Ambac Reduces Counterparty Risk
08 Avril 2009 - 10:54PM
Business Wire
Ambac Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: ABK) (Ambac) today
confirmed that it has terminated all reinsurance transactions with
RAM Reinsurance Company Ltd. (�Ram Re�) effective April 8, 2009.
The termination reflects the recapture of approximately $7 billion
of par outstanding of which approximately two thirds is classified
as public finance exposure. The remainder of the portfolio,
approximately $2.4 billion, is comprised of structured finance
exposures including approximately $500 million of U.S. RMBS. The
economic result will be a settlement payment from Ram Re to Ambac
in the amount of approximately $97 million. The estimated present
value of future installment premiums associated with this business
amounts to approximately $60 million.
Greg Raab, Chief Risk Officer, commented that, �This transaction
confirms Ambac�s commitment to reduce outstanding reinsurance
exposure. In so doing, we are reducing counterparty risk, enhancing
liquidity and earned premiums, and improving our risk-based capital
position. In addition, the recapture of reinsurance from lower
rated counterparties has a positive overall impact on rating agency
capital which applies increasingly onerous haircuts to reinsurance
from BBB/Baa or lower rated reinsurers.�
Forward-Looking
Statements
This release contains statements that may constitute
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor
provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Any or all of management�s forward-looking statements here or in
other publications may turn out to be wrong and are based on
Ambac�s management current belief or opinions. Ambac�s actual
results may vary materially, and there are no guarantees about the
performance of Ambac�s securities. Among events, risks,
uncertainties or factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially are: (1)�difficult economic conditions, which may not
improve in the near future, and adverse changes in the economic,
credit, foreign currency or interest rate environment in the United
States and abroad; (2)�the actions of the U. S. Government, Federal
Reserve and other government and regulatory bodies to stabilize the
financial markets; (3)�the risk that market risks impact assets in
our investment portfolio or the value of our assets posted as
collateral in respect of investment agreements and interest rate
swap and currency swap transactions; (4)�changes in Ambac�s and/or
Ambac Assurance�s credit or financial strength ratings; (5)�risks
relating to the re-launch of Connie Lee as Everspan Financial
Guaranty Corp.; (6)�competitive conditions, pricing levels and
reduction in demand for financial guarantee products; (7)�credit
and liquidity risks due to unscheduled and unanticipated
withdrawals on investment agreements; (8)�inadequacy of reserves
established for losses and loss expenses; (9)�changes in capital
requirements whether resulting from downgrades in our insured
portfolio or changes in rating agencies� rating criteria or other
reasons; (10)�the risk that we may be required to raise additional
capital, which could have a dilutive effect on our outstanding
equity capital and/or future earnings; (11)�our ability or
inability to raise additional capital, including the risks that
regulatory or other approvals for any plan to raise capital are not
obtained, or that various conditions to such a plan, either imposed
by third parties or imposed by Ambac or its Board of Directors, are
not satisfied and thus potentially necessary capital raising
transactions do not occur, or the risk that for other reasons the
Company cannot accomplish any potentially necessary capital raising
transactions; (12)�credit risk throughout our business, including
credit risk related to residential mortgage-backed securities and
collateralized debt obligations (�CDOs�) and large single exposures
to reinsurers; (13)�market spreads and pricing on insured CDOs and
other derivative products insured or issued by Ambac; (14)�the risk
that holders of debt securities or counterparties on credit default
swaps or other similar agreements seek to declare events of default
or seek judicial relief or bring claims alleging violation or
breach of covenants by Ambac or one of its subsidiaries;
(15)�default by one or more of Ambac Assurance�s�portfolio
investments, insured issuers, counterparties or reinsurers;
(16)�Ambac�s financial position and lack of financial flexibility,
resulting principally from the uncertainty of Ambac Assurance�s
ability to pay dividends to Ambac without the consent of the office
of the Commissioner of Insurance of the State of Wisconsin;
(17)�legislative and regulatory developments, including the
Troubled Asset Relief Program and other programs under the
Emergency Economic Stabilization Act and other similar programs;
(18)�changes in accounting principles or practices relating to the
financial guarantee industry or that may impact Ambac�s reported
financial results; (19)�changes in expectations regarding future
realization of gross deferred tax assets; (20)�the risk of
volatility in income and earnings, including volatility due to the
application of fair value accounting, required under SFAS 133, to
the portion of our credit enhancement business which is executed in
credit derivative form; (21)�the risk that our underwriting and
risk management policies and practices do not anticipate certain
risks and/or the magnitude of potential for loss as a result of
unforeseen risks; (22)�operational risks, including with respect to
internal processes, risk models, systems and employees;
(23)�factors that may influence the amount of installment premiums
paid to Ambac; (24)�the risk of litigation and regulatory inquiries
or investigations, and the risk of adverse outcomes in connection
therewith, which could have a material adverse effect on our
business, operations, financial position, profitability or cash
flows; (25)�changes in tax laws; (26)�other factors described in
the Risk Factors section in Part I, Item�1A of our Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December�31, 2008 and also
disclosed from time to time by Ambac in its subsequent reports on
Form 10-Q and Form 8-K, which are or will be available on the Ambac
website at www.ambac.com and at the SEC�s website, www.sec.gov; and
(27)�other risks and uncertainties that have not been identified at
this time. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements
speak only as of the date they are made and that Ambac does not
undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect
circumstances or events that arise after the date the statements
are made. You are therefore advised to consult any further
disclosures we make on related subjects in Ambac�s reports to the
SEC.
Ambac Financial Group, Inc., headquartered in New York City, is
a holding company whose affiliates provide financial guarantees and
financial services to clients in both the public and private
sectors around the world. Ambac's principal operating subsidiary,
Ambac Assurance Corporation, a guarantor of public finance and
structured finance obligations, has earned a Baa1 rating (on review
for downgrade) from Moody's Investors Service, Inc. and an A rating
(negative outlook) from Standard & Poor's Ratings Services.
Ambac Financial Group, Inc. common stock is listed on the New York
Stock Exchange (ticker symbol ABK).
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