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| MBI > SEC Filings for MBI > Form 8-K on 10-Nov-2008 | All Recent SEC Filings |
10-Nov-2008
Regulation FD Disclosure, Other Events
MBIA Inc. ("MBIA" or the "Company") issued a press release on November 7, 2008. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto.
The information in the press release is being furnished, not filed, pursuant to Item 7.01 of Form 8-K. Accordingly, the information in Item 7.01 of this Current Report, including Exhibit 99.1, will not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement filed by MBIA under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, unless specifically identified therein as being incorporated by reference.
The following information is being filed pursuant to Item 8.01 - Other Events of Form 8-K.
On November 7, 2008, Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") downgraded the following ratings:
º MBIA Insurance Corporation -- insurance financial strength to Baa1 from A2,
and surplus notes to Baa3 from Baa1;
º MBIA Insurance Corp. of Illinois -- insurance financial strength to Baa1
from A2;
º Capital Markets Assurance Corporation -- insurance financial strength to
Baa1 from A2;
º MBIA UK Insurance Limited -- insurance financial strength to Baa1 from A2;
º MBIA Assurance S.A. -- insurance financial strength to Baa1 from A2;
º MBIA Mexico, S.A. de C.V.'s -- insurance financial strength to Baa1 from A2
(Moody's affirmed the firm's Aaa.mx - national scale rating, and it remains
under review for possible downgrade);
º MBIA Inc. -- senior unsecured debt to Ba1 from Baa2, provisional senior
debt to (P) Ba1 from (P) Baa2, provisional subordinated debt to (P) Ba2
from (P) Baa3, and provisional preferred stock to (P) Ba3 from (P) Ba1; and
º North Castle Custodial Trusts I-VIII -- contingent capital securities to
Ba1 from Baa2.
In its press release, Moody's indicated that the "rating action concludes a review for possible downgrade that was initiated on September 18, 2008, and reflects Moody's view of MBIA's diminished business and financial profile resulting from its exposure to losses from US mortgage risks and disruption in the financial guaranty business more broadly." Moody's noted the downgrade resulted from four primary factors: "First is Moody's expectation of greater losses on mortgage related exposure, reflecting continued adverse delinquency trends. Second is the possibility of even greater than expected losses in extreme stress scenarios, with losses possibly reaching sectors beyond mortgage related exposures as corporate and other consumer credits face a more challenging economic environment, and given the leverage contained in MBIA's sizable portfolio of resecuritization transactions, including some commercial real estate CDOs. Third is Moody's view of the company's diminished business prospects as reflected in its substantially reduced participation in the primary financial guaranty market in 2008. Fourth is the company's limited financial flexibility."
As a result of the ratings action, the Moody's-rated securities that are guaranteed by MBIA Insurance Corporation are also downgraded to Baa1, except those with higher public underlying ratings. According to Moody's, a list of these securities will be made available under "Ratings Lists" at www.moodys.com/guarantors.
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