collateral, as applicable. Cash flows are discounted at current risk-free rates. The Company updates the discount rates each quarter and reflects the effect of such changes in economic loss development. Net expected loss to be paid (recovered) is net of amounts ceded to reinsurers. The Company’s net expected loss to be paid (recovered) incorporates management’s probability weighted estimates of all possible scenarios.

Expected cash outflows and inflows are probability weighted cash flows that reflect management’s assumptions about the likelihood of all possible outcomes based on all information available to it. Those assumptions consider the relevant facts and circumstances and are consistent with the information tracked and monitored through the Company’s risk management activities. Expected loss to be paid (recovered) is important in that it represents the present value of amounts that the Company expects to pay or recover in future periods for all contracts.

The insured portfolio includes policies accounted for under various accounting models depending on the characteristics of the contract and the Company’s control rights. The three primary models are: (1) insurance, as described in Note 5, Contracts Accounted for as Insurance; (2) derivatives, as described in Note 6, Contracts Accounted for as Credit Derivatives, and Note 9, Fair Value Measurement; and (3) FG VIE consolidation, as described in Note 8, Financial Guaranty Variable Interest Entities and Consolidated Investment Vehicles. The Company has paid and expects to pay future losses and/or recover past losses on policies which fall under each of these accounting models.

The Company’s loss reserve committees estimate expected loss to be paid (recovered) for all contracts by reviewing analyses that consider various scenarios with corresponding probabilities assigned to them. Depending upon the nature of the risk, the Company’s view of the potential size of any loss and the information available to the Company, that analysis may be based upon individually developed cash flow models, internal credit rating assessments, sector-driven loss severity assumptions and/or judgmental assessments. In the case of its assumed business, the Company may conduct its own analysis as just described or, depending on the Company’s view of the potential size of any loss and the information available to the Company, the Company may use loss estimates provided by ceding insurers. The Company monitors the performance of its transactions with expected losses and each quarter the Company’s loss reserve committees review and refresh their loss projection

The financial guaranties issued by the Company insure the credit performance of the guaranteed obligations over an extended period of time, in some cases over 30 years, and in most circumstances the Company has no right to cancel such financial guaranties. As a result, the Company’s estimate of ultimate loss on a policy is subject to significant uncertainty over the life of the insured transaction. Credit performance can be adversely affected by economic, fiscal and financial market variability over the life of most contracts.

The Company does not use traditional actuarial approaches to determine its estimates of expected losses. The determination of expected loss to be paid (recovered) is an inherently subjective process involving numerous estimates, assumptions and judgments by management, using both internal and external data sources with regard to frequency, severity of loss, economic projections, governmental actions, negotiations, recovery rates, delinquency and prepayment rates (with respect to RMBS), timing of cash flows, and other factors that affect credit performance. These estimates, assumptions and judgments, and the factors on which they are based, may change materially over a reporting period, and have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements. Each quarter, the Company may revise its scenarios and update its assumptions, including the probability weightings of its scenarios based on public information as well as nonpublic information obtained through its surveillance and loss mitigation activities. Such information includes management’s view of the potential impact of COVID-19 on its distressed exposures. Management assesses the possible implications of such information on each insured obligation, considering the unique characteristics of each transaction.

Changes over a reporting period in the Company’s loss estimates for municipal obligations supported by specified revenue streams, such as revenue bonds issued by toll road authorities, municipal utilities or airport authorities, generally will be influenced by factors impacting their revenue levels, such as changes in demand; changing demographics; and other economic factors, especially if the obligations do not benefit from financial support from other tax revenues or governmental authorities. Changes over a reporting period in the Company’s loss estimates for its tax-supported public finance transactions generally will be influenced by factors impacting the public issuer’s ability and willingness to pay, such as changes in the economy and population of the relevant area; changes in the issuer’s ability or willingness to raise taxes, decrease spending or receive federal assistance; new legislation; rating agency actions that affect the issuer’s ability to refinance maturing obligations or issue new debt at a reasonable cost; changes in the priority or amount of pensions and other obligations owed to workers; developments in restructuring or settlement negotiations; and other political and economic factors. Changes in loss estimates may also be affected by the Company’s loss mitigation efforts and other variables.

Changes in the Company’s loss estimates for structured finance transactions generally will be influenced by factors impacting the performance of the assets supporting those transactions. For example, changes over a reporting period in the Company’s loss estimates for its RMBS transactions may be influenced by factors such as the level and timing of loan defaults experienced, changes in housing prices, results from the Company’s loss mitigation activities, and other variables.

In some instances, the terms of the Company’s policy or the terms of certain workout orders and resolutions give it the option to pay principal losses that have been recognized in the transaction but which it is not yet required to pay, thereby reducing the amount of guaranteed interest due in the future. The Company has sometimes exercised this option, which uses cash but reduces projected future losses.


	Net Expected Loss to be Paid (Recovered)				Net Economic Loss Development (Benefit)
	As of				Third Quarter				Nine Months
Accounting Model	September 30, 2022		December 31, 2021		2022		2021		2022		2021
	(in millions)
Insurance (see Note 5)	$	695	$	364	$	(67)	$	(82)	$	(137)	$	(91)
FG VIEs (see Note 8)	28		42		(6)		(10)		(16)		(17)
Credit derivatives (see Note 6)	4		5		1		(2)		5		7
Total	$	727	$	411	$	(72)	$	(94)	$	(148)	$	(101)

The following tables present a roll forward of net expected loss to be paid (recovered) for all contracts, which are accounted for under one of the following accounting models: insurance, derivative and FG VIE. The Company used risk-free rates for U.S. dollar denominated obligations that ranged from 2.98% to 4.18% with a weighted average of 3.97% as of September 30, 2022 and 0.00% to 1.98% with a weighted average of 1.02% as of December 31, 2021. Expected losses to be paid for U.S. dollar denominated transactions represented approximately 99.3% and 97.2% of the total as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively.


	Third Quarter				Nine Months
	2022		2021		2022		2021
	(in millions)
Net expected loss to be paid (recovered), beginning of period	$	442	$	466	$	411	$	529
Economic loss development (benefit) due to:
Accretion of discount	3		2		8		5
Changes in discount rates	(25)		(1)		(114)		(34)
Changes in timing and assumptions	(50)		(95)		(42)		(72)
Total economic loss development (benefit)	(72)		(94)		(148)		(101)
Net (paid) recovered losses (1)	357		(173)		464		(229)
Net expected loss to be paid (recovered), end of period	$	727	$	199	$	727	$	199


	Third Quarter 2022
Sector	Net Expected Loss to be Paid (Recovered) as of June 30, 2022		Economic Loss Development (Benefit)		Net (Paid) Recovered Losses (1)		Net Expected Loss to be Paid (Recovered) as of September 30, 2022
	(in millions)
Public finance:
U.S. public finance	$	210	$	24	$	392	$	626
Non-U.S. public finance	7		(2)		1		6
Public finance	217		22		393		632
Structured finance:
U.S. RMBS	179		(95)		(32)		52
Other structured finance	46		1		(4)		43
Structured finance	225		(94)		(36)		95
Total	$	442	$	(72)	$	357	$	727


	Third Quarter 2021
Sector	Net Expected Loss to be Paid (Recovered) as of June 30, 2021		Economic Loss Development (Benefit)		Net (Paid) Recovered Losses (1)		Net Expected Loss to be Paid (Recovered) as of September 30, 2021
	(in millions)
Public finance:
U.S. public finance	$	221	(29)		$	(201)	$	(9)
Non-U.S. public finance	22		(2)		(1)		19
Public finance	243		(31)		(202)		10
Structured finance:
U.S. RMBS	178		(65)		29		142
Other structured finance	45		2		—		47
Structured finance	223		(63)		29		189
Total	$	466	$	(94)	$	(173)	$	199


	Nine Months 2022
Sector	Net Expected Loss to be Paid (Recovered) as of December 31, 2021		Economic Loss Development (Benefit)		Net (Paid) Recovered Losses (1)		Net Expected Loss to be Paid (Recovered) as of September 30, 2022
	(in millions)
Public finance:
U.S. public finance	$	197	$	(16)	$	445	$	626
Non-U.S. public finance	12		(6)		—		6
Public finance	209		(22)		445		632
Structured finance:
U.S. RMBS	150		(127)		29		52
Other structured finance	52		1		(10)		43
Structured finance	202		(126)		19		95
Total	$	411	$	(148)	$	464	$	727


	Nine Months 2021
Sector	Net Expected Loss to be Paid (Recovered) as of December 31, 2020		Economic Loss Development (Benefit)		Net (Paid) Recovered Losses (1)		Net Expected Loss to be Paid (Recovered) as of September 30, 2021
	(in millions)
Public finance:
U.S. public finance	$	305	$	(13)	$	(301)	$	(9)
Non-U.S. public finance	36		(15)		(2)		19
Public finance	341		(28)		(303)		10
Structured finance:
U.S. RMBS	148		(82)		76		142
Other structured finance	40		9		(2)		47
Structured finance	188		(73)		74		189
Total	$	529	$	(101)	$	(229)	$	199

The tables above include (a) LAE paid of $5 million, $5 million, $25 million and $15 million for third quarter 2022, third quarter 2021, nine months 2022 and nine months 2021, respectively, and (b) expected LAE to be paid of $11 million as of September 30, 2022 and $26 million as of December 31, 2021. Ceded expected loss and LAE to be recovered (paid) was $(2) million as of September 30, 2022 and $10 million as of December 31, 2021.

The Company insured general obligation bonds of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and various obligations of its related authorities and public corporations aggregating $2.1 billion net par outstanding as of September 30, 2022, all of which was BIG. On March 15, 2022, the GO/PBA Plan, PRCCDA Modification, and PRIFA Modification were consummated, as described under “Exposure to Puerto Rico” in Note 3, Outstanding Exposure. On July 8, 2022, the Company received from the Commonwealth, pursuant to the GO/PBA Plan and the terms of the HTA PSA, additional cash and CVIs. On the HTA Effective Date, the Company also expects to receive additional recoveries in the form of cash and Toll Bonds. For additional information regarding the Company’s Puerto Rico exposure, see “Exposure to Puerto Rico” in Note 3, Outstanding Exposure.

On February 25, 2015, a plan of adjustment resolving the bankruptcy filing of the City of Stockton, California under chapter 9 of the Bankruptcy Code became effective. As of September 30, 2022, the Company’s net par outstanding subject to the plan consisted of $96 million of pension obligation bonds. As part of the plan of adjustment, the City will repay claims paid on the pension obligation bonds from certain fixed payments and certain variable payments contingent on the City’s revenue growth.

The Company projects its total net expected loss to be paid across its troubled U.S. public finance exposures as of September 30, 2022, including those mentioned above, to be $626 million, compared with $197 million as of December 31, 2021. The economic loss development for U.S. public finance transactions was $24 million during third quarter 2022 and was primarily attributable to healthcare and Puerto Rico exposures, partially offset by the effect of changes in discount rates. The economic benefit for U.S. public finance transactions was $16 million during nine months 2022, which was primarily attributable to changes in discount rates and higher projected revenues for certain exposures, partially offset by healthcare and Puerto Rico exposures. The changes attributable to the Company’s Puerto Rico exposures reflect adjustments the Company made to the assumptions it used in its scenarios and valuation of certain recovery components based on the public information as discussed under “Exposure to Puerto Rico” in Note 3, Outstanding Exposure as well as nonpublic information related to its loss mitigation activities during the period.

The Company projects losses on its insured U.S. RMBS on a transaction-by-transaction basis by projecting the performance of the underlying pool of mortgages over time and then applying the structural features (i.e., payment priorities and tranching) of the RMBS and any expected representation and warranty (R&W) recoveries/payables to the projected performance of the collateral over time. The resulting projected claim payments or reimbursements are then discounted using risk-free rates.

Each period the Company makes a judgment as to whether to change the assumptions it uses to make RMBS loss projections based on its observation during the period of the performance of its insured transactions (including early-stage delinquencies, late-stage delinquencies and loss severity) as well as the residential property market and economy in general, and, to the extent it observes changes, it makes a judgment as to whether those changes are normal fluctuations or part of a trend. The assumptions that the Company uses to project RMBS losses are shown in the sections below.

The majority of projected losses in first lien U.S. RMBS transactions are expected to come from non-performing mortgage loans (those that are or have recently been two or more payments behind, have been modified, are in foreclosure, or have been foreclosed upon). Changes in the amount of non-performing loans from the amount projected in the previous period are one of the primary drivers of loss projections in this portfolio. In order to determine the number of defaults resulting from these delinquent and foreclosed loans, the Company applies a liquidation rate assumption to loans in each of various non-performing categories. The Company arrived at its liquidation rates based on data purchased from a third-party provider and assumptions about how delays in the foreclosure process and loan modifications may ultimately affect the rate at which loans are liquidated. Each quarter the Company reviews recent data and (if necessary) adjusts its liquidation rates based on its observations. The following table shows liquidation assumptions for various non-performing and re-performing categories.


	As of
	September 30, 2022	December 31, 2021
Current but recently delinquent
Alt-A and Prime	20%	20%
Option ARM	20	20
Subprime	20	20
30 – 59 Days Delinquent
Alt-A and Prime	35	35
Option ARM	35	35
Subprime	30	30
60 – 89 Days Delinquent
Alt-A and Prime	40	40
Option ARM	45	45
Subprime	40	40
90+ Days Delinquent
Alt-A and Prime	55	55
Option ARM	60	60
Subprime	45	45
Bankruptcy
Alt-A and Prime	45	45
Option ARM	50	50
Subprime	40	40
Foreclosure
Alt-A and Prime	60	60
Option ARM	65	65
Subprime	55	55
Real Estate Owned
All	100	100

While the Company uses the liquidation rates above to project defaults of non-performing loans (including current loans that were recently modified or delinquent), it projects defaults on presently current loans by applying a conditional default rate (CDR) curve. The start of that CDR curve is based on the defaults the Company projects will emerge from currently nonperforming, recently nonperforming and modified loans. The total amount of expected defaults from the non-performing loans is translated into a constant CDR (i.e., the CDR plateau), which, if applied for each of the next 36 months, would be sufficient to produce approximately the amount of defaults that were calculated to emerge from the various delinquency categories. The CDR thus calculated individually on the delinquent collateral pool for each RMBS is then used as the starting point for the CDR curve used to project defaults of the presently performing loans.

In the most heavily weighted scenario (the base scenario), after the 36-month CDR plateau period, each transaction’s CDR is projected to improve over 12 months to a final CDR of 5% of the plateau CDR. In the base scenario, the Company assumes the final CDR will be reached 1.00 year after the 36-month CDR plateau period. Under the Company’s methodology, defaults projected to occur in the first 36 months represent defaults that can be attributed to loans that were recently modified or delinquent, or that are currently delinquent or in foreclosure, while the defaults projected to occur using the projected CDR trend after the first 36-month period represent defaults attributable to borrowers that are currently performing or are projected to re-perform.

Another important driver of loss projections is loss severity, which is the amount of loss the transaction incurs on a loan after the application of net proceeds from the disposal of the underlying property. The Company assumes in the base scenario that recent (still historically elevated) loss severities will improve after loans with accumulated delinquencies and foreclosure cost are liquidated. The Company is assuming in the base scenario that the recent levels generally will continue for another 18 months. The Company determines its initial loss severity based on actual recent experience. Each quarter the Company reviews available data and (if necessary) adjusts its severities based on its observations. The Company then assumes that loss severities begin returning to levels consistent with underwriting assumptions beginning after the initial 18-month period, declining to 40% in the base scenario over 2.5 years.


	As of September 30, 2022					As of December 31, 2021
	Range				Weighted Average	Range				Weighted Average
Alt-A and Prime:
Plateau CDR	1.3	%	-	12.1%	5.6%	0.9	%	-	11.6%	5.9%
Final CDR	0.1	%	-	0.6%	0.3%	0.0	%	-	0.6%	0.3%
Initial loss severity:
2005 and prior	50%					60%
2006	50%					60%
2007+	50%					60%
Option ARM:
Plateau CDR	1.8	%	-	9.5%	4.7%	1.8	%	-	11.9%	5.6%
Final CDR	0.1	%	-	0.5%	0.2%	0.1	%	-	0.6%	0.3%
Initial loss severity:
2005 and prior	50%					60%
2006	50%					60%
2007+	50%					60%
Subprime:
Plateau CDR	2.1	%	-	9.3%	5.8%	2.9	%	-	10.0%	6.0%
Final CDR	0.1	%	-	0.5%	0.3%	0.1	%	-	0.5%	0.3%
Initial loss severity:
2005 and prior	50%					60%
2006	50%					60%
2007+	50%					60%

The rate at which the principal amount of loans is voluntarily prepaid may impact both the amount of losses projected (since that amount is a function of the CDR, the loss severity and the loan balance over time) as well as the amount of excess spread (the amount by which the interest paid by the borrowers on the underlying loan exceeds the amount of interest owed on the insured obligations). The assumption for the voluntary conditional prepayment rate (CPR) follows a pattern similar to that of the CDR. The current level of voluntary prepayments is assumed to continue for the plateau period before gradually increasing over 12 months to the final CPR, which is assumed to be 15% in the base scenario. For transactions where the initial CPR is higher than the final CPR, the initial CPR is held constant and the final CPR is not used. These CPR assumptions are the same as those the Company used for December 31, 2021.

The Company incorporates a recovery assumption into its reserving model to reflect observed trends in recoveries of deferred principal balances of modified first lien loans that had been previously written off. For transactions where the Company has detailed loan information, the Company assumes that 20% of the deferred loan balances will eventually be recovered upon sale of the collateral or refinancing of the loans.

In estimating expected losses, the Company modeled and probability weighted sensitivities for first lien U.S. RMBS transactions by varying its assumptions of how fast a recovery is expected to occur. One of the variables used to model sensitivities was how quickly the CDR returned to its modeled equilibrium, which was defined as 5% of the plateau CDR. The Company also stressed CPR and the speed of recovery of loss severity rates. The Company probability weighted a total of five scenarios as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021.

Total expected loss to be paid on all first lien U.S. RMBS was $110 million and $167 million as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively. The $38 million economic benefit in third quarter 2022 for first lien U.S. RMBS transactions was primarily attributable to the purchase of a loss mitigation security (see Note 7, Investments), changes in discount rates, a benefit on certain assumed RMBS transactions related to a settlement between a ceding company and a R&W provider, and improved transaction performance, partially offset by lower excess spread. The $34 million economic benefit in nine months 2022 for first lien U.S. RMBS transactions was primarily attributable to changes in discount rates, the purchase of

Certain transactions benefit from excess spread when they are supported by large portions of fixed rate assets (either originally fixed or modified to be fixed) but have insured floating rate debt linked to LIBOR. An increase in projected LIBOR decreases excess spread, while lower LIBOR results in higher excess spread. ICE Benchmark Administration (IBA) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) have announced that LIBOR will be discontinued after June 30, 2023. The Company believes that the reference to LIBOR in such floating rate RMBS debt will be replaced, by operation of law in accordance with federal legislation enacted in March 2022, with a rate based on the Secured Overnight Finance Rate (SOFR).

The Company used a similar approach to establish its pessimistic and optimistic scenarios as of September 30, 2022 as it used as of December 31, 2021, increasing and decreasing the periods of stress from those used in the base scenario. In the Company’s most stressful scenario where loss severities were assumed to rise and then recover over nine years and the initial ramp-down of the CDR was assumed to occur over 16 months, expected loss to be paid would increase from current projections by approximately $13 million for all first lien U.S. RMBS transactions. In the Company’s least stressful scenario where the CDR plateau was six months shorter (30 months, effectively assuming that liquidation rates would improve) and the CDR recovery was more pronounced (including an initial ramp-down of the CDR over eight months), expected loss to be paid would decrease from current projections by approximately $8 million for all first lien U.S. RMBS transactions.

Second lien U.S. RMBS transactions include both home equity lines of credit (HELOC) and closed end second lien mortgages. The Company believes the primary variable affecting its expected losses in second lien RMBS transactions is the amount and timing of future losses or recoveries in the collateral pool supporting the transactions (including recoveries from previously charged-off loans). Expected losses are also a function of the structure of the transaction, the prepayment speeds of the collateral, the interest rate environment and assumptions about loss severity.

Prior to third quarter 2022, for the base scenario, the CDR (the plateau CDR) was held constant for six months. Once the plateau period had ended, the CDR was assumed to gradually trend down in uniform increments to its final long-term steady state CDR. (The long-term steady state CDR was calculated as the constant CDR that would have yielded the amount of losses originally expected at underwriting, subject to a floor.) In the base scenario, the time over which the CDR trended down to its final CDR was 28 months. Therefore, the total stress period for second lien transactions was 34 months.

The Company has observed lower than expected default rates and longer liquidation timelines due to significant home price appreciation and special servicing activity which now favors modifications and foreclosure actions rather than charge-offs at 180 days delinquent. In the third quarter 2022, the Company extended the time over which a portion of the delinquent loans default from six months to 36 months in the base scenario (conforming to the methodology used for first lien U.S. RMBS transactions). After the plateau period, as with first lien U.S. RMBS transactions, the CDR trends down over one year to 5% of the plateau CDR. These changes in the shape of the CDR curve result in a longer period of stress defaults (48 months in the base scenario), but at lower default levels leading to lower overall levels of expected losses.

HELOC loans generally permitted the borrower to pay only interest for an initial period (often ten years) and, after that period, require the borrower to make both the monthly interest payment and a monthly principal payment. This causes the borrower's total monthly payment to increase, sometimes substantially, at the end of the initial interest-only period. A substantial number of loans in the Company’s insured transactions had been modified to extend the interest-only period to 15 years (mostly to 2022-2023), and there was uncertainty regarding the performance of these loans as they reset to full amortization.

When a second lien loan defaults, there is generally a low recovery. The Company assumed, as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, that it will generally recover 2% of future defaulting collateral at the time of charge-off, with additional amounts of post charge-off recoveries projected to come in over time. A second lien on the borrower’s home may be retained in the Company’s second lien transactions after the loan is charged off and the loss applied to the transaction, particularly in cases where the holder of the first lien has not foreclosed. If the second lien is retained and the value of the home increases, the servicer may be able to use the second lien to increase recoveries, either by arranging for the borrower to resume payments or by realizing value upon the sale of the underlying real estate. The Company evaluates its assumptions quarterly based on actual recoveries of charged-off loans observed from period to period and reasonable expectations of future recoveries. In instances where the Company is able to obtain information on the lien status of charged-off loans, it assumes there will be a certain level of future recoveries of the balance of the charged-off loans where the second lien is still intact. The Company’s recovery assumption for charged-off loans is 30%, as shown in the table below, based on observed trends and reasonable expectations of future recoveries. Such recoveries are assumed to be received evenly over the next five years. If the recovery rate decreases to 20%, expected loss to be paid would increase from current projections by approximately $39 million. If the recovery rate increases to 40%, expected loss to be paid would decrease from current projections by approximately $39 million.

The rate at which the principal amount of loans is prepaid may impact both the amount of losses projected as well as the amount of excess spread. In the base scenario, an average CPR (based on experience of the past year) is assumed to continue until the end of the plateau before gradually increasing to the final CPR over the same period the CDR decreases. The final CPR is assumed to be 15% for second lien U.S. RMBS transactions (in the base scenario), which is lower than the historical average but reflects the Company’s continued uncertainty about the projected performance of the borrowers in these transactions. For transactions where the initial CPR is higher than the final CPR, the initial CPR is held constant and the final CPR is not used. This pattern is consistent with how the Company modeled the CPR as of December 31, 2021. To the extent that prepayments differ from projected levels it could materially change the Company’s projected excess spread and losses.

In estimating expected losses, the Company modeled and probability weighted five scenarios, each with a different CDR curve applicable to the period preceding the return to the long-term steady state CDR. The Company believes that the level of the elevated CDR and the length of time it will persist and the ultimate prepayment rate are the primary drivers behind the amount of losses the collateral will likely suffer.


	As of September 30, 2022					As of December 31, 2021
	Range				Weighted Average	Range				Weighted Average
Plateau CDR	0.4	%	-	7.6%	3.7%	6.5	%	-	39.6%	16.4%
Final CDR trended down to	0.0	%	-	0.4%	0.2%	1.0%
Liquidation rates:
Current but recently delinquent	20%					20%
30 – 59 Days Delinquent	30					30
60 – 89 Days Delinquent	40					40
90+ Days Delinquent	60					60
Bankruptcy	55					55
Foreclosure	55					55
Real Estate Owned	100					100
Loss severity on future defaults	98%					98%
Projected future recoveries on previously charged-off loans	30%					30%

The Company continues to evaluate the assumptions affecting its modeling results. The Company believes the most important driver of its projected second lien RMBS losses is the performance of its HELOC transactions. Total net expected recovery for all second lien U.S. RMBS was $58 million as of September 30, 2022 and $17 million as of December 31, 2021. The economic benefit in third quarter 2022 was a benefit of $57 million, which was primarily driven by updates in the projected CDR curves, a benefit on certain assumed RMBS transactions related to a settlement between a ceding company and a R&W provider, improved performance of certain transactions, and higher recoveries for secured charged-off loans. The economic benefit in nine months 2022 was $93 million, and was primarily due to improved performance of certain transactions, updates in the projected CDR curves, higher recoveries for secured charged-off loans, a benefit on certain assumed RMBS transactions related to a settlement between a ceding company and a R&W provider, and changes in discount rates, partially offset by lower excess spread.

The Company updated its assumptions related to the CDR plateau and ramp-down during the third quarter 2022. The Company’s base scenario assumed a 36-month CDR plateau and a 12-month ramp-down (for a total stress period of 48 months), compared to a six-month CDR plateau and a 28-month ramp-down (for a total stress period of 34 months) as of December 31, 2021. The Company modeled scenarios with a longer period of elevated defaults and others with a shorter period of elevated defaults. In the Company’s most stressful scenario, increasing the CDR plateau to 42 months and increasing the ramp-down by four months to 16 months (for a total stress period of 58 months) would decrease the expected recovery by approximately $1 million for HELOC transactions. On the other hand, in the Company’s least stressful scenario, reducing the CDR plateau to 30 months and decreasing the length of the CDR ramp-down to eight months (for a total stress period of 38 months), and lowering the ultimate prepayment rate to 10% would increase the expected recovery by approximately $2 million for HELOC transactions.

The Company projected that its total net expected loss to be paid across its troubled structured finance exposures, excluding U.S. RMBS, as of September 30, 2022 was $43 million. The largest component of these structured finance losses were student loan securitizations issued by private issuers with $49 million in BIG net par outstanding. In general, the projected losses of these student loan securitizations are due to: (i) the poor credit performance of private student loan collateral and high loss severities, or (ii) high interest rates on auction rate securities with respect to which the auctions have failed. The Company also had exposure to troubled life insurance transactions with BIG net par of $40 million as of September 30, 2022.

In the ordinary course of their respective businesses, certain of AGL’s subsidiaries are involved in litigation with third parties to recover insurance losses paid in prior periods or prevent or reduce losses in the future. The impact, if any, of these and other proceedings on the amount of recoveries the Company receives and losses it pays in the future is uncertain, and the impact of any one or more of these proceedings during any quarter or year could be material to the Company’s financial statements.