMRO Bank N.V. et al. v. MBIA Inc. et al. The plaintiffs, a group of 19 domestic and international financial institutions, purport to be acting as holders of insurance policies issued by MBIA Corp. directly or indirectly guaranteeing the repayment of structured finance products. The complaint alleges that certain of the terms of the transactions entered into by MBIA Inc. and its subsidiaries, which were approved by the New York State Department of Insurance, constituted fraudulent conveyances and a breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing under New York law. The complaint seeks a judgment (a) ordering the defendants to unwind the Transactions, (b) declaring that the Transactions constituted a fraudulent conveyance, (c) declaring that MBIA Inc. and National are jointly and severally liable for the insurance policies issued by MBIA Corp., and (d) ordering damages in an unspecified amount. Defendants’ motion to dismiss is fully briefed and the court heard oral arguments on July 27, 2009.

 

62


MBIA Insurance Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

On June 15, 2009, the same group of 19 domestic and international financial institutions who filed the above described plenary action in New York State Supreme Court filed a proceeding pursuant to Article 78 of New York’s Civil Practice Law & Rules in New York State Supreme Court against the New York Insurance Department, Eric Dinallo in his capacity as Superintendent for the Department, and MBIA Inc. and its subsidiaries, MBIA Corp. and National, entitled ABN AMRO Bank N.V. et al. v. Eric Dinallo, in his capacity as Superintendent of the New York Insurance Department, the New York State Insurance Department, MBIA Inc. et al. In its motions to dismiss the three above-referenced plenary actions, MBIA Inc. argued that an Article 78 proceeding is the exclusive forum in which a plaintiff may raise any challenge to the Transformation approved by the Superintendent and the Department. The petition seeks a judgment (a) declaring void and to annul the approval letter of the Superintendent of Insurance, (b) to recover dividends paid in connection with the Transactions, (c) declaring that the approval letter does not extinguish plaintiffs’ direct claims against MBIA Inc. and its subsidiaries in the plenary action described above.

MBIA Inc. and MBIA Corp. intend to vigorously defend against the aforementioned actions in which it is a defendant and against other potential actions, and MBIA Inc. and MBIA Corp. do not expect the outcome of these matters to have a materially adverse effect on its business, results of operations or financial condition. MBIA Inc. and MBIA Corp. cannot provide assurance, however, that the ultimate outcome of these actions will not cause a loss nor have a material adverse effect on its business, results of operations or financial condition.

There are no other material lawsuits pending or, to the knowledge of MBIA Corp., threatened, to which MBIA Corp. or any of its subsidiaries is a party.

 

Note 15: Subsequent Events

Refer to “Note 14: Commitments and Contingencies” for information about legal proceedings that commenced after June 30, 2009.

 

63