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| SYCRF.PK > SEC Filings for SYCRF.PK > Form 10-K on 31-Mar-2009 | All Recent SEC Filings |
31-Mar-2009
Annual Report
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements and the related notes which appear in Item 8. This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those discussed below and under the headings "Risk Factors" and "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements."
References to the "Company," "we," "us" and "our" mean Syncora Holdings and, unless otherwise indicated, its subsidiaries.
Overview of Our Business
General
On March 17, 2006, XL Capital Ltd ("XL Capital") formed Syncora Holdings Ltd. ("Syncora Holdings") (formerly known as Security Capital Assurance Ltd), as a wholly-owned Bermuda based subsidiary holding company. On July 1, 2006, XL Capital contributed all of its ownership interests in its financial guarantee insurance and financial guarantee reinsurance operating businesses indirectly to us. The aforementioned operating businesses consisted of: (i) Syncora Guarantee Inc. ("Syncora Guarantee") (a New York domiciled financial guarantee insurance company formerly known as XL Capital Assurance Inc.) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Syncora Guarantee (U.K.) Ltd. ("Syncora Guarantee-UK", formerly known as XL Capital Assurance (U.K.) Limited) and (ii) Syncora Guarantee Re Ltd. ("Syncora Guarantee Re") (a Bermuda domiciled financial guarantee reinsurance company formerly known as XL Financial Assurance Ltd.). Syncora Guarantee was an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of XL Capital and all of Syncora Guarantee Re was indirectly owned by XL Capital, except for a preferred stock interest which was owned by Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. or its subsidiaries ("FSA"), an entity which is otherwise not related to XL Capital or us. On August 4, 2006, Syncora Holdings completed an initial public offering (the "IPO"). In addition, XL Capital sold common shares of Syncora Holdings from its holdings directly to the public in a secondary offering concurrent with the IPO. Immediately after the IPO and the secondary offering, XL Capital, through its wholly-owned subsidiary XL Insurance (Bermuda) Ltd ("XLI"), owned approximately a 63% economic interest in Syncora Holdings. In June 2007, XLI completed the sale of additional common shares of Syncora Holdings from its holdings. Immediately after such sale, XLI owned approximately a 46% voting and economic interest in Syncora Holdings. On August 5, 2008, we consummated the transactions comprising the 2008 MTA, as defined below, pursuant to which XL Capital transferred all of the common shares of Syncora Holdings it owned to be held in trust by CCRA Purpose Trust (the "SCA Shareholder Entity") as described below. On September 4, 2008, Syncora Guarantee Re merged with and into Syncora Guarantee, with Syncora Guarantee being the surviving company. See "-Description of the Transactions Comprising the 2008 MTA and Certain Summary Financial Information."
Prior to January of 2008 (as more fully discussed below under "-Recent Developments"), we provided credit enhancement and protection products to the public finance and structured finance markets throughout the United States and internationally through the issuance of financial guarantee insurance policies and credit default swap ("CDS") contracts, as well as the reinsurance of financial guarantee insurance and CDS contracts written by other insurers. Financial guarantee insurance provides an unconditional and irrevocable guarantee to the holder of a debt obligation of full and timely payment of the guaranteed principal and interest. In the event of a default under the obligation, the insurer has recourse against the issuer or any related collateral (which is more common in the case of insured asset-backed obligations or other non-municipal debt) for amounts paid under the terms of the policy. CDS contracts are derivative contracts that offer credit protection relating to a particular security or pools of specified securities. Under the terms of a CDS contract, the seller of credit protection makes a specified payment to the buyer of credit protection upon the occurrence of one or more specified credit events with respect to a referenced security.
Our operating business is conducted through Syncora Guarantee, which as a New York domiciled financial guarantee insurance company, is required to prepare financial statements in accordance with accounting practices prescribed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners ("NAIC") Accounting Practices and Procedures Manual and adopted by the State of New York ("NAIC SAP") and that, under NAIC SAP all our guarantees are accounted for as insurance contracts. Accordingly, under NAIC SAP we account for all our guarantees as insurance contracts and, accordingly, recognize reserves for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses for all such contracts. For guarantees deemed to be insurance for GAAP, there is no difference between how we recognize reserves for insurance contracts under NAIC SAP and GAAP. As further discussed below, the adverse development of our reserves for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses, determined in accordance with NAIC SAP, is the principal factor affecting our regulatory solvency and potential regulatory intervention.
Recent Developments
Adverse developments in the credit markets generally and the mortgage market specifically that began in the second half of 2007 and continued through 2008 have resulted in material adverse effects on our business, results of operations, and financial condition, including (i) significant adverse development of anticipated claims on our guarantees, under our CDS contracts, of collateralized debt obligations ("CDOs") of asset-backed securities ("ABS CDOs") and significant adverse development of reserves for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses on our guarantees, under our insurance contracts, of residential mortgage-backed securities ("RMBS"), and (ii) downgrades of our insurance financial strength ("IFS") ratings by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's"), Fitch Ratings ("Fitch") and Standard & Poor's Ratings Services ("S&P"), which ratings had been fundamental to our ability to conduct business and which have caused us to cease writing substantially all new business since January of 2008, resulting in the loss of future incremental earnings and cash flow. As of March 30, 2009, Syncora Guarantee is rated "Ca" by Moody's and "CC" by S&P; the Company has terminated the agreement for the provision of ratings with Fitch.
During the second quarter of 2008, we recorded a material increase in adverse development of anticipated claims on our guarantees of ABS CDOs and reserves for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses on our guarantees of RMBS causing us to be unable to maintain Syncora Guarantee's compliance with its $65 million minimum policyholders' surplus requirement under New York Insurance Law as of June 30, 2008. In light of this material adverse development, and in accordance with our previously disclosed strategic plan, on July 28, 2008 we, certain financial institutions that are counterparties to CDS contracts with Syncora Guarantee (the "Counterparties"), Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. ("Merrill Lynch") and certain of its affiliates, and XL Capital and certain of its affiliates, entered into a Master Commutation, Release and Restructuring Agreement, dated July 28, 2008, as amended (the "Master Transaction Agreement"), and certain other related agreements (hereafter referred to collectively as the "2008 MTA"). The transactions comprising the 2008 MTA closed on August 5, 2008 (the "Closing Date"), except for the transactions comprising the FSA Master Agreement (as defined below), which closed on August 4, 2008. The transactions comprising the 2008 MTA are described below along with certain summary financial information
During the third quarter of 2008, we recorded further significant adverse development relating to anticipated claims on our guarantees of ABS CDOs and reserves for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses on our guarantees of RMBS which would have caused Syncora Guarantee to be unable to maintain its compliance with its $65 million minimum policyholders' surplus requirement under New York Insurance Law as of September 30, 2008. However, at our request, the New York State Insurance Department (the "NYID"), pursuant to section 6903 of New York Insurance Law, granted Syncora Guarantee approval in connection with the preparation of its statutory financial statements for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 to release statutory-basis contingency reserves on policies that have been terminated and on policies on which we have established case basis reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses, which differs from accounting practices prescribed by NAIC SAP. As a result of such approval, Syncora Guarantee reported policyholders' surplus of $83.3 million at September 30, 2008. Absent such approval, Syncora Guarantee would have reported a policyholders' surplus at September 30, 2008 of $19.1 million. Policyholders' surplus is based on statutory-basis accounting practices which differ from GAAP. Such differences may be material. The aforementioned approval was also extended by the NYID in connection with the preparation of Syncora Guarantee's statutory financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2008. There can be no assurance that the NYID will continue to allow Syncora Guarantee to apply such practices.
During the fourth quarter of 2008, we recorded a material increase in adverse development relating to anticipated claims on our guarantees of ABS CDOs and reserves for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses on our guarantees of RMBS. As a result of the material increase in adverse development relating to anticipated claims on our guarantees of ABS CDOs and reserves for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses on our guarantees of RMBS recorded during 2008, Syncora Guarantee reported a policyholders' deficit of $2.4 billion as of December 31, 2008. Failure to maintain positive statutory policyholders' surplus or non-compliance with the $65 million statutory minimum policyholders' surplus requirement permits the New York Superintendent of Insurance (the "New York Superintendent") to seek court appointment as rehabilitator or liquidator of Syncora Guarantee. As a result of this material adverse development, and in accordance with our previously disclosed strategic plan, effective as of March 5, 2009, Syncora Guarantee signed a non-binding letter of intent with certain of the Counterparties (the "Letter of Intent") whereby the parties agreed to negotiate in good faith to seek to promptly agree on mutually agreeable definitive documentation, in the form of a master transaction agreement and related agreements (hereafter referred to collectively as the "2009 MTA"). In addition, pursuant to the RMBS Transaction Agreement, dated as of March 5, 2009 (the "RMBS Transaction Agreement"), on March 11, 2009, the fund referenced therein (the "Fund") commenced a tender offer to acquire certain residential mortgage-backed securities that are insured by Syncora Guarantee (the "RMBS Securities"). The 2009 MTA and tender offer represent the principal elements of the second phase of our strategic plan. The transactions contemplated by the Letter of Intent and the related transactions are described below.
Description of the Transactions Contemplated by the Letter of Intent and Related Transactions
The non-binding terms and conditions in the Letter of Intent provide that Syncora Guarantee and the Counterparties will commute or transfer to an affiliate of Syncora Guarantee, or cause their respective affiliates to commute or transfer to an affiliate of Syncora Guarantee, their respective CDS contracts and financial guarantee insurance contracts and in exchange Syncora Guarantee will pay to the Counterparties certain consideration to include, in the aggregate, (i) approximately $1.2 billion in cash consideration, (ii) common shares of Syncora Holdings, such shares to represent approximately 40% of the outstanding common shares of Syncora Holdings following the transaction, (iii) a $150 million short-term surplus note and a $475 million long-term surplus note, and (iv) additional consideration that may include an increase in the principal amount of, or interest rate on the, surplus notes, and cash consideration based on certain specified calculations. Such non-binding terms and conditions also provide that Syncora Guarantee will form a New York financial
The non-binding terms and conditions in the Letter of Intent contemplate the participation of all of the 23 Counterparties. To date, 18 of the 19 significant Counterparties have indicated their willingness to enter into the transactions contemplated by the Letter of Intent, subject to final documentation and participation by the remaining Counterparties. The 19 significant Counterparties represent substantially all of Syncora Guarantee's anticipated claims with respect to CDS contracts. One significant Counterparty has indicated that it is presently not contemplating entering into the transactions contemplated by the Letter of Intent. Syncora Guarantee is discussing with the remaining Counterparties alternative terms and conditions that would permit the consummation of the 2009 MTA without the participation of all of the Counterparties. There can be no assurance that the 2009 MTA will be consummated by a sufficient number of Counterparties or at all.
All of the terms and conditions described above are subject to definitive documentation satisfactory to all of the parties. There can be no assurance that the parties will enter into such agreements in accordance with these terms and conditions or at all. In addition, consummation of the transactions contemplated by the 2009 MTA will be subject to various closing conditions and there can be no assurance that the transactions contemplated thereby will be consummated. In addition, we need to enter into settlement agreements with certain third-parties as part of the second phase of our strategic plan.
An additional element of the second phase of our strategic plan is the tender offer contemplated by the RMBS Transaction Agreement. On March 11, 2009, the Fund commenced a tender offer to acquire the RMBS Securities either in consideration for cash or for a certificate representing the uninsured cash flows of the tendered RMBS Securities and a cash payout. Subject to closing conditions, Syncora Guarantee will purchase class B shares of the Fund and receive certificates representing the insurance cash flows on all RMBS Securities acquired by the Fund for an amount not to exceed $375 million in the aggregate. If the minimum amount of RMBS Securities is successfully acquired, the tender offer would significantly reduce Syncora Guarantee's exposure to residential mortgages. Consummation of the transactions contemplated by the RMBS Transaction Agreement is subject to various closing conditions and there can be no assurance that the transactions contemplated thereby will be consummated.
If the transactions contemplated by the 2009 MTA and the RMBS Transaction Agreement are not consummated, Syncora Guarantee is expected to continue to report a policyholders' deficit and may therefore be subject to action by the NYID. See "Risk Factors-Risks Related to Our Company-We may be unable to close the 2009 MTA and the tender offer, which would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations", as well as below for a description of continuing risks and uncertainties affecting us.
Description of the Transactions Comprising the 2008 MTA and Certain Summary Financial Information
Set forth below is a description of agreements comprising the 2008 MTA, as well certain summary financial information presenting the effect of the transactions comprising the 2008 MTA on our financial position and results of operations as of the Closing Date.
The Master Transaction Agreement provided for the termination, commutation or elimination of certain reinsurance agreements, guarantees and other arrangements among us and XL Capital and certain of its subsidiaries, and between Syncora Guarantee and Syncora Guarantee Re, in exchange for a cash payment by XL Capital to us of $1.775 billion, the issuance and transfer of 8 million class A ordinary shares of XL Capital in the aggregate to Syncora Guarantee and Syncora Guarantee Re, and the transfer of XL Capital's common shares of Syncora Holdings to a trust, the SCA Shareholder Entity, for the benefit of Syncora Guarantee until such time as an agreement between Syncora Guarantee and the Counterparties is reached, and thereafter the shares will be held for the benefit of the Counterparties. As a result of the transfer of the shares of Syncora Holdings to the SCA Shareholder Entity, XL Capital no longer has the right to vote, nominate directors to our Board of Directors or any other rights. On the Closing Date, the four XL Capital-nominated directors on our Board of Directors resigned. Pursuant to a shareholder agreement with the SCA Shareholder Entity, the trust has a number of rights including the right to vote the shares and to nominate directors to our Board of Directors, such number of directors as would equal one nominee less than a majority (if our Board of Directors consists of nine or fewer Directors) or two nominees less than a majority (if our Board of Directors consists of ten or more Directors). Effective November 19, 2008, pursuant to the shareholder agreement, the SCA Shareholder Entity appointed four members to our Board of Directors. We also entered into a registration rights agreement with the SCA Shareholder Entity providing for demand registration rights, a shelf registration if we are so eligible and piggyback registration rights. Until the common shares of Syncora Holdings are transferred from the aforementioned trust to Counterparties or otherwise sold in the open market, for accounting purposes, they are considered to be treasury shares.
Under a registration rights agreement, dated as of August 5, 2008, by and among Syncora Guarantee, Syncora Guarantee Re and XL Capital, XL Capital agreed to provide Syncora Guarantee and Syncora Guarantee Re with two demand registration and unlimited piggyback registration rights with respect to the 8 million class A ordinary shares issued by XL Capital to Syncora Guarantee and Syncora Guarantee Re. Syncora Guarantee and Syncora Guarantee Re also agreed to hold such shares for a period of six months, which expired on February 5, 2009, and any sale of class A ordinary shares of XL Capital by Syncora Guarantee or Syncora Guarantee Re will be subject to a right of first offer in favor of XL Capital. In addition, pursuant to a letter dated July 29, 2008, from Syncora Holdings to the underwriters named in the underwriting agreement entered into by XL Capital for a public offering of its class A ordinary shares, Syncora Holdings agreed, and agreed to cause its subsidiaries to agree, to a six month lock-up period with respect to class A ordinary shares of XL Capital, which expired on January 29, 2009.
Concurrent with the execution of the Master Transaction Agreement, Syncora Holdings, Syncora Guarantee and Syncora Guarantee Re entered into an agreement (the "Merrill Agreement") with Merrill Lynch, Merrill Lynch International ("MLI") and eight trusts affiliated with Syncora Holdings (the "CDS Trusts"), the obligations of which were guaranteed by policies issued by Syncora Guarantee. The Merrill Agreement provided for the termination of eight CDS contracts (the "Swaps") and the related financial guarantee insurance policies issued by Syncora Guarantee with insured gross par outstanding as of June 30, 2008 of approximately $3.7 billion, in exchange for a payment by Syncora Guarantee to Merrill Lynch of an aggregate amount of $500 million. As part of the closing of the transactions comprising the Merrill Agreement, the parties provided mutual releases of claims with respect to the Swaps and the related policies. In addition, Syncora Guarantee and MLI have agreed to dismiss previously disclosed litigation related to seven of the Swaps. As a result of the termination of the Swaps, we recorded a realized loss of $94.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2008.
We and XL Capital obtained approvals from the NYID and the Bermuda Monetary Authority (the "BMA") for the Master Transaction Agreement and the transactions comprising such agreement. Other required approvals related to the Master Transaction Agreement have been received from the Delaware Department of Insurance. The NYID has also approved the Merrill Agreement and the transactions comprising such agreement.
Concurrent with the execution of the Master Transaction Agreement, we also entered into an agreement (the "FSA Master Agreement") with FSA. The FSA Master Agreement provided for the commutation of all reinsurance ceded by FSA and its subsidiaries to Syncora Guarantee Re, including that ceded under the amended and restated master facultative reinsurance agreement, dated as of November 3, 1998 (the "Old Master Facultative Agreement") that was the subject of a guarantee issued by XLI (see Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). Commutation of the Old Master Facultative Reinsurance Agreement and all cessions thereunder was a condition to the obligations of XL Capital under the Master Transaction Agreement. Pursuant to the FSA Master Agreement, FSA and Syncora Guarantee Re entered into the commutation and release agreement (the "Commutation Agreement"), under which all existing cessions to Syncora Guarantee Re by FSA were commuted in return for a payment by Syncora Guarantee Re of approximately $165.4 million, representing statutory reserves less ceding commission plus a commutation premium. In turn, FSA and one of its subsidiaries entered into a new master facultative reinsurance agreement (the "New Master Facultative Agreement") and related reinsurance memorandum (the "Reinsurance Memorandum") with Syncora Guarantee, under which FSA ceded certain of the commuted risks to Syncora Guarantee in return for a payment by FSA to Syncora Guarantee of approximately $88.6 million, representing the statutory unearned premium reserve for such risks, less ceding commission. FSA has undertaken to use its best efforts to reassume such reinsurance from Syncora Guarantee for a period of nine months after the closing, subject to limitations under Article 69 of the New York Insurance Law, which imposes aggregate and single risk limits on insurance that can be written by a financial guaranty insurer, FSA's internal and rating agency single risk limits, other potential limitations and FSA's underwriting guidelines. Syncora Guarantee was required to fund a trust in an initial amount of approximately $104.1 million to collateralize its obligations to FSA under the reinsurance agreement ($92.7 million as of December 31, 2008), which includes regulatory mandated contingency reserves. Finally, Syncora Holdings purchased all class A preferred shares of Syncora Guarantee Re held by FSA and its subsidiary, with a liquidation preference of $39 million, for approximately $2.9 million pursuant to an agreement for the sale and purchase of preferred shares (the "Preferred Shares Purchase Agreement"). As a result of the Commutation Agreement and New Master Facultative Agreement, we recorded a loss of $17.9 million during the year ended December 31, 2008. In addition, as a result of our purchase of the class A preferred shares of Syncora Guarantee Re, we recorded a gain of $36.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2008, which was recorded in retained earnings and not reflected in our net loss.
Credit Agreement Amendment
Concurrent with the execution of the Master Transaction Agreement, we entered into Amendment No. 2, Forbearance and Limited Waiver Agreement ("Amendment No. 2") with the lenders under our credit agreement, dated as of August 1, 2006 (the "Credit Agreement"). Pursuant to Amendment No. 2, we agreed (i) to permanently reduce the availability under our revolving credit facility from $250 million to zero, (ii) to reduce the availability under the letter of credit facility to the amount of the letter of credit exposure as of July 28, 2008 and subsequently further reduce such exposure for any outstanding letters of credit for FSA's benefit upon the closing the Commutation Agreement, and (iii) to collateralize the remaining letters of credit after the consummation of the transactions comprising the Master Transaction Agreement. In consideration of the foregoing, the lenders under the Credit Agreement agreed to (i) forbear from declaring certain defaults, if any, as set forth in the Amendment No. 2, (ii) waive such defaults, if any, upon the satisfaction of certain conditions set forth in the . . .
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