10-K 1 d10k.htm MBIA, INC. MBIA, Inc.

United States

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

Form 10-K

 


 

Annual report pursuant to section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities

Exchange Act of 1934 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004.

 

Commission file number 1-9583

 


 

MBIA INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Connecticut   06-1185706
(State of Incorporation)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
113 King Street, Armonk, New York   10504
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

(914) 273-4545

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 


 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class


 

Name of each exchange on which registered


Common Stock, par value $1 per share   New York Stock Exchange

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

 


 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨.

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (SS 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10 -K.  x

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is an accelerated filer (as specified in Rule 12 b-2 of the Act).    Yes  x    No  ¨.

 

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant as of June 30, 2004 was $8,212,818,815.

 

As of March 11, 2005, 137,630,961 shares of Common Stock, par value $1 per share, were outstanding.

 

Documents incorporated by reference. Portions of the Definitive Proxy Statement of the Registrant, which will be filed on or before March 31, 2005, are incorporated by reference into Parts I and III.

 



PART I

 

Item 1. Business

 

MBIA Inc. (the “Company”) was incorporated as a business corporation under the laws of the state of Connecticut in 1986. The Company is engaged in providing financial guarantee insurance, investment management services and municipal and other services to public finance and structured finance clients on a global basis. Financial guarantee insurance provides an unconditional and irrevocable guarantee of the payment of the principal of, and interest or other amounts owing on, insured obligations when due. The Company conducts its financial guarantee business through its wholly-owned subsidiary, MBIA Insurance Corporation (“MBIA Corp.”). MBIA Corp. is the successor to the business of the Municipal Bond Insurance Association (the “Association”) which began writing financial guarantees for municipal bonds in 1974. MBIA Corp. is the parent of MBIA Insurance Corp. of Illinois (“MBIA Illinois”) and Capital Markets Assurance Corporation (“CapMAC”), both financial guarantee companies that were acquired by MBIA Corp. MBIA Corp. also owns MBIA Assurance S.A. (“MBIA Assurance”), a French insurance company, which writes financial guarantee insurance in the member countries of the European Union and MBIA UK Insurance Limited (“MBIA UK”), a financial guaranty insurance company licensed in the United Kingdom. Generally, throughout the text, references to MBIA Corp. include the activities of its subsidiaries, MBIA Illinois, MBIA Assurance, MBIA UK and CapMAC.

 

MBIA Corp. primarily insures financial obligations which are sold in the new issue and secondary markets. It also provides financial guarantees for debt service reserve funds. As a result of the Triple-A ratings assigned to insured obligations, the principal economic value of financial guarantee insurance is the lower interest cost of an insured obligation relative to the same obligation on an uninsured basis. In addition, for complex financings and for obligations of issuers that are not well-known by investors, insured obligations receive greater market acceptance than uninsured obligations.

 

MBIA Corp. issues financial guarantees for municipal bonds, asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities, investor-owned utility bonds, bonds backed by publicly or privately funded public purpose projects, bonds issued by sovereign and sub-sovereign entities and obligations collateralized by diverse pools of corporate loans and credit default swaps, and also pools of corporate and asset-backed bonds, both in the new issue and secondary markets. The municipal obligations that MBIA Corp. insures include tax-exempt and taxable indebtedness of states, counties, cities, utility districts and other political subdivisions, as well as airports, higher education and health care facilities and similar authorities and obligations issued by private entities that finance projects that serve a substantial public purpose. The asset-backed and structured finance obligations insured by MBIA Corp. typically consist of securities that are payable from or which are tied to the performance of a specified pool of assets that in most cases have a defined cash flow, such as residential and commercial mortgages, proceeds of insurance policies, a variety of consumer loans, corporate loans and bonds, trade and export receivables, equipment, aircraft and real property leases, and infrastructure projects.

 

MBIA Corp. also insures privately issued bonds used for the financing of public purpose projects which are primarily located overseas and include toll roads, bridges, airports, public transportation facilities and other types of infrastructure projects that serve a substantial public purpose. While in the United States projects of this nature are financed through the issuance of tax-exempt bonds by special purpose, government sponsored tax-exempt entities, the general absence of tax-advantaged financing, among other reasons, has led to the transfer of the operation of many such public purpose projects to the private sector. Generally, the private entities operate under a concession agreement with the sponsoring government agency, which maintains a level of regulatory oversight and control over the project.

 

MBIA Corp. has Triple-A financial strength ratings from Standard and Poor’s Corporation (“S&P”), which the Association received in 1974; from Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), which the Association received in 1984; from Fitch, Inc. (“Fitch”), which MBIA Corp. received in 1995; and from Rating and Investment Information, Inc. (“RII”), which MBIA Corp. received in 1998. Both MBIA Assurance and MBIA UK have Triple-A financial strength ratings from S&P, Moody’s and Fitch. Obligations which are guaranteed by MBIA Corp., MBIA Assurance and MBIA UK are rated Triple-A primarily based on these financial strength ratings. Both S&P and Moody’s have also continued the Triple-A rating on MBIA Illinois and CapMAC guaranteed bond issues. The Triple-A ratings are important to the operation of the Company’s business and any reduction in these ratings could have a material adverse effect on MBIA Corp.’s ability to compete and could also have a material adverse effect on the business, operations and financial results of the Company.

 

The Company also provides investment management products and financial services through its wholly owned subsidiary MBIA Asset Management LLC (“MBIA Asset Management”). MBIA Asset Management offers cash management, customized asset management and investment consulting services to local governments, school districts and other institutional clients. It offers fixed-income asset management services for the investment portfolios of the Company, MBIA Corp. and other affiliates and also for third-party clients. MBIA Asset Management raises funds for investment management through the issuance of investment agreements, which are issued by the Company and guaranteed by MBIA Corp., to states and municipalities and as

 

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part of asset-backed or structured securities for the investment of bond proceeds and other funds. It also raises funds through the issuance of medium-term notes (“MTNs”) which are issued by its affiliate MBIA Global Funding, LLC (“GFL”) and guaranteed by MBIA Corp. MBIA Asset Management invests the proceeds of the investment agreements and MTNs in high quality eligible investments both in the United States and abroad. MBIA Asset Management offers these services and products through MBIA Municipal Investors Service Corporation (“MBIA-MISC”), MBIA Investment Management Corp. (“IMC”), MBIA Capital Management Corp. (“CMC”), GFL, Euro Asset Acquisition Limited (“EAAL”) and MBIA UK Asset Management Limited (“AM-UK”).

 

In May 2004, the Company completed the sale of the assets of 1838 Investment Advisors, LLC (“1838”), a full service equity-focused asset management firm, to the management of 1838 together with a third party investor group. The sale of 1838 resulted from the Company’s decision to exit the equity advisory market and focus on fixed-income asset management. 1838 comprised the equity advisory services segment of the Company’s investment management services operations.

 

MBIA Asset Management also administers three multi-seller conduit financing vehicles, Triple-A One Funding Corp., Meridian Funding Company, LLC and Polaris Funding Company, LLC (together, the “Conduits”) through MBIA Asset Finance, LLC. The Conduits provide funding for multiple customers through special purpose vehicles that issue primarily commercial paper and medium-term notes.

 

MBIA MuniServices Company (“MuniServices”) provides revenue enhancement services and products, such as discovery, audit, collections/recovery and information (data) services, to state and local governments. Through MuniServices the Company also owns Capital Asset Holdings GP, Inc. and certain affiliated entities (collectively, “Capital Asset”). Capital Asset was in the business of acquiring and servicing tax liens. The Company has subsequently exited the tax lien business and Capital Asset’s primary activity is servicing a tax lien securitization insured by MBIA Corp.

 

Statements included in this Form 10-K which are not historical or current facts are “forward-looking statements” made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words “believe,” “anticipate,” “project,” “plan,” “expect,” “intend,” “will likely result,” or “will continue,” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical earnings and those presently anticipated or projected. We wish to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their respective dates. The following are some of the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from estimates contained in or underlying the Company’s forward-looking statements: (1) fluctuations in the economic, credit, interest rate or foreign currency environment in the United States or abroad; (2) level of activity within the national and international credit markets; (3) competitive conditions and pricing levels; (4) legislative or regulatory developments; (5) technological developments; (6) changes in tax laws; (7) the effects of mergers, acquisitions and divestitures; and (8) uncertainties that have not been identified at this time. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly correct or update any forward-looking statement if it later becomes aware that such result is not likely to be achieved.

 

MBIA Corp. Insured Portfolio

 

At December 31, 2004, the net par amount outstanding on MBIA Corp.’s insured obligations (including insured obligations of MBIA Illinois, MBIA Assurance and CapMAC, but excluding $12.7 billion of MBIA insured investment agreements and MTNs for MBIA Asset Management) was $585.6 billion. Net insurance in force, which includes all insured debt service, at December 31, 2004 was $890.2 billion. MBIA UK had not insured any obligations as of December 31, 2004. Net insurance in force, which is net of cessions to reinsurers and other reimbursement arrangements, is also net of other reimbursement arrangements that relate to contracts under which MBIA Corp. is entitled to reimbursement of losses on its insured portfolio but which do not qualify as reinsurance under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).

 

Because MBIA Corp. generally guarantees to the holder of the underlying obligation the timely payment of amounts due on such obligation in accordance with its original payment schedule, in the case of a default on an insured obligation, payments under the insurance policy cannot be accelerated against MBIA Corp., except in certain limited circumstances, unless MBIA Corp. consents to the acceleration. Otherwise, MBIA Corp. is required to pay principal, interest or other amounts only as originally scheduled payments come due. However, MBIA Corp. may from time to time insure obligations under credit default swaps which by their terms require that termination payments be paid at the time of the default of the underlying reference obligation(s). Termination payments are generally calculated by deducting the market value of the reference obligation on the termination date from the specified amount of the reference obligation. The Company estimates that the liquidity needs arising from future termination payments are modest due to MBIA Corp.’s strategy of insuring such obligations with high levels of subordination and credit enhancement.

 

MBIA Corp. seeks to maintain a diversified insured portfolio and has designed the insured portfolio to manage and diversify risk based on a variety of criteria including revenue source, issue size, type of asset, industry concentrations, type of bond and geographic area. As of December 31, 2004, MBIA Corp. had 28,222 policies outstanding (excluding 864 policies relating to MBIA Asset Management transactions guaranteed by MBIA Corp.). These policies are diversified among 10,798 “credits,” which MBIA Corp. defines as any group of issues supported by the same revenue source.

 

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The table below sets forth information with respect to the original par amount insured per issue in MBIA Corp.’s portfolio as of December 31, 2004:

 

MBIA Corp. Original Par Amount Per Issue as of December 31, 2004 (1)

 

Original Par Amount

Written Per Issue


   Number of
Issues
Outstanding


   % of Total
Number of
Issues
Outstanding


    Net Par
Amount
Outstanding


   % of Net
Par Amount
Outstanding


 
                (In billions)       

Less than $10 million

   18,777    66.6 %   $ 48.0    8.2 %

$10-25 million

   3,877    13.7       51.6    8.8  

$25-50 million

   2,335    8.3       64.9    11.0  

$50-100 million

   1,563    5.5       81.1    13.8  

Greater than $100 million

   1,670    5.9       340.0    58.2  
    
  

 

  

Total

   28,222    100.0 %   $ 585.6    100.0 %
    
  

 

  


(1) Excludes $12.7 billion relating to investment agreements and MTNs issued by affiliates of MBIA Asset Management and guaranteed by MBIA Corp.

 

MBIA Corp. underwrites its policies on the assumption that the insurance will remain in force until maturity of the insured obligations. MBIA Corp. estimates that the average life (as opposed to the stated maturity) of its insurance policies in force at December 31, 2004 was 10.2 years. The average life was determined by applying a weighted-average calculation, using the remaining years to maturity of each insured obligation and weighting them on the basis of the remaining debt service insured. No assumptions were made for any future refundings of insured issues. Average annual insured debt service on the portfolio at December 31, 2004 was $71.7 billion.

 

MBIA Corp. writes financial guarantees for municipal issuers in the United States. Municipal bonds consist of both taxable and tax-exempt bonds and notes that are issued by states, cities, political subdivisions, utility districts, airports, health care institutions, higher educational facilities, housing authorities and other similar agencies, as well as private entities that issue obligations to fund projects that serve a substantial public purpose. These types of obligations are supported by taxes, assessments, fees or tariffs related to use of projects, lease payment or other similar types of revenue streams. MBIA Corp. also guarantees structured finance and asset-backed obligations. In general, structured finance obligations are secured by or payable from a specific pool of assets having an ascertainable future cash flow. MBIA Corp. also insures payments due under credit and other derivatives, including termination payments that may become due upon the occurrence of certain events.

 

MBIA Corp. also insures privately issued bonds used for the financing of public purpose projects, which are primarily located overseas and that include toll roads, bridges, airports, public transportation facilities and other types of infrastructure projects serving a substantial public purpose. While in the United States, projects of this nature are primarily financed through the issuance of tax-exempt bonds by special purpose, government sponsored tax-exempt entities, the general absence of tax-advantaged financing, among other reasons, has led to the transfer of the operation of many such public purpose projects to the private sector. Generally, the private entities operate under a concession agreement with the sponsoring government agency, which maintains a level of regulatory oversight and control over the project.

 

Structured finance obligations are either undivided interests in the related assets, or debt obligations collateralized by the related assets. Structured finance transactions are often structured such that the insured obligations benefit from some form of credit enhancement to cover credit risks such as over-collateralization, subordination, excess cash flow or first loss protection. Structured finance obligations contain certain risks including asset risk, which relates to the amount and quality of asset coverage, structural risk, which relates to the extent to which the transaction structure protects the interests of the investors from the bankruptcy of the originator of the underlying assets or the issuer of the securities, and servicer risk, which relates to problems with the transaction servicer (the entity which is responsible for collecting the cash flow from the asset pool) that could affect the servicing of the underlying assets. In general, the asset risk is addressed by sizing the asset pool and its associated protection level based on the historical and expected future performance of the assets. Structural risks primarily involve bankruptcy risks, such as whether the sale of the assets by the originator to the issuer would be upheld in the event of the bankruptcy or insolvency of the originator and whether the servicer of the assets may be required to delay the remittance of any cash collections held by it or received by it after the time it becomes subject to bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings. Structured finance transactions are usually structured to insulate the investors from the bankruptcy or insolvency of the entity that originated the underlying assets, as well as from the bankruptcy or insolvency of the servicer and to minimize the likelihood of the bankruptcy or insolvency of the issuer of the obligation. The ability of the servicer to properly service and collect on the underlying assets is also a factor in determining future asset performance. MBIA Corp. addresses these issues through its underwriting guidelines and its due diligence process and its formal credit review and approval process.

 

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Outside of the United States, sovereign and sub-sovereign issuers, structured finance issuers, utilities and other issuers, including private issuers who are financing projects with a substantial public purpose, are increasingly using financial guarantee insurance to guarantee their public finance and structured finance obligations. Ongoing privatization efforts have shifted the burden of financing new projects from the government to the capital markets, where investors can benefit from the security of financial guarantee insurance. There is also growing interest in asset-backed securitization. While the principles of securitization have been increasingly applied in overseas markets, the rate of development in particular countries has varied due to the sophistication of the local capital markets and the impact of financial regulatory requirements, accounting standards and legal systems. It is expected that securitization will continue to expand internationally, at varying rates in each country. MBIA Corp. insures both structured finance and public finance obligations in selected international markets. MBIA Corp. believes that the risk profile of the international business it insures is generally the same as in the United States, but recognizes that there are particular risks related to each country and region. These risks include the legal, economic and political situation, the varying levels of sophistication of the local capital markets and currency exchange risks. MBIA Corp. evaluates and monitors these risks carefully.

 

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The following table shows the diversification of MBIA Corp.’s insured portfolio by bond type:

 

MBIA Corp. Insured Portfolio by Bond Type

as of December 31, 2004 (1)

(In billions)

 

Bond Type

 

     Net Par
Amount
Outstanding


   % of Net
Par Amount
Outstanding


 

Global Public Finance

             

United States

             

General Obligation

   $ 146.7    25.1 %

Utilities

     63.9    10.9  

Special Revenue

     48.1    8.2  

Health Care

     33.4    5.7  

Transportation

     30.0    5.1  

Higher Education

     19.3    3.3  

Housing

     15.4    2.6  

Investor-Owned Utilities

     10.5    1.8  
    

  

Total United States

     367.3    62.7  
    

  

Non-United States

             

Transportation

     9.1    1.5  

Sovereign

     8.9    1.5  

Utilities

     4.5    0.8  

Investor-Owned Utilities

     3.4    0.6  

Sub-Sovereign

     1.1    0.2  

Health Care

     0.4    0.1  

Housing and Higher Education

     0.2    —    
    

  

Total Non-United States

     27.6    4.7  
    

  

Total Global Public Finance

     394.9    67.4  
    

  

Global Structured Finance

             

United States

             

CDO, CLO, and CBO

     43.7    7.6  

Mortgage-Backed:

             

Home Equity

     16.3    2.8  

Other

     7.7    1.3  

First Mortgage

     2.9    0.5  

Asset-Backed:

             

Auto

     10.8    1.8  

Bank Cards

     7.3    1.3  

Other

     4.8    0.8  

Leasing

     0.7    0.1  

Pooled Corp. Obligations & Other

     17.8    3.0  

Financial Risk

     1.4    0.2  
    

  

Total United States

     113.4    19.4  
    

  

Non-United States

             

CDO, CLO, and CBO

     41.0    6.9  

Mortgage-Backed:

             

First Mortgage

     13.0    2.2  

Other

     7.1    1.2  

Home Equity

     1.0    0.2  

Pooled Corp. Obligations & Other

     9.0    1.5  

Asset-Backed:

             

Other

     3.3    0.6  

Leasing

     1.2    0.2  

Auto

     0.4    0.1  

Credit Cards

     0.3    0.1  

Financial Risk

     1.0    0.2  
    

  

Total Non-United States

     77.3    13.2  
    

  

Total Global Structured Finance

     190.7    32.6  
    

  

Total

   $ 585.6    100.0 %
    

  


(1) Excludes $12.7 billion relating to investment agreements and MTNs issued by affiliates of MBIA Asset Management and guaranteed by MBIA Corp.

 

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As of December 31, 2004, of the $585.6 billion outstanding net par amount of obligations insured, $394.9 billion, or 67.4%, were insured in the global public finance market and $190.7 billion, or 32.6%, were insured in the global structured finance market.

 

The table below shows the diversification by type of insurance written by MBIA Corp. in each of the last five years:

 

MBIA Corp. Net Par Amount Written by Bond Type (1)

(In millions)

 

     2000

   2001

   2002

   2003

   2004

Bond Type

                                  

Global Public Finance

                                  

United States

                                  

General Obligation

   $ 9,829    $ 15,848    $ 23,533    $ 25,802    $ 27,753

Utilities

     2,747      6,350      8,101      14,058      9,453

Special Revenue

     5,746      5,567      7,307      8,057      7,425

Transportation

     2,637      1,098      3,930      3,877      4,055

Higher Education

     1,645      2,110      2,026      1,272      2,729

Health Care

     1,276      1,244      1,655      1,928      1,746

Housing

     1,294      2,723      2,318      2,807      1,657

Investor Owned Utilities

     2,523      1,652      172      —        1,002
    

  

  

  

  

Total United States

     27,697      36,592      49,042      57,801      55,820
    

  

  

  

  

Total Non-United States

     1,437      2,923      3,280      8,938      4,105
    

  

  

  

  

Total Global Public Finance

     29,134      39,515      52,322      66,739      59,925
    

  

  

  

  

Global Structured Finance

                                  

United States

                                  

Mortgage Backed:

                                  

Home Equity

     4,656      7,206      5,367      2,901      8,793

Other

     1,893      2,234      1,429      1,218      1,335

First Mortgage

     2,171      2,561      1,049      771      955

Corporate Debt Obligations

     5,287      10,492      18,476      5,000      8,759

Pooled Corp. Obligations & Other

     2,306      3,282      4,109      4,573      6,230

Asset Backed:

                                  

Auto

     10,400      14,443      7,279      6,264      3,867

Credit Cards

     9,100      8,418      1,787      1,010      1,109

Other

     1,576      1,958      1,132      874      903

Leasing

     1,408      2,307      448      853      304

Financial Risk

     1,905      149      1,256      212      5
    

  

  

  

  

Total United States

     40,702      53,050      42,332      23,676      32,260
    

  

  

  

  

Total Non-United States

     15,424      11,114      17,982      18,385      15,385
    

  

  

  

  

Total Global Structured Finance

     56,126      64,164      60,314      42,061      47,645
    

  

  

  

  

Total

   $ 85,260    $ 103,679    $ 112,636    $ 108,800    $ 107,570
    

  

  

  

  


(1) Par amount insured by year, net of reinsurance and other reimbursement arrangements that relate to contracts under which MBIA Corp. is entitled to reimbursement of losses on its insured portfolio but which do not qualify as reinsurance under GAAP.

 

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MBIA Corp. is licensed to write business in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, the Kingdom of Spain, the Republic of Singapore and the Republic of France. MBIA Assurance is licensed to write business in France and in certain member countries of the European Economic Area. MBIA UK is licensed to write business in the United Kingdom and in member countries of the European Economic Area. The following table sets forth the geographic distribution of MBIA Corp.’s net par outstanding, including the ten largest states in the United States:

 

MBIA Corp. Insured Portfolio Outstanding by Geographic Location

As of December 31, 2004 (1)

 

     Net Par
Amount
Outstanding


   % of Net
Par Amount
Outstanding


 
     (In billions)       

United States

             

California

   $ 65.1    11.1 %

New York

     40.0    6.8  

Florida

     23.8    4.1  

Texas

     19.7    3.4  

New Jersey

     18.2    3.1  

Illinois

     16.6    2.8  

Pennsylvania

     14.3    2.4  

Massachusetts

     13.9    2.4  

Washington

     11.9    2.0  

Michigan

     10.3    1.8  
    

  

Sub-Total

     233.8    39.9  

Other States & Territories

     132.3    22.7  

Nationally Diversified

     114.5    19.5  
    

  

Total United States

     480.6    82.1  
    

  

Non-United States

             

Regional Specific

     44.9    7.7  

Internationally Diversified

     54.0    9.2  

Other

     6.1    1.0  
    

  

Total International

     105.0    17.9  
    

  

Total

   $ 585.6    100.0 %
    

  


(1) Excludes $12.7 billion relating to investment agreements and MTNs issued by affiliates of MBIA Asset Management and guaranteed by MBIA Corp.

 

MBIA Corp. underwriting guidelines limit the net insurance in force for any one insured credit. In addition, MBIA Corp. is subject to both rating agency and regulatory single-risk limits with respect to any insured bond issue. As of December 31, 2004, MBIA Corp.’s net par amount outstanding for its ten largest insured public finance credits totaled $23.6 billion, representing 4.0% of MBIA Corp.’s total net par amount outstanding, and the net par outstanding for its ten largest structured finance credits (without aggregating common issuers), was $24.0 billion, representing 4.1% of the total.

 

MBIA Corp. Insurance Programs

 

MBIA Corp. offers financial guarantee insurance in both the new issue and secondary markets on a global basis. At present, no new financial guarantee insurance is being offered by MBIA Illinois or CapMAC, but it is possible that either of those entities may insure transactions in the future. MBIA Corp., MBIA UK and MBIA Assurance offer financial guarantee insurance in Europe, Asia, Latin America and other areas outside the United States.

 

Transactions in the new issue market are sold either through negotiated offerings or competitive bidding. In negotiated transactions, either the issuer or the underwriter purchases the insurance policy directly from MBIA Corp. For municipal bond issues involving competitive bidding, the insurance is offered as an option to the underwriters bidding on the transaction. The successful bidder would then have the option to purchase the insurance.

 

In the secondary market, MBIA provides credit enhancement through two programs. The “RAPSS” program (Rapid Asset Protection for Secondary Securities) guarantees the payment of principal and interest on an individual security or class of securities traded in the secondary market in response to requests from bond traders and investors. Securities insured in the RAPSS program have the benefit of MBIA Corp.’s guarantee until maturity. The “Portfolio Insurance” program enables an investor to

 

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insure a specific portfolio of bonds and is offered as an ongoing program with investment banks, financial service companies and conduit sponsors. For each insured portfolio, MBIA Corp. establishes specific underwriting criteria for the inclusion of new assets in the program portfolio. The Portfolio Insurance program is a “while-in-trust” program which provides the benefits of an MBIA Corp. guarantee to securities only during the time they are held in a particular insured portfolio, although in some cases, MBIA Corp. may offer insurance to maturity for an additional premium.

 

Operations

 

The worldwide insurance operations of MBIA Corp. are conducted through the Global Public Finance Division, the Global Structured Finance Division, the Risk Management Division and the Insured Portfolio Management Division. Public Finance and Structured Finance operations outside of the United States are conducted in coordination with the International Division.

 

The Global Public Finance Division has underwriting authority with respect to certain categories of business up to pre-determined par amounts based on a risk-ranking system. In order to ensure that the guidelines are followed, Risk Management monitors and periodically reviews underwriting decisions made by the Global Public Finance Division and also participates in many transactions depending on the risk ranking. Larger, complex, or unique transactions are also then reviewed and approved at MBIA Corp.’s most senior level, the Executive Risk Committee, which consists of the Company’s Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the President of MBIA Corp., the Chief Risk Officer, the heads of the Structured Finance new business division, the Portfolio Management Group within the Risk Management Division and the Insured Portfolio Management Division and the head credit officer in each of the International, Public and Structured Finance Divisions.

 

For all transactions done by the Global Structured Finance Division, MBIA Corp.’s review and approval procedure has two stages. The first stage consists of screening, credit review and structuring by the appropriate business unit, in consultation with Risk Management officers. The second stage, consisting of the final review and approval of credit and structure, is performed by an underwriting committee consisting of the head of the applicable business unit, one officer from Risk Management and a third officer from either the Risk Management Division or the Insured Portfolio Management Division. Certain transactions, based on size, complexity, or other factors, are also approved by the Executive Risk Committee.

 

Premium rates for both the Global Public and Global Structured Finance Divisions are established by a Pricing Committee with representation from the relevant business unit and from the Business Analysis Group, which provides pricing and other analysis.

 

Risk Management

 

MBIA Corp.’s risk culture and policies are set by the Executive Risk Committee, which includes the members of senior management listed above. The Executive Risk Committee periodically approves and reviews, at least annually, the Risk Management systems and processes for measuring and managing credit, market and liquidity risks. The Executive Risk Committee also appoints qualified voters at MBIA Corp.’s various committees focused on credit risk, market risk, liquidity exposure and portfolio management. The chairperson of the Executive Risk Committee is also the head of MBIA Corp.’s Risk Management Division, which is responsible for developing and implementing MBIA Corp.’s underwriting guidelines, policies and procedures to ensure an overall diversified insured portfolio with low risk characteristics.

 

MBIA Corp. establishes underwriting guidelines based on those aspects of credit quality that it deems important for each category of obligation considered for insurance. For public finance transactions, these aspects may include economic and social trends, debt management, 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, including a satisfactory consulting engineer’s report, if applicable. For structured finance transactions, MBIA Corp.’s underwriting guidelines, analysis and due diligence focus on seller/servicer credit and operational quality, the historical and projected performance of the asset pool, and the strength of the structure, including legal segregation of the assets, cash flow analysis, the size and source of first loss protection, asset performance triggers and financial covenants. Transactions involving a non-U.S. issuer, non-U.S. assets, non-U.S. sources of cash flow or which are not denominated in U.S. dollars also include an assessment of country risk. Most transactions also undergo extensive cash flow analysis and sensitivity testing using scenario-based analysis, “Monte Carlo” probability analysis or both to examine the impact of remote events on credit performance. MBIA Corp.’s underwriting guidelines are subject to periodic review by the ERC, which is responsible for establishing and maintaining underwriting standards and criteria for all insurance products.

 

In addition to the risk underwriting officers, the Risk Management Group has several other units. The Credit Analysis Group analyzes and monitors MBIA Corp.’s embedded exposure to financial institutions and corporate entities in the form of seller/servicer exposure or as obligors or counterparties on investment contracts, letters of credit, swaps, liquidity and other

 

9


facilities supporting MBIA Corp. insured issues, and recommends terms and conditions, as well as capacity guidelines for such exposures. The Portfolio Management Group analyzes MBIA Corp.’s insured portfolio using various quantitative tools to test for diversity, credit quality, liquidity and other portfolio characteristics and recommends guidelines for risk concentrations and for internal capital requirements. Recommendations for internal capital requirements are based on a portfolio model that measures risk-adjusted capital by transaction, by sector and for the aggregate portfolio. The Portfolio Management Group also monitors all insured exposure for obligor, country, seller/servicer and other concentrations to minimize the impact of any single risk and to ensure compliance with the applicable regulatory and internal guidelines. The Quantitative Analysis Group uses various quantitative tools to test and measure stress resistance on transactions and the Market Risk Group measures and assesses market risk factors in the investment management business and any exposure to market risk factors within the insurance business (such as structured credit derivative contracts).

 

Insured Portfolio Management

 

The Insured Portfolio Management Division (“IPM” or the “IPM Division”) is responsible for monitoring MBIA Corp.’s outstanding insured obligations. This group’s first function is to detect any deterioration in credit quality or changes in the economic, regulatory or political environment which could adversely affect an MBIA Corp. insured issue, including interrupting the timely payment of debt service. If a problem is detected, the group works with the issuer, trustee, bond counsel, servicer, underwriter and other interested parties in an attempt to alleviate or remedy the problem in order to minimize potential defaults. The IPM Division works closely with Risk Management and the applicable public or structured finance business unit to analyze insured issue performance and credit risk parameters.

 

Once an obligation is insured, MBIA Corp. typically requires the issuer and the trustee to furnish periodic financial and asset related information, including audited financial statements, to the IPM Division for review. Potential problems uncovered through this review, such as poor financial results, low fund balances, covenant or trigger violations, trustee or servicer problems, or excessive litigation, could result in an immediate surveillance review and an evaluation of possible remedial actions. The IPM Division also monitors general economic and regulatory conditions, state and municipal finances and budget developments and evaluates their impact on issuers.

 

During the underwriting process, each insured transaction is assigned an internal credit rating. Credits are monitored according to a frequency of review schedule that is based on risk type, internal rating, performance and credit quality. Issues that experience financial difficulties, deteriorating economic conditions, excessive litigation or covenant or trigger violations are placed on the appropriate review list and are subject to surveillance reviews at intervals commensurate to the problem which has been detected. If IPM identifies concerns with respect to the performance of an insured issue it may designate such insured issue as “Caution List-Low,” “Caution List-Medium” or “Caution List-High” based on the nature and extent of these concerns and requires that an increased monitoring and, if needed, a remediation plan be implemented for the related insured issue. The Company does not establish any case basis reserves for credits that are listed as “Caution List-Low,” “Caution List-Medium” or “Caution List-High”. In the event MBIA Corp. determines that it must pay a claim or that a claim is probable and estimable with respect to an insured issue, it places the issue on its “Classified List” and establishes a case basis reserve for that insured issue. See “Losses and Reserves; Remediation” below.

 

There are three areas in the IPM Division. The IPM group which supports the Global Public Finance Division handles all types of domestic and international municipal issues such as general obligation, utility, health care, transportation and special revenue bonds, as well as project finance transactions. The IPM group which supports the Global Structured Finance Division is responsible for domestic and international structured finance transactions, including future flow transactions and collateralized debt obligations. Each group is responsible for processing waiver and consent requests and other deal modifications within their areas of responsibility. The third area, the Special Situations Group, is described below.

 

IPM personnel supporting the Global Public Finance Division review and report on the major credit quality factors, evaluate the impact of new developments on weaker insured credits and carry out remedial activity. In addition, this group performs analysis of financial statements and key operating data on a large-scale basis and maintains various databases for research purposes. This group is also responsible for preparing special reports which include analyses of regional economic trends, proposed tax limitations, the impact of employment trends on local economies, legal developments affecting bond security and the potential impact of events, such as natural disasters or headline events, on the insured portfolio. This unit is also responsible for all health care transactions.

 

The IPM unit supporting the Global Structured Finance Division monitors insured structured finance issues, focusing on asset and servicer performance and transaction cash flows. Monitoring of insured issues typically involves review of monthly trustee, servicer and portfolio manager statements, compliance reviews with transaction documents and analysis of cash flow adequacy. Review of issuer and/or servicer performance can include site visits, forensic audits, management meetings and financial statement reviews. For problem credits, the team performs additional specialized cash flow analyses, conducts best practice reviews with servicers and facilitates loss mitigation strategies.

 

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In 2004, a new unit (the “Special Situations Group”) was created within IPM to assist in addressing insured exposures experiencing significant stress. The Special Situations Group is staffed with personnel with knowledge, expertise and experience with impaired credit situations. For issues that experience financial difficulties, deteriorating economic conditions, excessive litigation or covenant or trigger violations, the Special Situations Group works in conjunction with the related IPM personnel to assess and monitor the situation and determine the appropriate course of action, including, if necessary, developing and implementing a remediation strategy.

 

Investment Management Services

 

The Company also provides the following investment management products and financial services through its wholly owned subsidiary MBIA Asset Management LLC (“MBIA Asset Management”).

 

MBIA Asset Management offers cash management, customized asset management and investment consulting services to local governments, school districts and other institutional clients through MBIA-MISC, a Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”)-registered investment adviser which operates in 20 states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Certain of the pooled investment programs managed or administered by MBIA-MISC have the benefit of commitments by the Company to cover losses incurred by these investment programs as a result of a decline in program asset values below a predetermined level. MBIA-MISC had $11.9 billion in assets under management at December 31, 2004, up 6.0% from $11.2 billion at December 31, 2003.

 

MBIA Asset Management offers fixed-income asset management services for the investment portfolios of the Company, MBIA Corp. and other affiliates and also for third-party clients through CMC, an SEC-registered investment adviser and National Association of Securities Dealers member firm and through AM-UK, a Financial Services Authority registered investment advisor based in London and formed in November of 2004. The market value of assets related to the Company’s insurance and corporate investment portfolios managed by CMC were $10.3 billion at December 31, 2004, up 5.0% from $9.8 billion at December 31, 2003. In addition, CMC provides investment management services for third parties. The market value of CMC’s third-party assets under management at December 31, 2004 was $4.1 billion, compared with $3.1 billion at December 31, 2003.

 

In May 2004, the Company completed the sale of the assets of 1838, a full service equity-focused asset management firm, to the management of 1838 together with a third party investor group. The sale of 1838 resulted from the Company’s decision to exit the equity advisory market and focus on fixed-income asset management. 1838 comprised the equity advisory services segment of the Company’s investment management services operations.

 

MBIA Asset Management raises funds for investment management through guaranteed investment agreements, which are issued by the Company and guaranteed by MBIA Corp. and which are offered to states and municipalities and as part of asset-backed or structured securities for the investment of bond proceeds and other funds. MBIA Asset Management also raises funds through its affiliate GFL. GFL raises funds for management through the issuance of MTNs with varying maturities (“GFL MTNs”), which are in turn guaranteed by MBIA Corp. GFL lends the proceeds of these GFL MTN issuances to the Company (“GFL Loans”). Under an agreement between the Company and MBIA Corp., the Company invests the proceeds of the GFL Loans in eligible investments.

 

At December 31, 2004, principal and accrued interest outstanding on investment agreement and MTN obligations originated by MBIA Asset Management totaled $12.5 billion, compared with $9.3 billion at December 31, 2003. Assets supporting these programs had market values of $12.6 billion and $9.4 billion at December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, respectively. These assets are comprised of high-quality securities with an average credit quality rating of Double-A and are pledged to MBIA Corp. in support of its guarantees. MBIA Asset Management manages the programs within a number of risk and liquidity parameters monitored by the rating agencies, and maintains backup liquidity in order to ensure sufficient funds to make all payments due on the investment agreement and MTN obligations and to fund operating expenses. In addition, the Company has made a capital investment in these programs, which is available at any time to fund cash needs. In the event that the value of the assets is insufficient to repay the investment agreement and MTN obligations when due, the Company may incur a loss.

 

The Company manages its balance sheet to protect against a number of risks inherent in its business including liquidity risk, market risk (principally interest rate risk), credit risk, operational risk and legal risk. (See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation – Market Risk” in Part II, Item 7) The assets supporting the MBIA Asset Management programs are managed with the goal of matching the duration of the invested assets, including hedges, to the duration of the investment agreement and MTN obligations in order to minimize market and liquidity risk.

 

MBIA Asset Management uses derivative financial instruments to manage interest rate risk and foreign currency risk. Credit default swaps are entered into as an extension of the group’s investment business. Forward delivery agreements are offered

 

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and periodically sold to clients. The Company has established policies limiting the amount, type and concentration of such instruments. A source of liquidity risk arises from the ability of some investment agreement counterparties to withdraw moneys on dates other than those specified in the related draw-down schedule. This liquidity risk is somewhat mitigated by provisions in certain of the investment agreements that limit an issuer’s ability to draw on the funds and by risk management procedures that require the regular re-evaluation and re-projection of draw-down schedules. Investments are restricted to fixed-income securities with a credit quality such that the overall minimum average portfolio credit quality is maintained at Double-A. Based upon management’s projections, MBIA Asset Management maintains funds invested in cash and cash equivalents sufficient to meet its projected short-term liquidity needs.

 

On September 30, 2003, the Company purchased the equity and acquired all controlling interests of the conduit financing vehicles it administers, Triple-A One Funding Corp., Meridian Funding Company, LLC and Polaris Funding Company, LLC (together, the “Conduits”). The Conduits, which issue primarily commercial paper and MTNs, are now reflected in the consolidated financial statements of the Company. (See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation – Investment Management Services” in Part II, Item 7).

 

The Conduits are used by banks and other financial institutions to raise funds for their customers in the capital markets. The Conduits provide funding for multiple customers through special purpose vehicles that issue primarily commercial paper and MTNs. The proceeds from the issuance of the commercial paper or MTNs are used to either make loans to customers which are secured by certain assets or to purchase the assets from the customers. All transactions insured in the Conduits are subject to MBIA Corp.’s standard underwriting process and are rated at least investment grade by a rating agency before they can be purchased into a Conduit.

 

It is the Company’s policy to obtain an underlying rating from both Moody’s and S&P for each new transaction prior to the execution of such transactions within the Conduits. An underlying rating is the implied rating for the transaction without giving consideration to the MBIA Corp. guarantee. All transactions currently funded in the Conduits have an underlying rating of at least investment grade by Moody’s and S&P prior to funding. The weighted-average underlying ratings for transactions currently funded in the Conduits were “A” by S&P and “A2” by Moody’s at the time such transactions were funded in the Conduits. As set forth in the table below, without giving effect to the MBIA Corp. guarantee for transactions currently funded in the Conduits, the Company estimates that the current weighted-average underlying ratings of all outstanding Conduit transactions were “A-” by S&P and “A2” by Moody’s as of December 31, 2004. The ratings in the table below are the lower underlying rating assigned by S&P or Moody’s when an underlying rating exists from either rating service, or when an external underlying rating is not available, the underlying rating is based on the Company’s best estimate of the rating of such investment.

 

Underlying Rating of Conduit Transactions

Without Giving Effect to the MBIA Corp. Guarantee

as of December 31, 2004

 

     Fair Value
(In thousands)


   % of Total
Conduit
Transactions


 

Credit Quality Rating

             

Aaa

   $ 1,252,655    18.06 %

Aa

     844,471    12.18  

A

     2,216,944    31.96  

Baa

     2,621,717    37.80  

Below Investment Grade

     —      —    
    

  

     $ 6,935,787    100.0 %
    

  

 

As a result of having to adhere to MBIA Corp.’s underwriting standards and criteria, Conduit transactions have, in general, the same underlying ratings that similar non-Conduit transactions guaranteed by MBIA Corp. have at the time they are closed. Like all credits underwritten by MBIA Corp., the underlying ratings on Conduit transactions may be downgraded by either one or both rating agencies after they are closed. In general, the underlying ratings on Conduit transactions have been downgraded no more frequently than similar non-Conduit transactions guaranteed by MBIA Corp.

 

The Conduits enter into derivative instruments primarily as economic hedges against interest rate and currency risks. It is

 

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expected that any change in the market value of the derivative instruments will be offset by a change in the market value of the hedged assets or liabilities. However, because the investments are accounted for as held-to-maturity, no change in market value, with the exception of the change in value of foreign currency assets due to changes in foreign currency rates, is recorded in the Company’s financial statements. Any change in the market value of derivative instruments that are not accounted for as hedges under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” will be recorded as net gains or losses on derivative instruments and foreign exchange in the Company’s consolidated income statement.

 

The consolidation of the Conduits has not impacted the Company’s liquidity requirements because Triple-A One Funding Corp. has independently entered into liquidity agreements with third-party providers and because the assets and liabilities of Meridian and Polaris are structured on a match-funded basis.

 

At December 31, 2004, there were $7.0 billion of assets in the Conduits and $6.4 billion of liabilities issued through the Conduits.

 

Municipal Services

 

MBIA MuniServices Company (“MBIA MuniServices”) delivers revenue enhancement services and products to public-sector clients nationwide, consisting of discovery, audit, collections/recovery and information (data) services. The municipal services operations also includes Capital Asset Holdings GP, Inc. and certain affiliated entities (“Capital Asset”), a servicer of delinquent tax certificates.

 

MBIA MuniServices owns Capital Asset, which is in the business of acquiring and servicing tax liens. The Company became a majority owner of Capital Asset in December 1998. MBIA MuniServices became 100% owner of Capital Asset in December 2003. During the first two quarters of 1999, the Company attempted to sell its interest in Capital Asset. At the end of the second quarter of 1999, the Company ceased these efforts and decided to limit the activities of Capital Asset primarily to the servicing of the portfolios then being serviced by Capital Asset. In the second quarter of 1999, the Company completed an internal evaluation of Capital Asset’s tax lien portfolio, as a result of which the Company determined that it was necessary to write down its investment in Capital Asset by $102 million. In the third quarter of 1999, Capital Asset engaged a specialty servicer of residential mortgages to help manage its business and operations and to assist in administering the tax lien portfolios serviced by Capital Asset and supporting the securitizations insured by MBIA Corp.

 

In the third quarter of 1999, Capital Asset also completed the refinancing of substantially all of its remaining tax liens. These liens were originally financed through a commercial paper warehouse facility that matured at the end of the third quarter of 1999, which was guaranteed by the Company. The refinancing was accomplished through a securitization transaction in which the tax liens were sold to a qualifying special purpose vehicle which in turn issued notes partially secured by those liens. The proceeds of the securitization were used primarily to extinguish the warehouse facility. This was Capital Asset’s third securitization of tax liens, and MBIA Corp. has insured all of the notes issued by these securitizations. These securitizations were structured through the sale by Capital Asset of substantially all of its tax liens to off-balance sheet qualifying special purpose vehicles that were established in connection with these securitizations. The first transaction, done in 1997, has a revolving bank line of credit, guaranteed by MBIA Corp., to purchase subsequent liens against already encumbered real estate if necessary to protect previous securitized lien positions. This first transaction had an original gross par insured of $285.4 million and an available credit line of $70.0 million. The second transaction, done in 1998, also has a revolving bank line of credit, guaranteed by MBIA Corp., for the same purpose. This transaction had an original gross insured par of $175.6 million and an available credit line of $50.0 million. The final transaction, done in 1999, had an original gross par of $196.0 million outstanding. On June 30, 2004, in order to reduce ongoing carrying and other costs, a clean-up call was exercised for the Capital Asset Research Funding Series 1997A and Series 1998A tax lien securitizations. The clean-up call provisions permitted the issuer of the bonds to buy back any remaining tax liens when the principal amount of the bonds fell below ten percent of the original principal amount. In connection with the clean-up calls, on June 30, 2004, MBIA paid $51.5 million (net of reinsurance) under its policies to the trustee for the securitizations, which defeased its remaining exposure to these transactions. MBIA did not record any additional losses in connection with its payment during the second quarter. Additionally, the payment made by the MBIA Corp. related to the Capital Asset Funding Series 1997A and Series 1998A tax lien securitizations resulted in the Company consolidating the securitizations in its financial statements.

 

MBIA Corp. continues to insure the third Capital Asset securitization. This transaction matures in 2008 and has an outstanding balance of $118 million. Because the ultimate collectibility of tax liens is difficult to estimate, there can be no assurance that the case reserves established to date would be sufficient to cover all future claims under this policy. MBIA Corp. will continue to evaluate the performance of the remaining tax lien portfolio and adjust loss reserves or salvage as and when necessary.

 

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Competition

 

The financial guarantee insurance business is highly competitive. Several other monoline insurance companies compete directly against MBIA Corp. in writing financial guarantee insurance, all of which, like MBIA Corp., have Triple-A financial strength ratings from Moody’s and S&P. In addition, there are several other monoline insurance companies which compete with MBIA Corp. in writing financial guarantee insurance as a primary which have lower ratings. MBIA Corp. also competes with composite (multi-line) insurers.

 

Financial guarantee insurance also competes with other forms of credit enhancement, including senior-subordinated structures, over-collateralization, letters of credit and guarantees (for example, mortgage guarantees where pools of mortgages secure debt service payments) provided by banks and other financial institutions, some of which are governmental agencies or have been assigned the highest credit ratings awarded by one or more of the major rating agencies. Letters of credit are most often issued for periods of less than 10 years, although there is no legal restriction on the issuance of letters of credit having longer terms. Thus, financial institutions and banks issuing letters of credit compete directly with MBIA Corp. to guarantee short-term notes and bonds with a maturity of less than 10 years. To the extent that banks providing credit enhancement may begin to issue letters of credit with commitments longer than 10 years, the competitive position of financial guarantee insurers, such as MBIA Corp., could be adversely affected. Letters of credit are also frequently used to assure the liquidity of a short-term put option for a long-term bond issue. This assurance of liquidity effectively confers on such issues, for the short term, the credit standing of the financial institution providing the facility, thereby competing with MBIA Corp. and other financial guarantee insurers in providing interest cost savings on such issues. Other highly rated institutions, including pension funds and government sponsored entities, also offer third-party credit enhancement on asset-backed and municipal obligations. Financial guarantee insurance and other forms of credit enhancement also compete in nearly all instances with the issuer’s alternative of foregoing credit enhancement and paying a higher interest rate. If the interest savings from insurance or another form of credit enhancement are not greater than the cost of such credit enhancement, the issuer will generally choose to issue bonds without third-party enhancement.

 

Certain characteristics of the Triple-A rated financial guarantee insurance business act as barriers-to-entry to potential new competitors. For example, there are minimum capital requirements imposed on a financial guarantee insurance company by the rating agencies to obtain and maintain Triple-A financial strength ratings and these capital requirements may deter other companies from entering this market. However, there can be no assurance that these capital requirements will deter potential competitors from entering this market or that the market may increasingly accept guarantees provided by Double-A or lower rated insurers who have less stringent capital requirements. In addition, under New York law, multi-line insurers are prohibited from writing financial guarantee insurance in New York State. See “Item 1. Business-Regulation.” However, there can be no assurance that major multi-line insurers or other financial institutions will not participate in financial guarantee insurance in the future, either directly or through monoline subsidiaries.

 

Reinsurance

 

State insurance laws and regulations, as well as the rating agencies who rate MBIA Corp., impose minimum capital requirements on financial guarantee companies, limiting the aggregate amount of insurance and the maximum size of any single risk exposure which may be written. MBIA Corp. decreases the insured exposure in its portfolio and increases its capacity to write new business by using treaty and facultative reinsurance to reduce its gross liabilities on an aggregate and single risk basis. Additionally, MBIA Corp. has entered into arrangements under which it is entitled to reimbursement of losses on its insured portfolio but which do not qualify as reinsurance under GAAP.

 

MBIA Corp.’s net retention on the policies it writes varies from time to time depending on its own business needs and the capacity available in the reinsurance market. From its reorganization in December 1986 through December 1987, MBIA Corp. reinsured a portion of each policy through quota and surplus share reinsurance treaties. Each treaty provides reinsurance protection with respect to policies written by MBIA Corp. during the term of the treaty, for the full term of the policy. Under its quota share treaty, MBIA Corp. ceded a fixed percentage of each policy insured. Since 1988, MBIA Corp. has entered into primarily surplus share treaties under which a variable percentage of risk over a minimum size is ceded, subject to a maximum percentage specified in the related treaty. Reinsurance ceded under the treaties is for the full term of the underlying policy.

 

MBIA Corp. also enters into facultative reinsurance arrangements from time to time primarily in connection with issues which, because of their size, require additional capacity beyond MBIA Corp.’s retention and treaty limits. Under these facultative arrangements, portions of MBIA Corp.’s liabilities are ceded on an issue-by-issue basis. MBIA Corp. may also use facultative arrangements as a means of managing its exposure to single issuers or counterparties to comply with regulatory and rating agency requirements, as well as internal underwriting and portfolio management criteria.

 

As a primary insurer, MBIA Corp. is required to honor its obligations to its policyholders whether or not its reinsurers perform their obligations to MBIA Corp. The financial position and financial strength rating of all its reinsurers are monitored by MBIA Corp. on a regular basis. The downgrade or default of one or more of the Company’s reinsurers is not expected to have a material adverse impact on the Company’s ratings, financial condition or results of operations.

 

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As of December 31, 2004, MBIA Corp. has retained $585.6 billion or 87.3% of the gross par outstanding of all transactions insured by it, MBIA Assurance, CapMAC and MBIA Illinois, and ceded approximately $85.5 billion or 12.7% to reinsurers. The amounts of exposure ceded to reinsurers at December 31, 2004 and 2003 by bond type and by geographic location are set forth in Note 22 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of MBIA Inc. and Subsidiaries. The following table shows the percentage of ceded business ceded to, and reinsurance recoverables from, reinsurers by S&P financial strength rating levels as of December 31, 2004.

 

Reinsurer’s

Standard & Poor’s

Rating Range


   Percent of
Total Par
Ceded


    Reinsurance
Recoverable
(thousands)


 

AAA

   76.33 %   $ 11,738  

AA

   12.04       7,749  

A

   11.53       13,914  

Not Currently Rated

   0.09       338  

Below Investment Grade

   0.01       (5 )
    

 


Total

   100.0 %   $ 33,734  
    

 


 

The top two reinsurers within the Triple-A rating category represent approximately 55% of total par ceded by MBIA Corp.; the top two reinsurers within the Double-A rating category represent approximately 7% of total par ceded by MBIA Corp.; and the top two reinsurers within the Single-A rating category represent approximately 11% of total par ceded by MBIA Corp.

 

The principal reinsurers of MBIA Corp., MBIA Assurance, CapMAC and MBIA Illinois accounted for 82% of the total exposure reinsured by the Company as of December 31, 2004. All of the other reinsurers reinsured approximately 18% of the total ceded insurance in force at December 31, 2004 and are diversified geographically and by lines of insurance written.

 

The financial strength ratings of certain of MBIA Corp.’s reinsurers have been downgraded below Triple-A. While these reinsurers continue to remain on risk for potential losses on ceded insurance exposure, the value of the reinsurance to the Company is decreased due to the increased amounts of capital that MBIA Corp. is required to hold with respect to the ceded risks as a result of the reinsurers’ downgrade. Generally, MBIA Corp. has the right to terminate a reinsurance agreement when the reinsurer is downgraded below certain agreed-upon thresholds or if the capital credit received by MBIA Corp. for the reinsurance decreases below the agreed-upon thresholds and it may elect to take back ceded business so as to more effectively deploy its capital. However, in the event that MBIA Corp. elects to take back ceded business from a downgraded reinsurer, there can be no assurance that alternative reinsurance capacity will be available or that MBIA Corp. will be able to secure reinsurance on favorable terms. In the event that MBIA Corp. is unable to obtain reinsurance with a highly rated reinsurer, the amount of capital required to maintain MBIA Corp.’s Triple-A rating would increase.

 

The Company has launched several initiatives aimed at increasing its financial flexibility and Triple-A reinsurance capacity and reducing risks in its insured portfolio. These initiatives include making strategic investments in monoline reinsurers, entering into risk allocation arrangements with government entities and arranging for loss protection through other financial products.

 

In 2003, the Company invested $25 million for an 11.4% ownership interest in RAM Reinsurance Company, a financial guarantee reinsurer located in Bermuda rated “AAA” by S&P and “Aa3” by Moody’s. The Company’s investment, among other things, assisted RAM Reinsurance Company in maintaining its ratings.

 

In February 2004, the Company, together with RennaissanceRe Holdings, Ltd., Koch Financial Re, Ltd. and Partner Reinsurance Company Ltd. (“Partner Re”), formed Channel Reinsurance Ltd. (“Channel Re”), a new Bermuda-based financial guarantee reinsurance company rated Triple-A by S&P and Moody’s. The Company invested $63.7 million for a 17.4% ownership interest in Channel Re.

 

In February 2004, MBIA Corp. and Channel Re entered into treaty and facultative reinsurance arrangements whereby Channel Re agreed to provide committed reinsurance capacity to MBIA Corp. at least through June 30, 2008. Under these reinsurance arrangements MBIA Corp. agreed to cede to Channel Re and Channel Re agreed to assume from MBIA Corp. varying percentages of designated policies issued by MBIA Corp. The amount of any policy subject to the committed reinsurance arrangements is based on the type of risk insured and on other factors. The reinsurance arrangements provide Channel Re with certain preferential terms, including those related to ceding commissions.

 

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In September 2004, MBIA Corp. entered into an investment guaranty arrangement with a development agency of the United States government which helps domestic private sector businesses manage risks associated with direct foreign investment. The arrangement is similar to other facultative reinsurance with the agency undertaking to indemnify MBIA Corp. for its proportionate share of loss on ceded exposures.

 

MBIA Corp. may also look to reduce risks embedded in its insured portfolio by entering into derivative transactions or other types of hedging arrangements. In December 2004, MBIA Corp. executed a $550.8 million capital markets transaction in which it hedged a portion, or $275.8 million, of the credit and market risk associated with its synthetic CDO portfolio. In 2004, MBIA Corp. received approval from the NYS Insurance Department for a derivative use plan which authorizes MBIA Corp. to hedge certain risks through the use of derivative instruments and may look to enter into hedging transactions to reduce risks on an individual and macro basis.

 

In February and March 2004, MBIA Corp. reassumed approximately $32.1 billion of in force business from three of MBIA Corp.’s reinsurers whose financial strength ratings had been downgraded by the rating agencies. Total exposure ceded by MBIA Corp. to these three reinsurers under various reinsurance contracts represented 6.5% of MBIA Corp.’s gross par outstanding as of December 31, 2003. MBIA Corp. subsequently ceded approximately $26.7 billion or 83% of such reassumed exposure to Channel Re. The remaining $5.4 billion or 17% of the reassumed exposure consisted of exposure which Channel Re elected not to reinsure due to portfolio and capital considerations and was retained in MBIA Corp.’s insured portfolio, including a number of issues that have experienced rating migration below investment grade or which have higher rating agency capital charge implications. In February 2004, MBIA Corp. also reassumed a portfolio of approximately $130.4 million from Partner Re and reinsured this exposure with Channel Re.

 

In 1998, three reinsurers, AXA Re Finance S.A. (“ARF”), Converium Reinsurance (North America) Inc. (formerly known as Zurich Reinsurance (North America), Inc.) (“Converium”) and Muenchener Rueckversicherungs-Gesellshaft (“Munich Re”) reimbursed MBIA Corp. $170 million for losses incurred with respect to $265 million of MBIA Corp.-insured bonds issued by Allegheny Health, Education and Research Foundation (“AHERF”) under three separate reinsurance agreements (the “AHERF Reinsurance Agreements”). The AHERF Reinsurance Agreements were structured as three successive excess-of-loss facilities that aggregated to $170 million. Under the excess of loss reinsurance agreements, Converium reimbursed MBIA Corp. $70 million of MBIA Corp.’s $170 million loss and Munich Re and ARF each reimbursed MBIA Corp. $50 million.

 

At the same time that MBIA Corp. arranged the AHERF Reinsurance Agreements, it entered into several separate quota share reinsurance agreements with the same reinsurers. Under these quota share reinsurance agreements, MBIA Corp agreed to cede on a quota share basis to the three reinsurers new business written with an aggregate par sufficient to generate $297 million in gross premiums over a six year period ending October 1, 2004. Of the $297 million in premium to be ceded under the quota share arrangements, MBIA Corp. agreed to cede to Converium cash premiums equal to $102 million, to ARF adjusted gross premiums of $98 million and to Munich Re adjusted gross premiums of $97 million over this period. The aggregate insured par ceded to these reinsurers under these quota share agreements totaled over $45 billion.

 

Under separate agreements, to which MBIA Corp. was not a party, Converium reinsured directly and indirectly to ARF (the “Converium-ARF Retrocession Agreements”) the risk that it had assumed from MBIA Corp. under its quota share agreements with MBIA Corp. for losses in excess of $13.1 million. ARF contended that, in connection with its agreement to assume this risk from Converium under the Converium-ARF Retrocession Agreements, there was an oral agreement with MBIA Corp. under which MBIA Corp. would replace ARF as a reinsurer to Converium by no later than October 2005.

 

In October 2004, MBIA Corp. commuted and assumed from ARF the policies that ARF had reinsured directly under its quota share reinsurance agreements with MBIA Corp. discussed above (the “MBIA-ARF Reinsurance Agreements”). At the same time, MBIA Corp. also assumed from ARF all of the risk that ARF assumed from Converium under the Converium-ARF Retrocession Agreements. AXA RE, S.A (“AXA RE”), ARF’s parent, in turn agreed to reinsure MBIA Corp. for all losses in excess of $96.9 million assumed by MBIA Corp. from ARF under the Converium-ARF Retrocession Agreements up to an aggregate amount of $90 million. ARF paid MBIA Corp. $10 million for assuming from it the risk under the Converium-ARF Retrocession Agreements, and MBIA Corp. paid AXA RE $1 million for reinsuring MBIA Corp. for all losses in excess of $96.9 million assumed by MBIA Corp. from ARF under the Converium-ARF Retrocession Agreements up to an aggregate amount of $90 million.

 

In addition to the $10 million that MBIA Corp. received as described above, MBIA Corp. received approximately $19.5 million related to the commutation of the MBIA-ARF Reinsurance Agreement, consisting of statutory unearned premium reserves of $42.5 million less refunded ceding commissions of $13.9 million and fees of $9.1 million. In addition, MBIA Corp. will receive future installment premiums with a present value of approximately $21.5 million in connection with the commuted policies. As a result of this transaction, MBIA Corp. reassumed $21.3 billion in aggregate insured par. The commutation of the MBIA-ARF Reinsurance Agreement and the assumption by MBIA Corp. from ARF of the risk under the Converium-ARF

 

16


Retrocession Agreements were done in order, among other reasons, to settle and resolve the disputes with ARF regarding the alleged oral agreement. In addition, MBIA Corp. entered into these agreements and agreed to assume the related policies due to the fact that it no longer received rating agency capital credit in connection with the reinsurance ceded to ARF and Converium because ARF no longer has a financial strength rating and the financial strength rating of Converium had been downgraded.

 

In October 2004, the Company’s management recommended that the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors undertake an investigation of the AHERF Reinsurance Agreements, including whether an oral agreement existed between MBIA Corp. and ARF that MBIA Corp. would assume the risk that Converium retroceded to ARF under the Converium-ARF Retrocession Agreements. The Audit Committee retained outside counsel and initiated an investigation in October 2004. The outside counsel’s investigation has been substantially completed. While the investigation has not conclusively determined whether an oral agreement in fact existed, the Company has been advised, however, that it appears likely that such an agreement or understanding with ARF was made in 1998.

 

Based on the investigation and other considerations, on March 8, 2005, the Company announced that it has decided to restate its financial statements for 1998 and subsequent years to correct the accounting treatment for MBIA Reinsurance Agreement and quota share agreement entered into with Converium. (See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation” in Part II, Item 7 and Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of MBIA Inc. and Subsidiaries).

 

MBIA Corp. and CapMAC entered into a Sale and Purchase of Business Undertaking Agreement with Asian Securitization & Infrastructure Assurance (Pte) Ltd (“ASIA Ltd”), a Singapore based insurer in which the Company indirectly held approximately 11% of the outstanding common stock. Pursuant to this agreement MBIA Corp. and CapMAC purchased substantially all of ASIA Ltd’s assets, which consist primarily of cash resulting from the liquidation of ASIA Ltd’s investment portfolio, and assumed ASIA Ltd’s insurance obligations. MBIA Corp. assumed a portfolio of three insured exposures from ASIA Ltd with a par balance, as of February 29, 2004, of $37.5 million, and CapMAC reassumed twenty exposures it previously reinsured with ASIA Ltd with an outstanding par balance as of February 29, 2004 of $331.7 million. MBIA Corp. and CapMAC received proceeds of $60.9 million representing $8.8 million of unearned premium reserves, $19.4 million of case basis reserves and $32.7 million of unallocated reserves associated with the assumed portfolios.

 

In addition to the reinsurance arrangements described above, at January 1, 2003, the Company maintained $35.7 million of annually renewable stop-loss reinsurance coverage. Effective January 1, 2004, the Company elected not to renew the facility due to the rating downgrade of the stop-loss provider.

 

The Company also maintained a $100 million ten-year facility with a reinsurer maturing in 2011. This facility allowed the Company to issue subordinated securities and could be drawn upon if the Company incurred cumulative losses (net of any recoveries) above an annually adjusted attachment point. However, the $100 million facility was terminated in the second quarter of 2004 due to the rating downgrade of the related reinsurer.

 

MBIA Corp. and MBIA Assurance have entered into a reinsurance agreement providing for MBIA Corp.’s reimbursement of the losses incurred by MBIA Assurance in excess of a specified threshold and a net worth maintenance agreement in which MBIA Corp. agrees to maintain the net worth of MBIA Assurance, to remain its sole shareholder and not to pledge its shares. Under the reinsurance agreement, MBIA Corp. has agreed to reimburse MBIA Assurance on an excess-of-loss basis for losses incurred in each calendar year for net retained insurance liability, subject to certain contract limitations. Under the net worth maintenance agreement, MBIA Corp. agrees to maintain a minimum capital and surplus position in accordance with French and New York State legal requirements.

 

MBIA Corp. has also entered into a reinsurance agreement with MBIA UK providing for MBIA Corp.’s reimbursement of the losses incurred by MBIA UK in excess of a specified threshold and a net worth maintenance agreement in which MBIA Corp. agrees to maintain the net worth of MBIA UK, to remain its sole shareholder and not to pledge its shares. Under the reinsurance agreement, MBIA Corp. has agreed to reimburse MBIA UK on an excess-of-loss basis for losses incurred in each calendar year for net retained insurance liability, subject to certain contract limitations. Under the net worth maintenance agreement, MBIA Corp. agrees to maintain a minimum capital and surplus position at MBIA UK in accordance with United Kingdom and New York State legal requirements.

 

MBIA Corp. and MBIA Illinois have entered into a reinsurance agreement under which MBIA Corp. reinsured 100% of all business written by MBIA Illinois, net of cessions by MBIA Illinois to third-party reinsurers, in exchange for MBIA Illinois’ transfer of the assets underlying the related unearned premium and contingency reserves. Pursuant to such reinsurance agreement, MBIA Corp. reinsured all of the net exposure of $30.9 billion, or approximately 68% of the gross debt service outstanding, of the municipal bond insurance portfolio of MBIA Illinois, the remaining 32% having been previously ceded to treaty and facultative reinsurers of MBIA Illinois. In 1990, 10% of this portfolio was ceded back to MBIA Illinois to comply with regulatory

 

17


requirements. Effective January 1, 1999, MBIA Corp. and MBIA Illinois entered into a replacement reinsurance agreement whereby MBIA Corp. agreed to accept as reinsurance from MBIA Illinois 100% of the net liabilities and other obligations of MBIA Illinois, for losses paid on or after that date, thereby eliminating the 10% retrocession arrangement previously in place.

 

MBIA Corp. and CapMAC have entered into a reinsurance agreement, effective April 1, 1998, under which MBIA Corp. has agreed to reinsure 100% of the net liability and other obligations of CapMAC in exchange for CapMAC’s payment of a premium equal to the ceded reserves and contingency reserves. Pursuant to such reinsurance agreement with CapMAC, MBIA Corp. reinsured all of CapMAC’s then-current net exposure of $31.6 billion, or approximately 78% of CapMAC’s gross debt service then outstanding, the remaining 22% having been previously ceded to treaty and facultative reinsurers of CapMAC.

 

Investments and Investment Policy

 

The Finance Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company approves the Company’s general investment objectives and policies, and also reviews more specific investment guidelines. CMC manages all of MBIA Corp.’s consolidated investment portfolios and substantially all of the Company’s investment portfolios.

 

To continue to provide strong capital resources and claims-paying capabilities for its insurance operations, the investment objectives and policies for insurance operations set quality and preservation of capital as the primary objective, subject to an appropriate degree of liquidity. Maximization of after-tax investment income and investment returns is an important but secondary objective. The insurance operations assets are managed by CMC subject to an agreement between CMC and MBIA Corp. and its subsidiaries.

 

Investment objectives, policies and guidelines related to MBIA Asset Management’s investment agreement and other businesses are also subject to review and approval by the Finance Committee of the Board of Directors and the Executive Market Risk Committee, which includes various members of senior management. The primary investment objectives are to preserve capital, to achieve an investment duration that closely approximates the expected duration of related liabilities, and to maintain appropriate liquidity.

 

The Company’s consolidated investment portfolio as shown on its balance sheet at December 31, 2004 was $30.6 billion, of which $7.5 billion represented held-to-maturity investments at amortized cost. The information and tables contained below relate to the Company’s consolidated investment portfolio (the “Investment Portfolio”).

 

For the year ended December 31, 2004, approximately 61% of the Company’s net income was derived from after-tax earnings on its investment portfolio. The following table sets forth investment income and related data for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2003 and 2004.

 

Investment Income of the Company

 

     2002

   2003

   2004

     (In thousands)

Investment income before expenses (1)

   $ 799,576    $ 839,948    $ 1,044,041

Investment expenses

     321,753      332,546      455,635
    

  

  

Net investment income before income taxes

     477,823      507,402      588,406

Net realized gains

     15,424      80,668      72,914
    

  

  

Total investment income before income taxes

   $ 493,247    $ 588,070    $ 661,320
    

  

  

Total investment income after income taxes

   $ 392,480    $ 445,560    $ 497,055
    

  

  


(1) Includes taxable and tax-exempt interest income.

 

18


The tables below set forth the composition of the Company’s investment portfolios. The references to “Insurance” in the tables below refer to the investment portfolio assets held by the Company’s insurance operations, the references to “Investment Management Services” refers to investment portfolio assets held by the Company’s investment management services operations and the references to “Investments Held-to-maturity” refer to assets held in the Conduits and certain variable interest entities. The weighted-average yields in the tables reflect the nominal yield on market value as of December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002.

 

Investment Portfolio by Security Type

as of December 31, 2004

 

     Insurance

   

Investment

Management Services


   

Investments

Held-to-maturity


 
    

Fair Value

(in thousands)


   Weighted
Average
Yield (1)


   

Fair Value

(in thousands)


   Weighted
Average
Yield (1)


    Fair Value
(in thousands)


   Weighted
Average
Yield (1)


 

Investment Category

                                       

Fixed-income investments:

                                       

Long-term bonds:

                                       

Taxable bonds:

                                       

U.S. Treasury & Agency obligations

   $ 410,038    3.64 %   $ 221,777    4.88 %   $ —      —   %

GNMAs

     138,989    5.05       81,278    4.42       —      —    

Other mortgage & asset-backed securities

     1,473,126    5.16       3,924,261    2.12       419,188    3.00  

Corporate obligations

     1,715,933    4.97       5,565,288    4.59       7,116,599    2.49  

Foreign obligations (2)

     607,604    4.74       1,543,882    3.87       —      —    
    

  

 

  

 

  

Total

     4,345,690    4.88       11,336,486    3.68       7,535,787    2.52  

Tax-exempt bonds:

                                       

State & municipal

     4,728,599    3.88       —      —         —      —    
    

  

 

  

 

      

Total long-term investments

     9,074,289    4.36       11,336,486    3.68       7,535,787    2.52  
                              

  

Short-term investments (3)

     1,160,107    2.51       1,245,085    2.22       —      —    
    

  

 

  

 

      

Total fixed-income investments

     10,234,396    3.87 %     12,581,571    3.54 %     7,535,787    2.52 %

Other investments (4)

     261,865    —         —      —         —      —    
    

  

 

        

      

Total investments

   $ 10,496,261    —       $ 12,581,571    —       $ 7,535,787    —    
    

        

        

      

(1) Prospective market yields as of December 31, 2004. Yield on tax-exempt bonds is presented on a taxable bond equivalent basis using a 35% federal income tax rate.
(2) Consists of U.S. denominated and other foreign government and corporate securities.
(3) Taxable and tax-exempt investments, including bonds with a remaining effective maturity of less than one year.
(4) Consists of equity investments and other fixed-income investments; yield information not meaningful.

 

19


Investment Portfolio by Security Type

as of December 31, 2003

 

     Insurance

   

Investment

Management Services


   

Investments

Held-to-Maturity


 
     Fair Value
(in thousands)


   Weighted
Average
Yield (1)


    Fair Value
(in thousands)


   Weighted
Average
Yield (1)


    Fair Value
(in thousands)


   Weighted
Average
Yield (1)


 

Investment Category

                                       

Fixed-income investments:

                                       

Long-term bonds:

                                       

Taxable bonds:

                                       

U.S. Treasury & Agency obligations

   $ 232,964    4.21 %   $ 230,293    4.60 %   $ —      —   %

GNMAs

     69,583    3.42       40,324    4.04       —      —    

Other mortgage & asset-backed securities

     1,107,682    4.02       3,068,440    2.98       414,850    2.14  

Corporate obligations

     1,974,044    4.48       3,841,142    4.63       8,540,323    1.55  

Foreign obligations (2)

     468,151    4.40       1,285,341    4.46       —      —    
    

  

 

  

 

  

Total

     3,852,424    4.30       8,465,540    4.01       8,955,173    2.12  

Tax-exempt bonds:

                                       

State & municipal

     4,771,740    3.55       —      —         —      —    
    

  

 

  

 

  

Total long-term investments

     8,624,164    3.89       8,465,540    4.01       8,955,173    2.12  

Short-term investments (3)

     975,836    2.32       937,640    1.32       —      —    
    

  

 

  

 

  

Total fixed-income investments

     9,600,000    3.73 %     9,403,180    3.75 %     8,955,173    2.12 %

Other investments (4)

     357,346    —         —      —         —      —    
    

        

        

      

Total investments

   $ 9,957,346    —       $ 9,403,180    —       $ 8,955,173    —    
    

        

        

      

(1) Prospective market yields as of December 31, 2003. Yield on tax-exempt bonds is presented on a taxable bond equivalent basis using a 35% federal income tax rate.
(2) Consists of U.S. denominated and other foreign government and corporate securities.
(3) Taxable and tax-exempt investments, including bonds with a remaining effective maturity of less than one year.
(4) Consists of equity investments and other fixed-income investments; yield information not meaningful.

 

20


Investment Portfolio by Security Type

as of December 31, 2002

 

     Insurance

   

Investment

Management Services


 

Investment Category


   Fair Value
(in thousands)


   Weighted
Average
Yield (1)


    Fair Value
(in thousands)


   Weighted
Average
Yield (1)


 
                            

Fixed-income investments:

                          

Long-term bonds:

                          

Taxable bonds:

                          

U.S. Treasury & Agency obligations

   $ 139,445    2.70 %   $ 224,218    4.45 %

GNMAs

     145,844    3.82       144,930    1.25  

Other mortgage & asset-backed securities

     1,139,163    4.82       2,519,805    1.59  

Corporate obligations

     1,629,510    5.30       3,562,944    3.34  

Foreign obligations (2)

     307,548    5.10       608,800    4.11  
    

  

 

  

Total

     3,361,510    4.95       7,060,697    3.59  

Tax-exempt bonds:

                          

State & municipal

     4,732,140    4.27       —      —    
    

  

 

  

Total long-term investments

     8,093,650    4.55       7,060,697    3.59  

Short-term investments (3)

     687,238    3.36       1,040,772    1.94  
    

  

 

  

Total fixed-income investments

     8,780,888    4.46 %     8,101,469    3.38 %

Other investments (4)

     212,673    —         —      —    
    

        

      

Total investments

   $ 8,993,561    —       $ 8,101,469    —    
    

        

      

(1) Prospective market yields as of December 31, 2002. Yield on tax-exempt bonds is presented on a taxable bond equivalent basis using a 35% federal income tax rate.
(2) Consists of U.S. denominated and other foreign government and corporate securities.
(3) Taxable and tax-exempt investments, including bonds with a remaining effective maturity of less than one year.
(4) Consists of equity investments and other fixed-income investments; yield information not meaningful.

 

The duration of the insurance fixed-income portfolio as of December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003 was 5.3 years. In 2003, the Company decided to reposition the portfolio duration in order to preserve economic capital. The impact of shortening the investment portfolio duration was a reduction in 2003 net investment income. (See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation – Investment Income” in Part II, Item 7). The average maturity of the insurance fixed-income portfolio, excluding short-term investments, as of December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003 was 8.46 years and 8.36 years, respectively.

 

The table below sets forth the distribution by contractual maturity of the Company’s consolidated fixed-income investments. Contractual maturity may differ from expected maturity because the borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations.

 

Fixed-Income Investments by Maturity

as of December 31, 2004

 

     Insurance

   

Investment

Management Services


   

Investments

Held-to-Maturity


 
    

Fair Value

(In thousands)
Maturity


   % of Total
Fixed-
Income
Investments


   

Fair Value

(In thousands)
Maturity


   % of Total
Fixed-
Income
Investments


    Fair Value
(In thousands)
Maturity


   % of Total
Fixed-
Income
Investments


 

Within 1 year

   $ 1,030,467    10.1 %   $ 920,255    7.3 %   $ 76,916    1.0 %

Beyond 1 year but within 5 years

     1,384,174    13.5       3,806,980    30.2       3,743,015    49.7  

Beyond 5 years but within 10 years

     1,925,895    18.8       2,520,344    20.1       2,560,436    34.0  

Beyond 10 years but within 15 years

     2,250,333    22.0       1,229,520    9.8       27,333    0.3  

Beyond 15 years but within 20 years

     847,875    8.3       569,660    4.5       —      —    

Beyond 20 years

     2,795,652    27.3       3,534,812    28.1       1,128,087    15.0  
    

  

 

  

 

  

Total fixed-income investments

   $ 10,234,396    100.0 %   $ 12,581,571    100.0 %   $ 7,535,787    100.0 %
    

  

 

  

 

  

 

21


The credit quality distribution of the Company’s fixed-income investments, which is based on ratings from Moody’s is presented in the following table:

 

Fixed-Income Investments by Credit Quality Rating

as of December 31, 2004 (1)

 

     Insurance

   

Investment

Management Services


   

Investments

Held-to-Maturity


 
     Fair Value
(In thousands)


   % of Total
Fixed-Income
Investments


   

Fair Value

(In thousands)


   % of Total
Fixed-Income
Investments


    Fair Value
(In thousands)


   % of Total
Fixed-Income
Investments


 

Credit Quality Rating

                                       

Aaa

   $ 6,461,601    67 %   $ 8,193,347    66 %   $ 1,252,655    17 %

Aa

     1,641,355    17       2,269,708    18       844,471    11  

A

     1,494,025    15       1,879,234    15       2,816,944    37  

Baa

     109,289    1       60,154    1       2,621,717    35  

Not Rated

     16,586    —         —      —         —      —    
    

  

 

  

 

  

     $ 9,722,856    100.0 %   $ 12,402,443    100.0 %   $ 7,535,787    100.0 %
    

  

 

  

 

  


(1) Excludes short-term investments with an original maturity of less than one year, but includes bonds having a remaining effective maturity of less than one year.

 

The Company’s Investment Portfolio includes investments that are insured by MBIA Corp. (“MBIA Insured Investments”). As of December 31, 2004, MBIA Insured Investments, excluding Conduit investments, at fair value represented $4.9 billion or 15% of the total Investment Portfolio. Conduit investments represented $6.9 billion or 23% of the total Investment Portfolio. As set forth in the table below, without giving effect to the MBIA Corp. guarantee of the MBIA Insured Investments in the Investment Portfolio, as of December 31, 2004, based on the actual or estimated underlying ratings (i) the weighted average rating of the Investment Portfolio would be in the Double-A range, (ii) the weighted average rating of just the MBIA Insured Investments in the Investment Portfolio would be in the Single-A range and (iii) approximately 1% of the Investment Portfolio would be rated below investment grade.

 

Without giving effect to the MBIA guarantee of the MBIA Insured Investments, the underlying ratings (those given to an investment without the benefit of the MBIA Corp. guarantee) of the MBIA Insured Investments as of December 31, 2004 are reflected in the following table. Amounts represent the fair value of such investments including the benefit of the MBIA guarantee. The ratings in the table below are the lower underlying rating assigned by S&P or Moody’s when an underlying rating exists from either rating service, or when an external underlying rating is not available, the underlying rating is based on the Company’s best estimate of the rating of such investment.

 

MBIA Insured Investments by Credit Quality Rating

Without Giving Effect to the MBIA Corp. Guarantee

as of December 31, 2004

 

Underlying Ratings Scale

(In thousands)


   Insurance
Portfolio


   Investment
Management
Services Portfolio


   Held-to-Maturity
Investment
Portfolio


   Total

Aaa

   $ 54,516    $ 686,815    $ 1,252,655    $ 1,993,986

Aa

     283,464      80,212      844,471      1,208,147

A

     787,175      834,334      2,216,944      3,838,453

Baa

     338,999      1,482,750      2,621,717      4,443,466

Below Investment Grade

     106,568      168,733      —        275,301
    

  

  

  

Total

   $ 1,570,722    $ 3,252,844    $ 6,935,787    $ 11,759,353
    

  

  

  

 

22


Regulation

 

MBIA Corp. is licensed to do insurance business in, and is subject to insurance regulation and supervision by, the State of New York (its state of incorporation), the 49 other states, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, the Kingdom of Spain, the Republic of Singapore, the United Kingdom and the Republic of France. MBIA Assurance is licensed to do insurance business in France and is subject to regulation under the corporation and insurance laws of the Republic of France. MBIA Assurance has used the provisions of the EC Third Non-life Insurance Directive (No. 92/49/EEC) to operate in the United Kingdom and in some of the other European Economic Area jurisdictions, both on a services and branch basis and is, to a limited extent, subject to supervision by the United Kingdom’s Financial Services Authority. MBIA UK is licensed to do insurance business in the United Kingdom and is subject to the insurance regulation and supervision of the United Kingdom’s Financial Services Authority. MBIA UK has used the provisions of the EC Third Non-life Insurance Directive to provide cross border services in all jurisdictions in the European Economic Area. The extent of state insurance regulation and supervision varies by jurisdiction, but New York, Illinois and most other jurisdictions have laws and regulations prescribing minimum standards of solvency, including minimum capital requirements, and business conduct which must be maintained by insurance companies. These laws prescribe permitted classes and concentrations of investments. In addition, some state laws and regulations require the approval or filing of policy forms and rates. MBIA Corp. is required to file detailed annual financial statements with the New York Insurance Department and similar supervisory agencies in each of the other jurisdictions in which it is licensed. The operations and accounts of MBIA Corp. are subject to examination by these regulatory agencies at regular intervals.

 

MBIA Corp. is licensed to provide financial guarantee insurance under Article 69 of the New York Insurance Law. Article 69 defines financial guarantee insurance to include any guarantee under which loss is payable upon proof of occurrence of financial loss to an insured as a result of certain events. These events include the failure of any obligor on or any issuer of any debt instrument or other monetary obligation to pay principal, interest, premium, dividend or purchase price of or on such instrument or obligation when due. Under Article 69, MBIA Corp. is licensed to transact financial guarantee insurance, surety insurance and credit insurance and such other kinds of business to the extent necessarily or properly incidental to the kinds of insurance which MBIA Corp. is authorized to transact. In addition, MBIA Corp. is empowered to assume or reinsure the kinds of insurance described above.

 

As a financial guarantee insurer, MBIA Corp. is required by the laws of New York, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, New Jersey and Wisconsin to maintain contingency reserves on its municipal bond, asset-backed securities and other financial guarantee liabilities. Under New Jersey, Illinois and Wisconsin regulations, contributions by such an insurer to its contingency reserves are required to equal 50% of earned premiums on its municipal bond business. Under New York law, such an insurer is required to contribute to contingency reserves 50% of premiums as they are earned on policies written prior to July 1, 1989 (net of reinsurance), and, with respect to policies written on and after July 1, 1989, must make contributions over a period of 15 or 20 years (based on issue type), or until the contingency reserve for such insured issues equals the greater of 50% of premiums written for the relevant category of insurance or a percentage of the principal guaranteed, varying from 0.55% to 2.5%, depending upon the type of obligation guaranteed (net of collateral reinsurance, refunding, refinancings and certain insured securities). California, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa and Maryland laws impose a generally similar requirement, and in California the insurance commissioner can require an insurer to maintain additional reserves if the commissioner determines that the insurer’s reserves are inadequate. In each of these states, MBIA Corp. may apply for release of portions of the contingency reserves in certain circumstances.

 

The laws and regulations of these states also limit both the aggregate and individual securities risks that MBIA Corp. may insure on a net basis based on the type of obligations insured. California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland and New York, among other things, limit insured average annual debt service on insured municipal bonds with respect to a single entity and backed by a single revenue source (net of qualifying collateral and reinsurance) to 10% of policyholders’ surplus and contingency reserves. California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland and New York also limit the net insured unpaid principal on a municipal bond issued by a single entity and backed by a single revenue source to 75% of policyholders’ surplus and contingency reserves. California, Connecticut, Maryland and New York, among other things, require that the lesser of the insured average debt service and the insured unpaid principal (reduced by the extent to which unpaid principal of the supporting assets and, for New York, provided the insured risk is investment grade, exceed the insured unpaid principal), divided by nine, on each issue of asset-backed securities issued by a single entity shall not exceed 10% of policyholders’ surplus and contingency reserves, while Florida limits insured unpaid principal for any one risk to 10% of policyholders’ surplus and contingency reserves. In New Jersey, Virginia and Wisconsin, the average annual debt service on any single issue of municipal bonds (net of reinsurance) is limited to 10% of policyholders’ surplus. Other states that do not explicitly regulate financial guarantee or municipal bond insurance do impose single risk limits which are similar in effect to the foregoing.

 

Under New York, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey and Wisconsin law, aggregate insured unpaid principal and interest under policies insuring municipal bonds (in the case of New York, California, Connecticut, Florida,

 

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Illinois and Maryland, net of reinsurance) are limited to certain multiples of policyholders’ surplus and contingency reserves. New York, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland and other states impose a 300:1 limit for insured municipal bonds, although more restrictive limits on bonds of other types do exist. For example, New York, California, Connecticut, Florida and Maryland impose a 100:1 limit for certain types of non-municipal bonds. Under New York, California, Connecticut, Florida, Maryland and New Jersey law, aggregate insured unpaid principal and interest under policies insuring asset-backed securities (again, in the case of New York, California, Connecticut, Florida and Maryland, net of reinsurance) are limited to certain multiples of policyholders’ surplus and contingency reserves. New York, Maryland, California, Connecticut, and other states impose a 150:1 limit for insured investment grade asset-backed securities, although more restrictive limits on asset-backed securities of other types exist. For example, New York, California, Connecticut, Florida and Maryland impose a 50:1 limit for non-investment grade asset-backed securities.

 

The Company, MBIA Corp., MBIA Illinois, and CapMAC also are subject to regulation under insurance holding company statutes of New York, Illinois and other jurisdictions in which MBIA Corp., MBIA Illinois, and CapMAC are licensed to write insurance. The requirements of holding company statutes vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction but generally require insurance holding companies, such as the Company, and their insurance subsidiaries, to register and file certain reports describing, among other information, their capital structure, ownership and financial condition. The holding company statutes also generally require prior approval of changes in control, of certain dividends and other inter-corporate transfers of assets, and of certain transactions between insurance companies, their parents and affiliates. The holding company statutes impose standards on certain transactions with related companies, which include, among other requirements, that all transactions be fair and reasonable and those transactions not in the ordinary course of business exceeding specified limits receive prior regulatory approval.

 

Prior approval by the New York Insurance Department is required for any entity seeking to acquire “control” of the Company, MBIA Corp., or CapMAC. Prior approval by the Illinois Department of Insurance is required for any entity seeking to acquire “control” of the Company, MBIA Corp., MBIA Illinois, or CapMAC. In many states, including New York and Illinois, “control” is presumed to exist if 10% or more of the voting securities of the insurer are owned or controlled by an entity, although the supervisory agency may find that “control” in fact does or does not exist when an entity owns or controls either a lesser or greater amount of securities.

 

The laws of New York regulate the payment of dividends by MBIA Corp. and provide that a New York domestic stock property/casualty insurance company (such as MBIA Corp.) may not declare or distribute dividends except out of statutory earned surplus. New York law provides that the sum of (i) the amount of dividends declared or distributed during the preceding 12-month period and (ii) the dividend to be declared may not exceed the lesser of (a) 10% of policyholders’ surplus, as shown by the most recent statutory financial statement on file with the New York Insurance Department, or (b) 100% of adjusted net investment income for such 12-month period (the net investment income for such 12-month period plus the excess, if any, of net investment income over dividends declared or distributed during the two-year period preceding such 12-month period), unless the New York Superintendent of Insurance approves a greater dividend distribution based upon a finding that the insurer will retain sufficient surplus to support its obligations and writings. See Note 17 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of MBIA Inc. and Subsidiaries.

 

As a result of the payment of the special dividend in the fourth quarter and under the formula applicable to the payment of dividends, MBIA Corp. may not pay any dividends without prior approval by the New York State Department of Insurance until the second quarter of 2006. MBIA Corp. requested approval for the payment of additional special dividends in 2005.

 

The foregoing dividend limitations are determined in accordance with Statutory Accounting Practices (“SAP”), which generally produce statutory earnings in amounts less than earnings computed in accordance with GAAP. Similarly, policyholders’ surplus, computed on a SAP basis, will normally be less than net worth computed on a GAAP basis. See Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of MBIA Inc. and Subsidiaries for additional information.

 

MBIA Corp., MBIA Illinois, and CapMAC are exempt from assessments by the insurance guarantee funds in the majority of the states in which they do business. Guarantee fund laws in most states require insurers transacting business in the state to participate in guarantee associations, which pay claims of policyholders and third-party claimants against impaired or insolvent insurance companies doing business in the state. In most states, insurers licensed to write only municipal bond insurance, financial guarantee insurance and other forms of surety insurance are exempt from assessment by these funds and their policyholders are prohibited from making claims on these funds.

 

Losses and Reserves; Remediation

 

MBIA Corp. establishes both loss and loss adjustment expense reserves to cover non-specific unallocated losses on its insured portfolio and specific case basis reserves with respect to actual and potential losses under specific insurance policies. The unallocated loss and loss adjustment expense reserve (“ULR”) and specific case basis reserves are established by MBIA Corp.’s Loss Reserve Committee.

 

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The unallocated loss reserve is established on an undiscounted basis with respect to MBIA Corp.’s entire insured portfolio. MBIA Corp.’s unallocated loss reserve represents its estimate of losses that have occurred or are probable as a result of credit deterioration in MBIA Corp.’s insured portfolio but which have not yet been specifically identified and applied to specific insured obligations. The unallocated loss reserve is increased on a quarterly basis using a formula that applies a “loss factor” to MBIA Corp.’s scheduled net earned premium for the respective quarter. Each quarter MBIA Corp. calculates its provision for the unallocated loss reserve as 12% of scheduled net earned premium. Annually, the Loss Reserve Committee evaluates the appropriateness of the 12% loss factor. In performing this evaluation, the Loss Reserve Committee considers the composition of MBIA Corp.’s insured portfolio by municipal sector, structured asset class, remaining maturity and credit quality, along with the latest industry data, including historical default and recovery experience for the relevant sectors of the fixed-income market, in order to determine if a trend is developing that indicates the 12% loss factor should be increased or decreased. The Loss Reserve Committee reviews the results of its annual evaluation for a three or four year period to determine whether any long-term trends are developing. As of December 31, 2004, MBIA Corp. does not believe any trend is developing that would cause a change to the 12% loss factor. However, if a catastrophic or very unusual loss occurred, the Loss Reserve Committee would consider taking an immediate charge through Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses and possibly also increasing the loss factor in order to maintain an adequate level of loss reserves. During the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, MBIA Corp. calculated its provision for the unallocated loss reserve as 12% of scheduled net earned premium.

 

When a case basis reserve is established, MBIA Corp. reclassifies the estimated amount from its unallocated loss reserve in an amount equal to the specific case basis loss reserve. Therefore, the amount of available unallocated loss reserve at the end of each period is reduced by the actual case basis reserves established in the same period. In the unlikely event that case basis reserves develop at a significantly faster or slower rate than anticipated by applying the loss factor to net scheduled earned premium, MBIA Corp. will perform a qualitative evaluation with respect to the adequacy of the remaining unallocated loss reserve. In performing this evaluation, MBIA Corp. considers the anticipated amounts of future transfers to existing case basis reserves, as well as the likelihood those policies for which case basis reserves have not been established will require case basis reserves at a faster or slower rate than initially expected.

 

MBIA Corp. establishes new case basis reserves with respect to a specific insurance policy when the Loss Reserve Committee determines that (i) a claim has been made or is probable in the future with respect to such policy based on specific credit events that have occurred and (ii) the amount of the ultimate loss that MBIA will incur under such policy can be reasonably estimated. The amount of the case basis reserve with respect to any policy is based on the net present value of the expected ultimate losses and loss adjustment expense payments that MBIA Corp. expects to pay with respect to such policy, net of expected recoveries under salvage and subrogation rights. For years ending after December 31, 2002, the amount of the expected loss, net of expected recoveries, is discounted based on a discount rate equal to the actual yield of the fixed-income portfolio held by the Company’s insurance subsidiaries at the end of the preceding fiscal quarter. Prior to 2003 MBIA Corp. used a flat discount rate. MBIA Corp. believes this yield is an appropriate rate of return for present valuing its reserves as it reflects the rate of return on the assets supporting future claim payments by MBIA Corp. When a case basis reserve is established for an insured obligation, MBIA Corp. continues to record premium revenue until it believes that premiums will no longer be collected on that obligation.

 

A number of variables are taken into account in establishing specific case basis reserves for individual policies. These variables include the creditworthiness of the underlying issuer of the insured obligation, whether the obligation is secured or unsecured and the expected recovery rates on the insured obligation, the projected cash flow or market value of any assets that support the insured obligation and the historical and projected loss rates on such assets. Factors that may affect the actual ultimate realized losses for any policy include the state of the economy, changes in interest rates, rates of inflation and the salvage values of specific collateral. The methodology for determining when a case basis reserve is established may differ from other financial guarantee insurance companies, as well as from other property and casualty insurance enterprises.

 

The IPM Division is responsible for monitoring MBIA Corp. insured issues. The level and frequency of MBIA Corp.’s monitoring of any insured issue depends on the type, size, rating and performance of the insured issue. If IPM identifies concerns with respect to the performance of an insured issue it may designate such insured issue as “Caution List-Low,” “Caution List-Medium” or “Caution List-High” based on the nature and extent of these concerns and requires that an increased monitoring and, if needed, a remediation plan be implemented for the related insured issue.

 

In the event MBIA Corp. determines that it must pay a claim or that a claim is probable and estimable with respect to an insured issue, it places the issue on its “Classified List” and establishes a case basis reserve for that policy. As of December 31, 2004, MBIA Corp. had 44 case basis issues on the Classified List that had $401 million in aggregate net case reserves.

 

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At December 31, 2004, of the $401.2 million in total case basis reserves for future claims, of which three issues, a health care facility in Pennsylvania, a health care facility in Texas and one tax lien transaction, comprised $319.6 million. The remaining case basis reserves are related to various housing financings and structured finance transactions.

 

Both MBIA Illinois and CapMAC currently do not write new business. MBIA Corp. has reinsured their respective net liabilities on financial guarantee insurance business and maintains required reserves in connection therewith. MBIA UK had not insured any obligations as of December 31, 2004.

 

Management believes that MBIA Corp.’s reserves are adequate to cover the ultimate net cost of claims. However, because the reserves are based on management’s judgment and estimates, there can be no assurance that the ultimate liability will not exceed such estimates.

 

In an effort to mitigate losses, IPM is regularly involved in the ongoing remediation of credits that may involve, among other things, waivers or renegotiations of financial covenants or triggers, waivers of contractual provisions, the granting of consents, and the taking of various other remedial actions. The nature of any remedial action is based on the type of the insured issue and the nature and scope of the event giving rise to the remediation. In most cases, as part of any such remedial activity, MBIA Corp. is able to improve its security position and to obtain concessions from the issuer of the insured bonds. From time to time, the issuer of an MBIA Corp. insured bond may, with the consent of MBIA Corp., restructure the insured bonds by extending the term, increasing or decreasing the par amount or decreasing the related interest rate, with MBIA Corp. insuring the restructured bonds. If, as the result of a restructuring, MBIA Corp. estimates that it will suffer an ultimate loss on the restructured issue, MBIA Corp. will record a case basis reserve for the restructured issue or, if it has already recorded a case basis reserve, it will re-evaluate the impact of the restructuring on the posted reserve and adjust the size of the reserve accordingly.

 

To date, MBIA Corp. has had 69 insured issues requiring claim payments. There are currently four additional insured issues for which case loss reserves have been established for expected future claims but for which claims have not yet been paid. The Company’s experience is that early detection and continued involvement by IPM are crucial in avoiding or minimizing potential draws on the related insurance policy. There can be no assurance, however, that there will be no material losses in the future in respect of any issues guaranteed by MBIA Corp., MBIA Illinois, MBIA UK, MBIA Assurance or CapMAC.

 

MBIA Corp. Insurance Policies

 

Virtually all of the insurance policies issued by MBIA Corp. provide an unconditional and irrevocable guarantee of the payment to a designated paying agent for the holders of the insured obligations of an amount equal to the principal of, and interest or other amounts due on, the insured obligations that have not been paid. In the event of a default in payment of principal, interest or other insured amounts by an issuer, MBIA Corp. promises to make funds available in the amount of the default generally on the next business day following notification. MBIA Corp. has a Fiscal Agency Agreement with a bank which provides for this payment upon receipt of proof of ownership of the obligations due, as well as upon receipt of instruments appointing the insurer as agent for the holders and evidencing the assignment of the rights of the holders with respect to the payments made by the insurer. Even if the holders are permitted by the terms of the insured obligations to have the full amount of principal, accrued interest or other amounts due, declared due and payable immediately in the event of a default, MBIA Corp. is required to pay only the amounts scheduled to be paid, but not in fact paid, on each originally scheduled payment date. However, MBIA Corp. may from time to time insure obligations that are backed by credit default swaps which by their terms require that termination payments be paid at the time of the default of the underlying reference obligation(s). Termination payments are generally calculated by deducting the market value of the reference obligation on the termination date from the specified amount of the reference obligation. The Company estimates that the liquidity needs arising from future termination payments are modest due to MBIA Corp.’s strategy of insuring such obligations with high levels of subordination and credit enhancement.

 

Rating Agencies

 

Moody’s, S&P, Fitch and RII perform periodic reviews of MBIA Corp. and other companies providing financial guarantee insurance. Their reviews generally focus on the insurer’s operations, financial conditions, underwriting guidelines, policies and procedures and on the underlying insured portfolio. Additionally, each rating agency has its own criteria as to exposure limits and capital requirements for financial guarantors.

 

The rating agencies have confirmed their Triple-A financial strength ratings assigned to MBIA Corp., CapMAC, MBIA Illinois and MBIA Assurance in every year since those ratings were first assigned. The financial strength ratings of MBIA UK were assigned in 2004. The ratings for MBIA Illinois and CapMAC are based in significant part on the reinsurance agreements between MBIA Corp. and MBIA Illinois and MBIA Corp. and CapMAC, respectively. The ratings of MBIA UK and MBIA Assurance are based in significant part on the reinsurance agreements and net worth maintenance agreements MBIA Corp. has entered into with both MBIA Assurance and MBIA UK. See “Item 1. Business-Reinsurance.”

 

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Capital Facilities

 

MBIA Corp. is party to a Credit Agreement, dated as of December 29, 1989 (the “Credit Agreement”), with various highly-rated banks to provide MBIA Corp. with an unconditional, irrevocable line of credit to cover losses in excess of a specified amount with respect to its public finance policies. The line of credit is available to be drawn upon by MBIA Corp., in an amount up to $700 million, after MBIA Corp. has incurred, during the period commencing October 31, 2003 and ending October 31, 2010, cumulative losses (net of any recoveries) in excess of $900 million or 5% of average annual debt service in respect of MBIA Corp.’s public finance policies. During 2002, MBIA Corp. replaced a portion of the amounts available under the Credit Agreement with a new capital markets facility as described below. As a result, the Credit Agreement facility amount was reduced in 2002 from $900 million to $700 million. The obligation to repay loans made under the Credit Agreement is a limited recourse obligation of MBIA Corp. payable solely from, and secured by a pledge of, recoveries realized on defaulted insured public finance obligations, from certain pledged installment premiums and other collateral. Borrowings under the Credit Agreement are repayable on the expiration date of the Credit Agreement. The current expiration date of the Credit Agreement is October 31, 2010. The Credit Agreement contains covenants that, among other things, restrict MBIA Corp.’s ability to encumber assets or merge or consolidate with another entity.

 

In addition to the reinsurance arrangements described above, at January 1, 2003, the Company maintained $35.7 million of annually renewable stop-loss reinsurance coverage. Effective January 1, 2004, the Company elected not to renew the facility due to the rating downgrade of the stop-loss provider.

 

The Company also maintained a $100 million ten-year facility with a reinsurer maturing in 2011. This facility allowed the Company to issue subordinated securities and could be drawn upon if the Company incurred cumulative losses (net of any recoveries) above an annually adjusted attachment point. However, the $100 million facility was terminated in the second quarter of 2004 due to the rating downgrade of the related reinsurer.

 

MBIA Corp. has access to $400 million of Money Market Committed Preferred Custodial Trust securities (“CPS Securities”) issued by eight trusts which were created for the primary purpose of issuing CPS Securities and investing the proceeds in high quality commercial paper or short-term U.S. government obligations. MBIA Corp. has a put option to sell to the trusts the perpetual preferred stock of MBIA Corp. If MBIA Corp. exercises its put option, the trusts will transfer the proceeds to MBIA Corp. in exchange for the preferred stock that will be held by the trusts. The trusts are vehicles for providing MBIA Corp. the opportunity to access new capital at its sole discretion through the exercise of the put options. The trusts are rated “AA” by S&P and “Aa2” by Moody’s. To date, MBIA Corp. has not exercised its put options under any of these arrangements.

 

The Company maintained two short-term bank lines totaling $500 million, which the Company reduced from $675 million on April 15, 2004. These bank lines are maintained with a group of highly rated global banks and are currently comprised of a $167 million facility with a term of 364 days and a $333 million facility with a five-year term. At December 31, 2004, there were no balances outstanding under these agreements.

 

Employees

 

As of March 8, 2005, the Company had 623 employees. No employee is covered by a collective bargaining agreement. The Company considers its employee relations to be satisfactory.

 

Investment Considerations

 

Financial Strength Ratings

 

MBIA Corp.’s ability to attract new business and to compete with other Triple-A rated financial guarantors is largely dependent on the Triple-A financial strength ratings assigned to it by the major rating agencies and the financial enhancement rating assigned by S&P. MBIA Corp. intends to comply with the requirements imposed by the rating agencies to maintain such ratings; however, no assurance can be given that these requirements will not change or that, even if MBIA Corp. complies with these requirements, one or more of such rating agencies will not lower or withdraw their financial strength ratings of MBIA Corp. in the future. MBIA Corp.’s ability to attract new business and to compete with other Triple-A rated financial guarantors, and its results of operations and financial condition, would be materially adversely affected by any reduction in its ratings. See “Item 1. Business - Rating Agencies”.

 

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Competition

 

The businesses engaged in by MBIA Corp. are highly competitive. MBIA Corp. faces competition from other financial guarantee insurance companies, other providers of third-party credit enhancement, such as multi-line insurance companies and banks, and alternative executions which do not employ third-party credit enhancement. To the extent that there is no increase in the dollar volume of obligations that require guarantees, increased competition, either in terms of price, alternative executions or new providers of credit enhancement, could have an adverse effect on MBIA Corp.’s business. See “Item 1. Business - Competition”.

 

Potential Economic Impact of Global Hostilities

 

General global unrest could disrupt the economy in this country and around the world and could have a direct material adverse impact on certain industries and on general economic activity.

 

The Company has exposure in certain sectors that could suffer increased stress as a direct result of these types of events. The Company’s exposure to domestic and international airports and to domestic enhanced equipment trust certificate aircraft securitizations have experienced increased stress as a result of global events since 2001, including a downgrading of the ratings and the bankruptcy of some of the underlying issuers, and could experience further stress in the event of general global unrest in the future. Other exposures that depend on revenues from business and personal travel, such as bonds backed by hotel taxes and car rental fleet securitizations, have experienced and could experience direct increased stress. In addition, certain other sectors in which the Company has insured exposure such as consumer loan securitizations (e.g., home equity, auto loan and credit card transactions) have experienced increased delinquencies and defaults in the underlying pools of loans and could experience stress in the event of future global unrest. To the extent that certain corporate sectors may be vulnerable to stress and credit deterioration in the event of future global unrest, collateralized debt obligations backed by pools of corporate debt issuances in those stressed sectors could also be adversely impacted.

 

In accordance with the Company’s underwriting criteria, transactions insured by the Company are structured to endure significant stress under various stress assumptions, including an assumed economic recession. There can be no assurance, however, that the Company will not incur material losses due to these exposures if the economic stress in certain sectors caused by global unrest, terrorism or similar events in the future is or will be more severe than the Company currently foresees and had assumed in underwriting its exposures.

 

Market and Other Factors

 

The demand for financial guarantee insurance depends upon many factors, some of which are beyond the control of MBIA Corp. While all the major financial guarantee insurers have Triple-A financial strength ratings from the major rating agencies, investors may from time to time distinguish among financial guarantors on the basis of various factors, including size, insured portfolio concentration and financial performance. These distinctions may result in differentials in trading levels for securities insured by particular financial guarantors which, in turn, may provide a competitive advantage to those financial guarantors with better trading characteristics. Conversely, various investors may, due to regulatory or internal guidelines, lack additional capacity to purchase securities insured by certain financial guarantors, which may provide a competitive advantage to guarantors with fewer insured obligations outstanding.

 

Prevailing interest rate levels affect demand for financial guarantee insurance to the extent that lower interest rates are accompanied by narrower spreads between insured and uninsured obligations. The purchase of insurance during periods of relatively narrower interest rate spreads will generally provide lower cost savings to the issuer than during periods of relatively wider spreads. These lower cost savings could be accompanied by a corresponding decrease in demand for financial guarantee insurance. However, historically, the level of refundings during lower interest rate periods has increased the demand for insurance.

 

The perceived financial strength of financial guarantee insurers also affects demand for financial guarantee insurance. Should a major financial guarantee insurer, or the industry generally, have its financial strength rating lowered, or suffer for some other reason deterioration in investors’ confidence, demand for financial guarantee insurance may be reduced significantly.

 

Premium rates are affected by factors such as the insurer’s appraisal of the insured credit, the spread between market interest rates on insured and uninsured obligations and capital charges associated with these exposures as determined by the rating agencies and regulators, as well as competition for such business among financial guarantee insurance providers and other forms of credit enhancement. Lower interest rates generally result in lower premium amounts to the extent that premium amounts are based on the total dollar amount of principal, interest and other amounts insured.

 

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Regulation

 

The financial guarantee insurance industry has historically been and will continue to be subject to the direct and indirect effects of governmental regulation, including changes in tax laws and legal precedents affecting asset-backed and municipal obligations. No assurance can be given that future legislative regulatory or judicial changes will not adversely affect MBIA Corp.’s business. See “Business - Regulation” for a description of current insurance regulations affecting MBIA Corp.

 

Adequacy of Loss Reserves

 

The financial guarantees issued by MBIA Corp. insure the financial performance of the obligations guaranteed over an extended period of time, in some cases over 30 years, under policies that MBIA Corp. has, in most circumstances, no right to cancel. As a result of the lack of statistical loss data due to the low level of losses in MBIA Corp.’s financial guarantee business and in the financial guarantee industry in general, particularly in the structured asset-backed area, MBIA Corp. does not use traditional actuarial approaches to determine its loss reserves. Instead, a general loss reserve is established in an amount deemed adequate to cover the expected levels of losses and loss adjustment expense on MBIA’s overall portfolio. The size of the general loss reserve is determined by a formula, the components of which are reviewed regularly. Management believes that the current level of general loss reserves is adequate to cover the estimated liability for claims and the related loss adjustment expenses with respect to financial guarantees issued by MBIA Corp. The establishment of the appropriate level of loss reserves is an inherently uncertain process involving numerous estimates and subjective judgments by management, and therefore, there can be no assurance that losses in MBIA Corp.’s insured portfolio will not exceed the loss reserves. Losses from future defaults, depending on their magnitude, could exceed loss reserves and therefore, have a material adverse effect on the results of operations and financial condition of MBIA Corp. See “Item 1. Business - Losses and Reserves; Remediation”.

 

Realization of Installment Premiums

 

Due to the installment nature of a significant percentage of its premium income, MBIA Corp. has an embedded future revenue stream. The amount of installment premiums actually realized by MBIA Corp. could be reduced in the future due to factors such as early termination of insurance contracts or accelerated prepayments of underlying obligations. Although increases in installment premium due to renewals of existing insurance contracts historically have been greater than reductions, there can be no assurance that future circumstances might not cause a net reduction overall, resulting in lower revenues.

 

Low Probability of Non-Negotiated Change of Control

 

Certain characteristics of the Triple-A rated financial guarantee insurance business may discourage non-negotiated takeover attempts or changes of control, which takeovers or changes of control some stockholders might otherwise deem to be in their interests. Given the importance of MBIA Corp.’s Triple-A ratings to the Company’s business, as a practical matter, a change of control would require confirmation in advance from the rating agencies that such transaction would not result in a downgrade of the financial strength rating assigned to MBIA Corp.

 

The insurance laws of New York provide that no person, other than an authorized insurer, may acquire control of the Company and thus indirect control of MBIA Corp., or any other New York-domiciled insurance subsidiary of the Company, unless it has given prior written notice to MBIA Corp. and any such subsidiary and received the prior approval of the Superintendent of Insurance of the State of New York. Furthermore, any purchaser of 10% or more of the outstanding shares of the Company’s Common Stock would be presumed to have acquired such control unless the Superintendent of Insurance determined otherwise. Therefore, any takeover of the Company effectively requires regulatory approval. This regulatory restriction may effectively reduce the probability of a takeover without the cooperation of management.

 

Investment Management Services Businesses

 

The Company’s Investment Management Services businesses have grown as a proportion of its overall business (see Item 1. Business- Investment Management Services”). Events that negatively affect the performance of the Investment Management Services businesses could have a negative effect on the overall performance of the Company.

 

Impact of Unanticipated Catastrophic Events

 

The Company’s insurance operations underwrite and assess credit and other risks using internal models which are based on historical performance and default rates, as well as the Company’s reasonable expectation of future performance. Transactions insured by MBIA Corp. are structured to endure significant stress under various stress assumptions, including an assumed economic recession. The Company manages its insurance and other exposures in an attempt to minimize the severity and impact of unexpected events. There can be no assurance, however, that the Company’s internal models and portfolio management

 

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policies adequately assess and address the risk of unexpectedly catastrophic events or the impact of risks with a severity significantly higher than those previously experienced, or that the assumptions which underlie the Company’s internal models and policies are accurate. There can be no assurance that the Company will not incur material losses if such catastrophic or high severity events occur.

 

Available Information

 

The Company maintains a website at www.mbia.com. The Company is not including the information on its website as a part of, nor is it incorporating such information by reference into, this Form 10-K. The Company makes available through its website all of its SEC filings, including its annual 10-K, any of its quarterly filings on Form 10-Q and any current reports on Form 8-K, as soon as is reasonably practicable after these materials have been filed with the SEC. All such filings were timely posted to the website in 2004.

 

Executive Officers

 

The executive officers of the Company and their present ages and positions with the Company as of March 1, 2005 are set forth below.

 

Name


     Age

    

Position and Term of Office


Joseph W. Brown

     56      Chairman (officer since January, 1999)

Gary C. Dunton

     49      President and Chief Executive Officer (officer since January, 1998)

Neil G. Budnick

     51      Vice President (officer since 1992)

Ram D. Wertheim

     50      Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel (officer since January, 2000)

Kevin D. Silva

     51      Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer (officer since 1995)

Ruth M. Whaley

     48      Vice President and Chief Risk Officer (officer since 1999)

Andrea E. Randolph

     52      Vice President and Chief Technology Officer (officer since January, 2004)

Nicholas Ferreri

     44      Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (officer since May 2004)

Mark S. Zucker

     56      Vice President (officer since November, 2000)

Mitchell I. Sonkin

     52      Vice President (officer since April, 2004)

Clifford D. Corso

     43      Vice President (officer since September 2004)

Christopher E. Weeks

     44      Vice President (officer since July 2004)

Thomas G. McLoughlin

     44      Vice President (officer since February 2005)

 

Joseph W. Brown is Chairman of the Company (effective January 7, 1999) and a director of the Company. Prior to joining the Company in January 1999, Mr. Brown was Chairman of the Board of Talegen Holdings, Inc.

 

Gary C. Dunton is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and a director of the Company. Mr. Dunton was, prior to joining the Company as an officer, a director of the Company and President of the Family and Business Insurance Group, USF&G Insurance.

 

Neil G. Budnick is Vice President of the Company and President of MBIA Corp. Mr. Budnick has been primarily involved in the insurance operations area of MBIA Corp. since joining the Company in 1983.

 

Ram D. Wertheim is Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of the Company. From February of 1998 until January, 2000, he served in various capacities in the Structured Finance Division. Mr. Wertheim was, until February of 1998, the General Counsel of CapMAC Holdings Inc.

 

Kevin D. Silva is Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of the Company. He has been in charge of the Management Services Division of MBIA Corp. since joining the Company in late 1995.

 

Ruth M. Whaley is Vice President and Chief Risk Officer of the Company. She was, until February of 1998, the Chief Underwriting Officer of CapMAC Holdings Inc.

 

Andrea E. Randolph is Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of the Company. Prior to joining MBIA Corp. in 2000, she was Director of Information Technology – Corporate Investment Division at MetLife.

 

Nicholas Ferreri is Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company. Until May of 2004 he was in charge of global public finance in MBIA Corp.’s IPM Division and has served in various capacities in MBIA Corp.’s treasury and pricing groups. Prior to joining the Company in 1997, Mr. Ferreri was with Moody’s Investors Service and Ernst & Young.

 

Mark D. Zucker is Vice President of the Company and head of the Structured Finance Division. Prior to joining the Company he was Chief Credit Officer - Investment Banking at Rabobank International.

 

30


Mitchell I. Sonkin is Vice President of the Company and head of the IPM Division. Prior to joining the Company in April 2004, Mr. Sonkin was senior partner and co-chair of the Financial Restructuring Group of the international law firm of King & Spalding.

 

Christopher E. Weeks is Vice President of the Company and head of the International Division. Mr. Weeks has served in various capacities since joining the Company in 1995, most recently as the business manager in MBIA Corp.’s Structured Finance Division responsible for CDO and secondary markets activity.

 

Clifford D. Corso is Vice President of the Company, the Company’s Chief Investment Officer and the president of MBIA Asset Management. He joined the Company in 1994 and has served as Chief Investment Officer since 2000.

 

Thomas G McLoughlin is Vice President of the Company and head of the Public Finance Division. Since joining MBIA Corp. in 1994, he has been primarily involved in the public finance area.

 

In May of 2004, Gary C. Dunton, previously President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company, succeeded Joseph W. Brown as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Dunton continues to serve as President of the Company in addition to serving as its Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Brown has agreed to serve as executive Chairman of the Company through 2007. Neil G. Budnick, formerly Chief Financial Officer, became President of MBIA Corp, responsible for new business development in the global public and structured finance markets. Nicholas Ferreri was named Chief Financial Officer to succeed Mr. Budnick.

 

In June of 2004, Christopher E. Weeks was named head of the Company’s international operations, succeeding John B. Caouette, who continued with the Company spearheading strategic initiatives. Mr. Caouette retired from the Company in December 2004.

 

In June of 2004, Richard L. Weill retired from the Company after serving in numerous capacities, most recently as Secretary of the Company and head of MBIA Corp.’s IPM Division.

 

In September 2004, the Company appointed Clifford D. Corso as President of MBIA Asset Management LLC.

 

In February 2005, John Pizzarelli resigned as head of MBIA Corp.’s Public Finance Division and was replaced by Thomas G. McLoughlin. Previously, Mr. McLoughlin had been the head of the Global Transportation and Infrastructure Group in MBIA Corp.’s Public Finance Division.

 

Item 2. Properties

 

MBIA Corp. owns the 265,000 square foot office building on approximately 15.5 acres of property in Armonk, New York, in which the Company and MBIA Corp. have their headquarters. The Company has over the past several years added approximately 18 additional acres adjacent to its current headquarters in order to provide an ability to expand its headquarters as needed. The Company also has rental space in New York, New York, San Francisco, California, Paris, France, Madrid, Spain, Sydney, Australia, London, England, Milan, Italy, Tokyo, Japan and the Republic of Singapore. The Company believes that these facilities are adequate and suitable for its current needs.

 

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

 

In the normal course of operating its businesses, the Company may be involved in various legal proceedings. Various trusts that have been insured by MBIA Corp., and that own first and second mortgages have been named in lawsuits alleging that the originator of the mortgages, together with other trusts that are not insured and other entities that own first and second mortgages, violated state and federal truth in lending laws. In most of these cases the originators of the loans are no longer in business, and the plaintiffs are alleging that the current owners of the mortgages, including the MBIA insured trusts, are liable for the alleged violations of the originator as “assignees” of the mortgages. MBIA Corp. has not been named as a defendant in any of these lawsuits. The Company believes that the insured trusts will ultimately prevail in the litigation. We do not expect there to be any material losses in the trusts as a result of these lawsuits, but no assurances can be given as to the potential outcome of these actions.

 

In July 2002, MBIA Corp. filed suit against Royal Indemnity Company (“Royal”), in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, to enforce insurance policies that Royal issued on certain vocational student loan transactions that MBIA Corp. insured. To date, claims in the amount of approximately $348 million have been made under the Royal policies with respect to loans that have defaulted. MBIA Corp. expects that there will be additional claims made under the policies with respect to

 

31


student loans that may default in the future. Royal has filed an action seeking a declaration that it is not obligated to pay on its policies. If Royal does not honor its policies, MBIA Corp. will be required to make payment on the notes it insured, and will incur material losses under its policies. In October 2003, the court granted MBIA Corp.’s motion for summary judgment and ordered Royal to pay all claims under its policies. While Royal has appealed the order, MBIA expects that the order will be upheld on appeal. As part of the appeals process, Royal has pledged $379 million of investment grade collateral to MBIA Corp. to secure the entire amount of the judgment, with interest, and has agreed to post additional security for future claims and interest. The Federal District Court has ordered Royal to comply with the pledge agreement.

 

The trustee in bankruptcy for Student Finance Corporation (“SFC”), the entity that originated the vocational student loans, has filed claims against the MBIA Corp. insured trusts formed by SFC affiliates to securitize the student loans asserting that $46.9 million in funds transferred by SFC to the insured trusts were fraudulent transfers that should be returned to SFC’s bankruptcy estate. MBIA Corp., along with others, has been named as a party in the lawsuit. In October 2004, MBIA and the trustee settled this claim in exchange for a payment by MBIA of $400,000.

 

MBIA Corp. believes that it will prevail in the litigation with Royal and will have no ultimate loss on these policies, although there can be no assurance that MBIA Corp. will in fact prevail. If MBIA Corp. does not prevail in the litigation and Royal does not make payments on the Royal Policies, MBIA Corp. expects to incur material losses under its policies. MBIA Corp. does not believe, however, that any such losses will have a material adverse effect on its financial condition.

 

In November 2004, the Company received identical document subpoenas from the SEC and the New York Attorney General’s office requesting information with respect to non-traditional or loss mitigation insurance products developed, offered or sold by the Company to third parties from January 1, 1998 to the present. While the subpoenas did not identify any specific transaction, subsequent conversations with the SEC and the New York Attorney General revealed that the investigation will include the reinsurance arrangements entered into by MBIA Corp. in 1998 in connection with the bankruptcy of the Delaware Valley Obligated Group, an entity that is part of AHERF. The Company is cooperating fully with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the New York Attorney General’s request for documents.

 

On March 9, 2005, the Company received a subpoena from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York seeking information related to the reinsurance agreements it entered into in connection with the AHERF loss. The Company intends to cooperate fully with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

 

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

 

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

Not Applicable.

 

PART II

 

Item 5. Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

The Company’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “MBI.” As of March 10, 2005 there were 787 shareholders of record of the Company’s common stock. The information concerning dividends on the Company’s common stock is under “Item 1. Business - Regulation” in this annual report.

 

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The high and low stock prices and dividends with respect to the Company’s common stock for the last two years are set forth below:

 

     2004

   2003

     Sales Price

   Cash
Dividends
Declared


   Sales Price

   Cash
Dividends
Declared


Quarter Ended


   High

   Low

      High

   Low

  

March 31

   $ 67.34    $ 58.90    $ 0.24    $ 47.81    $ 34.14    $ 0.20

June 30

     64.90      54.30      0.24      53.60      38.61      0.20

September 30

     59.14      52.55      0.24      57.38      47.68      0.20

December 31

     65.21      53.43      0.24      60.62      54.97      0.20

 

The Company expects to continue its policy of paying regular dividends, although there is no assurance as to future dividends because they depend on future earnings, capital requirements, and financial condition.

 

From time to time, the Company repurchases shares of its common stock when, in the opinion of management, it is economically advantageous to do. In August, 1999, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 11.25 million shares of the Company’s common stock (after adjusting for the 2001 stock split). In July 2004, the Company completed the repurchase of all 11.25 million shares and received authorization from its Board of Directors to repurchase 1 million shares under a new repurchase program. On August 5, 2004, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of an additional 14 million shares of its common stock in connection with the new repurchase program. The Company will only repurchase shares of its common stock under the repurchase program when it feels that it is economically attractive to do so and in conformity with regulatory and rating agency guidelines. As of March 10, 2005, 8,724,900 shares of the Company’s common stock are available for repurchase under the repurchase plan.

 

The following table sets forth repurchases made by the Company in each month during the fourth quarter of 2004:

 

Month


   Total Number of
Shares Purchased(1)


   Average Price
Paid Per Share


   Total Number of
Shares Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Plan(2)


   Maximum Number of
Shares That May Yet
Be Purchased Under
the Plan


October

   1,403,111    $ 55.45    1,363,300    11,636,700

November

   561,370      60.29    447,500    11,189,200

December

   480,052      63.22    281,700    10,907,500

(1) 352,033 shares were purchased by the Company for settling awards under the Company’s long-term incentive plans.
(2) Repurchased pursuant to stock repurchase plans authorized by the Company’s Board of Directors in 1999 and 2004.

 

33


Item 6. Selected Financial Data

 

Selected Financial and Statistical Data

MBIA Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

Dollars in millions except per share amounts


  2004

    2003

    2002

    2001

    2000

    1999

    1998

    1997

    1996

    1995

 
          (Restated)     (Restated)     (Restated)     (Restated)     (Restated)     (Restated)                    

GAAP Summary Income Statement Data:

                                                                               

Insurance:

                                                                               

Gross premiums written

  $ 1,117     $ 1,269     $ 952     $ 865     $ 687     $ 625     $ 677     $ 654     $ 535     $ 406  

Premiums earned

    822       740       593       528       449       444       425       351       294       244  

Net investment income

    474