Ambac Sues Troubled Hercules, Calif., After RDA Default

Ambac Assurance Corp. has filed a lawsuit against Hercules, Calif., after the city's redevelopment agency defaulted on a debt service payment.

Assured Guaranty Ltd. Reaches Deal With Radian Asset

Bond insurer Assured Guaranty Ltd. has reached a three-part deal with Radian Asset Assurance Inc. that expands Assured Guaranty's portfolio and business.

Suing Policyholders Want MBIA Review

The remaining bank policyholders suing bond insurer MBIA Inc. have requested that the New York Insurance Department hire an independent expert to analyze expected future losses in MBIA's structured finance portfolio.

Experts Shrug Off Moody's MBIA Downgrades

Financial analysts are unfazed by Moody's Investors Service's downgrade of MBIA Inc. and National Public Finance Guarantee Corp.

Bond Insurers

OppenheimerFunds Sues ACA for Not Paying Claim

OppenheimerFunds has filed a lawsuit against ACA Financial Guaranty Corp. for failure to pay on defaulted bonds it insured.

Standard & Poor's Changes Some NPFG Ratings

Standard & Poor's changed some of its ratings for National Public Finance Guarantee Corp., the municipal bond insuring subsidiary of MBIA. S&P affirmed the financial strength rating of National at BBB and lowered the standalone credit profile to A from A-plus. [FREE]

Assured Guaranty Files Suit Against JPMorgan

Municipal bond insurer Assured Guaranty Ltd. has filed suit against JPMorgan Chase Bank NA with regards to the sale of mortgage-backed securities by Bear Stearns & Co. JPMorgan acquired Bear Stearns in 2008.

Ambac Reschedules Voting and Confirmation Hearing

Municipal bond insurer Ambac Financial has pushed back the voting deadline on a reorganization plan and a plan confirmation hearing.

New Muni Bond Insurer Set to Start Up

A new municipal bond insurer is in the early stages of setting up operations. Build America Mutual Assurance Co. published a public notice Wednesday.

The Bond Buyer's 12th Annual Transportation Finance / P3 Conference

Without Insurance, Buyers Want The Stories Behind the Bonds

CHICAGO - As the market continues to cope with the near-disappearance of bond insurance, one effect is clear: the growing need for issuers to tout their stories to entice investors, panelists at the Bond Buyer's Transportation/P3 conference here said Tuesday.

Assured Reflects on Bankruptcies

Insurer May Pull Out of Some States and Municipalities

BRADENTON, Fla. - Assured Guaranty Ltd. said Tuesday that it will reconsider insuring the bonds of municipalities and states that don't have a process to review and approve local bankruptcy petitions, citing Alabama as a primary example. [FREE]

Assured Guaranty Focused on the Long Term in Mixed Third Quarter

The last remaining active insurer of munis has been focusing on its long-term prospects.

Royal Bank of Scotland Settles Three Lawsuits Against MBIA

The Royal Bank of Scotland has withdrawn from three suits against municipal bond insurer MBIA Inc.

MBIA Suggests Additional Settlements Are Near

Municipal bond insurer MBIA presented a brighter picture of its future on Thursday.

Assured Rejects Harrisburg Request to Forgive $100 Million of Debt

The bond insurer for Harrisburg, Pa.'s troubled incinerator renovation project has rejected a request from the city to forgive $100 million of debt.

There’s Still a Market for Bond Insurance, Executives Insist

Bond insurance executives made the case Wednesday that demand for their product still exists despite numerous headwinds that have reduced the insurable world of new product and created uncertainty among buyers.

Assured Vs. Credit Suisse

Insurer Files Suit Against DLJ Unit

Assured Guaranty has followed in the footsteps of bond insurers MBIA Inc. and Ambac Financial Group in suing Credit Suisse over soured mortgage-backed securities. [FREE]

Treasury Unit Seeks Input on Insurance Company Modernization

WASHINGTON - The Treasury Department's Federal Insurance office is seeking input from the industry and public for a report it must write and submit to Congress early next year on how to modernize and improve the regulatory system for insurance companies, including monoline bond insurers.

Dexia Bailout a Positive for U.S. Munis, Participants Say

U.S. municipal borrowers should be grateful for Dexia Group's bailout last weekend.