AGO Assured Guaranty Municipal Holdings Inc

• Net income was $153 million, or $1.24 per share, for second quarter 2017, compared with $146 million, or $1.09 per share, for second quarter 2016.
• Operating income1 (non-GAAP) was $141 million, or $1.16 per share, for second quarter 2017, compared with $136 million, or $1.01 per share, for second quarter 2016.
• Shareholders' equity per share, non-GAAP operating shareholders' equity1 per share and non-GAAP adjusted book value1 per share reached new records at $56.40, $54.34 and $73.48, respectively.
• Gross written premiums for second quarter 2017 were $79 million and PVP1 was $70 million, representing increases of 119% and 71%, respectively, over second quarter 2016.
• Share repurchases totaled $135 million, or 3.5 million shares, in second quarter 2017.

Assured Guaranty Ltd. (NYSE:AGO) (AGL and, together with its consolidated entities, Assured Guaranty or the Company) announced today its financial results for the three-month period ended June 30, 2017 (second quarter 2017).

1 Please see “Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures.” When a financial measure is described as "operating," it is a non-GAAP financial measure. Starting in fourth quarter 2016, based on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) 2016 Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations on non-GAAP financial measures, the Company is no longer adjusting for FG VIE consolidation in its non-GAAP financial measures. The comparable non-GAAP financial measures for prior periods have been updated to reflect the revised calculation. The Company has separately disclosed the effect of FG VIE consolidation that is now included in its non-GAAP financial measures.

Summary Financial Results

(in millions, except per share amounts)

    Quarter Ended June 30, 2017   2016   Net income $ 153 $ 146 Operating income (non-GAAP)(1) 141 136 Gain (loss) related to the effect of consolidating financial guaranty variable interest entities (FG VIE consolidation) included in operating income 5 (3 )   Net income per diluted share $ 1.24 $ 1.09 Operating income (non-GAAP)(1) per diluted share 1.16 1.01 Gain (loss) related to FG VIE consolidation included in operating income per diluted share 0.05 (0.02 )   Diluted shares 122.7 134.8   Gross written premiums (GWP) $ 79 $ 36 Present value of new business production (PVP)(1) 70 41 Gross par written 5,140 4,775  

Summary Financial Results (continued)

(in millions, except per share amounts)

    As of June 30, 2017   December 31, 2016 Amount   Per Share Amount   Per Share   Shareholders' equity $ 6,750 $ 56.40 $ 6,504 $ 50.82 Non-GAAP operating shareholders' equity(1) 6,502 54.34 6,386 49.89 Non-GAAP adjusted book value(1) 8,793 73.48 8,506 66.46 Gain (loss) related to FG VIE consolidation included in non-GAAP operating shareholders' equity 3 0.03 (7 ) (0.06 ) Gain (loss) related to FG VIE consolidation included in non-GAAP adjusted book value (13 ) (0.10 ) (24 ) (0.18 )   Common shares outstanding 119.7 128.0  

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(1) Please see “Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” at the end of this press release. The prior-year's quarterly non-GAAP financial measures have been updated to reflect the revised calculation as discussed in “Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

“The second quarter of 2017 was highly successful for Assured Guaranty,” said Dominic Frederico, President and CEO. “We saw an increase in our financial strength, as well as in net income and operating income, versus last year’s second quarter. With the additional benefit of our share repurchase program over the last year, net income and operating income per share grew 14% and 15%, respectively. Additionally, our PVP increased 71% for the quarter and 114% for the half, while we widened our lead in the U.S. public finance primary market to 62% of par insured and continued our success in writing new business in international infrastructure and structured finance.”

Second Quarter Results

GAAP Financial Information

Net income for second quarter 2017 was $153 million, compared with net income of $146 million for the three-month period ended June 30, 2016 (second quarter 2016). The increase was primarily attributable to lower loss and loss adjustment expenses (LAE), a lower effective tax rate and changes in fair value of committed capital securities (CCS) and FG VIEs, offset in part by changes in fair value of credit derivatives and lower net earned premiums from accelerations.

Loss and LAE was $72 million in second quarter 2017, compared with $102 million in second quarter 2016. The decrease is due mainly to lower reserve additions on Puerto Rico exposures.

The effective tax rate declined in second quarter 2017 compared with second quarter 2016 due primarily to the release of $37 million tax reserves for uncertain tax positions, following the closure of an Internal Revenue Service audit, and higher pre-tax income in non-taxable jurisdictions.

Fair value losses on credit derivatives were $6 million in second quarter 2017, and were attributable primarily to narrowing of the Company's credit spreads. Fair value gains on credit derivatives in second quarter 2016 were $63 million and were generated primarily by terminations of several transactions. Except for credit impairment, the fair value adjustments on credit derivatives in the insured portfolio are non-economic adjustments that reverse to zero over the remaining term of that portfolio.

Net earned premiums were $162 million in second quarter 2017, compared with $214 million in second quarter 2016. The decrease is due primarily to lower accelerations from refundings and terminations.

Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited)

(in millions)

                Quarter Ended June 30, 2017   2016 Revenues: Net earned premiums $ 162 $ 214 Net investment income 101 98 Net realized investment gains (losses) 15 10 Net change in fair value of credit derivatives: Realized gains (losses) and other settlements 5 24 Net unrealized gains (losses) (11 ) 39   Net change in fair value of credit derivatives (6 ) 63 Fair value gains (losses) on CCS 2 (11 ) Fair value gains (losses) on FG VIEs 12 4 Other income (loss) 22   18   Total revenues 308 396 Expenses: Loss and LAE 72 102 Amortization of deferred acquisition costs 4 5 Interest expense 25 25 Other operating expenses 57   63   Total expenses 158   195   Income (loss) before income taxes 150 201 Provision (benefit) for income taxes (3 ) 55   Net income (loss) $ 153   $ 146    

Economic Loss Development

The economic development in second quarter 2017 was a loss of $47 million. The development was primarily related to Puerto Rico exposures and a decrease in discount rates, partially offset by a $29 million benefit in United States (U.S.) residential mortgage-backed securities that was mainly attributable to lower redefault assumptions on modified loans. The economic loss development attributable to the decrease in discount rates was a loss of $23 million for second quarter 2017.

Roll Forward of Net Expected Loss to be Paid (1)

(in millions)

         

Net Expected

Loss to be Paid

(Recovered) as of

March 31, 2017

Economic Loss

Development/

(Benefit)

Losses (Paid)/

Recovered

Net Expected

Loss to be Paid

(Recovered) as of

June 30, 2017

  Public finance $ 1,011 $ 79 $ (4 ) $ 1,086 U.S. residential mortgage-backed securities 197 (29 ) 14 182 Other structured finance 36   (3 ) (4 ) 29 Total $ 1,244   $ 47   $ 6   $ 1,297  

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(1) Economic loss development represents the change in net expected loss to be paid attributable to the effects of changes in assumptions based on observed market trends, changes in discount rates, accretion of discount and the economic effects of loss mitigation efforts. Economic loss development is the principal measure that the Company uses to evaluate the loss experience in its insured portfolio. Expected loss to be paid includes all transactions insured by the Company, whether written in insurance or credit derivative form, regardless of the accounting model prescribed under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP).

New Business Production

(in millions)

  Quarter Ended June 30, 2017   2016 GWP   PVP(1)  

Gross Par

Written

GWP   PVP(1)  

Gross Par

Written

  Public finance - U.S. $ 44 $ 46 $ 4,832 $ 33 $ 33 $ 4,366 Public finance - non - U.S. 26 14 181 7 7 406 Structured finance - U.S. 1 0 — (3 ) 1 3 Structured finance - non-U.S. 8   10   127   (1 ) —   — Total $ 79   $ 70   $ 5,140   $ 36   $ 41   $ 4,775  

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(1) Please see “Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” at the end of this press release.

GWP include amounts collected upfront on new business written, the present value of future premiums on new business written (discounted at risk free rates), as well as the effects of changes in the estimated lives of transactions in the inforce book of business. In second quarter 2017, GWP increased to $79 million from $36 million in second quarter 2016, due to increased new business production in public finance and international structured finance.

U.S. public finance PVP increased in second quarter 2017 compared with the comparable prior-year period due to higher par written in both the primary and secondary market. The Company's market share, based on par, rose to 62% in second quarter 2017 from 53% in second quarter 2016. Assured Guaranty's secondary market PVP more than tripled to $13 million in second quarter 2017 compared with the comparable prior-year period. Assured Guaranty once again guaranteed the majority of insured par issued while maintaining an A- average rating on new business written.

Outside the U.S., the Company generated $14 million of public finance PVP, all in the United Kingdom, in second quarter 2017, compared with $7 million in second quarter 2016. In second quarter 2017, the Company guaranteed a university housing transaction and provided a senior liquidity guarantee as part of a recent European infrastructure refinancing. The Company believes its financial guaranty product is competitive with other financing options in certain segments of the infrastructure market. Future business activity will be influenced by the typically long lead times for these types of transactions.

In addition, the Company generated $10 million of non-U.S. structured finance PVP in second quarter 2017 by providing reinsurance of aircraft residual value policies.

Other Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Operating income was $141 million in second quarter 2017, compared with operating income of $136 million in second quarter 2016. The increase in operating income was due primarily to lower loss expense in 2017 and tax benefits recognized in second quarter 2017 due to the release of tax reserves for uncertain tax positions, offset in part by lower premium accelerations from refundings and terminations and loss mitigation benefits in second quarter 2016 that did not recur in second quarter 2017.

The effects of FG VIE consolidation included in operating income (non-GAAP) were gains of $5 million in second quarter 2017 and losses of $3 million in second quarter 2016. As discussed in "Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures," the Company revised its calculation of non-GAAP measures, in fourth quarter 2016, in response to the SEC's May 17, 2016 release of updated Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations of the rules and regulations on the use of non-GAAP financial measures (the May 2016 C&DIs), to include FG VIE consolidation in its non-GAAP measures.

Common Share Repurchases

Summary of Share Repurchases

(in millions, except per share amounts)

              Amount  

Number of

Shares

 

Average Price

Per Share

  First quarter 2017 $ 216 5.4 $ 39.83 Second quarter 2017 135 3.5 39.05 Third quarter 2017 (through August 2) 30 0.7 43.78 Total 2017 381 9.6 39.84  

From 2013 through August 2, 2017, the Company repurchased 78.2 million common shares at an average price of $26.80, representing 40% of the total shares outstanding at the beginning of the repurchase program in 2013. The remaining authorization is $168 million as of August 2, 2017. These repurchases can be made from time to time in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions.

As in the past, the Company's execution of its capital management strategy is contingent upon its available free cash and the capital position of the parent company, market conditions, the maintenance of its strong financial strength ratings and other factors. The repurchase program may be modified, extended or terminated by the board of directors at any time. It does not have an expiration date.

Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited)

(in millions)

      As of June 30, 2017   December 31, 2016 Assets Investment portfolio: Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale, at fair value $ 10,505 $ 10,233 Short-term investments, at fair value 678 590 Other invested assets 88   162 Total investment portfolio 11,271 10,985 Cash 200 118 Premiums receivable, net of commissions payable 916 576 Ceded unearned premium reserve 174 206 Deferred acquisition costs 107 106 Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses 78 80 Salvage and subrogation recoverable 403 365 Credit derivative assets 6 13 Deferred tax asset, net 391 497 Current income tax receivable — 12 FG VIE assets, at fair value 757 876 Other assets 352   317 Total assets $ 14,655   $ 14,151 Liabilities and shareholders' equity Liabilities Unearned premium reserve $ 3,748 $ 3,511 Loss and LAE reserve 1,268 1,127 Reinsurance balances payable, net 54 64 Long-term debt 1,294 1,306 Credit derivative liabilities 367 402 Current income tax payable 96 — FG VIE liabilities with recourse, at fair value 689 807 FG VIE liabilities without recourse, at fair value 131 151 Other liabilities 258   279 Total liabilities 7,905 7,647 Shareholders' equity Common stock 1 1 Additional paid-in capital 711 1,060 Retained earnings 5,722 5,289 Accumulated other comprehensive income 315 149 Deferred equity compensation 1   5 Total shareholders' equity 6,750   6,504 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 14,655   $ 14,151  

Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To reflect the key financial measures that management analyzes in evaluating the Company’s operations and progress towards long-term goals, the Company discloses both financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP and financial measures not determined in accordance with GAAP (non-GAAP financial measures).

Financial measures identified as non-GAAP should not be considered substitutes for GAAP financial measures. The primary limitation of non-GAAP financial measures is the potential lack of comparability to financial measures of other companies, whose definitions of non-GAAP financial measures may differ from those of Assured Guaranty.

By disclosing non-GAAP financial measures, the Company gives investors, analysts and financial news reporters access to information that management and the Board of Directors review internally. Assured Guaranty believes its presentation of non-GAAP financial measures, along with the effect on those measures of consolidating FG VIEs (FG VIE consolidation), provides information that is necessary for analysts to calculate their estimates of Assured Guaranty’s financial results in their research reports on Assured Guaranty and for investors, analysts and the financial news media to evaluate Assured Guaranty’s financial results.

GAAP requires the Company to consolidate certain variable interest entities (VIEs) that have issued debt obligations insured by the Company. However, the Company does not own such VIEs and its exposure is limited to its obligation under its financial guaranty insurance contract. Therefore, the Company had previously removed the effect of FG VIE consolidation in its calculation of its non-GAAP financial measures. However, since fourth quarter 2016, based on the SEC's May 2016 compliance and disclosure interpretations, the Company no longer removes the effect of FG VIE consolidation from its publicly disclosed non-GAAP financial measures. This change affects the Company's calculation of operating income (non-GAAP), operating ROE, non-GAAP operating shareholders’ equity and non-GAAP adjusted book value. Wherever possible, the Company has separately disclosed the effect of FG VIE consolidation. The prior-year quarterly non-GAAP financial measures have been updated to reflect the revised calculation.

Management and the Board of Directors use non-GAAP financial measures adjusted to remove FG VIE consolidation (which the Company refers to as its core financial measures), as well as GAAP financial measures and other factors, to evaluate the Company’s results of operations, financial condition and progress towards long-term goals. The Company uses these core financial measures in its decision making process and in its calculation of certain components of management compensation.

Many investors, analysts and financial news reporters use non-GAAP operating shareholders’ equity, adjusted to remove the effect of FG VIE consolidation, as the principal financial measure for valuing AGL’s current share price or projected share price and also as the basis of their decision to recommend, buy or sell AGL’s common shares. Many of the Company’s fixed income investors also use this measure to evaluate the Company’s capital adequacy.

Many investors, analysts and financial news reporters also use non-GAAP adjusted book value, adjusted to remove the effect of FG VIE consolidation, to evaluate AGL’s share price and as the basis of their decision to recommend, buy or sell the AGL common shares. Operating income adjusted for the effect of FG VIE consolidation enables investors and analysts to evaluate the Company’s financial results in comparison with the consensus analyst estimates distributed publicly by financial databases.

The core financial measures that the Company uses to help determine compensation are: (1) operating income, adjusted to remove the effect of FG VIE consolidation, (2) non-GAAP operating shareholders' equity, adjusted to remove the effect of FG VIE consolidation, (3) growth in non-GAAP adjusted book value per share, adjusted to remove the effect of FG VIE consolidation, and (4) PVP.

The following paragraphs and tables define each non-GAAP financial measure disclosed by the Company and describe why it is useful. A reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure and the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is presented below.

Operating Income (non-GAAP)

Management believes that operating income is a useful measure because it clarifies the understanding of the underwriting results and financial condition of the Company and presents the results of operations of the Company excluding the fair value adjustments on credit derivatives and CCS that are not expected to result in economic gain or loss, as well as other adjustments described below. Management adjusts operating income further by removing FG VIE consolidation to arrive at its core operating income measure. Operating income is defined as net income (loss) attributable to AGL, as reported under GAAP, adjusted for the following:

1) Elimination of realized gains (losses) on the Company’s investments, except for gains and losses on securities classified as trading. The timing of realized gains and losses, which depends largely on market credit cycles, can vary considerably across periods. The timing of sales is largely subject to the Company’s discretion and influenced by market opportunities, as well as the Company’s tax and capital profile.

2) Elimination of non-credit-impairment unrealized fair value gains (losses) on credit derivatives, which is the amount of unrealized fair value gains (losses) in excess of the present value of the expected estimated economic credit losses, and non-economic payments. Such fair value adjustments are heavily affected by, and in part fluctuate with, changes in market interest rates, the Company's credit spreads, and other market factors and are not expected to result in an economic gain or loss.

3) Elimination of fair value gains (losses) on the Company’s CCS. Such amounts are affected by changes in market interest rates, the Company's credit spreads, price indications on the Company's publicly traded debt, and other market factors and are not expected to result in an economic gain or loss.

4) Elimination of foreign exchange gains (losses) on remeasurement of net premium receivables and loss and LAE reserves. Long-dated receivables and loss and LAE reserves represent the present value of future contractual or expected cash flows. Therefore, the current period’s foreign exchange remeasurement gains (losses) are not necessarily indicative of the total foreign exchange gains (losses) that the Company will ultimately recognize.

5) Elimination of the tax effects related to the above adjustments, which are determined by applying the statutory tax rate in each of the jurisdictions that generate these adjustments.

Summary Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to Operating Income (non-GAAP) (1)

(in millions)

    Quarter Ended June 30, 2017   2016   Net income (loss) $ 153 $ 146 Less pre-tax adjustments: Realized gains (losses) on investments 15 10 Non-credit impairment unrealized fair value gains (losses) on credit derivatives (20 ) 32 Fair value gains (losses) on CCS 2 (11 ) Foreign exchange gains (losses) on remeasurement of premiums receivable and loss and LAE reserves 21   (17 ) Total pre-tax adjustments 18 14 Less tax effect on pre-tax adjustments (6 ) (4 ) Operating income (non-GAAP) $ 141   $ 136     Gain (loss) related to FG VIE consolidation (net of tax provision (benefit) of $4 and $(1)) included in operating income $ 5 $ (3 )  

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(1) The non-GAAP financial measures presented in the table above should not be considered a substitute for financial results and measures determined or calculated in accordance with GAAP. The prior-year non-GAAP financial measures have been updated to reflect the revised calculation as discussed above.

Operating Income Adjustments and

Effect of FG VIE Consolidation

(in millions)

    Quarter Ended   Quarter Ended June 30, 2017 June 30, 2016

Operating

Income

Adjustments

(1)

 

Effect of FG

VIE

Consolidation

(2)

Operating

Income

Adjustments

(1)

 

Effect of FG

VIE

Consolidation

(2)

Adjustments to revenues: Net earned premiums $ — $ (4 ) $ — $ (3 ) Net investment income — (1 ) 7 (2 ) Net realized investment gains (losses) 15 — 10 — Net change in fair value of credit derivatives (12 ) — 37 — Fair value gains (losses) on CCS 2 — (11 ) — Fair value gains (losses) on FG VIEs — 12 — 4 Other income (loss) 21   0   (18 ) 0   Total revenue adjustments 26 7 25 (1 ) Adjustments to expenses: Loss expense 8   (2 ) 11   3   Total expense adjustments 8   (2 ) 11   3   Pre-tax adjustments 18 9 14 (4 ) Tax effect of adjustments 6   4   4   (1 ) After-tax adjustments $ 12   $ 5   $ 10   $ (3 )  

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(1) The "Operating Income Adjustments" column represents the amounts recorded in the consolidated statements of operations that the Company removes to arrive at operating income.

(2) The "Effect of FG VIE Consolidation" column represents the amounts included in the consolidated statements of operations and operating income (non-GAAP) that the Company removes to arrive at the core financial measures that management uses in certain of its compensation calculations and its decision making process.

Non-GAAP Operating Shareholders’ Equity and Non-GAAP Adjusted Book Value

Management believes that non-GAAP operating shareholders’ equity is a useful measure because it presents the equity of the Company excluding the fair value adjustments on investments, credit derivatives and CCS, that are not expected to result in economic gain or loss, along with other adjustments described below. Management adjusts non-GAAP operating shareholders’ equity further by removing FG VIE consolidation to arrive at its core operating shareholders' equity and core adjusted book value.

Non-GAAP operating shareholders’ equity is the basis of the calculation of non-GAAP adjusted book value (see below). Non-GAAP operating shareholders’ equity is defined as shareholders’ equity attributable to AGL, as reported under GAAP, adjusted for the following:

1) Elimination of non-credit-impairment unrealized fair value gains (losses) on credit derivatives, which is the amount of unrealized fair value gains (losses) in excess of the present value of the expected estimated economic credit losses, and non-economic payments. Such fair value adjustments are heavily affected by, and in part fluctuate with, changes in market interest rates, credit spreads and other market factors and are not expected to result in an economic gain or loss.

2) Elimination of fair value gains (losses) on the Company’s CCS. Such amounts are affected by changes in market interest rates, the Company's credit spreads, price indications on the Company's publicly traded debt, and other market factors and are not expected to result in an economic gain or loss.

3) Elimination of unrealized gains (losses) on the Company’s investments that are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) (excluding foreign exchange remeasurement). The AOCI component of the fair value adjustment on the investment portfolio is not deemed economic because the Company generally holds these investments to maturity and therefore should not recognize an economic gain or loss.

4) Elimination of the tax asset or liability related to the above adjustments, which are determined by applying the statutory tax rate in each of the jurisdictions that generate these adjustments.

Management uses non-GAAP adjusted book value, adjusted for FG VIE consolidation, to measure the intrinsic value of the Company, excluding franchise value. Growth in non-GAAP adjusted book value per share, adjusted for FG VIE consolidation (core adjusted book value), is one of the key financial measures used in determining the amount of certain long-term compensation elements to management and employees and used by rating agencies and investors. Management believes that non-GAAP adjusted book value is a useful measure because it enables an evaluation of the net present value of the Company’s in-force premiums and revenues net of expected losses. Non-GAAP adjusted book value is non-GAAP operating shareholders’ equity, as defined above, further adjusted for the following:

1) Elimination of deferred acquisition costs, net. These amounts represent net deferred expenses that have already been paid or accrued and will be expensed in future accounting periods.

2) Addition of the net present value of estimated net future revenue on non-financial guaranty contracts. See below.

3) Addition of the deferred premium revenue on financial guaranty contracts in excess of expected loss to be expensed, net of reinsurance. This amount represents the expected future net earned premiums, net of expected losses to be expensed, which are not reflected in GAAP equity.

4) Elimination of the tax asset or liability related to the above adjustments, which are determined by applying the statutory tax rate in each of the jurisdictions that generate these adjustments.

The unearned premiums and revenues included in non-GAAP adjusted book value will be earned in future periods, but actual earnings may differ materially from the estimated amounts used in determining current non-GAAP adjusted book value due to changes in foreign exchange rates, prepayment speeds, terminations, credit defaults and other factors.

Reconciliation of GAAP Shareholders' Equity to Non-GAAP Operating Shareholders' Equity (1) and Non-GAAP Adjusted Book Value (1)

(in millions, except per share amounts)

      As of June 30, 2017  

December 31,

2016

  Shareholders' equity $ 6,750 $ 6,504 Less pre-tax adjustments: Non-credit impairment unrealized fair value gains (losses) on credit derivatives (185 ) (189 ) Fair value gains (losses) on CCS 62 62 Unrealized gain (loss) on investment portfolio excluding foreign exchange effect 504 316 Less taxes (133 ) (71 ) Non-GAAP operating shareholders' equity 6,502 6,386 Pre-tax adjustments: Less: Deferred acquisition costs 106 106 Plus: Net present value of estimated net future revenue 148 136 Plus: Net unearned premium reserve on financial guaranty contracts in excess of expected loss to be expensed 3,173 2,922 Plus taxes (924 ) (832 ) Non-GAAP adjusted book value $ 8,793   $ 8,506     Gain (loss) related to FG VIE consolidation included in non-GAAP operating shareholders' equity (net of tax (provision) benefit of $(1) and $4) $ 3 $ (7 ) Gain (loss) related to FG VIE consolidation included in non-GAAP adjusted book value (net of tax benefit of $8 and $12) $ (13 ) $ (24 )   Shares outstanding at the end of the period 119.7 128.0   Per share: Shareholders' equity $ 56.40 $ 50.82 Non-GAAP operating shareholders' equity 54.34 49.89 Non-GAAP adjusted book value 73.48 66.46  

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(1) The non-GAAP financial measures presented in the table above should not be considered a substitute for financial results and measures determined or calculated in accordance with GAAP.

Net Present Value of Estimated Net Future Revenue

Management believes that this amount is a useful measure because it enables an evaluation of the value of future estimated revenue. There is no corresponding GAAP financial measure. This amount represents the present value of estimated future revenue from the Company’s non-financial guaranty contracts, net of reinsurance, ceding commissions and premium taxes, for contracts without expected economic losses, and is discounted at 6%. Estimated net future revenue may change from period to period due to changes in foreign exchange rates, prepayment speeds, terminations, credit defaults or other factors that affect par outstanding or the ultimate maturity of an obligation.

PVP or Present Value of New Business Production

Management believes that PVP is a useful measure because it enables the evaluation of the value of new business production for the Company by taking into account the value of estimated future installment premiums on all new contracts underwritten in a reporting period as well as premium supplements and additional installment premium on existing contracts as to which the issuer has the right to call the insured obligation but has not exercised such right, whether in insurance or credit derivative contract form, which management believes GAAP gross written premiums and the net credit derivative premiums received and receivable portion of net realized gains and other settlements on credit derivatives (Credit Derivative Realized Gains (Losses)) do not adequately measure. PVP in respect of contracts written in a specified period is defined as gross upfront and installment premiums received and the present value of gross estimated future installment premiums, discounted, in each case, at 6%. Under GAAP, financial guaranty installment premiums are discounted at a risk free rate. Additionally, under GAAP, management records future installment premiums on financial guaranty insurance contracts covering non-homogeneous pools of assets based on the contractual term of the transaction, whereas for PVP purposes, management records an estimate of the future installment premiums the Company expects to receive, which may be based upon a shorter period of time than the contractual term of the transaction. Actual future net earned or written premiums and Credit Derivative Realized Gains (Losses) may differ from PVP due to factors including, but not limited to, changes in foreign exchange rates, prepayment speeds, terminations, credit defaults, or other factors that affect par outstanding or the ultimate maturity of an obligation.

Reconciliation of GWP to PVP (1)

(in millions)

    Quarter Ended June 30, 2017 Public Finance   Structured Finance   U.S.   Non - U.S. U.S.   Non - U.S. Total GWP $ 44 $ 26 $ 1 $ 8 $ 79

Less: Installment GWP and other GAAP

adjustments(2)

(2 ) 26   1   0   25 Upfront GWP 46 — — 8 54

Plus: Installment premium PVP

0   14   0   2   16 PVP $ 46   $ 14   $ 0   $ 10   $ 70     Quarter Ended June 30, 2016 Public Finance   Structured Finance   U.S.   Non - U.S. U.S.   Non - U.S. Total GWP $ 33 $ 7 $ (3 ) $ (1 ) $ 36

Less: Installment GWP and other GAAP

adjustments(2)

0   7   (3 ) (1 ) 3 Upfront GWP 33 — 0 — 33 Plus: Installment premium PVP —   7   1   —   8 PVP $ 33   $ 7   $ 1   $ —   $ 41  

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(1) The non-GAAP financial measures presented in the table above should not be considered a substitute for financial results and measures determined or calculated in accordance with GAAP.

(2) Includes present value of new business on installment policies discounted at the prescribed GAAP discount rates, GWP adjustments on existing installment policies due to changes in assumptions, any cancellations of assumed reinsurance contracts, and other GAAP adjustments.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

The Company will host a conference call for investors at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time (9:00 a.m. Atlantic Time) on Thursday, August 3, 2017. The conference call will be available via live and archived webcast in the Investor Information section of the Company's website at AssuredGuaranty.com or by dialing 1-877-281-1545 (in the U.S.) or 1-412-902-6609 (International). A replay of the call will be made available through November 2, 2017. To listen to the replay, dial 1-877-344-7529 (in the U.S.) or 1-412-317-0088 (International), passcode 10110568. The replay will be available one hour after the conference call ends.

Please refer to Assured Guaranty's June 30, 2017 Financial Supplement, which is posted on the Company's website at assuredguaranty.com/investor-information/by-company/assured-guaranty-ltd, for more information on the Company's financial guaranty portfolio, investment portfolio and other items. The Company is also posting on the same page of its website:

• “Public Finance Transactions in 2Q 2017,” which lists the U.S. public finance new issues insured by the Company in second quarter 2017, and
• “Structured Finance Transactions at June 30, 2017,” which lists the Company's structured finance exposure as of that date.

In addition, the Company is posting at assuredguaranty.com/presentations the “June 30, 2017 Equity Investor Presentation.” Furthermore, the Company's separate-company subsidiary financial supplements and its Fixed Income Presentation for the current quarter will be posted on the Company's website when available. Those documents will be furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission in a Current Report on Form 8-K.

Assured Guaranty Ltd. is a publicly traded (NYSE: AGO) Bermuda-based holding company. Its operating subsidiaries provide credit enhancement products to the U.S. and international public finance, infrastructure and structured finance markets. More information on Assured Guaranty Ltd. and its subsidiaries can be found at AssuredGuaranty.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Any forward-looking statements made in this press release reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and financial performance and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in these statements. For example, Assured Guaranty's calculations of non-GAAP adjusted book value, PVP, net present value of estimated future installment premiums in force and total estimated net future premium earnings and statements regarding its capital position and demand for its insurance and other forward-looking statements could be affected by reduction in the amount of available insurance opportunities and/or in the demand for Assured Guaranty's insurance; rating agency action, including a ratings downgrade, a change in outlook, the placement of ratings on watch for downgrade, or a change in rating criteria, at any time, of AGL or any of its subsidiaries, and/or of any securities AGL or any of its subsidiaries have issued, and/or of transactions that AGL’s subsidiaries have insured; developments in the world’s financial and capital markets that adversely affect obligors’ payment rates, Assured Guaranty’s loss experience, or its exposure to refinancing risk in transactions (which could result in substantial liquidity claims on its guarantees); the possibility that budget or pension shortfalls or other factors will result in credit losses or impairments on obligations of state, territorial and local governments and their related authorities and public corporations that Assured Guaranty insures or reinsures; the failure of Assured Guaranty to realize loss recoveries that are assumed in its expected loss estimates; increased competition, including from new entrants into the financial guaranty industry; rating agency action on obligors, including sovereign debtors, resulting in a reduction in the value of securities in Assured Guaranty's investment portfolio and in collateral posted by and to Assured Guaranty; the inability of Assured Guaranty to access external sources of capital on acceptable terms; changes in the world’s credit markets, segments thereof, interest rates or general economic conditions; the impact of market volatility on the mark-to-market of Assured Guaranty’s contracts written in credit default swap form; changes in applicable accounting policies or practices; changes in applicable laws or regulations, including insurance, bankruptcy and tax laws, or other governmental actions; the impact of changes in the world’s economy and credit and currency markets and in applicable laws or regulations relating to the decision of the United Kingdom to exit the European Union; the possibility that acquisitions or alternative investments made by Assured Guaranty do not result in the benefits anticipated or subject Assured Guaranty to unanticipated consequences; deterioration in the financial condition of Assured Guaranty’s reinsurers, the amount and timing of reinsurance recoverables actually received and the risk that reinsurers may dispute amounts owed to Assured Guaranty under its reinsurance agreements; difficulties with the execution of Assured Guaranty’s business strategy; loss of key personnel; the effects of mergers, acquisitions and divestitures; natural or man-made catastrophes; other risk factors identified in AGL's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; other risks and uncertainties that have not been identified at this time; and management’s response to these factors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of August 2, 2017, and Assured Guaranty undertakes no obligation to update publicly or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law.

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Assured Guaranty Ltd.Robert Tucker, 212-339-0861Senior Managing Director, Investor Relations and Corporate Communicationsrtucker@agltd.comorAshweeta Durani, 212-408-6042Vice President, Corporate Communicationsadurani@agltd.com