HAMILTON, Bermuda--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar. 16, 2009-- Assured Guaranty Ltd. (“Assured” or “the Company”) (NYSE:AGO) announced that the Company’s shareholders have approved both proposals submitted for approval at the Company’s Special General Meeting held today, March 16, 2009 in Hamilton, Bermuda. Shareholders approved the issuance of Assured’s common shares to Dexia Holdings, Inc. (or its designated affiliate) in connection with Assured's acquisition of Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. (“FSA”) as well as the issuance of Assured’s common shares to the WLR Recovery Fund IV, L.P. and/or its affiliated funds in connection with the financing of Assured's acquisition of FSA, if Assured’s management and its Board of Directors decides to utilize this commitment for funding the acquisition. Over 99% of Assured’s shareholders present at the meeting voted in favor of the two proposals.

Assured also announced that the Company received today regulatory approval from the New York State Insurance Department for the acquisition of FSA. Completion of the transaction remains subject to approval by the Oklahoma Insurance Department and is also contingent on confirmation from Standard & Poor's, Moody's Investors Service and Fitch Ratings that the acquisition of FSA would not have a negative impact on Assured's or FSA's financial strength ratings. The transaction is expected to close in second quarter 2009.

“We are pleased to have received both of these approvals, which were necessary for us to move forward with our acquisition of FSA,” stated Dominic Frederico, President and Chief Executive Officer of Assured Guaranty Ltd. “We are working to finalize the remaining requirements for this transaction on a timely basis and will continue to evaluate our options for funding the cash portion of the purchase price beyond the use of the existing equity commitment.”

Information on the proposals voted on by Assured’s shareholders today can be found in the Investor Information section of the Company’s website at www.assuredguaranty.com.

Assured Guaranty Ltd. is a Bermuda-based holding company. Its operating subsidiaries provide credit enhancement products to the U.S. and international public finance, structured finance and mortgage markets. More information can be found at www.assuredguaranty.com.

Any forward-looking statements made in this press release reflect Assured’s current views with respect to future events and financial performance and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in these statements. For example, Assured’s forward-looking statements, including its statements regarding the closing of the FSAH acquisition could be affected by rating agency action such as a ratings downgrade, developments in the world's financial and capital markets, changes in regulation governmental actions, changes in general economic conditions, other risks and uncertainties that have not been identified at this time, management's response to these factors, and other risk factors identified in Assured’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the dates on which they are made. Assured undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Source: Assured Guaranty Ltd.

Assured Guaranty Ltd.
Equity investors:
Sabra Purtill, Managing Director, Global Communications and Investor Relations
212-408-6044 or 441-278-6665
spurtill@assuredguaranty.com
or
Fixed Income Investors:
Mike Walker, Director, Fixed Income Investor Relations
212-261-5575
mwalker@assuredguaranty.com
or
Media:
Ashweeta Durani, Vice President, Global Communications
212-408-6042 or 917-597-2065
adurani@assuredguaranty.com