[May 04, 2017]

Assured Guaranty Ltd. Reports Results for First 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 March 31, 2017 (first 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 will no longer adjust 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.

(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."

(2) Diluted shares for generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) net income and non-GAAP operating income were the same.

"Assured Guaranty is off to another strong start this year, with outstanding first quarter results driven in part by our acquisition of MBIA UK," said Dominic Frederico, President and CEO. "New business production was better than in any quarter since fourth quarter 2010, with a strong performance by U.S. public finance, several major international transactions and solid structured finance originations. We advanced our capital management strategy by repurchasing $216 million in common shares while, at the same time, improving our financial strength by increasing our claims-paying resources by $391 million."

First Quarter Results

GAAP Financial Information

Net income for first quarter 2017 was $317 million, compared with net income of $59 million for the three-month period ended March 31, 2016 (first quarter 2016). The increase was primarily attributable to fair value gains on credit derivatives, the acquisition of MBIA UK Insurance Limited (MBIA UK), and a commutation gain upon the reassumption of previously ceded contracts (recorded in other income).

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 the portfolio. Fair value gains on credit derivatives were $54 million in first quarter 2017, and were generated primarily by terminations, price improvements on the underlying collateral and the widening of the Company's credit spreads. Fair value losses on credit derivatives in first quarter 2016 were $60 million, mainly due to the tightening of the Company's credit spreads, and a decrease in the value of a hedge on another financial guarantor.

Net earned premiums were $164 million in first quarter 2017, compared with $183 million in first quarter 2016. The decrease is due primarily to lower accelerations, offset in part by net earned premiums in first quarter 2017 attributable to recent acquisitions.

Economic Loss Development

The economic development in first quarter 2017 was a loss of $47 million, primarily related to an increase in Puerto Rico expected losses, partially offset by a $53 million benefit attributable to the settlement of litigation associated with two triple-X transactions.

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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 GAAP.

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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 expected 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 first quarter 2017, GWP increased to $111 million from $19 million in first quarter 2016, due primarily to increased new business production in U.S. and non-U.S. public finance.

U.S. public finance PVP increased in first quarter 2017 compared with the comparable prior year period due to higher par written in both the primary and secondary market, including one large U.S. infrastructure transaction. During first quarter 2017 Assured Guaranty once again guaranteed the majority of insured par issued and maintained an A- average rating on new business written.

In the United Kingdom, the Company generated $40 million of public finance PVP in first quarter 2017, compared with $7 million of PVP in first quarter 2016. In first quarter 2017, the Company guaranteed two university housing transactions and one hospital transaction, as well as several secondary market utility transactions. The Company's 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 transaction.

Other Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Operating income was $273 million in first quarter 2017, compared with operating income of $123 million in first quarter 2016. The higher operating income was due primarily to the bargain purchase gain on the acquisition of MBIA UK, a gain on the commutation of previously ceded business included in other income, and lower operating loss and LAE. The effects of FG VIE consolidation included in operating income (non-GAAP) were gains of $5 million and $10 million in first quarter 2017 and 2016, respectively. As discussed in "Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures," in fourth quarter 2016, the Company revised its calculation of non-GAAP measures, 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.

From 2013 through May 4, 2017, the Company repurchased 75.4 million common shares at an average price of $26.29, representing 39% of the total shares outstanding at the beginning of the repurchase program in 2013. The remaining authorization is $280 million as of May 4, 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.

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. Beginning in fourth quarter 2016, the Company's publicly disclosed non-GAAP financial measures are different from the financial measures used by management in its decision making process and in its calculation of certain components of management compensation (core financial measures). The Company had previously excluded the effect of consolidating FG VIEs (FG VIE consolidation) in its calculation of its non-GAAP financial measures of operating income (non-GAAP), non-GAAP operating shareholders' equity and non-GAAP adjusted book value. Starting in fourth quarter 2016, based on the May 2016 C&DIs, the Company will no longer adjust for FG VIE consolidation. However, wherever possible, the Company has separately disclosed the effect of FG VIE consolidation that is included in its non-GAAP financial measures. The prior year's quarterly non-GAAP financial measures have been updated to reflect the revised calculation.

Management and the Board of Directors use core financial measures, which are based on non-GAAP financial measures adjusted to remove FG VIE consolidation, 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 removes FG VIE consolidation in its core financial measures because, although GAAP requires the Company to consolidate certain VIEs that have issued debt obligations insured by the Company, the Company does not own such VIEs and its exposure is limited to its obligation under its financial guaranty insurance contract. By disclosing non-GAAP financial measures, along with FG VIE consolidation, 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 and 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.

Many investors, analysts and financial news reporters use non-GAAP operating shareholders' equity, adjusted for 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 for 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 as compared with the consensus analyst estimates distributed publicly by financial databases.

The core financial measures that are used to help determine compensation are: (1) operating income, adjusted for FG VIE consolidation, (2) non-GAAP operating shareholders' equity, adjusted for FG VIE consolidation, (3) growth in non-GAAP adjusted book value per share, adjusted for 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.

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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.

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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 this 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.

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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%. For purposes of the PVP calculation, management discounts estimated future installment premiums on insurance contracts 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.

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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, GWP adjustment 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 Friday, May 5, 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 August 5, 2017. To listen to the replay, dial 1-877-344-7529 (in the U.S.) or 1-412-317-0088 (International), passcode 10106054. The replay will be available one hour after the conference call ends.

Please refer to Assured Guaranty's March 31, 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 1Q 2017," which lists the U.S. public finance new issues insured by the Company in first quarter 2017, and
• "Structured Finance Transactions at March 31, 2017," which lists the Company's structured finance exposure as of that date.

In addition, the Company is posting at assuredguaranty.com/presentations the "March 31, 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 May 4, 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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