Ambac Sees Future in Revived Subsidiary

By: Dr. Jay H. Abrams
Chief Municipal Credit Analyst

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Ambac Financial Group, Inc. is bolstering its Connie Lee subsidiary in a bid to separate its municipal bond insurance business from exposure to the sub-prime mortgage mess.

Ambac Assurance, a subsidiary of Ambac Financial, has seen its business prospects dim this year as rating agencies have downgraded its financial strength from “AAA” to “AA,” reflecting expected losses from guarantees of securities based on sub-prime mortgages (Collateralized Debt Obligations).

Ambac characterized as “positive” its recent discussions of its Connie Lee plans with both the Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner’s Office and the rating agencies. Ambac intends to regain a “AAA” rating for Connie Lee through a capital donation of $850 million, bringing Connie Lee’s total capital to $1 billion.

Connie Lee Insurance Co., originally chartered as the College Construction Loan Insurance Association, was established by Congress in 1986 as a Government Sponsored Enterprise (GSE). Its purpose was to insure and reinsure debt issued by higher educational institutions for building construction. The Department of Education provided startup funding, which was repaid at the time Connie Lee became fully privatized and purchased by Ambac in 1997.

If Ambac is successful in obtaining Wisconsin’s approval and a “AAA” rating for Connie Lee from both Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s, it plans to re-enter the public finance guarantee business utilizing current Ambac staff members. Although dormant in recent years, Ambac hopes that Connie Lee’s name and history will enable it to compete successfully in a market it once dominated along with MBIA. 

7/10/2008