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UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

Underwriting Agreement

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT | Document Parties: ASSURED GUARANTY LTD | BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC | ACE Bermuda  Insurance Ltd. You are currently viewing:
This Underwriting Agreement involves

ASSURED GUARANTY LTD | BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC | ACE Bermuda Insurance Ltd.

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Title: UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
Governing Law: New York     Date: 12/20/2006
Industry: Insurance (Prop. and Casualty)     Law Firm: Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP;    

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT, Parties: assured guaranty ltd , banc of america securities llc , ace bermuda  insurance ltd.
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Exhibit 1.1

Assured Guaranty Ltd.

1,150,000 Common Shares

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

December 18, 2006

BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC

9 West 57 th  Street
New York, NY  10019

Ladies and Gentlemen:

ACE Bermuda Insurance Ltd. (the “Selling Shareholder”) proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, to sell to you (the “Underwriter”) an aggregate of 1,150,000 common shares (the “Securities”), par value $0.01 per share (the “Stock”), of Assured Guaranty Ltd., a Bermuda company (the “Issuer”).

SECTION 1.  Representations and Warranties.

(a) The Issuer hereby represents, warrants and covenants to the Underwriter as follows:

i.              Registration Statement and Prospectus.   The Issuer has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-125383), which contains a base prospectus (the “Base Prospectus”), to be used in respect of the Securities.  Such registration statement, as amended, including the financial statements, exhibits and schedules thereto, in the form in which it was declared effective by the Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “Securities Act”), including any required information deemed to be a part thereof at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430B under the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”), is called the “Registration Statement.”  Any preliminary prospectus supplement to the Base Prospectus that describes the Securities and the offering thereof and is used prior to filing of the final prospectus is called, together with the Base Prospectus, a “preliminary prospectus.”  The term “Prospectus” shall mean the final prospectus supplement relating to the Securities, together with the Base Prospectus, that is first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) after the date and time that this Agreement is executed and delivered by the parties hereto (the “Execution Time”).  Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the

 



Securities Act; any reference to any amendment or supplement to any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents filed after the date of such preliminary prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be, under the Exchange Act, and incorporated by reference in such preliminary prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be; and any reference to any amendment to the Registration Statement shall be deemed to refer to and include any annual report of the Issuer filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the effective date of the Registration Statement that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.  All references in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, a preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing, shall include any copy thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (“EDGAR”).

ii.             Compliance with Registration Requirements .  The Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission under the Securities Act.  The Issuer has complied to the Commission’s satisfaction with all requests of the Commission for additional or supplemental information.  No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the best knowledge of the Issuer, are contemplated or threatened by the Commission.

Each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus when filed complied in all material respects with the Securities Act and the rules thereunder and, if filed by electronic transmission pursuant to EDGAR (except as may be permitted by Regulation S-T under the Securities Act), was identical to the copy thereof delivered to the Underwriter for use in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities.  Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the time it became effective and at the date hereof, complied and will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading.  The Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, as of its date, at the date hereof, at the time of any filing pursuant to Rule 424(b), and at the Closing Date (as defined herein), did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.  The representations and warranties set forth in the two immediately preceding sentences do not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, or the Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements thereto, made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Issuer in writing by the Underwriter expressly for use therein or relating to the Selling Shareholder furnished to the Issuer in writing by the Selling Shareholder expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by the Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.  There is no contract or other document required to be described in a preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that has not been described or filed as required.

The documents incorporated by reference in a preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus, when they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable.  Any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in a preliminary

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prospectus or the Prospectus or any further amendment or supplement thereto, when such documents become effective or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

iii.            Disclosure Package .  The term “Disclosure Package” shall mean (i) the Base Prospectus, as amended or supplemented as of the Applicable Time, (ii) the issuer free writing prospectuses as defined in Rule 433 of the Securities Act (each, an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”), if any, identified in Schedule A hereto, (iii) any other free writing prospectus that the parties hereto shall hereafter expressly agree in writing to treat as part of the Disclosure Package and (iv) the orally communicated pricing information identified on Schedule B hereto.  As of 9:00 am (Eastern time) on the date of this Agreement (the “Applicable Time”), the Disclosure Package did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.  The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from the Disclosure Package based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Issuer by the Underwriter specifically for use therein or by the Selling Shareholder expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of the Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.

iv.            Well-Known Seasoned Issuers .  (i) At the time of filing the Registration Statement, (ii) at the time of the most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of prospectus), (iii) at the time the Issuer or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c) of the Securities Act) made any offer relating to the Securities in reliance on the exemption of Rule 163 of the Securities Act, and (iv) at the Execution Time of this Agreement (with such date being used as the determination date for purposes of this clause (iv)), the Issuer was and is a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

v.             The Issuer Not Ineligible Issuer .  At the Execution Time of this Agreement, the Issuer was not and is not an Ineligible Issuer (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act), without taking account of any determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 of the Securities Act that it is not necessary that the Issuer be considered an Ineligible Issuer.

vi.            Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses .  Any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the offering or until any earlier date that the Issuer notified or notifies the Underwriter as described in the next sentence, did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, a preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus.  If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, a preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, the Issuer has promptly notified or will promptly notify the

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Underwriter and has promptly amended or will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict.  The foregoing two sentences do not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Issuer by the Underwriter specifically for use therein or by the Selling Shareholder expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.

vii.           Distribution of Offering Material .  The Issuer has not distributed and will not distribute, prior to the later of the Closing Date and the completion of the Underwriter’s distribution of the Securities, any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities other than a preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus reviewed and consented to by the Underwriter and included in Schedule A hereto or the Registration Statement.  The Underwriter shall provide notice to the Issuer if the distribution of the Securities has not been completed on the date of Closing Date, and upon such later date as the distribution of the Securities has been completed.

viii.          No Material Adverse Change.  Neither the Issuer nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus any material loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there has not been any change in the share capital or capital stock, as the case may be, or long-term debt of the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries  or any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the business, financial condition, shareholders’ equity, or results of operations of the Issuer and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse Change”), otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus;

ix.            Incorporation and Good Standing of the Issuer .  The Issuer has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as an exempted company in good standing under the laws of the Islands of Bermuda, with corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and has been duly qualified as a foreign corporation for the transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties or conducts any business so as to require such qualification, or is subject to no material liability or disability by reason of the failure to be so qualified in any such jurisdiction;

x.             Incorporation and Good Standing of Subsidiaries .  Each subsidiary of the Issuer has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, with corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and has been duly qualified as a foreign corporation for the transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties or conducts any

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business so as to require such qualification, or is subject to no material liability or disability by reason of the failure to be so qualified in any such jurisdiction;

xi.            Capitalization .  All of the issued shares of share capital of the Issuer have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable; and all of the issued shares of share capital of each subsidiary of the Issuer have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and (except for directors’ qualifying shares) are owned directly or indirectly by the Issuer, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims;

xii.           Authorization of Agreement .  This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Issuer;

xiii.          Non-Contravention of Existing Agreements;  No Further Authorizations or Approvals Required.   The compliance by the Issuer with all of the provisions of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, (i) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries  is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries is subject, (ii) the provisions of the Memorandum of Association or the Bye-laws of the Issuer or (iii) any statute or any rule or regulation or order, judgment or decree of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) above, for such violations that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition, shareholders’ equity, or results of operations of the Issuer and its subsidiaries  taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse Effect”); and no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or body (“Governmental Authorizations”) is required for the sale of the Securities or the consummation by the Issuer of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except (A) such Governmental Authorizations as have been duly obtained and are in full force and effect and copies of which have been furnished to you and (B) such Governmental Authorizations as may be required under state securities laws, Blue Sky laws, insurance securities laws or any laws of jurisdictions outside the United States in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Securities by or for the account of the Underwriter;

xiv.          Absence of Violations and Defaults.  Neither the Issuer nor any of its subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its Memorandum of Association or Bye-laws or comparable organizational documents or (ii) in default in the performance or observance of any material obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound;

xv.           All Necessary Permits, etc.   Each of the Issuer and its subsidiaries possesses all consents, authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, certificates, or permits issued by any regulatory agencies or bodies (collectively, “Permits”) which are necessary to conduct the business now conducted by it as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except where the failure to possess such Permits would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably

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be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; all of such Permits are valid and in full force and effect, except where the invalidity of such Permits or the failure to be in full force and effect would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There is no pending, or to the Issuer’s knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or investigation against or involving the Issuer and its subsidiaries, and the Issuer does not know of any reasonable basis for any such action, suit, proceeding or investigation, that individually or in the aggregate would reasonably be expected to lead to the revocation, modification, termination, suspension or any other material impairment of the rights of the holder of any such Permit, except for such revocation, modification, termination, suspension or other material impairment that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

xvi.          Compliance with Insurance Laws.   Except as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, each of the Issuer and its insurance subsidiaries is duly registered, licensed or admitted as an insurer or reinsurer or as an insurance holding company, as the case may be, under applicable insurance holding company statutes or other insurance laws (including laws that relate to companies that control insurance companies) and the rules, regulations and interpretations of the insurance regulatory authorities thereunder (collectively, “Insurance Laws”) in each jurisdiction where it is required to be so licensed or admitted to conduct its business as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except where the failure to be so registered, licensed or admitted would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, each of the Issuer and its insurance subsidiaries has all other necessary authorizations, approvals, orders, consents, certificates, permits, registrations and qualifications of and from, and has made all declarations and filings with, all insurance regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and all of the foregoing are in full force and effect, except where the failure to have such authorizations, approvals, orders, consents, certificates, permits, registrations or qualifications, the failure to make such declarations and filings, or the failure to be in full force and effect would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as otherwise described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, none of the Issuer nor any of its insurance subsidiaries has received any notification from any insurance regulatory authority to the effect that any additional authorization, approval, order, consent, certificate, permit, registration or qualification is needed to be obtained by either the Issuer or any of its insurance subsidiaries to conduct its business as currently conducted, except where the failure to have such additional authorization, approval, order, consent, certificate, permit, registration or qualification would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as otherwise described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no insurance regulatory authority has issued to the Issuer or any subsidiary any order impairing, restricting or prohibiting (A) the payment of dividends by any of the Issuer’s subsidiaries, (B) the making of a distribution on any subsidiary’s share capital, (C) the repayment to the Issuer of any loans or advances to any of its subsidiaries from the Issuer, (D) the repayment to the Issuer of any loans or advances to any of its subsidiaries from the Issuer, or (E) the transfer of any of the Issuer’s subsidiary’s property or assets to the Issuer or any other subsidiary of the Issuer. Each of the Issuer, Assured Guaranty US Holdings Inc., Assured Guaranty Re Ltd., Assured Guaranty Re Overseas Ltd., Assured Guaranty Mortgage Insurance Company, Assured Guaranty Corp. and Assured Guaranty (UK) Ltd. maintains its

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books and records in accordance with all applicable Insurance Laws, except where the failure to so maintain its books and records would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

xvii.         Bermuda Tax Assurances.  Each of the Issuer, Assured Guaranty Corp., Assured Guaranty Re Ltd. and Assured Guaranty Re Overseas Ltd. has received from the Bermuda Minister of Finance an assurance under The Exempted Undertakings Tax Protection Act, 1966 of Bermuda to the effect that, in the event of there being enacted in Bermuda any legislation imposing tax computed on profits or income or computed on any capital asset, gain or appreciation, or any tax of the nature of estate duty or inheritance tax, then the imposition of any such tax shall not be applicable to the Issuer, Assured Guaranty Corp., Assured Guaranty Re Ltd. or Assured Guaranty Re Overseas Ltd. or any of the their operations or their shares, debentures or other obligations, until 28 March 2016 (subject to certain provisos expressed in such assurance), and the Issuer has not received any notification to the effect (and is not otherwise aware) that such assurances may be revoked or otherwise not honored by the Bermuda government;

xviii.        Treatment Under the Internal Revenue Code .  The Issuer does not believe that (1) either the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries currently should be, or upon the sale of the Securities herein contemplated should be, (A) treated as a “passive foreign investment company” as defined in Section 1297(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), (B) characterized as a “personal holding company” as defined in Section 542 of the Code, (C) except for Assured Guaranty US Holdings Inc., AG Financial Products Inc., Assured Guaranty Corp., Assured Guaranty Overseas US Holdings Inc., Assured Guaranty Re Overseas Ltd., AG Intermediary Inc. and Assured Guaranty Mortgage Insurance Company, considered to be engaged in a trade or business within the United States for purposes of Section 864(b) of the Code or (D) except for Assured Guaranty Finance Overseas Ltd. , Assured Guaranty (UK) Services Ltd. and Assured Guaranty (UK) Ltd., characterized as resident, managed or controlled or carrying on a trade through a branch or agency in the United Kingdom or (2) any U.S. person who owns shares of the Issuer directly or indirectly through foreign entities should be treated as owning (directly, indirectly through foreign entities or by attribution pursuant to Section 958(b) of the Code) 10 percent or more of the total voting power of the Issuer or any of its non-U.S. subsidiaries;

xix.           Related Person Insurance Income .  Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, Assured Guaranty Re Ltd. and Assured Guaranty (UK) Ltd. intend to operate in a manner that is intended to ensure that the related person insurance income of each such company does not equal or exceed 20% of each such company’s gross insurance income for any taxable year in the foreseeable future;

xx.            Accuracy of Statements .  The statements set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption “Description of Share Capital,” insofar as it purports to constitute a summary of the terms of the Securities, and under the caption “Material Tax Considerations,” and in the Issuer’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, under the captions “Part I—Item 1—Business—Regulation,” and “Part I—Item 3—Legal Proceedings,” insofar as they purport to describe the provisions of the laws and documents referred to therein, are true, accurate and complete in all material respects;

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xxi.           Internal Controls and Procedures.  The Issuer maintains a system of internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) designed by, or under the supervision of, the Issuer’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The Issuer’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of the end of the quarter ended September 30, 2006, and there have been no changes in the Issuer’s internal control over financial reporting since such time and the Issuer is not aware of any material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting;

xxii.          No Material Action or Proceeding.  Other than as set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries  is a party or of which any property of the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries is the subject which, if determined adversely to the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries, would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and, to the best of the Issuer’s knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by others;

xxiii.         Not an “Investment Company.”  The Issuer is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities, will not be an “investment company”, as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”);

xxiv.        No Stamp Duty, Transfer, Excise or Similar Tax .  Neither the Underwriter nor any subsequent purchasers of the Securities is subject to any stamp duty, transfer, excise or similar tax imposed in Bermuda in connection with the issuance, offering or sale of the Securities to the Underwriter or to any subsequent purchasers;

xxv.         Bermuda Exempted Companies.   There are no currency exchange control laws or withholding taxes, in each case of Bermuda, that would be applicable to (1) the payment of interest or principal on the Securities by the Issuer (other than as may apply to residents of Bermuda for Bermuda exchange control purposes) or (2) the payment of dividends, interest or principal by the any of the Issuer’s subsidiaries to such subsidiary’s parent company. The Bermuda Monetary Authority has designated the Issuer, Assured Guaranty Re Ltd. and Assured Guaranty Re Overseas Ltd. (Assured Guaranty Re Ltd. and Assured Guaranty Re Overseas Ltd. are collectively referred to as the “Bermuda Subsidiaries”) as non-resident for exchange control purposes. Each of the Issuer and the Bermuda Subsidiaries are “exempted companies” under Bermuda law and have not (A) acquired and do not hold any land for its business in Bermuda, other than that held by way of lease or tenancy for terms of not more than 50 years, without the express authorization of the Bermuda Minister of Finance, (B) acquired and do not hold land by way of lease or tenancy which is acquired for its business and held for terms of not more than 21 years in order to provide accommodation or recreational facilities for its officers and employees, without the express authorization of the Minister of Finance of Bermuda, (C) taken mortgages on land in Bermuda to secure an amount in excess of $50,000, without the consent of the Bermuda Minister of Finance, (D) acquired any bonds or debentures secured by any land in Bermuda, except bonds or debentures issued by the government of Bermuda or a public authority of Bermuda, or (E) conducted their business in a manner that is prohibited for “exempted companies” under Bermuda law. None of the Issuer or any of the Bermuda Subsidiaries has

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received notification from the Bermuda Monetary Authority or any other Bermuda governmental authority of proceedings relating to the modification or revocation of its designation as non-resident for exchange control purposes, its permission to issue and transfer the Securities, or its status as an “exempted company” under Bermuda law;

xxvi.        Independent Accountants .  PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, who have expressed their opinion with respect to the financial statements and the related notes thereto of the Issuer and its subsidiaries, are independent public accountants with respect to the Issuer, as required by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder;

xxvii.       Preparation of the Financial Statements .  The financial statements and schedules of the Issuer and its subsidiaries incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the entities purported to be shown thereby at the dates and for the periods indicated and have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods indicated and conform in all material respects with the rules and regulations adopted by the Commission under the Act; and the supporting schedules incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly in all materials respects the information required to be stated therein;

xxviii.      No Applicable Registration or Similar Rights.   There are no persons with registration or other similar rights to have any equity or debt securities included in the offering contemplated by this Agreement, except for such rights as have been duly waived; and

xxix.         Significant Subsidiaries .  Assured Guaranty US Holdings Inc., Assured Guaranty Corp., Assured Guaranty Re Ltd., Assured Guaranty Overseas US Holdings Inc. and Assured Guaranty Re Overseas Ltd. are the only significant subsidiaries of the Issuer as that term is defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Securities Act.

(b) The Selling Shareholder represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Underwriter and the Company that:

(i) all consents, approvals, authorizations and orders necessary for the execution and delivery by the Selling Shareholder of this Agreement and for the sale and delivery of the Shares to be sold by the Selling Shareholder hereunder have been obtained; and the Selling Shareholder has full right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to sell, assign, transfer and deliver the Securities to be sold by the Selling Shareholder hereunder;

(ii) the sale of the Securities to be sold by the Selling Shareholder hereunder, the compliance by the Selling Shareholder with all of the provisions of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, (A) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or

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instrument to which the Selling Shareholder is a party or by which the Selling Shareholder is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Selling Shareholder is subject, (B) the provisions of the constituent documents of the Selling Shareholder or (C) any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Selling Shareholder or the property of the Selling Shareholder, except, in the case of clauses (A) and (C) above, for such violations that would not materially and adversely affect the validity of this Agreement or the ability of the Selling Shareholder to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby;

(iii) such Selling Shareholder is, and immediately prior to the Closing Date the Selling Shareholder will be, the sole registered and beneficial owner of the Securities and the relevant share transfer instrument to be sold by the Selling Shareholder hereunder, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims; and, upon delivery of such Securities (and share transfers) as directed by the Underwriter, to a nominee designated by The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) and the crediting of such Securities on the records of DTC to securities accounts of the Underwriter and payment therefor pursuant hereto, (a) DTC will be a “protected purchaser” (as defined under Section 8-303 of the Uniform Commercial Code of New York (the “New York UCC”)) provided that it has no “notice” of an adverse claim within the meaning of Section 8-105 of the New York UCC, (b) the Underwriter will acquire a security entitlement in respect of such Securities under Section 8-501 of the New York UCC and (c) no action based on an adverse claim to such security entitlement may be asserted against the Underwriter provided that they have no “notice” of an adverse claim within the meaning of Section 8-105 of the New York UCC;

(iv) as of the Applicable Time, the Disclosure Package did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.  The Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, as of its date, at the date hereof, at the time of any filing pursuant to Rule 424(b), and at the Closing Date (as defined herein), did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding two sentences apply only to statements in or omissions from the Disclosure Package or Prospectus based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Issuer by the Selling Shareholder specifically for use therein;

(v) in order to document the Underwriter’s compliance with the reporting and withholding provisions of the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 with respect to the transactions herein contemplated, the Selling Shareholder will deliver to you prior to or at the Closing Date a properly completed and executed United States Treasury Department Form W-8BEN (or other applicable form or statement specified by Treasury Department regulations in lieu thereof); and

(vi) neither the Selling Shareholder nor any of its affiliates directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, or has any other association with (within the meaning of Article I, Section (dd) of the By-laws of the NASD), any member firm of the NASD.

 

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SECTION 2.  Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Securities.

(a)  Purchase and Sale of the Securities.   The Selling Shareholder agrees to sell to the Underwriter the Securities upon the terms set forth herein.  On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, and upon the terms but subject to the conditions herein set forth, the Underwriter agrees to purchase from the Selling Shareholder the Securities.  The purchase price to be paid by the Underwriter to the Selling Shareholder shall be $26.65 per share.

(b)  The Closing Date.  Delivery of the Securities to be purchased by the Underwriter and payment therefor shall be made at the offices of Davis Polk & Wardwell, 450 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York  10017, at 10:00 A.M. New York City time on December 21, 2006 or such other later date not more than three business days after such date as the Underwriter shall designate by notice to the Issuer (the time and date of such closing are called the “Closing Date”).  Immediately following the Closing Date, the Company shall cause its transfer agent to enter the transfers of Securities in the Company’s register of members.

(c)  Public Offering of the Securities.  The Underwriter hereby advises the Issuer that the Underwriter intends to offer for sale to the public, as described in the Prospectus, the Securities as soon after this Agreement has been executed as the Underwriter, in its sole judgment, has determined is advisable and practicable.

(d)  Payment for the Securities.  Payment for the Securities shall be made on the Closing Date by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the order of the Selling Shareholder.

(e)  Delivery of the Securities.  The Securities to be purchased by the Underwriter hereunder, in definitive form and in such authorized denominations and registered in such names as the Underwriter may request, upon at least forty-eight hours’ prior notice to the Selling Shareholder, shall be delivered together with instruments of transfer by or on behalf of the Selling Shareholder to the Company’s transfer agent and in turn to the Underwriter, through the facilities of DTC, for the account of the Underwriter, against payment by or on behalf of the Underwriter of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of Federal (same-day) funds to the account specified by the Selling Shareholder to the Underwriter at least forty-eight hours in advance.  The Company will cause the certificates representing the Shares to be made available for checking and packaging at least twenty-four hours prior to the Closing Date with respect thereto at the office of DTC or its designated custodian.

(f)  Delivery of Prospectus to the Underwriter.  Not later than 10:00 a.m. on the second business day following the date the Securities are first released by the Underwriter for sale to the public, the Issuer shall deliver or cause to be delivered, copies of the Prospectus in such quantities and at such places as the Underwriter shall request.

SECTION 3.  Covenants of the Issuer.

(a) The Issuer covenants and agrees with the Underwriter as follows:

(i)  Underwriter’s  Review of Proposed Amendments and Supplements.  During the period beginning at the Applicable Time and ending on the later of the Closing Date or such date, as in

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the opinion of counsel for the Underwriter, the Prospectus is no longer required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by the Underwriter or a dealer, including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 (the “Prospectus Delivery Period”), prior to amending or supplementing the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (including any amendment or supplement through incorporation by reference of any report filed under the Exchange Act), the Issuer shall furnish to the Underwriter for review a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement, and the Issuer shall not file or use any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Underwriter reasonably objects.  The Underwriter shall provide notice to the Issuer if the Prospectus Delivery Period has not ended on the date of the Closing Date, and upon such later date as the Prospectus Delivery Period has ended.

(ii)  Securities Act Compliance.   After the date of this Agreement, the Issuer shall promptly advise the Underwriter in writing (i) when the Registration Statement, if not effective at the Execution Time, shall have become effective, (ii) of the receipt of any comments of, or requests for additional or supplemental information from, the Commission, (iii) of the time and date of any filing of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, (iv) of the time and date that any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective and (v) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any order or notice preventing or suspending the use of the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, or of any proceedings to remove, suspend or terminate from listing or quotation the Stock from any securities exchange upon which it is listed for trading or included or designated for quotation, or of the threatening or initiation of any proceedings for any of such purposes.  The Issuer shall use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order or prevention or suspension of such use.  If the Commission shall enter any such stop order or order or notice of prevention or suspension at any time, the Issuer will use its best efforts to obtain the lifting of such order at the earliest possible moment, or will file a new registration statement and use its best efforts to have such new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable.  Additionally, the Issuer agrees that it shall comply with the provisions of Rules 424(b) and 430B, as applicable, under the Securities Act, including with respect to the timely filing of documents thereunder, and will use its reasonable efforts to confirm that any filings made by the Issuer under such Rule 424(b) were received in a timely manner by the Commission.

(iii)  Exchange Act Compliance.   The Issuer, during the Prospectus Delivery Period, will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act within the time periods required by the Exchange Act.

(iv)  Amendments and Supplements to the Registration Statement, Prospectus and Other Securities Act Matters.  If, during the Prospectus Delivery Period, any event or development shall occur or condition exist as a result of which the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made or then prevailing, as the case may be, not misleading, or if it shall be necessary to amend or supplement the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or to file under the Exchange Act any document incorporated by reference in the

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Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made or then prevailing, as the case may be, not misleading, or if in the opinion of the Underwriter it is otherwise necessary to amend or supplement the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or to file under the Exchange Act any document incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or to file a new registration statement containing the Prospectus, in order to comply with law, including in connection with the delivery of the Prospectus, the Issuer agrees to (i) notify the Underwriter of any such event or condition and (ii) promptly prepare (subject to Section 3(a)(i) hereof), file with the Commission (and use its best efforts to have any amendment to the Registration Statement or any new registration statement to be declared effective) and furnish at its own expense to the Underwriter and to dealers, amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or any new registration statement, necessary in order to make the statements in the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made or then prevailing, as the case may be, not misleading or so that the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with law.

(v)  Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses .  The Issuer represents that it has not made, and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Underwriter, it will not make, and the Underwriter represents that it has not made, and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Issuer, it will not make, in each case, any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act) required to be filed by the Issuer with the Commission or retained by the Issuer under Rule 433 of the Securities Act; provided that the prior written consent of the parties hereto shall be deemed to have been given in respect of the Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses included in Schedule A hereto.  Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Underwriter is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.”  The Issuer agrees that (i) it has treated and will treat, as the case may be, each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and (ii) has complied and will comply, as the case may be, with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433 of the Securities Act applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including in respect of timely filing with the Commission, legending and record keeping.  The Issuer consents to the use by the Underwriter of a free writing prospectus that (a) is not an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and (b) contains only (i) information describing the price of the Securities or their offering or (ii) information permitted by Rule 134 under the Securities Act.

(vi)  Copies of the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.  The Issuer agrees to furnish the Underwriter, without charge, during the Prospectus Delivery Period, as many copies of the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and any amendments and supplements thereto (including any documents incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference therein) as the Underwriter may request.

(vii)  Copies of the Registration Statement.  The Issuer will furnish to the Underwriter and counsel for the Underwriter signed copies of the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto).

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(viii)  Blue Sky Compliance.  The Issuer shall cooperate with the Underwriter and counsel for the Underwriter to qualify or register the Securities for sale under (or obtain exemptions from the application of) the state securities or blue sky laws or Canadian provincial Securities laws or other foreign laws of those jurisdictions designated by the Underwriter, shall comply with such laws and shall continue such qualifications, registrations and exemptions in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Securities.  The Issuer shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to take any action that would subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not presently qualified or where it would be subject to taxation as a foreign corporation, other than those arising out of the offering or sale of the Securities in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject.  The Issuer will advise the Underwriter promptly of the suspension of the qualification or registration of (or any such exemption relating to) the Securities for offering, sale or trading in any jurisdiction or any initiation or threat of any proceeding for any such purpose, and in the event of the issuance of any order suspending such qualification, registration or exemption, the Issuer shall use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal thereof at the earliest possible moment.

(ix)  [Intentionally omitted]

(x)  Earnings Statement.  As soon as practicable, the Issuer will make generally available to its security holders and to the Underwriter an earnings statement (which need not be audited) covering the twelve-month period beginning with the first fiscal quarter of the Issuer ending after the effective date of the Registration Statement that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 under the Securities Act.

(xi)  Agreement Not to Offer or Sell Additional Securities.  During the period commencing on the date hereof and continuing to and including the date 30 days after the date of the Prospectus, the Issuer will not, without the prior written consent of the Underwriter (which consent may be withheld at the sole discretion of the Underwriter), directly or indirectly, sell, offer, contract or grant any option to sell, pledge, transfer or establish an open “put equivalent position” or liquidate or decrease a “call equivalent position” within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(h) under the Exchange Act, or otherwise dispose of or transfer (or enter into any transaction which is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition of), or announce the offering of, or file any registration statement under the Securities Act in respect of, any Stock or securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for Stock (other than the issuance of awards pursuant to employee benefit plans describe


 
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