Long-Term Debt and Credit Facilities

Accounting Policy

Long-term debt is recorded at principal amounts net of any unamortized original issue discount or premium and unamortized fair value adjustment for AGMH debt (as of the date of the AGMH acquisition). Discounts and acquisition date fair value adjustments are accreted into interest expense over the life of the applicable debt.

Long Term Debt

The Company has outstanding long-term debt comprising primarily debt issued by AGUS and AGMH. All of such debt is fully and unconditionally guaranteed by AGL; AGL's guarantee of the junior subordinated debentures is on a junior subordinated basis.

Debt Issued by AGUS

7% Senior Notes. On May 18, 2004, AGUS issued $200 million of 7% Senior Notes due 2034 (7% Senior Notes) for net proceeds of $197 million. Although the coupon on the Senior Notes is 7%, the effective rate is approximately 6.4%, taking into account the effect of a cash flow hedge executed by the Company in March 2004. The notes are redeemable, in whole or in part at their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption or, if greater, the make-whole redemption price.

5% Senior Notes. On June 20, 2014, AGUS issued $500 million of 5% Senior Notes due 2024 (5% Senior Notes) for net proceeds of $495 million. The notes are guaranteed by AGL. The net proceeds from the sale of the notes were used for general corporate purposes, including the purchase of AGL common shares. The notes are redeemable, in whole or in part at their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption or, if greater, the make-whole redemption price.

Series A Enhanced Junior Subordinated Debentures. On December 20, 2006, AGUS issued $150 million of Debentures due 2066. The Debentures paid a fixed 6.4% rate of interest until December 15, 2016, and thereafter pay a floating rate of interest, reset quarterly, at a rate equal to three month LIBOR plus a margin equal to 2.38%. AGUS may select at one or more times to defer payment of interest for one or more consecutive periods for up to ten years. Any unpaid interest bears interest at the then applicable rate. AGUS may not defer interest past the maturity date. The debentures are redeemable, in whole or in part at their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption.

Debt Issued by AGMH

6 7/8% QUIBS. On December 19, 2001, AGMH issued $100 million face amount of 6 7/8% QUIBS due December 15, 2101, which are redeemable without premium or penalty in whole or in part at their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption.

6.25% Notes. On November 26, 2002, AGMH issued $230 million face amount of 6.25% Notes due November 1, 2102, which are redeemable without premium or penalty in whole or in part at their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption.

5.6% Notes. On July 31, 2003, AGMH issued $100 million face amount of 5.6% Notes due July 15, 2103, which are redeemable without premium or penalty in whole or in part at their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption.

Junior Subordinated Debentures. On November 22, 2006, AGMH issued $300 million face amount of Junior Subordinated Debentures with a scheduled maturity date of December 15, 2036 and a final repayment date of December 15, 2066. The final repayment date of December 15, 2066 may be automatically extended up to four times in five-year increments provided certain conditions are met. The debentures are redeemable, in whole or in part, at any time prior to December 15, 2036 at their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption or, if greater, the make-whole redemption price. Interest on the debentures will accrue from November 22, 2006 to December 15, 2036 at the annual rate of 6.4%. If any amount of the debentures remains outstanding after December 15, 2036, then the principal amount of the outstanding debentures will bear interest at a floating interest rate equal to one-month LIBOR plus 2.215% until repaid. AGMH may elect at one or more times to defer payment of interest on the debentures for one or more consecutive interest periods that do not exceed ten years. In connection with the completion of this offering, AGMH entered into a replacement capital covenant for the benefit of persons that buy, hold or sell a specified series of AGMH long-term indebtedness ranking senior to the debentures. Under the covenant, the debentures will not be repaid, redeemed, repurchased or defeased by AGMH or any of its subsidiaries on or before the date that is 20 years prior to the final repayment date, except to the extent that AGMH has received proceeds from the sale of replacement capital securities. The proceeds from this offering were used to pay a dividend to the shareholders of AGMH.

The principal and carrying values of the Company’s long-term debt are presented in the table below.

Principal and Carrying Amounts of Debt



	As of December 31, 2017						As of December 31, 2016
	Principal			Carrying Value			Principal		Carrying Value
	(in millions)
AGUS:
7% Senior Notes (1)	$	200		$	197		$	200	$	197
5% Senior Notes (1)	500			496			500		496
Series A Enhanced Junior Subordinated Debentures (2)	150			150			150		150
Total AGUS	850			843			850		843
AGMH(3):
67/8% QUIBS (1)	100			70			100		69
6.25% Notes (1)	230			142			230		141
5.6% Notes (1)	100			57			100		56
Junior Subordinated Debentures (2)	300			192			300		187
Total AGMH	730			461			730		453
AGM(3):
AGM Notes Payable	6			6			9		10
Total AGM	6			6			9		10
Purchased debt (4)	(28		)	(18		)	—		—
Total	$	1,558		$	1,292		$	1,589	$	1,306

____________________


(1)	AGL fully and unconditionally guarantees these obligations.


(2)	Guaranteed by AGL on a junior subordinated basis.


(3)	Carrying amounts are different than principal amounts due primarily to fair value adjustments at the AGMH acquisition date, which are accreted or amortized into interest expense over the remaining terms of these obligations.


(4)	In 2017, AGUS purchased $28 million principal amount of AGMH's outstanding Junior Subordinated Debentures. The Company recognized a $9 million loss on extinguishment of debt, which is included in other income.

Principal payments due under the long-term debt are as follows:

Expected Maturity Schedule of Debt

As of December 31, 2017



	AGUS		AGMH		AGM		Total (1)
	(in millions)
2018-2022	$	—	$	—	$	5	$	5
2023-2042	700		—		1		701
2043-2062	—		—		—		—
2063-2082	150		300		—		450
Thereafter	—		430		—		430
Total	$	850	$	730	$	6	$	1,586

____________________


(1)	Includes AGMH's purchased debt.

Interest Expense



	Year Ended December 31,
	2017			2016		2015
	(in millions)
AGUS:
7% Senior Notes	$	13		$	13	$	13
5% Senior Notes	26			26		26
Series A Enhanced Junior Subordinated Debentures	5			9		10
Total AGUS	44			48		49
AGMH:
67/8% QUIBS	7			7		7
6.25% Notes	16			16		16
5.6% Notes	6			6		6
Junior Subordinated Debentures	25			25		25
Total AGMH	54			54		54
AGM:
Notes Payable	0			0		(2		)
Total AGM	0			0		(2		)
Purchased debt	(1		)	—		—
Total	$	97		$	102	$	101

Intercompany Credit Facility and Intercompany Debt

On October 25, 2013, AGL, as borrower, and AGUS, as lender, entered into a revolving credit facility pursuant to which AGL may, from time to time, borrow for general corporate purposes. Under the credit facility, AGUS committed to lend a principal amount not exceeding $225 million in the aggregate. Such commitment terminates on October 25, 2018 (the loan termination date). The unpaid principal amount of each loan will bear interest at a fixed rate equal to 100% of the then applicable Federal short-term or mid-term interest rate, as the case may be, as determined under Section 1274(d) of the Code, and interest on all loans will be computed for the actual number of days elapsed on the basis of a year consisting of 360 days. Accrued interest on all loans will be paid on the last day of each June and December, beginning on December 31, 2013, and at maturity. AGL must repay the then unpaid principal amounts of the loans by the third anniversary of the loan termination date. No amounts are currently outstanding under the credit facility.

In addition, in 2012 AGUS borrowed $90 million from its affiliate AGRO to fund the acquisition of MAC. During 2017 and 2016, AGUS repaid $10 million and $20 million, respectively, in outstanding principal as well as accrued and unpaid interest, and the parties agreed to extend the maturity date of the loan from May 2017 to November 2019. As of December 31, 2017, $60 million remained outstanding.

Committed Capital Securities

Each of AGC and AGM have entered into put agreements with four separate custodial trusts allowing AGC and AGM, respectively, to issue an aggregate of $200 million of non-cumulative redeemable perpetual preferred securities to the trusts in exchange for cash. The custodial trusts were created for the primary purpose of issuing $50 million face amount of CCS, investing the proceeds in high-quality assets and entering into put options with AGC or AGM, as applicable. The Company does not consider itself to be the primary beneficiary of the trusts and the trusts are not consolidated in Assured Guaranty's financial statements.

The trusts provide AGC and AGM access to new equity capital at their respective sole discretion through the exercise of the put options. Upon AGC's or AGM's exercise of its put option, the relevant trust will liquidate its portfolio of eligible assets and use the proceeds to purchase the AGC or AGM preferred stock, as applicable. AGC or AGM may use the proceeds from its sale of preferred stock to the trusts for any purpose, including the payment of claims. The put agreements have no scheduled termination date or maturity. However, each put agreement will terminate if (subject to certain grace periods) specified events occur. Both AGC and AGM continue to have the ability to exercise their respective put options and cause the related trusts to purchase their preferred stock.

Prior to 2008 or 2007, the amounts paid on the CCS were established through an auction process. All of those auctions failed in 2008 or 2007, and the rates paid on the CCS increased to their respective maximums. The annualized rate on the AGC CCS is one-month LIBOR plus 250 basis points, and the annualized rate on the AGM CPS is one-month LIBOR plus 200 basis points.

See Note 7, Fair Value Measurement, –Other Assets–Committed Capital Securities, for a fair value measurement discussion.