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Business Developments and Risks and Uncertainties | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2021
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Business Developments and Risks and Uncertainties | Note 1: Business Developments and Risks and Uncertainties Summary MBIA Inc., together with its consolidated subsidiaries, (collectively, “MBIA” or the “Company”) operates within the financial guarantee insurance industry. MBIA manages three operating segments: 1) United States (“U.S.”) public finance insurance; 2) corporate; and 3) international and structured finance insurance. The Company’s U.S. public finance insurance business is managed through National Public Finance Guarantee Corporation (“National”), the corporate segment is operated through MBIA Inc. and several of its subsidiaries, including its service company, MBIA Services Corporation (“MBIA Services”) and its international and structured finance insurance business is primarily operated through MBIA Insurance Corporation and its subsidiary (“MBIA Corp.”). Refer to “Note 12: Business Segments” for further information about the Company’s operating segments. Business Developments Puerto Rico During 2021, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and certain of its instrumentalities (“Puerto Rico”) defaulted on scheduled debt service for National insured bonds and National paid gross claim payments in the aggregate of $277 million. On January 1, 2022, Puerto Rico also defaulted on scheduled debt service for National insured bonds and National paid gross claims in the aggregate of $47 million. As of December 31, 2021, National had $2.6 billion of debt service outstanding related to Puerto Rico. PREPA In September of 2019, National agreed to join the restructuring support agreement, as amended (“RSA”), with the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (“PREPA”), other monoline insurers, a group of uninsured PREPA bondholders, Puerto Rico, and the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico (the “Oversight Board”). The Rule 9019 hearing to approve the RSA has been delayed several times, and most recently was adjourned due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 (“COVID-19”) until further notice. The debt restructuring contemplated by the RSA will not be effective until (i) confirmation of a plan of adjustment under the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act (“PROMESA”), (ii) negotiation and consummation of definitive documentation and legal opinions, (iii) enactment and implementation of supportive Puerto Rico legislation and (iv) receipt of Puerto Rico regulatory approval, each of which outcome is uncertain and subject to varying degrees of risk. On February 18, 2022, the Ad Hoc Group of PREPA Bondholders filed an urgent motion to compel mediation and impose deadlines for a PREPA Plan, and on February 22, 2022, National filed a joinder to the motion. The Court agreed to set an expedited briefing schedule on the urgent motion, and will consider the pleadings on submission not before March 1, 2022. In October of 2021 and January of 2022, National sold $199 million and $231 million, respectively, of PREPA bankruptcy claims related to insurance claims paid on matured National-insured PREPA bonds. These transactions represented approximately 35% of National’s par claims to PREPA, monetized a portion of National’s salvage asset at a discount to National’s previous carrying value, and reduced potential volatility and ongoing risk of remediation around the PREPA credit. Subsequent to the sale of these PREPA bankruptcy claims, National does not have a material amount of additional par claims to PREPA that have matured and can be sold. GO and HTA On February 22, 2021, National agreed to join a plan support agreement, dated as of February 22, 2021 (the “GO PSA”), among the Oversight Board, certain holders of Puerto Rico Commonwealth GO (“GO”) Bonds and Puerto Rico Public Buildings Authority (“PBA”) Bonds, Assured Guaranty Corp. and Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp, and Syncora Guarantee Inc. in connection with the GO and PBA Title III cases. The GO PSA provides that, among other things, National shall receive a pro rata share of allocable cash, newly issued General Obligation bonds, a contingent value instrument (“CVI”) and certain fees. The GO PSA was amended on January 30, 2022 (the “Amended GO PSA”) to move the termination date from January 31, 2022 to March 15, 2022. On April 12, 2021, National, Assured Guaranty Corp., Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp. and the Oversight Board reached an agreement in principle settling certain clawback claims and providing for a distribution of cash, bonds and a CVI to Puerto Rico Highway and Transportation Authority (“HTA”) bondholders subject to completing negotiations on a plan support agreement in respect of an HTA plan of adjustment (the “HTA PSA”). On May 5, 2021, National, Assured Guaranty Corp., Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp. and the Oversight Board entered into the HTA PSA. The Confirmation Hearing for the Commonwealth Title III case concluded on November 23, 2021. On January 14, 2022, the Oversight Board filed its final draft of the Modified Eighth Amended Plan of Adjustment for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and on January 18, 2022, the Court signed the confirmation order. There can be no assurance that the plan will become effective within the time permitted under the Amended GO PSA, currently March 15, 2022, or by the Bankruptcy Court. Pursuant to the plan of adjustment, bondholders were required to choose between commuting their insurance policy with National or having their insurance policy accelerated and receiving a one-time payment of par and accrued interest from National. Approximately 27 % of bondholders voted by the deadline of October 18 , 2021 to commute their insurance policies with National. The expected commutation and acceleration should occur shortly after Plan approval and will reduce National’s insured GO exposure to zero . Refer to “Note 6 : Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves” for a further discussion of the Company’s GO recoveries. Credit Suisse In January of 2021, the Court overseeing MBIA Corp.’s litigation against Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and DLJ Mortgage Capital, Inc. (collectively, “Credit Suisse”), involving the ineligibility of a majority of the loans in the HEMT 2007-2 RMBS transaction sponsored by Credit Suisse, issued an order declaring that Credit Suisse was liable to MBIA for approximately $604 million in damages. In February of 2021, the parties to the litigation entered into a settlement agreement pursuant to which Credit Suisse paid MBIA Corp. $600 million, and the Court entered an order dismissing the case. Refer to “Note 6: Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves” for a discussion of the Company’s Credit Suisse put-back claims. Debt Securities As of December 31, 2021, MBIA Corp. repaid in full the outstanding amount of a financing facility’s senior notes between MZ Funding LLC (“MZ Funding”) and certain purchasers or their affiliates (collectively, the “Senior Lenders”). In addition, MBIA Inc. holds amended subordinated notes of MZ Funding that are eliminated in consolidation. Collectively, this financing facility is referred as the (the “Refinanced Facility”). Refer to “Note 10: Debt” for additional information on the Refinanced Facility. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company repurchased $111 million par value outstanding of GFL medium-term notes (“MTNs”) with maturity dates between 2022 and 2036 issued by the corporate segment at a weighted average cost of approximately 73% of par value. Risks and Uncertainties The Company’s financial statements include estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. The outcome of certain significant risks and uncertainties could cause the Company to revise its estimates and assumptions or could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s estimates. The discussion below highlights the significant risks and uncertainties that could have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements and business objectives in future periods. COVID-19 The novel coronavirus COVID-19 (“COVID-19”) continues to be an ongoing pandemic. While efforts to contain COVID-19 in the United States have been effective (distribution of vaccines and boosters, promotion of and the use of masks, and social distancing), the current and longer-term impacts of COVID-19 remain uncertain. The existence or extent of any impact on the Company’s insured or investment portfolios, or general business operations, will depend on future developments which are highly uncertain, including but not limited to the future severity of the pandemic, and the effectiveness of financial and regulatory actions taken at the state and federal levels to contain or address its impact. There is also uncertainty with how political, legal and regulatory responses to the pandemic, such as the nature of and conditions to aid to states or municipalities, tax policy, or programs designed to assist impacted individuals, will impact the Company’s business. Federal legislation passed to combat the economic impact of the pandemic has been significant, including the $2.7 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act in 2020, which included significant aid to offset COVID-19 related expenditures of public sector issuers including states, territories, healthcare, higher education and transportation issuers. Also, the Federal Reserve has shown willingness to promote the stability of the financial system that is directly supportive of the municipal market, such as the Municipal Lending Facility created in 2020. In March of 2021, Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, a $1.9 trillion economic stimulus package designed to further stabilize the financial system. This law allocated nearly $350 billion of aid to state and local governments to replace lost revenues resulting from the pandemic with relatively few restrictions on use of said funds. However, economic activity, employment and inflation remain at risk as the path of economic recovery will still be significantly affected by the course of the virus, including new variants, and the continuing progress on vaccinations throughout the country . Insured portfolios Any adverse developments on macroeconomic factors resulting from COVID-19, including without limitation reduced economic activity and certainty, increased unemployment, increased loan defaults or delinquencies, and increased stress on municipal budgets, including due to reduced tax revenues and the ability to raise taxes or limit spending, could materially and adversely affect the performance of the Company’s insured portfolios. Any impact of the pandemic on the Company’s financial guarantee credits would vary based on the nature of the taxes, fees and revenues pledged to debt repayment and their sensitivity to the related slowdown in economic activity. The duration of the pandemic, the efficacy of vaccines, spending of federal aid to state and local governments, and the breadth and speed of economic recovery will determine the economic stress, if any, incurred by the credits in the Company’s insured portfolios. While the unprecedented amount of federal aid directed to state and local municipalities has blunted the impact of the pandemic, not all of the issuers of the obligations in National’s insured portfolio were eligible to receive it. Further, if issuers are unable to raise taxes, reduce spending, or receive federal assistance, while such has not yet occurred materially, the Company may experience new or additional losses or impairments on those obligations, which could materially and adversely affect its business, financial condition and financial results. Certain of MBIA Corp.’s structured finance policies, including those in which the underlying principal obligations are comprised of residential or commercial mortgages and mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”), could be negatively impacted by delays or failures of borrowers to make payments of principal and interest when due, or delays or moratoriums on foreclosures or enforcement actions with respect to delinquent or defaulted mortgages imposed by governmental authorities. MBIA Corp. has recorded significant loss reserves on its residential mortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”) and collateralized debt obligations (“CDO”) exposures, and there can be no assurance that these reserves will be sufficient if the pandemic causes further deterioration to the economy. These transactions are also subject to servicer risks, which relate to problems with the transaction’s servicer that could adversely impact performance of the underlying assets. Additionally, several of the Company’s credits, particularly within its international public finance sector, feature large, near term debt-service payments, while there can be no assurance that the liquidity position of MBIA Corp. will enable it to satisfy any claims that arise if the issuers of such credits are unable or unwilling to refinance or repay their obligations. MBIA Corp. has recorded expected recoveries on certain RMBS transactions, and the forbearance options that mortgage borrowers who were facing financial difficulties took advantage of under the CARES Act may continue to delay or impair collections on these recoveries. Liquidity The Company continues to monitor its cash and liquid asset resources using cash forecasting and stress-scenario testing. Members of the Company’s senior management meet regularly to review liquidity metrics, discuss contingency plans and establish target liquidity levels. While liquidity levels and collateral amounts have normalized since the beginning of the pandemic, any additional impact the pandemic may have on the Company’s future liquidity position remains uncertain. Declines in the market value or rating eligibility of assets pledged against the Company’s obligations as a result of credit market deterioration caused by COVID-19 or other factors may require additional eligible assets to be pledged in order to meet minimum required collateral amounts against these obligations. This could require the Company to sell assets, potentially with substantial losses or use free cash or other assets to meet the collateral requirements, thus negatively impacting the Company’s liquidity position. Additionally, declines in the yields in the Company’s insurance companies’ fixed-income portfolios could materially impact investment income. National’s Insured Portfolio National continues to monitor and remediate its existing insured portfolio and may also pursue strategic alternatives that could enhance shareholder value. Certain state and local governments and territory obligors that National insures are under financial and budgetary stress. This could lead to an increase in defaults by such entities on the payment of their obligations and losses or impairments on a greater number of National’s insured transactions. In particular, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and several of its public corporations and instrumentalities, which have reported significant fiscal stress, are currently in bankruptcy-like proceedings in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, pursuant to the PROMESA. Since 2016, Puerto Rico has been unable or unwilling to pay its obligations as and when due, and National has been required to pay claims of unpaid principal and interest when due under its insurance policies as a consequence. Puerto Rico may continue to fail to make payments when due, which could cause National to make additional claims payments which could be material. While National will seek to recover any claim payments it makes under its guarantees, there is no assurance that it will be able to recover such payments. National monitors and analyzes these situations and other stressed credits closely, and the overall extent and duration of this stress is uncertain . MBIA Corp.’s Insured Portfolio MBIA Corp.’s primary objectives are to satisfy all claims by its policyholders and to maximize future recoveries, if any, for its senior lending and surplus note holders, and then its preferred stock holders. MBIA Corp. is executing this strategy by, among other things, taking steps to maximize the collection of recoveries and by reducing and mitigating potential losses on its insurance exposures. MBIA Corp.’s insured portfolio performance could deteriorate and result in additional significant loss reserves and claim payments. MBIA Corp.’s ability to meet its obligations is limited by available liquidity and its ability to secure additional liquidity through financing and other transactions. There can be no assurance that MBIA Corp. will be successful in generating sufficient resources to meet its obligations. Zohar and RMBS Recoveries Payment of claims on MBIA Corp.’s policies insuring the Class A-1 and A-2 notes issued by Zohar CDO 2003-1, Limited (“Zohar I”) and Zohar II 2005-1, Limited (“Zohar II”), entitles MBIA Corp. to reimbursement of such amounts plus interest and expenses and/or to exercise certain rights and remedies to seek recovery of such amounts. MBIA Corp. anticipates that it will receive substantial recoveries on the loans made to, and equity interests in, companies that, until late March of 2020, were purportedly controlled and managed by the sponsor and former collateral manager of the Zohar CDOs referenced above (collectively, the “Zohar Collateral”). There still remains significant uncertainty with respect to the realizable value of the remaining Zohar Collateral. Further, as the monetization process at the remaining portfolio companies continues to unfold in coordination with the new directors and managers in place, and new information concerning the financial condition of the portfolio companies is disclosed, the Company will continue to revise its expectations for recoveries. MBIA Corp. also projects to collect recoveries from prior claims associated with insured RMBS; however, the amount and timing of these collections are uncertain. Failure to collect its expected recoveries could impede MBIA Corp.’s ability to make payments when due on other policies. MBIA Corp. believes that if the New York State Department of Financial Services (“NYSDFS”) concludes at any time that MBIA Insurance Corporation will not be able to pay its policyholder claims, the NYSDFS would likely put MBIA Insurance Corporation into a rehabilitation or liquidation proceeding under Article 74 of the New York Insurance Law (“NYIL”) and/or take such other actions as the NYSDFS may deem necessary to protect the interests of MBIA Insurance Corporation’s policyholders. The determination to commence such a proceeding or take other such actions is within the exclusive control of the NYSDFS. Given the separation of MBIA Inc. and MBIA Corp. as distinct legal entities, the absence of any cross defaults between the entities and the lack of reliance by MBIA Inc. on MBIA Corp. for dividends, the Company does not believe that a rehabilitation or liquidation proceeding with respect to MBIA Insurance Corporation would have any significant liquidity impact on MBIA Inc. Such a proceeding could have material adverse consequences for MBIA Corp., including the termination of derivative contracts for which counterparties may assert market-based claims, the acceleration of debt obligations issued by affiliates and insured by MBIA Corp., the loss of control of MBIA Insurance Corporation to a rehabilitator or liquidator, and unplanned costs. Refer to “Note 6: Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves” for additional information about MBIA Corp.’s recoveries. Corporate Liquidity Based on the Company’s projections of National’s dividends and other cash inflows, the Company expects that MBIA Inc. will have sufficient cash to satisfy its debt service and general corporate needs. However, MBIA Inc. continues to have liquidity risk that could be caused by interruption of or reduction in dividends from National, deterioration in the performance of invested assets, impaired access to the capital markets, as well as other factors, which are not anticipated at this time. Furthermore, failure by MBIA Inc. to settle liabilities that are insured by MBIA Corp. could result in claims on MBIA Corp.

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