UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-K

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018

or

For the transition period from                 to                

Commission File Number 1-9583

MBIA INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (914) 273-4545

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    Yes  ☐    No  ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    Yes  ☐    No  ☒

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant as of June 30, 2018 was $794,245,161.

As of February 21, 2019, 89,622,622 shares of Common Stock, par value $1 per share, were outstanding.

Documents incorporated by reference:

Portions of the Definitive Proxy Statement of the Registrant for its 2018 Annual Meeting, which will be filed on or before March 31, 2019, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FORWARD-LOOKING AND CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS

This annual report of MBIA Inc., together with its consolidated subsidiaries, (collectively, “MBIA”, the “Company”, “we”, “us” or “our”) includes statements that are not historical or current facts and are “forward-looking statements” made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words “believe”, “anticipate”, “project”, “plan”, “expect”, “estimate”, “intend”, “will likely result”, “looking forward”, or “will continue” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical earnings and those presently anticipated or projected. MBIA cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only to their respective dates. We undertake no obligation to publicly correct or update any forward-looking statement if the Company later becomes aware that such result is not likely to be achieved.

The following are some of the general factors that could affect financial performance or could cause actual results to differ materially from estimates contained in or underlying the Company’s forward-looking statements:

The above factors provide a summary of and are qualified in their entirety by the risk factors discussed under “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of this annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company encourages readers to review these risk factors in their entirety.

This annual report of MBIA Inc. also includes statements of the opinion and belief of MBIA management which may be forward-looking statements subject to the preceding cautionary disclosure. Unless otherwise indicated herein, the basis for each statement of opinion or belief of MBIA management in this report is the relevant industry or subject matter experience and views of certain members of MBIA’s management. Accordingly, MBIA cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any such statements, because like all statements of opinion or belief they are not statements of fact and may prove to be incorrect. We undertake no obligation to publicly correct or update any statement of opinion or belief if the Company later becomes aware that such statement of opinion or belief was not or is not then accurate. In addition, readers are cautioned that each statement of opinion or belief may be further qualified by disclosures set forth elsewhere in this report or in other disclosures by MBIA.

PART I

Item 1. Business

As used in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, (i) “MBIA,” the “Company,” “we,” “our” and “us” refer to MBIA Inc., a Connecticut corporation incorporated in 1986, together with its subsidiaries, and (ii) unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, references to “MBIA Corp.” are (i) for any references relating to the period ended January 10, 2017, to MBIA Insurance Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, MBIA UK Insurance Limited (“MBIA UK”), and MBIA Mexico S.A. de C.V (“MBIA Mexico”) and (ii) for any references relating to the period after January 10, 2017, to MBIA Insurance Corporation together with MBIA Mexico.

OVERVIEW

The Company’s primary objectives are ensuring that adequate liquidity exists at MBIA Inc. to satisfy all of its outstanding obligations, mitigating losses at National and MBIA Corp., including National’s exposures to insured debt obligations of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and certain of its instrumentalities (“Puerto Rico”), as described further herein, and maximizing recoveries on paid insurance claims. The Company may also pursue strategic alternatives that could enhance shareholder value.

MBIA’s primary business has been to provide financial guarantee insurance to the United States’ public finance markets through our indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary, National Public Finance Guarantee Corporation (“National”). National’s financial guarantee insurance policies provide investors with unconditional and irrevocable guarantees of the payment of the principal, interest or other amounts owing on insured obligations when due. National has ceased pursuing the writing of new financial guarantee policies, and its primary activity today is to provide ongoing surveillance of its existing insured portfolio of $57.9 billion gross par outstanding as of December 31, 2018.

MBIA has also provided financial guarantee insurance in the international and structured finance markets through its subsidiary MBIA Corp. As of December 31, 2018, MBIA Corp.’s total insured gross par outstanding was $11.9 billion. Effective on January 10, 2017, MBIA Corp.’s wholly-owned subsidiary, MBIA UK (Holdings) Limited (“MBIA UK Holdings”), the parent company to MBIA UK, sold MBIA UK, to Assured Guaranty Corp. (“Assured”), a subsidiary of Assured Guaranty Ltd. We do not expect MBIA Corp. to write any significant new policies in the foreseeable future. Given MBIA Corp.’s capital structure and business prospects, we do not expect its financial performance to have a material impact on MBIA Inc. Refer to “Results of Operations—Capital Resources” in Part II, Item 7 of this Form 10-K for a further discussion of MBIA Corp.’s insurance statutory capital.

MBIA Services Corporation (“MBIA Services”), also owned by MBIA Inc., is a service company which provides support services such as surveillance, risk management, legal, accounting, treasury and information technology, among others, to our businesses on a fee-for-service basis.

MBIA Inc. Capital Management

The Company manages its capital and liquidity in order to ensure that it can service its debt and other financial obligations and pay its operating expenses while maintaining an adequate cushion against potential adverse events. MBIA Inc. has consistently received dividends from National and releases from the tax escrow account over the past several years and currently maintains a stable liquidity position which is expected to allow it to service its obligations over the next several years without needing to access the capital markets. Our capital management strategies include enhancing shareholder value by (i) having the Company or National repurchase outstanding MBIA Inc. common shares when management deems such actions are appropriate, taking into account the price of the stock, anticipated liquidity needs, and other relevant factors and (ii) retiring our unsecured and MBIA Global Funding, LLC (“GFL”) debt through calls and repurchases at prices that create economic benefit to the Company.

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Item 1. Business (continued)

During 2018, the Company and National collectively repurchased 5.8 million shares at a cost of $48 million under the repurchase authorization approved by the Board in November of 2017. During 2017, the Company and National collectively repurchased 43 million shares at a cost of $325 million under repurchase authorizations approved by the Board in February of 2016 and June of 2017. During 2016, the Company and National collectively repurchased 16.6 million shares at a cost of $105 million under repurchase authorizations approved by the Board in October of 2015 and February of 2016. At each time of repurchase, management and the Board viewed such use of available capital as the best alternative for capital management.

Unsecured debt includes MBIA Inc.’s senior notes and medium-term notes (“MTNs”) issued by its subsidiary, GFL. During 2018, the Company repurchased $78 million and paid $17 million par value related to GFL debt maturities. During 2017, the Company repurchased $160 million and paid $38 million par value related to GFL debt maturities.

In each of the fourth quarters of 2018 and 2017, National declared and paid dividends of $108 million and $118 million, respectively, to its ultimate parent, MBIA Inc. In addition, during the first quarters of 2019 and 2018, MBIA Inc. received $56 million and $18 million, respectively, in cash from an escrow account held by MBIA Inc. under the MBIA group’s tax sharing agreement as described further under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations––Liquidity––Corporate Liquidity” in Part II, Item 7 of this Form 10-K. In addition, in 2018, $90 million was returned to National as a result of its 2017 financial results.

National Risk Mitigation

National’s most significant risk is credit risk in its large and diverse insured portfolio of domestic public finance credits. National’s risk mitigation strategy is premised on proactive portfolio management, including surveillance of financial performance and covenant compliance, the exercise of creditor rights, remediation and – in select cases – workouts of distressed credits. National’s approach generally focuses on the early detection of stress and proactive intervention, though its rights and its ability to take certain actions on a particular credit will always be case-specific. As part of its remediation efforts, National may elect to facilitate and participate in refinancings of existing credit exposures where the new transaction will have the anticipated effect of improving the issuer’s ability to service its debt and strengthen National’s legal security or covenant package. National may also seek to purchase its own insured obligations as part of an overall risk mitigation strategy, subject to internal and regulatory limitations.

Presently, the most distressed credits in National’s portfolio are obligations issued by Puerto Rico. As described further herein, four of these credits, the Commonwealth’s General Obligation Bonds, the Puerto Rico Sales Tax Financing Corporation (“COFINA”), the Puerto Rico Highways and Transportation Authority (“PRHTA”) and the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (“PREPA”) have been placed into bankruptcy-like processes under Title III of the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (“PROMESA”). For additional information relating to the risks arising from National’s Puerto Rico exposures, refer to the “Insured Portfolio Loss Related Risk Factors” section in Part I, Item 1A of this Form 10-K.

MBIA Corp. Risk Mitigation

MBIA Corp. has not written a meaningful amount of new business since 2008 as a result of declining financial capacity, ratings downgrades and regulatory limitations placed on its business. Since that time it has experienced considerable stress as a result of unprecedented levels of loss in its structured finance insurance business, primarily in its residential mortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”), commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”) pools, and collateralized debt obligation (“CDO”) portfolios. As a result, since 2008, MBIA Corp.’s strategy has focused primarily on recovering losses on insured transactions, reducing future expected economic losses in the insured portfolio through commutations and other risk mitigation strategies, and managing liquidity. Refer to “Note 6: Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K for further information regarding loss reserves and recoveries.

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Item 1. Business (continued)

Our liquidity and capital forecasts, and projected collections of recoveries, for MBIA Corp., reflect resources that we expect to be adequate to pay expected insurance claims. However, there can be no assurance that MBIA Corp. will realize its expected recoveries in full or on its projected timeframe. Refer to “Risk Factors-MBIA Corp. Risk Factors-Continuing elevated loss payments and delay or failure in realizing expected recoveries on insured transactions may materially and adversely affect MBIA Insurance Corporation’s statutory capital and its ability to meet liquidity needs and could cause the New York State Department of Financial Services (the “NYSDFS”) to put MBIA Insurance Corporation into a rehabilitation or liquidation proceeding if the NYSDFS concludes that MBIA Insurance Corporation will not be able to pay expected insurance claims,” in Part I, Item 1A of this Form 10-K. Given the separation of MBIA Inc. and MBIA Corp. as distinct legal entities, the absence of any cross defaults between the entities, and the lack of reliance by MBIA Inc. on MBIA Corp. for the receipt of dividends, we do not believe that a rehabilitation or liquidation proceeding of MBIA Insurance Corporation by the NYSDFS would have any significant long-term liquidity impact on MBIA Inc.

OUR INSURANCE OPERATIONS

Our U.S. public finance insurance portfolio is managed through National, and our international and structured finance insurance portfolios are managed through MBIA Corp. We do not expect National or MBIA Corp. to write new business for the foreseeable future.

We have been compensated for our insurance policies by insurance premiums that were paid upfront or on an installment basis. Our financial guarantee insurance was offered in both the new issue and secondary markets. In addition, we have provided financial guarantees or sureties to debt service reserve funds. The primary risk in our insurance operations is that of adverse credit performance in the insured portfolio. When writing new business we sought to maintain a diversified insured portfolio and have insured transactions with the aim of managing and diversifying risk based on a variety of criteria including revenue source, issue size, type of asset, industry concentrations, type of bond and geographic location. Despite this objective, there can be no assurance that we will avoid losses on multiple credits as a result of a single event or series of events.

Because we generally guarantee to the holder of an insured obligation the timely payment of amounts due on the obligation in accordance with its original payment schedule, in the case of a default or other triggering event, payments under the insurance policy generally cannot be accelerated against us unless we consent to the acceleration. In the event of a default, however, we may have the right, in our sole discretion, to accelerate the obligations and pay them in full. Otherwise, we are required to pay principal, interest or other amounts only as scheduled payments come due, even if the holders are permitted by the terms of the insured obligations to have the full amount of principal, accrued interest or other amounts due, declared due and payable immediately in the event of a default.

Our payment obligations after a default vary by deal and by insurance type. Our public finance insurance generally insures scheduled interest and principal. Our structured finance policies generally insure (i) timely interest and ultimate principal; (ii) ultimate principal only at final maturity; or, (iii) payments upon settlement of individual collateral losses as they occur after any deductible or subordination has been exhausted. With respect to the insurance of certain derivative transactions, including credit default swap (“CDS”) contracts written in the international and structured finance insurance segment, in certain circumstances, including the occurrence of certain insolvency or payment defaults under the CDS contracts, the CDS contracts may be subject to termination by the counterparty, triggering a claim for the fair value of the contract. Our U.S. public finance segment did not write insurance in CDS form and therefore its policies do not feature this potential trigger.

In the event of a default in the payment of principal, interest or other insured amounts by an issuer, the insurance company will make funds available in the insured amount generally within one to three business days following notification. Longer timeframes may apply for international transactions. Generally, our insurance companies provide for this payment upon receipt of proof of ownership of the obligations due, as well as upon receipt of instruments appointing the insurer as agent for the holders and evidencing the assignment of the rights of the holders with respect to the payments made by the insurer or other appropriate documentation.

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Item 1. Business (continued)

National Insured Portfolio

National’s insured portfolio consists of municipal bonds, including tax-exempt and taxable indebtedness of U.S. political subdivisions and territories, as well as utilities, airports, health care institutions, higher educational facilities, student loan issuers, housing authorities and other similar agencies and obligations issued by private entities that finance projects that serve a substantial public purpose. Municipal bonds and privately issued bonds used for the financing of public purpose projects are generally supported by taxes, assessments, user fees or tariffs related to the use of these projects, lease payments or other similar types of revenue streams.

As of December 31, 2018, National had $57.9 billion of insured gross par outstanding on U.S. public finance obligations covering 3,662 policies and diversified among 2,105 “credits,” which we define as any group of issues supported by the same revenue source. Insurance in force, which includes all insured debt service, as of December 31, 2018 was $111.5 billion.

All of the policies were underwritten on the assumption that the insurance will remain in force until maturity or early retirement of the insured obligations. National estimates that the average life of its domestic public finance insurance policies in force as of December 31, 2018 was 10 years. The average life was determined by applying a weighted average calculation, using the remaining years to contractual maturity and weighting them on the basis of the remaining debt service insured. No assumptions were made for any future refundings, early redemptions or terminations of insured issues. Average annual insured debt service on the portfolio as of December 31, 2018 was $6.7 billion.

National’s underwriting guidelines limited the insurance in force for any one insured credit, and for other categories such as geography. In addition, National is subject to regulatory single-risk limits with respect to any insured bond issue. See the “Insurance Regulation” section below for a description of these regulatory requirements. As of December 31, 2018, National’s gross par amount outstanding for its ten largest insured U.S. public finance credits totaled $10.1 billion, representing 17.4% of National’s total U.S. public finance gross par amount outstanding. Refer to “Note 13: Insurance in Force” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K for further information regarding the Company’s insured portfolio.

MBIA Corp. Insured Portfolio

MBIA Corp.’s insured portfolio consists of policies that insure various types of international public finance and global structured finance obligations that were sold in the new issue and secondary markets or are referenced in CDS contracts. International public finance obligations include bonds and loans extended to entities located outside of the U.S., including utilities, infrastructure projects and sovereign-related and sub-sovereign issuers, such as regions, authorities or their equivalent as well as sovereign owned entities that might be supported by a sovereign state, region or authority. Sovereign-related includes Private Finance Initiative transactions that involve private entities that receive contractual payments for providing services to public sector entities. Global structured finance obligations include asset-backed transactions and financing of commercial activities that are typically secured by undivided interests or collateralized by the related assets or cash flows or, in the case of certain CDS transactions, reference the underlying obligations. Certain policies cover payments potentially due under CDS, including termination payments that may become due in certain circumstances, including the occurrence of certain insolvency or payment defaults under the CDS or derivative contracts by the insured counterparty or by the guarantor.

As of December 31, 2018, MBIA Corp. had 348 policies outstanding in its insured portfolio. In addition, MBIA Corp. had 52 insurance policies outstanding relating to liabilities issued by MBIA Inc. and its subsidiaries, which are described further under the section “Affiliated Financial Obligations Insured by MBIA Corp.” below. MBIA Corp.’s total policies in its insured portfolio are diversified among 220 “credits,” which we define as any group of policies supported by the same revenue source.

As of December 31, 2018, the gross par amount outstanding of MBIA Corp.’s insured obligations (excluding $1.0 billion of insured affiliated financial obligations and $36.0 billion of U.S. public finance debt ceded to National), was $11.9 billion. Insurance in force for the above portfolio, which includes all insured debt service, as of December 31, 2018 was $16.5 billion.

4

Item 1. Business (continued)

MBIA Corp. estimates that the average life of its international and structured finance insurance policies in force as of December 31, 2018 is 8 years. The average life was determined by applying a calculation using the remaining years to contractual maturity for international public finance obligations and estimated maturity for structured finance obligations and weighting them on the basis of the remaining debt service insured. No assumptions were made for any future refundings, early redemptions or terminations of insured issues. Average annual insured debt service on the portfolio as of December 31, 2018 was $1.4 billion. Refer to “Note 13: Insurance in Force” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K for further information regarding the Company’s insured portfolio.

Affiliated Financial Obligations Insured by MBIA Corp.

Prior to 2008, MBIA Inc. provided customized investment agreements and one of its subsidiaries, GFL, issued MTNs with varying maturities. Each of these obligations is guaranteed by MBIA Corp. GFL lent the proceeds of its GFL MTN issuances to MBIA Inc. As a result of ratings downgrades of MBIA Corp., MBIA Inc. is required to post collateral for the remaining investment agreements. Since the ratings downgrades of MBIA Corp. that began in 2008, we have not issued new MTNs or investment agreements. The investment agreements are currently fully collateralized with high quality assets. We believe the outstanding investment agreements and MTNs and corresponding asset balances will continue to decline over time as the liabilities mature, terminate, or are repurchased by the Company.

In January of 2017, MBIA Corp. executed a financing facility (the “Facility”) with affiliates of certain holders of 14% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Surplus Notes of MBIA Corp. (collectively, the “Senior Lenders”), and with MBIA Inc., pursuant to which the Senior Lenders have provided $325 million of senior financing and MBIA Inc. has provided $38 million of subordinated financing to MZ Funding LLC (“MZ Funding”), a newly formed wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, which in turn lent the proceeds of such financing to MBIA Corp. MBIA Corp. issued financial guarantee insurance policies insuring MZ Funding’s obligations under the Facility. Refer to “Note 10: Debt” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K for information on the Facility.

Risk Management

Our largest risk is the credit exposure in our insured portfolio. The Company’s credit risk management and remediation functions are managed through committees and units that oversee risks in ongoing portfolio surveillance and remediation. The Company’s Insured Portfolio Management Division (“IPM”) monitors and remediates domestic and international public finance and structured risks. National and MBIA Corp. each has its own risk and investment committees that review their respective portfolio and investment-related decisions.

The Company’s Risk Oversight Committee (the “Risk Oversight Committee”) reviews material transactions and provides firm-wide review of policies and decisions related to credit, market, operational, legal, financial and business risks. The Company and its subsidiaries’ respective Loss Reserve Committees review loss reserving activity.

The Company’s Board of Directors and related Committees, including Audit, and Finance and Risk, oversee risks faced by the Company and its subsidiaries. The Board regularly evaluates and discusses emerging risks and risks associated with strategic initiatives. On an annual basis, the Board also evaluates and approves the Company’s risk tolerance policy. The purpose of the risk tolerance policy is to define the types and amounts of risks the Company is prepared to accept. The assessment includes risks associated with credit, capital adequacy, market, liquidity, legal, operations and technology. This policy provides the basis upon which risk criteria and procedures are developed and seeks to have these applied consistently across the Company.

The Audit Committee oversees risks associated with financial and other reporting, auditing, legal and regulatory compliance, and risks that may otherwise result from the Company’s operations. The Audit Committee oversees these risks by monitoring (i) the integrity of the financial statements of the Company and of other material financial disclosures made by the Company, (ii) the qualifications, independence and performance of the Company’s independent auditor, (iii) the performance of the Company’s internal audit function, (iv) the Company’s compliance policies and procedures and its compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, and (v) the performance of the Company’s operational risk management function.

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Item 1. Business (continued)

The Finance and Risk Committee oversees the Company’s credit risk governance framework, market risk, liquidity risk and other material financial risks. The Finance and Risk Committee oversees these risks by monitoring the Company’s: (i) capital and liquidity, (ii) proprietary investment portfolios, (iii) exposure to changes in the market value of assets and liabilities, (iv) credit exposures in the Insured Portfolios, and (v) financial risk policies and procedures, including regulatory requirements and limits.

The Company has a designated Model Governance Team. Given the significance of models in the Company’s surveillance and remediation activities, financial reporting and corporate treasury operations, the Company established a Model Governance Policy to enhance the consistency, reliability, maintenance and transparency of its models so that model risk can be mitigated on an enterprise-wide basis. The Model Governance Team is responsible for the Model Governance Policy as well as other Model Governance related initiatives.

Insurance Surveillance and Remediation

We surveil and remediate our insured portfolios on an ongoing basis. Although our monitoring and remediation activities vary somewhat by sector and bond type, in all cases we focus on assessing event risk and potential losses under stress.

A key to our ongoing monitoring is early detection of deterioration in either obligor credit quality or macroeconomic or market factors that could adversely impact an insured credit. If deterioration is detected, analysts generally evaluate possible remedial actions and, in the event of significant stress, we may develop and implement a remediation strategy. The nature of any remedial action is based on the type of insured issue and the nature and scope of the event giving rise to the remediation. In most cases, as part of any such remedial activity, we work with the issuer, trustee, legal counsel, financial advisors, servicer, other creditors, underwriters and/or other related parties to reduce chances of default and the potential severity of loss if a default should occur.

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Item 1. Business (continued)

We use an internal credit rating system to rank credits, with frequency of review based on risk type, internal rating, performance and credit quality. Credits with performance issues are designated as “Caution List-Low,” “Caution List-Medium” or “Caution List-High” based on the nature and extent of our concerns, but these categories do not require establishment of any case basis reserves. In the event we determine that a claim for payment is expected with respect to an insured issue using probability-weighted cash flows, we place the issue on the “Classified List” and establish a case basis loss reserve for that insured issue. See “Losses and Reserves” below for information on our loss reserving process.

Credit Risk Models

We use credit risk models to test qualitative judgments, to design appropriate structures and to understand sensitivity within transactions and across broader portfolio exposure concentrations. Models are updated to reflect changes in both portfolio and transaction data and also in expectations of stressed future outcomes. For portfolio monitoring we use internal and third-party models based on individual transaction attributes and customized structures and these models are also used to determine case basis loss reserves and, where applicable, to mark-to-market any insured obligations as may be required for financial reporting. When using third-party models, we generally perform the same review and analyses of the collateral, transaction structure, performance triggers and cash flow waterfalls as when using our internal models. See “Risk Factors—Insured Portfolio Loss Related Risk Factors—Financial modeling involves uncertainty over ultimate outcomes which makes it difficult to estimate liquidity, potential paid claims payments, loss reserves and fair values” in Part I, Item 1A of this Form 10-K.

Market Risk Assessment

We measure and assess market risk on a consolidated basis as well as at the holding company and subsidiaries on a stand-alone basis. Key market risks are changes in interest rates, credit spreads and foreign exchange rates. We use various models and methodologies to test exposure under market stress scenarios, including parallel and non-parallel shifts in the yield curve, changes in credit spreads, and changes in foreign exchange rates. We also analyze stressed liquidity scenarios and stressed counterparty exposures. The analyses are used in testing investment portfolio guidelines. The Risk Oversight Committee and the Finance and Risk Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors receive periodic reports on market risk.

Operational Risk Assessment

The Operational Risk function assesses potential economic loss or reputational impact arising from processes and controls, systems, or staff actions and seeks to identify vulnerabilities to operational disruptions caused by external events. The Operational Risk framework is generally managed using a self-assessment process across our business units, with controls associated with the execution of key processes monitored through Internal Audit reviews. The Operational Risk function reports periodically to the Risk Oversight Committee and the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors. The Audit Committee reviews the Company’s operational risk profile, risk event activity and ongoing risk mitigation efforts.

Losses and Reserves

Loss and loss adjustment expense (“LAE”) reserves are established by Loss Reserve Committees in each of our operating insurance companies and are reviewed by our executive Loss Reserve Committee, which consists of members of senior management. The Company’s loss and LAE reserves as of December 31, 2018 represent case basis reserves and estimates for LAE to be incurred. Case basis reserves represent the Company’s estimate of expected losses to be paid under its insurance contracts, net of potential recoveries and discounted using a current risk-free interest rate, for contracts where the estimated loss amount exceeds the unearned premium revenue on the related insurance contract. The Company estimates expected losses net of potential recoveries using the present value of probability-weighted estimated loss payments and recoveries, discounted at a rate equal to the risk-free rate applicable to the currency and weighted average remaining life of the insurance contract as required by accounting principles for financial guarantee contracts. We record case basis loss reserves on insured obligations which have defaulted or are expected to default during the remaining life of the obligation.

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Item 1. Business (continued)

For a further discussion of the methodology used by the Company for determining when a case basis reserve is established, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Estimates—Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves” in Part II, Item 7 of this Form 10-K. Management believes that our reserves are adequate to cover the ultimate net cost of claims. However, because the reserves are based on management’s judgment and estimates, there can be no assurance that the ultimate liability will not exceed such estimates or that the timing of claims payments and the realization of recoveries will not create liquidity issues for the corresponding insurance company.

Reinsurance

We currently have third-party reinsurance agreements in place covering 3% of our insured par outstanding. At this time we do not intend to utilize reinsurance to decrease the insured exposure in our portfolio; however, we may, from time to time, look to enter into transactions to reduce risks embedded in our insured portfolios on an individual and portfolio-wide basis.

Intercompany Reinsurance Arrangements

MBIA Corp. and National are parties to a reinsurance agreement pursuant to which National reinsures certain public finance financial guarantee policies originally written by MBIA Corp., as well as an assignment agreement under which MBIA Corp. assigned to National its rights and obligations under public finance financial guarantee policies of Financial Guaranty Insurance Company (“FGIC”) which were originally reinsured by MBIA Corp., and ultimately novated to National pursuant to a novation agreement between National and FGIC effective August of 2013. In addition, National entered into second-to-pay policies covering the policies covered by each of these agreements. The reinsurance agreement pursuant to which MBIA Corp. had reinsured the FGIC public finance guarantee policies was terminated in 2013 in connection with the novation to National of the policies covered by the agreement.

MBIA Insurance Corporation maintains a reinsurance agreement and net worth maintenance agreement with MBIA Mexico pursuant to which MBIA Insurance Corporation reinsures 100% of the business underwritten by MBIA Mexico and agrees to maintain the amount of capital in MBIA Mexico required by applicable law or regulation, subject to certain New York State regulatory requirements as well as certain contract restrictions.

Insurance Regulation

National and MBIA Insurance Corporation are incorporated in and subject to primary insurance regulation and supervision by the State of New York. MBIA Corp.’s Spanish Branch is subject to local regulation in Spain. MBIA Mexico is organized and subject to primary regulation and supervision in Mexico. The Company’s insurance subsidiaries are also licensed to issue financial guarantee policies in multiple jurisdictions as needed to conduct their business activities.

The extent of state and national insurance regulation and supervision varies by jurisdiction, but New York, Spain, Mexico and most other jurisdictions have laws and regulations prescribing minimum standards of solvency, including minimum capital requirements, and business conduct which must be maintained by insurance companies, and if our insurance companies fail to meet such requirements our regulators may impose certain remedial actions. Among other regulated conduct, these laws and regulations prescribe permitted classes and concentrations of investments. In addition, some state laws and regulations require the approval or filing of policy forms and rates. MBIA Insurance Corporation and National each are required to file detailed annual financial statements with the NYSDFS and similar supervisory agencies in each of the other jurisdictions in which it is licensed. The operations and accounts of the insurance companies are subject to examination by regulatory agencies at regular intervals. In addition to being subject to the insurance laws in the jurisdictions in which we operate, as a condition to obtaining required insurance regulatory approvals to enter into certain transactions and take certain other corporate actions, including the release of excessive contingency reserves in MBIA Insurance Corporation described below under “Contingency Reserves” and entry into the asset swap between MBIA Inc. and National described under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations––Liquidity––Corporate Liquidity” in Part II, Item 7 of this Form 10-K, MBIA Inc. and its operating insurance subsidiaries have and may in the future agree to provide notice to the NYSDFS or other applicable regulators prior to entering into transactions or taking other corporate actions (such as paying dividends when applicable statutory tests are satisfied) that would not otherwise require regulatory approval.

8

Item 1. Business (continued)

New York Insurance Regulation

Our domestic insurance companies are licensed to provide financial guarantee insurance under Article 69 of the New York Insurance Law (the “NYIL”). Article 69 defines financial guarantee insurance to include any guarantee under which loss is payable upon proof of occurrence of financial loss to an insured as a result of certain events. These events include the failure of any obligor or any issuer of any debt instrument or other monetary obligation to pay principal, interest, premium, dividend or purchase price of or on such instrument or obligation when due. Under Article 69, our domestic insurance companies are permitted to transact financial guarantee insurance, surety insurance and credit insurance and such other kinds of business to the extent necessarily or properly incidental to the kinds of insurance which they are authorized to transact. In addition, they are empowered to assume or reinsure the kinds of insurance described above. Amendments to the statutes or regulations governing financial guarantee insurers are possible, but the adoption or timing of any such amendments is uncertain.

New York State Dividend Limitations

The laws of New York regulate the payment of dividends by National and MBIA Insurance Corporation and provide that a New York domestic stock property/casualty insurance company may not declare or distribute dividends except out of statutory earned surplus. New York law provides that the sum of (i) the amount of dividends declared or distributed during the preceding 12-month period and (ii) the dividend to be declared may not exceed the lesser of (a) 10% of policyholders’ surplus, as shown by the most recent statutory financial statement on file with the NYSDFS, or (b) 100% of adjusted net investment income for such 12-month period (the net investment income for such 12-month period plus the excess, if any, of net investment income over dividends declared or distributed during the two-year period preceding such 12-month period), unless the Superintendent of Financial Services of the State of New York (the “Superintendent”) approves a greater dividend distribution based upon a finding that the insurer will retain sufficient surplus to support its obligations and writings.

National declared and paid a dividend of $108 million to its ultimate parent, MBIA Inc., during the fourth quarter of 2018.

Due to its significant earned surplus deficit, MBIA Insurance Corporation has not had the statutory capacity to pay dividends since December 31, 2009 and is not expected to have any statutory capacity to pay any dividends for the foreseeable future. In connection with MBIA Insurance Corporation obtaining approval from the NYSDFS to release excessive contingency reserves as of September 30, 2011, December 31, 2011 and March 31, 2012, MBIA Corp. agreed that it would not pay any dividends without receiving prior approval from the NYSDFS. The foregoing dividend limitations are determined in accordance with statutory accounting principles (“U.S. STAT”).

Contingency Reserves

As financial guarantee insurers, our domestic insurance companies are required by the laws and regulations of New York and other states to maintain, as applicable, contingency reserves on their municipal bond, asset-backed securities (“ABS”) or other financial guarantee liabilities. Under New York law, a financial guarantee insurance company is required to contribute to contingency reserves 50% of premiums as they are earned on policies written prior to July 1, 1989 (net of reinsurance), and, with respect to policies written on and after July 1, 1989, such an insurer must make contributions over a period of 15 or 20 years (based on issue type), or until the contingency reserve for such insured issues equals the greater of 50% of premiums written for the relevant category of insurance or a percentage of the principal guaranteed, varying from 0.55% to 2.5%, depending upon the type of obligation guaranteed (net of collateral, reinsurance, refunding, refinancings and certain insured securities). Other states maintain similar requirements. The contribution to, and maintenance of, the contingency reserve limits the amount of earned surplus that might otherwise be available for the payment of dividends. In each state, our domestic insurance companies may apply for release of portions of their contingency reserves in certain circumstances.

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Item 1. Business (continued)

Risk Limits

Insurance laws and regulations also limit both the aggregate and individual securities risks that our domestic insurance companies may insure on a net basis based on the type of obligations insured. The individual limits are generally on the amount of insured par and/or annual debt service for a given insured issue, entity or revenues source and stated as a percentage of the insurer’s policyholders’ surplus and contingency reserves. The aggregate risk limits limit the aggregate amount of insured par to a stated multiple of the insurer’s policyholders’ surplus and contingency reserves based on the types of obligations insured. The aggregate risk limits can range from 300:1 for certain municipal obligations to 50:1 for certain non-municipal obligations.

National is in compliance with the relevant aggregate and single risk limits. During 2018 and 2017, MBIA Insurance Corporation reported single risk limit overages to the NYSDFS due to changes in its statutory capital. MBIA Insurance Corporation is in compliance with its aggregate risk limits as of December 31, 2018.

Holding Company Regulation

MBIA Inc., National and MBIA Insurance Corporation also are subject to regulation under the insurance holding company statutes of New York. The requirements of holding company statutes vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction but generally require insurance companies that are part of an insurance holding company system to register and file certain reports describing, among other information, their capital structure, ownership and financial condition. The holding company statutes also generally require prior approval of changes in control, of certain dividends and other inter-corporate transfers of assets, and of certain transactions between insurance companies, their parents and affiliates. The holding company statutes impose standards on certain transactions with related companies, which include, among other requirements, that all transactions be fair and reasonable and those transactions not in the ordinary course of business exceeding specified limits receive prior regulatory approval.

Change of Control

Prior approval by the NYSDFS is required for any entity seeking to acquire, directly or indirectly, “control” of National or MBIA Insurance Corporation. In many states, including New York, “control” is presumed to exist if 10% or more of the voting securities of the insurer are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by an entity, although the insurance regulator may find that “control” in fact does or does not exist when an entity owns or controls either a lesser or greater amount of securities. MBIA Insurance Corporation would require the prior approval of MBIA Mexico’s regulator in order to transfer the shares it currently holds in MBIA Mexico.

Insurance Guarantee Funds

National and MBIA Insurance Corporation are exempt from assessments by the insurance guarantee funds in the majority of the states in which they do business. Guarantee fund laws in most states require insurers transacting business in the state to participate in guarantee associations, which pay claims of policyholders and third-party claimants against impaired or insolvent insurance companies doing business in the state. In most states, insurers licensed to write only municipal bond insurance, financial guarantee insurance and other forms of surety insurance are exempt from assessment by these funds and their policyholders are prohibited from making claims on these funds.

INVESTMENTS AND INVESTMENT POLICY

Investment objectives, policies and guidelines related to the Company’s businesses are generally subject to review and approval by the Finance and Risk Committee of the Board of Directors. Investment objectives, policies and guidelines related to investment activity on behalf of our insurance companies are also subject to review and approval by the respective Investment Committee of their Boards of Directors or similar body.

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Item 1. Business (continued)

Insight Investment manages the proprietary investment portfolios of the Company and its subsidiaries in accordance with the guidelines adopted for each such portfolio. The agreements with Insight Investment provide generally that Insight Investment will have the exclusive right to manage the fixed-income investment portfolios of the Company and its subsidiaries until December 31, 2019 and guarantee certain minimum revenues thereunder. The agreements are subject to early termination under certain conditions including if certain performance objectives are not met. Subsequent to December 31, 2018, the Company reached an agreement in principle to extend the contract with Insight Investment, with modifications, beyond its current term.

To continue to optimize capital resources and provide for claims-paying capabilities, the investment objectives and policies of our operations are tailored to reflect their various strategies and operating conditions. The investment objectives of National set preservation of capital as the primary objective, subject to an appropriate degree of liquidity, and optimization of after-tax income and total return as secondary objectives. The investment objectives of MBIA Corp. are primarily to maintain adequate liquidity to meet claims-paying and other corporate needs and secondarily to maximize after-tax income within defined investment risk limits. The investment objectives of the corporate segment are to provide sufficient liquidity to meet maturing liabilities and, in the case of the investment agreement business collateral posting obligations, while maximizing the total long-term return.

RATING AGENCIES

In the fourth quarter of 2017, both S&P and Kroll Bond Rating Agency (“Kroll”) withdrew their financial strength ratings on MBIA Inc. and its subsidiaries, National and MBIA Corp, as contracted, following notice from the Company terminating the agreements by which both rating agencies agreed to provide financial strength ratings. Prior to withdrawal of their respective ratings Kroll downgraded the rating of National from AA+ to AA with a negative outlook and S&P affirmed the National A with a stable outlook. Also in the fourth quarter of 2017, MBIA Inc., on behalf of its subsidiaries, National and MBIA Corp, provided similar notice to Moody’s Investors Services (“Moody’s”) terminating the agreement by which Moody’s agreed to provide financial strength ratings to MBIA Inc., National, MBIA Corp. and MBIA Mexico. In January of 2018, Moody’s downgraded the rating of National from A3 with a negative outlook to Baa2 with a stable outlook. Similarly, Moody’s downgraded the rating of MBIA Inc. from Ba1 with a negative outlook to Ba3 with a stable outlook. The rating of MBIA Corp. was affirmed at Caa1 with a developing outlook. The rating of MBIA Mexico was affirmed at Caa1/B3.mx with a developing outlook. Moody’s, at its discretion and in the absence of a contract with the Company, continues to maintain ratings on MBIA Inc. and its subsidiaries.

CAPITAL FACILITIES

The Company does not currently maintain a capital facility. For a discussion of the Company’s capital resources refer to “Capital Resources” in Part II, Item 7 of this Form 10-K.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Refer to “Note 12: Business Segments” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K for information on the Company’s financial information by segment and premiums earned by geographic location.

EMPLOYEES

As of December 31, 2018, the Company had 96 employees. None of the Company’s employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements. The Company considers its employee relations to be satisfactory.

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Item 1. Business (continued)

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

The Company maintains a website at www.mbia.com. The Company is not including the information on its website as a part of, nor is it incorporating such information by reference into, this Form 10-K. The Company makes available through its website under the “SEC Filings” tab, free of charge, all of its SEC filings, including annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly filings on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports as soon as is reasonably practicable after these materials have been filed with or furnished to the SEC.

As a courtesy, the Company posts on its website under the section “Legal Proceedings,” selected information and documents in reference to selected legal proceedings in which the Company is the plaintiff or the defendant. The Company will not necessarily post all documents for each proceeding and undertakes no obligation to revise or update them to reflect changes in events or expectations. The complete official court docket can be publicly accessed by contacting the clerk’s office of the respective court where each litigation matter is pending.

The Company is providing public access to certain non-confidential information regarding the assets securing the facility extended by its subsidiary, MZ Funding LLC (“MZ Funding”), on the Company’s MZ Funding web page. It will also make available certain confidential information subject to the execution of a non-disclosure agreement. Instructions for accessing the information are available on the MZ Funding web page. A description of the MZ Funding facility, as well as several documents pertaining thereto, including, among others, the Senior Note Indenture, the Credit Agreement, and the Security Agreement, can be found on the Form 8-K filed by the Company on January 10, 2017, available on the Company’s website at www.mbia.com.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

The executive officers of the Company and their present ages and positions with the Company as of February 28, 2019 are set forth below:

William C. Fallon was elected as a Director of the Company in May 2017, and appointed as Chief Executive Officer in September 15, 2017. Prior to being named Chief Executive Officer and Director, Mr. Fallon served as President, Chief Operating Officer, and Vice President of the Company and head of the Global Structured Finance Division. Mr. Fallon also serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of National. From July of 2005 to March 1, 2007, Mr. Fallon was Vice President of the Company and head of Corporate and Strategic Planning. Prior to joining the Company in 2005, Mr. Fallon was a partner at McKinsey & Company and co-leader of that firm’s Corporate Finance and Strategy Practice.

Anthony McKiernan was named Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer on May 1, 2012 and March 11, 2016, respectively. Immediately prior to those appointments Mr. McKiernan was Vice President and Chief Portfolio Officer of the Company. Mr. McKiernan is also Chairman and Chief Financial Officer of MBIA Corp. Mr. McKiernan joined MBIA in 2000 as a vice president in the Credit Analytics Group, and managed the Corporate Insured Portfolio Management Group prior to becoming the Head of the Structured Finance Insured Portfolio Management Group in 2007.

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Item 1. Business (continued)

The Board of Directors of MBIA Inc. appointed Mr. Fallon to the office set forth opposite his name above on September 15, 2017 and appointed Mr. McKiernan to the offices set forth opposite his name above on May 1, 2012 and March 11, 2016.

Jonathan C. Harris is General Counsel and Secretary of the Company. Prior to being named General Counsel and Secretary, Mr. Harris served as Assistant Vice President and Head of Litigation. Mr. Harris joined the Company as Head of Litigation in 2009. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Harris was litigation counsel at Lehman Brothers, and practiced in the litigation department of Willkie Farr & Gallagher. The Board of Directors of MBIA Inc. appointed Mr. Harris to the offices set forth opposite his name above on May 3, 2017.

Daniel M. Avitabile is an Assistant Vice President of the Company and President and Chief Risk Officer of MBIA Corp. Prior to being named Chief Risk Officer in 2016, Mr. Avitabile managed MBIA Corp.’s Special Situations Group, which was responsible for remediation and commutation activity. Mr. Avitabile has worked at MBIA since 2000, where he has held positions in insured portfolio management, remediation, corporate strategy and structured finance new business. Prior to joining MBIA, he held positions at The Chase Manhattan Bank and State Street Bank. The Board of Directors of MBIA Inc. and MBIA Insurance Corporation appointed Mr. Avitabile to the offices set forth opposite his name above on February 13, 2018, September 15, 2017 and March 11, 2016, respectively.

Adam T. Bergonzi is an Assistant Vice President of the Company and Chief Risk Officer of National, overseeing all of National’s risk and insured portfolio management activities. Prior to being named Chief Risk Officer of National in 2010 when he rejoined the Company, Mr. Bergonzi was employed at Municipal and Infrastructure Assurance Corporation, which he co-founded and served as its Chief Risk Officer, from 2008 to 2010. The Board of Directors of MBIA Inc. and National Public Finance Guarantee Corporation appointed Mr. Bergonzi to the offices set forth opposite his name above on May 3, 2016 and November 15, 2010, respectively.

Christopher H. Young is an Assistant Vice President of the Company and Chief Financial Officer of National. Prior to being named National’s Chief Financial Officer in March of 2009, from 2001 to 2009, Mr. Young worked at MBIA Insurance Corporation in a variety of Structured Finance positions and in Corporate Strategy. The Board of Directors of MBIA Inc. and National Public Finance Guarantee Corporation appointed Mr. Young to the offices set forth opposite his name above on February 13, 2018 and March 5, 2009, respectively.

Joseph R. Schachinger is the Company’s Controller. Prior to being named Controller in May of 2017, since 2009 Mr. Schachinger served as Deputy Controller. The Board of Directors of MBIA Inc. appointed Mr. Schachinger to the office set forth opposite his name above on May 3, 2017.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

References in the risk factors to the “Company” are to MBIA Inc., together with its domestic and international subsidiaries. References to “we,” “our” and “us” are to MBIA Inc. or the Company, as the context requires. Our risk factors are grouped into categories and are presented in the following order: “Insured Portfolio Loss Related Risk Factors”, “Legal, Regulatory and Other Risk Factors”, “Capital, Liquidity and Market Related Risk Factors” and “MBIA Corp. Risk Factors.” Risk factors are generally listed in order of significance within each category.

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Item 1A. Risk Factors (continued)

Insured Portfolio Loss Related Risk Factors

Some of the state, local and territorial governments and finance authorities and other providers of public services, located in the U.S. or abroad, that issued public finance obligations we insured are experiencing fiscal stress that could result in increased credit losses or impairments on those obligations.

Although the financial condition of many state, local and territorial governments and finance authorities that issued the obligations we insured has improved since the financial crisis, some issuers continue to report fiscal stress that has resulted in a significant increase in taxes and/or a reduction in spending or other measures in efforts to satisfy their financial obligations. In particular, certain jurisdictions have significantly underfunded pension liabilities which are placing additional stress on their finances and are particularly challenging to restructure either through negotiation or under Chapter 9 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. If the issuers of the obligations in our public finance portfolio are unable to raise taxes, or increase other revenues, cut spending, reduce liabilities, and/or receive state or federal assistance, we may experience losses or impairments on those obligations, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. The financial stress experienced by certain municipal issuers could result in the filing of Chapter 9 proceedings in states where municipal issuers are permitted to seek bankruptcy protection. In these proceedings, which remain rare, the resolution of bondholder claims (and by extension, those of bond insurers) may be subject to legal challenge by other creditors.

The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and certain of its instrumentalities (“Puerto Rico”) are experiencing fiscal stress and constrained liquidity due to, among other things, Puerto Rico’s structural budget imbalances, no access to the capital markets, a prolonged stagnating local economy, net migration of people out of Puerto Rico and high debt burdens. On June 30, 2016, after passage by the United States Congress, the President of the United States signed into law the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act (“PROMESA”). PROMESA provides a statutory framework for the creation of an independent oversight board (“the “Oversight Board”) with powers relating to, among other things, the development and implementation of fiscal plans for Puerto Rico, as well as collective action and judicial processes—separate from the Federal Bankruptcy Code—by which Puerto Rico may restructure its debt on a consensual or non-consensual basis.

In 2017, the Oversight Board certified and filed in the District Court of Puerto Rico bankruptcy like petitions under Title III of PROMESA for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico as well as certain of its instrumentalities, specifically, Puerto Rico Sales Tax Financing Corporation (“COFINA”), Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (“PREPA”) and Puerto Rico Highway and Transportation Authority (“PRHTA”). On February 4, 2019, the District Court entered an order approving the confirmation of the Plan of Adjustment for COFINA, including the settlement agreement between the Commonwealth and COFINA. The effective date of the Plan was February 12, 2019. While National has entered into a voluntary mediation process with the Oversight Board and Puerto Rico in connection with the GO Bonds and certain other insured Puerto Rico credits, there can be no assurance that National will be able to avoid a non-voluntary outcome in the Title III proceedings which could result in unanticipated losses to National which could be material.

On February 15, 2019, the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit issued its decision on the appeal by Aurelius Investments LLC and other appellants seeking to dismiss the Title III proceedings as unconstitutional. In its decision, the First Circuit agreed with appellants that the process PROMESA provides for the appointment of Board member is unconstitutional under the U.S. Constitution’s Appointments Clause. Notwithstanding that holding, the First Circuit affirmed Judge Swain’s denial of appellants’ motions to dismiss the Title III petitions, concluding that the Board’s constitutional infirmity did not alter or impair the validity of the Board’s past acts, and stayed its mandate for 90 days to allow the President and the Senate to validate the currently defective appointments or reconstitute the Board in accordance with the Appointments Clause. During the 90-day stay, the Board continues to operate as it does currently.

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Item 1A. Risk Factors (continued)

Puerto Rico continues in its efforts to rebuild its infrastructure and to otherwise recover from the impact of Hurricane Maria in 2017, aided in part by Federal Emergency Management Agency and other federal agencies. The extent and duration of such aid is inherently uncertain. In 2018, as part of the Title III proceedings under PROMESA, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico submitted several draft fiscal plans to the Oversight Board, each of which purported to reflect the government’s expected economic outlook for Puerto Rico over a five year period after taking into account, among other factors: (i) the negative impact of Hurricane Maria, (ii) mitigating impact of disaster relief assistance, (iii) changes to revenue and expense measures, and (iv) the impact of structural reforms. On October 23, 2018, the Oversight Board voted to certify the most recent Commonwealth fiscal plan, which reflects a $17.0 billion surplus over a six-year period assuming some levels of debt service. This fiscal plan remains subject to further adjustment, however, and in any event, will ultimately be subjected to a confirmation hearing at which the Court will be asked to approve a Plan of Adjustment addressing distributions for each insured credit. The current plan, or any revisions thereto, can provide no assurance that National will fully recover past amounts paid or future amounts that may be covered under our insurance policies. In addition, the necessary and greater involvement of the federal government, through its actions to deliver disaster relief and other support services, in addition to the evolving role of the Oversight Board and the role of Puerto Rico in its own recovery, heightens political risk in connection with the restructuring of legacy debt. This risk could lead the Oversight Board, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or the federal government to seek to extract greater concessions from creditors based on the uncertainty of Puerto Rico’s long-term recovery prospects. In this event, losses at National on select Puerto Rico exposures could increase materially.

As of December 31, 2018, National had $3.3 billion of gross insured par outstanding ($3.8 billion of gross insured par outstanding when including accreted interest on insured capital appreciation bonds) related to Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico may be unable or unwilling to pay their obligations as and when due, in which case National would be required to pay claims of unpaid principal and interest when due under its insurance policies, which could be material. Prior to Puerto Rico filing their Title III bankruptcy proceedings, National paid claims on defaulted Puerto Rico debt in the amount of $197 million. Since that time, Puerto Rico defaulted on scheduled debt service for National insured bonds and National paid gross claims in the aggregate of $494 million through 2018. On January 1, 2019, Puerto Rico also defaulted on scheduled debt service for National insured bonds and National paid gross claims in the aggregate of $65 million. Inclusive of the January 1, 2019 claims, National has paid total gross claims in the aggregate of $756 million related to Puerto Rico. While National will seek to recover any claim payments it makes under its guarantees, there is no assurance that it will be able to do so or in the amounts reflected in its financial statements. To the extent that its claims payments are ultimately substantially greater than its claims recoveries, National would experience losses on those obligations, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Refer to the “U.S. Public Finance Insurance Puerto Rico Exposures” section in Part II, Item 7 of this Form 10-K for additional information on our Puerto Rico exposures.

Loss reserve estimates and credit impairments are subject to additional uncertainties and loss reserves may not be adequate to cover potential claims.

Our insurance companies issued financial guarantee policies that insure the financial performance of the obligations guaranteed over an extended period of time, in some cases over more than 30 years, and which are unconditional and irrevocable. Under substantially all of our policies, we do not have a right to cancel the policy. We do not use actuarial approaches that are customarily used by other types of insurance companies to determine our loss reserves. The establishment of the appropriate level of loss reserves is an inherently uncertain process involving numerous assumptions, estimates and subjective judgments by management, and therefore, there can be no assurance that future net claims in our insured portfolio will not exceed our loss reserves. If our loss reserves are not adequate to cover actual losses, our results of operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected. We use financial models to project future net claims on our insured portfolio, including insured credit derivatives, and to establish loss reserves and estimate impairments and related recoveries. There can be no assurance that the future loss projection and impairments based on these models will ultimately reflect the actual losses and impairment and recovery that we experience. Additionally, small changes in the assumptions underlying these estimates could significantly impact loss expectations. For example, our loss reserves are discounted to a net present value reflecting our general obligation to pay claims over time and not on an accelerated basis. Risk-free rates are used to discount our loss reserves under accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S., and the yield-to-maturity of each insurer’s investment fixed-income portfolio (excluding cash and cash equivalents and other investments not intended to defease long-term liabilities) as of year-end is used to discount each insurer’s loss reserves under statutory accounting principles. Accordingly, changes in the risk-free rates or the yield in our insurance companies’ fixed-income investment portfolios may materially impact loss reserves.

15

Item 1A. Risk Factors (continued)

Political and economic conditions in the United States, the Eurozone and elsewhere may materially adversely affect our business and results of operations.

As a financial guarantee company, our insured exposures and our results of operations can be materially affected by general political and economic conditions, both in the U.S. and around the world. General global unrest, including without limitation the potential exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union, as well as fraud, terrorism, catastrophic events, natural disasters, pandemics or similar events could disrupt the economy in the U.S. and other countries where we have insured exposure or operate our businesses. In certain jurisdictions outside the U.S. we face higher risks of governmental intervention through nationalization or expropriation of assets, changes in regulation, an inability to enforce our rights in court or otherwise and corruption, which may cause us to incur losses on the exposures we insure or reputational harm.

Budget deficits at all levels of government in the U.S., recessions, increases in corporate, municipal, sovereign, sub-sovereign or consumer default rates and other general economic conditions may adversely impact the performance of our insured portfolios and the Company’s investment portfolio. In addition, we are exposed to correlation risk as a result of the possibility that multiple credits will experience losses as a result of any such event or series of events, in particular exposures that are backed by revenues from business and personal travel, such as aircraft securitizations and bonds backed by hotel taxes.

Financial modeling involves uncertainty over ultimate outcomes, which makes it difficult to estimate liquidity, potential claims payments, loss reserves and fair values.

The Company uses third-party and internal financial models to estimate liquidity, potential claims payments, loss reserves and fair values. We use internal financial models to conduct liquidity stress-scenario testing to ensure that we maintain cash and liquid securities sufficient to meet our payment requirements. These measurements are performed on a legal entity and operating segment basis. We also rely on financial models, generated internally and supplemented by models generated by third parties, to estimate factors relating to the highly complex securities we insure, including future credit performance of the underlying assets, and to evaluate structures, rights and our potential obligations over time. We also use internal models for ongoing insurance portfolio monitoring and to estimate case basis loss reserves and, where applicable, to report our obligations under our contracts at fair value. We may supplement such models with third-party models or use third-party experts to consult with our internal modeling specialists. Both internal and external models are subject to model risk and information risk, and there can be no assurance that the inputs into the models received from third parties will be accurate or that the models themselves are accurate or comprehensive in estimating our liquidity, potential future paid claims, related loss reserves and fair values or that they are similar to methodologies employed by our competitors, counterparties or other market participants. Estimates of our claims payments, in particular, may materially impact our liquidity position. We may make changes to our estimated claims payments, loss reserves or fair value models from time to time. These changes could materially impact our financial results.

Our risk management policies and procedures may not adequately detect or prevent future losses.

We assess our risk management policies and procedures on a periodic basis. As a result of such assessment, we may take steps to change our internal risk assessment capabilities and procedures, portfolio management policies, systems and processes and our policies and procedures for monitoring and assessing the performance of our insured portfolio in changing market conditions. There can be no assurance, however, that these steps will be adequate to avoid future losses. In some cases, losses can be substantial, particularly if a loss occurs on a transaction in which we have a large notional exposure or on a transaction structured with large, bullet-type maturities.

Legal, Regulatory and Other Risk Factors

Regulatory change could adversely affect our businesses, and regulations limit investors’ ability to affect a takeover or business combination that shareholders might consider in their best interests.

The financial guarantee insurance industry has historically been and will continue to be subject to the direct and indirect effects of governmental regulation, including insurance laws, securities laws, tax laws, legal precedents and accounting rules affecting asset-backed and municipal obligations, as well as changes in those laws. Also, the failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations could expose our insurance companies, their directors or shareholders to fines, the loss of their insurance licenses, and the inability to engage in certain business activity, as the case may be. These laws also limit investors’ ability to affect a takeover or business combination without the approval of our insurance regulators.

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Item 1A. Risk Factors (continued)

Changes to laws and regulations, or the interpretation thereof could subject our insurance companies to increased loss reserves and capital requirements or more stringent regulation generally, which could materially adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. Finally, changes to accounting standards and regulations may require modifications to our accounting methodology, both prospectively and for prior periods; such changes could have an adverse impact on our reported financial results and/or make it more difficult for investors to understand the economics of our business and may thus influence the types or volume of business that we may choose to pursue.

Our insurance companies could become subject to regulatory action.

Our insurance companies are subject to various statutory and regulatory restrictions that require them to maintain qualifying investments to support their reserves and required minimum surplus. Furthermore, our insurance companies may be restricted from making commutation or other payments if doing so would cause them to fail to meet such requirements, and the NYSDFS may impose other remedial actions on us as described further below to the extent our insurance companies do not meet such requirements.

Under the NYIL, the Superintendent of Financial Services (the “Superintendent”) may apply for an order directing the rehabilitation or liquidation of a domestic insurance company under certain circumstances, including upon the insolvency of the company, if the company has willfully violated its charter or the NYIL, or if the company is found, after examination, to be in such condition that further transaction of business would be hazardous to its policyholders, creditors or the public. The Superintendent may also suspend an insurer’s license, restrict its license authority, or limit the amount of premiums written in New York if, after a hearing, the Superintendent determines that the insurer’s surplus to policyholders is not adequate in relation to its outstanding liabilities or financial needs. If the Superintendent were to take any such action, it could result in the reduction or elimination of the payment of dividends to MBIA Inc.

In addition to the Superintendent’s authority to commence a rehabilitation or liquidation proceeding, if the Superintendent finds that the liabilities of MBIA Insurance Corporation exceed its admitted assets, the Superintendent could use its authority under Section 1310 of the NYIL to order MBIA Insurance Corporation to cease making claims payments (a “1310 Order”). Continuing elevated loss payments and delay or failure in realizing expected recoveries as well as certain other factors may materially and adversely affect MBIA Insurance Corporation’s liquidity and its ability to timely meet its insurance obligations, and could cause the NYSDFS to put MBIA Insurance Corporation into a rehabilitation or liquidation proceeding, or issue a 1310 Order, if it does not believe MBIA Insurance Corporation will be able to pay expected claims. See Risk Factor “An MBIA Insurance Corporation rehabilitation or liquidation proceeding could accelerate certain of the Company’s other obligations and have other adverse consequences” under “MBIA Corp. Risk Factors” for the potential impacts of an MBIA Insurance Corporation rehabilitation or liquidation proceeding, or a 1310 Order.

Interruption in information technology and other operational systems, or a failure to maintain the security, confidentiality or privacy of sensitive data residing on such systems, could harm our business.

We depend heavily on our information technology and other operational systems and on the integrity and timeliness of data we use to run our businesses. These systems may fail to operate properly or become disabled as a result of events or circumstances wholly or partly beyond our control. Further, we face the risk of operational and technology failures by others, including various financial intermediaries, vendors and parties to which we outsource the provision of services or business operations. If this risk is realized, we may experience operational difficulties, increased costs and other adverse effects on our business.

Despite our implementation of a variety of security measures, our information technology and other systems could be subject to physical or electronic break-ins, unauthorized tampering or other security breaches, resulting in a failure to maintain the security, confidentiality or privacy of sensitive data.

Interruption in information technology and other operational systems, or a failure to maintain the security, confidentiality or privacy of sensitive data residing on such systems, whether due to actions by us or others, could delay or disrupt our ability to do business, harm our reputation, subject us to regulatory sanctions and other claims, lead to a loss of revenues and/or otherwise adversely affect our business.

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Item 1A. Risk Factors (continued)

Private litigation claims could materially adversely affect our reputation, business, results of operations and financial condition.

As further set forth in “Note 20: Commitments and Contingencies” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of MBIA Inc. and Subsidiaries in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K, the Company and/or its subsidiaries are named as defendants in certain litigations, and in the ordinary course of business, may be a defendant in or party to a new or threatened legal action. Although the Company intends to vigorously defend against any current or future action, there can be no assurance that it will prevail in any such action, and any adverse ultimate outcome could result in a loss and/or have a material adverse effect on our reputation, business, results of operations or financial condition.

The Company is dependent on key executives and the loss of any of these executives, or its inability to retain other key personnel, could adversely affect its business.

The Company’s success substantially depends upon its ability to attract and retain qualified employees and upon the ability of its senior management and other key employees to implement its business strategy. The Company believes there are only a limited number of available qualified executives in the business lines in which the Company operates. The Company relies substantially upon the services of William C. Fallon, Chief Executive Officer, and other senior executives. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to retain the services of key executives. While the Company has a succession plan for key executives and does not expect the departure of any key executives to have a material adverse effect on its operations, there can be no assurance that the loss of the services of any of these individuals or other key members of the Company’s management team would not adversely affect the implementation of its business strategy.

An ownership change under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code could have materially adverse tax consequences.

In connection with transactions in our shares from time to time, we may in the future experience an “ownership change” within the meaning of Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. In general terms, an ownership change may result from transactions increasing the aggregate ownership of certain stockholders in our stock by more than 50 percentage points over a testing period (generally three years). If an ownership change were to occur, our ability to use certain tax attributes, including certain losses, credits, deductions or tax basis, may be limited. On May 2, 2018, MBIA Inc.’s shareholders ratified an amendment to the Company’s By-Laws, which had been adopted earlier by MBIA Inc.’s Board of Directors. The amendment places restrictions on certain acquisitions of Company stock that otherwise may have increased the likelihood of an ownership change within the meaning of Section 382. The amendment generally prohibits a person from becoming a “Section 382 five-percent shareholder” by acquiring, directly or by attribution, 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock and will generally restrict existing “Section 382 five-percent shareholders” from increasing their ownership interest under Section 382 by more than one percentage point over their percentage stock ownership immediately prior to the effective date of the amendment or, if lower, their percentage thereafter. Nevertheless, there can be no assurance that MBIA Inc. will not undergo an ownership change at a time when these limitations could have a materially adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition.

Changes in U.S. federal income tax law could materially adversely affect the value of the Company’s net deferred tax asset.

MBIA Inc. carries a net deferred tax asset whose value is calculated by application of the federal corporate taxation rates in effect at the time of determination. Changes in applicable U.S. tax laws and regulations, or their interpretation and application, including the possibility of retroactive effect, could affect our net deferred tax asset. As a result of the Company having established a full valuation allowance against its net deferred tax asset in 2017, any adjustment to the Company’s net deferred tax asset, will likely result in a corresponding change to the Company’s valuation allowance, resulting in no impact to the Company’s balance sheet or income statement.

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Item 1A. Risk Factors (continued)

Ineffective internal controls, including internal control over financial reporting, could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and reputation.

We cannot be certain that we will not identify control deficiencies or material weaknesses in the future. If we fail to remediate a material weakness or fail to otherwise maintain effective internal control over financial reporting in the future, such failure could result in a material misstatement of our annual or quarterly financial statements that would not be prevented or detected on a timely basis and which could cause investors and other users to lose confidence in our financial statements, limit our ability to raise capital and have a negative effect on the trading price of our common stock. Additionally, failure to remediate a material weakness or otherwise failing to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and reputation, and could impair our ability to timely file our periodic reports with the SEC, subject us to litigation and regulatory actions and cause us to incur substantial additional costs in future periods relating to the implementation of remedial measures.

As of and for the year ended December 31, 2018, we have identified a material weakness in the process used to estimate our loss reserves and recoveries related to residential mortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”) insured by MBIA Insurance Corporation. Remediation of this material weakness is still in process, and although the Company plans to complete this remediation process as quickly as possible, it cannot at this time estimate when the remediation will be completed. This control deficiency did not result in a material misstatement of our consolidated financial statements in this or any prior filed Annual Report on Form 10-K or quarterly report on Form 10-Q, and the Company’s independent auditor has issued an unqualified opinion on the financial statements included in this Form 10-K. See Part II, Item 9A, Controls and Procedures in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a discussion of the material weakness.

Any failure or delay in the remediation of the material weakness could result in material misstatements of accounts or disclosures related to our loss and loss adjustment expense reserves, insurance loss recoverable, losses and loss adjustment expenses and related financial disclosures in future periods that would result in a material misstatement of our annual or interim consolidated financial statements that would not be prevented or detected, and there can be no assurance that we will be successful in avoiding such failure or delay.

Capital, Liquidity and Market Related Risk Factors

We are a holding company and rely to a significant degree on cash flow from our principal operating subsidiary. A disruption in these cash flows or an inability to access third-party capital could materially and adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition and ultimately adversely affect liquidity.

As a holding company, MBIA Inc. is largely dependent on dividends and payments under our tax sharing agreement from one or more of its operating subsidiaries to pay principal and interest on our indebtedness and operating expenses, among other items. We expect that for the foreseeable future National will be the primary source of dividends and tax sharing agreement payments. National is subject to various statutory and regulatory restrictions, applicable to insurance companies generally, that limit the amount of cash dividends, loans and advances that it may pay. See “New York State Dividend Limitations” in Part 1, Item 1 and “Note 14: Insurance Regulations and Dividends” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of MBIA Inc. and Subsidiaries in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K for a further discussion of dividends.

We may also from time to time seek to raise capital from external sources. The Company’s access to external sources of financing, as well as the cost of such financing would be influenced by various factors, which could include (i) the long-term debt ratings of the Company, (ii) expected dividends from our subsidiaries, (iii) the financial condition and business prospects of our insurance companies and (iv) the perceptions of the financial strength of MBIA Inc. and our insurance companies. There can be no assurance that an inability to obtain adequate capital on favorable terms, or at all, would not adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition.

Consequently, our inability to maintain access to capital on favorable terms could have an adverse impact on our ability to pay losses and debt obligations, to pay dividends on our capital stock, to pay principal and interest on our indebtedness, to pay our operating expenses and to make capital investments in our subsidiaries. In addition, future capital raises for equity or equity-linked securities could result in dilution to the Company’s shareholders. In addition, some securities that the Company could issue, such as preferred stock or securities issued by the Company’s operating subsidiaries may have rights, preferences and privileges that are senior to those of its common shares.

19

Item 1A. Risk Factors (continued)

MBIA Inc. has substantial indebtedness, and may incur additional indebtedness, which could adversely affect our financial condition, and/or our ability to obtain financing in the future, react to changes in our business and/or satisfy our obligations.

As of December 31, 2018, MBIA Inc. had $722 million of medium-term note liabilities, $577 million of Senior Notes liabilities and $311 million of investment agreement liabilities. Our substantial indebtedness and other liabilities could have material consequences because:

Adverse developments in the credit markets may materially and adversely affect MBIA Inc.’s ability to post collateral and meet other liquidity needs.

Currently, a significant portion of the cash and securities of MBIA Inc. are pledged against investment agreement liabilities, intercompany financing arrangements and derivatives, which limit its ability to raise liquidity through asset sales. If the market value or rating eligibility of the assets which are pledged against MBIA Inc.’s obligations were to decline, we would be required to pledge additional eligible assets in order to meet minimum required collateral amounts against these liabilities. In such an event, we may sell assets, potentially with substantial losses, finance unencumbered assets through intercompany facilities, or use free cash or other assets, although there can be no assurance that these strategies will be available or adequate to meet liquidity requirements.

The level of interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates could materially and adversely affect our financial condition.

Increases in prevailing interest rate levels can adversely affect the value of our investment portfolios and, therefore, our financial condition. In the event that investments must be sold in order to make payments on insured exposures or other liabilities, such investments would likely be sold at discounted prices. Increases in interest rates also adversely affect the values of investments collateralizing our investment agreement liabilities in our corporate operations, which would require the Company to post additional collateral to its counterparties. Additionally, in the insurance operations, increasing interest rates could lead to increased credit stress on transactions in our insured portfolio, while a decline in interest rates could result in larger loss reserves on a present value basis.

Lower interest rates can result in lower net interest income since a substantial amount of assets are now held in cash and cash equivalents given the increased focus on liquidity. Lower interest rates would also adversely impact the value of our interest rate swap contracts in our corporate operations, and would require the Company to post additional collateral to its counterparties.

Further, a number of our interest rate swap contracts and financial investments are indexed to LIBOR, and the assets or liabilities related to the insured credit transactions may be indexed to LIBOR, as the applicable reference rate. In July 2017, The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority announced that after 2021, it will no longer persuade or require banks to submit rates for LIBOR. This announcement, among other developments, has resulted in uncertainty about the future of LIBOR, and the potential or actual discontinuance of LIBOR as a benchmark rate may adversely affect the value of, return on and trading market for our financial assets and liabilities that are based on or are linked to LIBOR. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that we and other market participants will be adequately prepared for an actual discontinuation of LIBOR which could have an unpredictable impact on contractual mechanics that could also produce an adverse economic impact.

20

Item 1A. Risk Factors (continued)

In addition, the Company is exposed to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuation risk in respect of assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars. In addition to insured liabilities denominated in foreign currencies, some of the remaining liabilities in our corporate segment are denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars and the assets of our corporate segment are predominantly denominated in U.S. dollars. Accordingly, the weakening of the U.S. dollar versus foreign currencies could substantially increase our potential obligations and statutory capital exposure. Conversely, the Company makes investments denominated in a foreign currency and the weakening of the foreign currency versus the U.S. dollar will diminish the value of such non-U.S. dollar denominated asset. Exchange rates have fluctuated significantly in recent periods and may continue to do so in the future, which could adversely impact the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

MBIA Corp. Risk Factors

As described further and for the reasons stated herein, we believe that MBIA Corp. will not provide significant economic or shareholder value to MBIA Inc. For additional information on MBIA Corp., refer to “Results of Operations—International and Structured Finance Insurance” in Part II, Item 7 of this Form 10-K. Additionally, also as described further herein, given the separation of MBIA Inc. and MBIA Corp. as distinct legal entities, the absence of any cross defaults between the entities, and the lack of reliance by MBIA Inc. on MBIA Corp. for the receipt of dividends, we do not believe that a rehabilitation or liquidation proceeding of MBIA Insurance Corporation by the NYSDFS would have any significant long-term impact on the financial condition or liquidity of MBIA Inc. However, there can be no assurance that the financial condition or a rehabilitation or liquidation proceeding of MBIA Insurance Corporation would not have an adverse impact on MBIA Inc. The risk factors described below with respect to MBIA Corp. are set forth for that reason, as well as for an independent understanding of the risks to MBIA Corp.

Continuing elevated loss payments and delay or failure in realizing expected recoveries on insured transactions may materially and adversely affect MBIA Insurance Corporation’s statutory capital and its ability to meet liquidity needs and could cause the NYSDFS to put MBIA Insurance Corporation into a rehabilitation or liquidation proceeding if the NYSDFS concludes that MBIA Insurance Corporation will not be able to pay expected claims.

MBIA Insurance Corporation is particularly sensitive to the risk that it will not have sufficient capital or liquid resources to meet contractual payment obligations when due or to make settlement payments in order to terminate insured exposures to avoid losses. While management’s expected liquidity and capital forecasts for MBIA Insurance Corporation reflect adequate resources to pay expected claims, there are risks to the capital and liquidity forecasts as MBIA Insurance Corporation’s remaining insured exposures and its expected salvage recoveries are potentially volatile. Such volatility exists in the amount of excess spread and put-back recoverable that MBIA Insurance Corporation may collect, its ability to recover the approximately $919 million in aggregate claims it paid in respect of the insured notes issued by Zohar CDO 2003-1, Limited and Zohar II 2005-1 CDO (collectively, the “Zohar Claims Payments”), and the exposure in its remaining insured portfolio, which could deteriorate and result in significant additional loss reserves and claim payments, including claims on insured exposures that in some cases may require large bullet payments.

MBIA Insurance Corporation has also entered into a financing facility, which is described in more detail under the “Liquidity—MBIA Corp. Liquidity” section in Part II, Item 7 of this Form 10-K (the “Facility”), with affiliates of certain holders of its 14% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Surplus Notes (collectively, the “Senior Lenders”), and with the Company, pursuant to which the Senior Lenders have provided $325 million of senior financing and the Company has provided $38 million of subordinated financing.

MBIA Insurance Corporation believes that the primary source of funds for the repayment of its obligations under the Facility and for reimbursement for the Zohar Claims Payments will come from the liquidation or refinancing of the loans made to, and equity interests in, companies purportedly controlled by the sponsor and former collateral manager of the Zohar CDOs referenced above (collectively, the “Zohar Collateral”).

While MBIA Insurance Corporation believes there will be sufficient recoveries on the Zohar Collateral to both repay amounts due under the Facility and to substantially reimburse it for the Zohar Claims Payments, there is significant uncertainty with respect to the realizable value of the Zohar Collateral. If the amount of recoveries on the Zohar Collateral is not sufficient to repay amounts due under the Facility on or before its maturity date and to reimburse MBIA Insurance Corporation for a substantial portion of the Zohar Claims Payments, MBIA Insurance Corporation would likely incur substantial additional losses, which could materially impair its statutory capital and liquidity.

21

Item 1A. Risk Factors (continued)

MBIA Insurance Corporation believes that if the NYSDFS concludes at any time that MBIA Insurance Corporation will not be able to satisfy its obligations under the Facility and under its other issued policies, the NYSDFS would likely put MBIA Insurance Corporation into a rehabilitation or liquidation proceeding under Article 74 of the NYIL and/or take such other actions as the NYSDFS may deem necessary to protect the interests of MBIA Insurance Corporation’s policyholders. The determination to commence such a proceeding or take other such actions is within the exclusive control of the NYSDFS. The NYSDFS enjoys broad discretion in this regard, and any determination they may make would not be limited to consideration of the matters described above. As noted, however, given the separation of MBIA Inc. and MBIA Corp. as distinct legal entities, the absence of any cross defaults between the entities, and the lack of reliance by MBIA Inc. on MBIA Corp. for the receipt of dividends, we do not believe that a rehabilitation or liquidation proceeding of MBIA Insurance Corporation by the NYSDFS would have any significant long-term liquidity impact on MBIA Inc.

MBIA Corp. insures certain transactions that continue to perform poorly and increased losses or a delay or failure in collecting expected recoveries may materially and adversely affect its financial condition and results of operations.

MBIA Corp. insures certain structured finance transactions that remain volatile and could result in additional losses, which could be substantial. MBIA Corp. has also recorded significant loss reserves on its RMBS, CMBS and CDO exposures, and there can be no assurance that these reserves will be sufficient, in particular if the economy deteriorates. These transactions are also subject to servicer risks, which relates to problems with the transaction’s servicer that could adversely affect performance of the underlying assets. Furthermore, MBIA Corp. has recorded substantial expected recoveries on certain RMBS, and the timing and amount of those recoveries are subject to risk. Any delay or failure in collecting expected recoveries may materially and adversely affect MBIA Corp.’s financial condition and results of operations. As of December 31, 2018, it recorded expected receipts of $150 million on a pre-VIE elimination basis (on a present value basis) from excess spread (the difference between interest inflows on assets and interest outflows on liabilities) in our RMBS transactions, in reimbursement of our past and future expected claims. Of this amount, $148 million is included in “Insurance loss recoverable” and $2 million is included in “Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The amount of excess spread depends on future interest rates and borrower refinancing and defaults. There can be no assurance that this recovery will be received in its entirety or in the expected timeframe. In addition, the Company has recorded a recovery on a transaction containing ineligible loans securitized by Credit Suisse. The Company is pursuing recovery of its losses on this transaction in a litigation in which its assessment of the ineligibility of individual mortgage loans has been challenged by Credit Suisse, and there is no assurance that the Company’s determinations will prevail, or that the Company will be successful in collecting its estimated recoveries in the anticipated timeframe. The litigation may take several years to resolve, during which time we will continue to be required to pay losses on the subject transaction, which may exceed the reserves established for the transaction.

An MBIA Insurance Corporation rehabilitation or liquidation proceeding could accelerate certain of the Company’s other obligations and have other adverse consequences.

As noted above, MBIA Insurance Corporation continues to face a number of significant risks and contingencies, which could, if realized, result in MBIA Insurance Corporation being placed into a rehabilitation or liquidation proceeding by the NYSDFS. In the event of an MBIA Insurance Corporation rehabilitation or liquidation proceeding, the Company may be subject to, among other things, the following:

22

Item 1A. Risk Factors (continued)

Revenues and liquidity would be adversely impacted by a decline in realization of installment premiums.

Due to the installment nature of a significant percentage of its premium income, MBIA Corp. has an embedded future revenue stream. The amount of installment premiums actually realized by MBIA Corp. could be reduced in the future due to factors such as early termination of insurance contracts, accelerated prepayments of underlying obligations, commutation of existing financial guarantee insurance policies or non-payment. Such a reduction would result in lower revenues and reduced liquidity.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

The Company from time to time receives written comments from the staff of the SEC regarding its periodic or current reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. There are no comments that remain unresolved that the Company received more than 180 days before the end of the year to which this report relates.

Item 2. Properties

The Company maintains office space located in Purchase, New York, in which the Company, National, MBIA Corp., and MBIA Services Corporation have their headquarters. The Company also leases office space in New York, New York; San Francisco, California; and Mexico City, Mexico. The Company generally believes that these facilities are adequate and suitable for its current needs.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

For a discussion of the Company’s litigation and related matters, see “Note 20: Commitments and Contingencies” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of MBIA Inc. and Subsidiaries in Part II, Item 8. In the normal course of operating its businesses, MBIA Inc. may be involved in various legal proceedings. As a courtesy, the Company posts on its website under the section “Legal Proceedings,” selected information and documents in reference to selected legal proceedings in which the Company is the plaintiff or the defendant. The Company will not necessarily post all documents for each proceeding and undertakes no obligation to revise or update them to reflect changes in events or expectations. The complete official court docket can be publicly accessed by contacting the clerk’s office of the respective court where each litigation is pending.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

23

Part II

The Company’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “MBI.” As of February 21, 2019, there were 307 shareholders of record of the Company’s common stock. The Company did not pay cash dividends on its common stock during 2018 or 2017. For information on the ability for certain subsidiaries of the Company to transfer funds to the Company in the form of cash dividends or otherwise, refer to “Item 1. Business—Insurance Regulation” in this annual report.

Repurchases of common stock may be made from time to time in the open market or in private transactions as permitted by securities laws and other legal requirements. We believe that share repurchases can be an appropriate deployment of capital in excess of amounts needed to support our liquidity and maintain the claims-paying ratings of MBIA Corp. and National as well as other business needs.

On February 23, 2016, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase by the Company or National of up to $100 million of its outstanding shares under a new share repurchase authorization. As of December 31, 2017, there was no remaining authorized capacity under the February 23, 2016 repurchase program.

On June 27, 2017, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase by the Company or National of up to $250 million of its outstanding shares under a new share repurchase authorization. This program replaced the approximately $13 million remaining under the Board’s February 23, 2016 authorization. As of December 31, 2017, there was no remaining authorized capacity under the June 27, 2017 repurchase program.

On November 3, 2017, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase by the Company or National of up to $250 million of its outstanding shares under a new share repurchase authorization. During 2018, 5.8 million shares were repurchased at a cost of approximately $48 million and an average price of $8.21 under the November 3, 2017 repurchase program.

The table below presents repurchases made by the Company or National in each month during the fourth quarter of 2018. See “Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters” in Part III for a further discussion of securities authorized for issuance under long-term incentive plans.

(1)—Includes 117 shares in October, 125 shares in November and 134 shares in December purchased in open market transactions as investments in the Company’s non-qualified deferred compensation plan.

As of December 31, 2018, 283,625,689 shares of Common Stock of the Company, par value $1 per share, were issued and 89,821,713 shares were outstanding.

24

Stock Performance Graph The following graph compares the cumulative total shareholder return (rounded to the nearest whole dollar) of our common stock, the S&P 500 Index (“S&P 500 Index”) and the S&P 500 Financials Sector Index (“S&P Financials Index”) for the last five fiscal years. The graph assumes a $100 investment at the closing price on December 31, 2013 and reinvestment of dividends in the security/index on the respective dividend payment dates without commissions. This graph does not forecast future performance of our common stock.

Source: Bloomberg Finance L.P.

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Item 6. Selected Financial Data

26

Item 6. Selected Financial Data (continued)

Quarterly Financial Information (unaudited):

(1)—May not cross-foot due to rounding.

(1)—May not cross-foot due to rounding.

27

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations of MBIA Inc. should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in this Form 10-K. In addition, this discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations includes statements of the opinion of MBIA Inc.’s management which may be forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical earnings and those presently anticipated or projected. Refer to “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of this Form 10-K for a further discussion of risks and uncertainties.

INTRODUCTION

MBIA Inc., together with its consolidated subsidiaries, (collectively, “MBIA”, the “Company”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) operates within the financial guarantee insurance industry. MBIA manages its business within three operating segments: 1) United States (“U.S.”) public finance insurance; 2) corporate; and 3) international and structured finance insurance. Our U.S. public finance insurance portfolio is managed through National Public Finance Guarantee Corporation (“National”), our corporate segment is managed through MBIA Inc. and several of its subsidiaries, including our service company, MBIA Services Corporation (“MBIA Services”) and our international and structured finance insurance business is primarily managed through MBIA Insurance Corporation and its subsidiaries (“MBIA Corp.”). Effective on January 10, 2017, MBIA Corp.’s wholly-owned subsidiary, MBIA UK (Holdings) Limited (“MBIA UK Holdings”), sold its operating subsidiary, MBIA UK Insurance Limited (“MBIA UK”), to Assured Guaranty Corp. (“Assured”), a subsidiary of Assured Guaranty Ltd. References to MBIA Inc. generally refer to activities within our corporate segment and, unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, references to “MBIA Corp.” are (i) for any references relating to the period ended January 10, 2017, to MBIA Insurance Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, MBIA UK, and MBIA Mexico S.A. de C.V (“MBIA Mexico”) and (ii) for any references relating to the period after January 10, 2017, to MBIA Insurance Corporation together with MBIA Mexico.

National’s primary objective is to maximize the economics of our existing insured portfolio through effective surveillance and remediation activity and by managing its investment portfolio. Our corporate segment consists of general corporate activities, including providing support services to MBIA’s operating subsidiaries and asset and capital management. MBIA Corp.’s primary objectives are to satisfy all claims by its policyholders and to maximize future recoveries, if any, for its senior lending and surplus note holders, and then its preferred stock holders. MBIA Corp. is executing this strategy by, among other things, pursuing various actions focused on maximizing the collection of recoveries and reducing and mitigating potential losses on its insurance exposures. We do not expect National or MBIA Corp. to write new business.

EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW

2018 Events

The following is a summary of notable 2018 events:

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (continued)

EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW (continued)

Financial Highlights

The following tables present our financial highlights. A detailed discussion of our financial results is presented within the “Results of Operations” section included herein. Refer to the “Capital Resources—Insurance Statutory Capital” section for a discussion of National’s and MBIA Insurance Corporation’s capital positions under statutory accounting principles (“U.S. STAT”).

(1)—Adjusted net income (loss) and adjusted net income (loss) per diluted share are non-GAAP measures. Refer to the following “Results of Operations” section for a discussion of adjusted net income (loss) and adjusted net income (loss) per diluted share and a reconciliation of GAAP net income (loss) to adjusted net income (loss) and GAAP net income (loss) per diluted share to adjusted net income (loss) per diluted share.

(1)—Adjusted book value per share is a non-GAAP measure. Refer to the following “Results of Operations” section for a discussion of adjusted book value and a reconciliation of GAAP book value per share to adjusted book value per share.

Economic and Financial Market Trends

The U.S. economy continued to improve during the fourth quarter of 2018. The labor market remained strong and economic activity continued to increase steadily. In addition, U.S. home prices across the country have continued their upward trend, however, the rate of home price increases has slowed recently. Household spending has continued to increase while growth in business fixed investment has moderated from the pace achieved earlier in the year.

The Federal Open Market Committee (“FOMC”) increased its target for the federal funds rate in December of 2018 by 25 basis points citing the economic factors of a strong labor market and solid economic growth along with relatively low inflation. The FOMC stated that it will assess various economic factors including labor market developments, inflation stresses and domestic and international environments relative to its objectives of maximum employment and 2% inflation. At its January 2019 meeting, the FOMC emphasized patience with respect to future adjustments to the federal funds target rate based on global economic and financial developments.

Economic and financial market trends could impact the Company’s financial results. Many states and municipalities have experienced growing tax collections that resulted from increased economic activity and higher assessed property valuations. Economic improvement at the state and local level strengthens the credit quality of the issuers of our insured municipal bonds, improves the performance of our insured U.S. public finance portfolio and could reduce the amount of National’s potential incurred losses. In addition, higher projected interest rates could yield increased returns on our Company’s investment portfolio. Also, a decrease in oil prices could have a positive impact on certain sales taxes to the extent consumer spending increases as a result. However, some states and municipalities may experience a decrease in revenues if their economies are reliant on the oil and gas industries.

29

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (continued)

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

We prepare our financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), which requires the use of estimates and assumptions. The following accounting estimates are viewed by management to be critical because they require significant judgment on the part of management. Management has discussed and reviewed the development, selection, and disclosure of critical accounting estimates with the Company’s Audit Committee. Financial results could be materially different if other methodologies were used or if management modified its assumptions.

Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves

Loss and loss adjustment expense (“LAE”) reserves are established by loss reserve committees in each of our major operating insurance companies (National and MBIA Insurance Corporation) and reviewed by our executive Loss Reserve Committee, which consists of members of senior management. Loss and LAE reserves include case basis reserves and accruals for LAE incurred with respect to non-derivative financial guarantees. Case basis reserves represent our estimate of expected losses to be paid under insurance contracts, net of expected recoveries, on insured obligations that have defaulted or are expected to default. These reserves require the use of judgment and estimates with respect to the occurrence, timing and amount of paid losses and recoveries on insured obligations. Given that the reserves are based on such estimates and assumptions, there can be no assurance that the actual ultimate losses will not be greater than or less than such estimates, resulting in the Company recognizing additional or reversing excess loss and LAE reserves through earnings.

We take into account a number of variables in establishing specific case basis reserves for individual policies that depend primarily on the nature of the underlying insured obligation. These variables include the nature and creditworthiness of the issuers of the insured obligations, expected recovery rates on unsecured obligations, the projected cash flow or market value of any assets pledged as collateral on secured obligations, and the expected rates of recovery, cash flow or market values on such obligations or assets. Factors that may affect the actual ultimate realized losses for any policy include economic conditions and trends, political developments, the extent to which sellers/servicers comply with the representations or warranties made in connection therewith, levels of interest rates, rates of inflation, borrower behavior, the default rate and salvage values of specific collateral, and our ability to enforce contractual rights through litigation and otherwise. Our remediation strategy for an insured obligation that has defaulted or is expected to default may also have an impact on our loss reserves.

In establishing case basis loss reserves, we calculate the present value of probability-weighted estimated loss payments, net of estimated recoveries, using a discount rate equal to the risk-free rate applicable to the currency and the weighted average remaining life of the insurance contract. Yields on U.S. Treasury offerings are used to discount loss reserves denominated in U.S. dollars, which represent the majority of our loss reserves. Similarly, yields on foreign government offerings are used to discount loss reserves denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar.

Refer to “Note 6: Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a comprehensive discussion of our loss reserves and recoveries, including critical accounting estimates used in the determination of these amounts.

Valuation of Financial Instruments

We have categorized our financial instruments measured at fair value into the three-level hierarchy according to accounting guidance for fair value measurements and disclosures based on the significance of pricing inputs to the measurement in its entirety. Fair value measurements of financial instruments that use quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities are generally categorized as Level 1, fair value measurements of financial instruments that use quoted prices in markets that are not active where significant inputs are observable are generally categorized as Level 2, and fair value measurements of financial instruments where significant inputs are not observable are generally categorized as Level 3. We categorize our financial instruments based on the lowest level category at which we can generate reliable fair values. The determination of reliability requires management to exercise judgment. The degree of judgment used to determine the fair values of financial instruments generally correlates to the degree that pricing is not observable.

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (continued)

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES (continued)

The fair value measurements of financial instruments held or issued by the Company are determined through the use of observable market data when available. Market data is obtained from a variety of third-party sources, including dealer quotes. If dealer quotes are not available for an instrument that is infrequently traded, we use alternate valuation methods, including either dealer quotes for similar contracts or modeling using market data inputs. The use of alternate valuation methods generally requires considerable judgment in the application of estimates and assumptions and changes to these variables may produce materially different values.

The fair value pricing of assets and liabilities is a function of many components which include interest rate risk, market risk, liquidity risk and credit risk. For financial instruments that are internally valued by the Company, as well as those for which the Company uses broker quotes or pricing services, credit risk is typically incorporated by using appropriate credit spreads or discount rates as inputs. Substantially all of the Company’s investments carried and reported at fair value are priced by independent third parties, including pricing services and brokers.

Instruments that trade infrequently and, therefore, have little or no price transparency are classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. Also included in Level 3 are financial instruments that have significant unobservable inputs deemed significant to the instrument’s overall fair value. Level 3 assets represented approximately 12% and 30% of total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Level 3 liabilities represented approximately 65% and 41% of total liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Refer to “Note 7: Fair Value of Financial Instruments” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information about the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that are accounted for at fair value, including valuation techniques and significant inputs.

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

Refer to “Note 3: Recent Accounting Pronouncements” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of accounting guidance recently adopted by the Company.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Summary of Consolidated Results

The following table presents a summary of our consolidated financial results for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016:

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (continued)

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (continued)

2018 vs. 2017

The decrease in consolidated total revenues was primarily due to (i) decreases in revenues of consolidated variable interest entities “VIEs”) due to the 2018 deconsolidation of two VIEs following the Zohar Bankruptcy Settlement and eight other consolidated VIEs, (ii) lower gains related to changes in the fair values of consolidated VIEs, (iii) an increase in net realized losses from the sales of securities from the ongoing management of our U.S. public finance insurance investment portfolio and (iv) lower net premiums earned due to higher refunding activity in 2017. These unfavorable variances were partially offset by lower net investment losses related to other-than-temporary impairments (“OTTI”).

Consolidated total expenses for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 included $63 million and $683 million, respectively, of net insurance loss and LAE. This decrease in loss and LAE was primarily due to lower losses incurred on certain Puerto Rico credits and insured first and second-lien residential mortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”) in 2018.

The provision (benefit) for income taxes decreased for 2018 compared with 2017 primarily due to the establishment of a full valuation allowance against the Company’s net deferred tax asset in 2017. Refer to the following “Taxes” section and “Note 11: Income Taxes” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information about this valuation allowance on our net deferred tax asset.

2017 vs. 2016

The increase in consolidated total revenues was primarily due to an impairment loss related to the sale of MBIA UK recorded in 2016, gains related to changes in the fair values of assets of consolidated VIEs and warrants on MBIA Inc. stock and a realized gain related to the settlement of litigation, partially offset by foreign exchange losses on Euro denominated liabilities due to the weakening of the U.S. dollar, an increase in net investment losses related to OTTI and lower net premiums earned due to higher refunding activity in 2016. The increase in OTTI related to several impaired securities for which a loss was recognized as the difference between a security’s amortized cost and fair value.

Consolidated total expenses for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 included $683 million and $220 million, respectively, of net insurance losses and LAE. This increase was principally due to higher losses incurred on certain Puerto Rico exposures and insured first-lien RMBS in 2017.

The provision (benefit) for income taxes increased for 2017 compared with 2016 primarily due to the establishment of a full valuation allowance against the Company’s net deferred tax asset in 2017. Refer to the following “Taxes” section and “Note 11: Income Taxes” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information about this valuation allowance on our net deferred tax asset.

Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Income (Loss)

In addition to our results prepared in accordance with GAAP, we also analyze the operating performance of the Company using adjusted net income (loss), and adjusted net income (loss) per diluted common share, both non-GAAP measures. Since adjusted net income (loss) is used by management to assess performance and make business decisions, we consider adjusted net income (loss) and adjusted net income (loss) per diluted common share fundamental measures of periodic financial performance which are useful in understanding our results. Adjusted net income (loss) and adjusted net income (loss) per diluted common share are not substitutes for net income (loss) and net income (loss) per diluted common share determined in accordance with GAAP, and our definitions of adjusted net income (loss) and adjusted net income (loss) per diluted common share may differ from those used by other companies.

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (continued)

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (continued)

Adjusted net income (loss) and adjusted net income (loss) per diluted common share include the after-tax results of the Company and remove the after-tax results of our international and structured finance insurance segment, comprising the results of MBIA Corp. which given its capital structure and business prospects, we do not expect its financial performance to have a material impact on MBIA Inc., as well as the following:

The following table presents our adjusted net income (loss) and adjusted net income (loss) per diluted common share and provides a reconciliation of GAAP net income (loss) to adjusted net income (loss) for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016:

(1)—Reported within “Net gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange” on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.

(2)—Reported within “Provision (benefit) for income taxes” on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.

(3)—Adjusted net income (loss) per diluted common share is calculated by taking adjusted net income (loss) divided by GAAP weighted average number of diluted common shares outstanding.

(4)—Adjusted net income (loss) per diluted common share is calculated by taking adjusted net income (loss) divided by the weighted average number of diluted common shares outstanding, which includes the GAAP diluted weighted average number of common shares of 133,001,088 and the dilutive effect of common stock equivalents of 444,557 shares.

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (continued)

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (continued)

Non-GAAP Adjusted Book Value Per Share

In addition to book value per share, we also analyze adjusted book value per share (“ABV”), a non-GAAP measure. We consider ABV a measure of fundamental value of the Company and the change in ABV an important measure of financial performance. We have presented ABV per share to allow investors and analysts to evaluate the Company using the same measure that MBIA’s management regularly uses to measure financial performance and value. ABV is not a substitute for and should not be viewed in isolation of GAAP book value, and our definition of ABV may differ from that used by other companies.

In the second quarter of 2018, as part of our periodic review of the components of ABV, we decided to further adjust the unearned premium revenue component of ABV by removing the amount that is used in the GAAP calculation of our insurance loss reserves. Under GAAP, only the amount of expected insurance losses in excess of unearned premium revenue for an insurance policy is recorded as a loss reserve and reflected in book value. By excluding from ABV the amount of unearned premium revenue that reduces expected losses recorded under GAAP, we are reflecting the full amount of expected losses for each insurance policy with loss reserves in ABV. Previously reported ABV of $29.32 as of December 31, 2017 was revised to $28.77 to conform to the current approach.

ABV adjusts the GAAP book value of MBIA Inc. to remove the book value of MBIA Corp. and adjusts for certain items which the Company believes will reverse from GAAP book value through GAAP earnings and comprehensive income, as well as add in the impact of certain items which the Company believes will be realized in GAAP book value in future periods. The Company has limited such adjustments to those items that it deems to be important to fundamental value and performance and for which the likelihood and amount can be reasonably estimated. ABV is defined as total shareholders’ equity of MBIA Inc., as reported under GAAP, adjusted for the following items:

Since the Company has a full valuation allowance against its net deferred tax asset, the book value per share adjustments to ABV were adjusted by applying a zero effective tax rate.

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (continued)

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (continued)

As of December 31, 2018, ABV per share was $27.38, a decrease from $28.77 as of December 31, 2017. The decrease in ABV per share was primarily driven by losses incurred on certain Puerto Rico exposures, partially offset by a decrease in common shares outstanding from the share repurchases made by the Company during 2018. The following table provides a reconciliation of book value per share to ABV per share:

U.S. Public Finance Insurance

Our U.S. public finance insurance portfolio is managed through National. The financial guarantees issued by National provide unconditional and irrevocable guarantees of the payment of the principal of, and interest or other amounts owing on, insured obligations when due or, in the event National has exercised, at its discretion, the right to accelerate the payment under its policies upon the acceleration of the underlying insured obligations due to default or otherwise. National’s guarantees insure municipal bonds, including tax-exempt and taxable indebtedness of U.S. political subdivisions, as well as utility districts, airports, healthcare institutions, higher educational facilities, student loan issuers, housing authorities and other similar agencies and obligations issued by private entities that finance projects that serve a substantial public purpose. Municipal bonds and privately issued bonds used for the financing of public purpose projects are generally supported by taxes, assessments, user fees or tariffs related to the use of these projects, lease payments or other similar types of revenue streams. As of December 31, 2018, National had total insured gross par outstanding of $57.9 billion.

National continues to monitor and remediate its existing insured portfolio and will seek opportunities to enhance shareholder value using its substantial financial resources, while protecting the interests of all policyholders. Certain state and local governments and territory obligors that National insures are experiencing financial and budgetary stress. This could lead to an increase in defaults by such entities on the payment of their obligations and losses or impairments on a greater number of the Company’s insured transactions. In particular, Puerto Rico is experiencing significant fiscal stress and constrained liquidity due to, among other things, Puerto Rico’s structural budget imbalance, the lack of access to the capital markets, a stagnating local economy, net migration of people out of Puerto Rico and a high debt burden. Refer to the “U.S. Public Finance Insurance Puerto Rico Exposures” section for additional information on our Puerto Rico exposures. We continue to monitor and analyze these situations and other stressed credits closely, and the overall extent and duration of stress affecting our insured credits remains uncertain.

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (continued)

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (continued)

The following table presents our U.S. public finance insurance segment results for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016:

n/m—Percent change not meaningful.

NET PREMIUMS EARNED Net premiums earned on financial guarantees represent gross premiums earned net of premiums ceded to reinsurers, and include scheduled premium earnings and premium earnings from refunded issues. The decrease in net premiums earned for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared with 2017 resulted from decreases in refunded premiums earned of $55 million and scheduled premiums earned of $24 million. The decrease in net premiums earned for 2017 compared with 2016 resulted from decreases in refunded premiums of $41 million and scheduled premiums earned of $21 million. Refunding activity over the past several years has accelerated premium earnings in prior years and reduced the amount of scheduled premiums that would have been earned in the current year. Scheduled premium earnings declined due to the refunding and maturity of insured issues in prior years.

NET GAINS (LOSSES) ON FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AT FAIR VALUE AND FOREIGN EXCHANGE The unfavorable change in net gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange for 2018 compared with 2017 was principally due to an increase in net realized losses in an overall higher interest rate environment in 2018. In 2017, net realized gains primarily resulted from the sales of securities as a result of favorable market conditions. In 2016, net realized gains were primarily due to generating liquidity for anticipated claim payments on certain Puerto Rico exposures.

NET INVESTMENT LOSSES RELATED TO OTHER-THAN-TEMPORARY IMPAIRMENTS Net investment losses related to OTTI for 2018, 2017 and 2016 were primarily related to impaired securities for which losses were recognized as the difference between a security’s amortized cost and fair value or recovery value. This OTTI resulted from liquidity concerns, credit rating downgrades and other adverse financial conditions of the issuers.

LOSSES AND LOSS ADJUSTMENT EXPENSES Our U.S. public finance insured portfolio management group is responsible for monitoring our U.S. public finance insured obligations. The level and frequency of monitoring of any insured obligation depends on the type, size, rating and performance of the insured issue.

Refer to “Note 6: Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a description of the Company’s loss reserving policy and additional information related to its loss reserves.

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (continued)

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (continued)

The following table presents information about our U.S. public finance insurance losses and LAE expenses for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016:

(1)—Losses and LAE with respect to Puerto Rico exposures reflect the expected losses and LAE payments net of expected recoveries on such payments.

n/m—Percent change not meaningful.

For the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, losses and LAE primarily related to certain Puerto Rico exposures.

The following table presents information about our U.S. public finance insurance loss and LAE reserves and recoverables as of December 31, 2018 and 2017:

(1)—Reported within “Other assets” on our consolidated balance sheets.

(2)—Puerto Rico exposures are reflected net of expected recoveries on such reserves.

(3)—Reported within “Other liabilities” on our consolidated balance sheets.

Insurance loss recoverable as of December 31, 2018 increased compared with December 31, 2017 primarily as a result of expected recoveries related to claims paid on certain Puerto Rico exposures in 2018. Loss and LAE reserves as of December 31, 2018 increased compared with December 31, 2017 primarily as a result of increases in expected payments net of expected recoveries related to certain Puerto Rico exposures.

POLICY ACQUISITION COSTS AND OPERATING EXPENSES U.S. public finance insurance segment expenses for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 are presented in the following table:

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (continued)

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (continued)

Gross expenses represent total insurance expenses before the deferral of any policy acquisition costs. Gross expenses decreased for 2018 compared with 2017 primarily due to decreases in compensation expense and rating agency fees. Gross expenses increased for 2017 compared with 2016 primarily due to severance related expenses associated with a headcount reduction.

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs decreased for 2018 compared with 2017 and 2016 due to higher refunding activity in prior years. When an insured obligation refunds, we accelerate any remaining deferred acquisition costs associated with the policy covering the refunded insured obligation. We did not defer a material amount of policy acquisition costs during 2018, 2017 or 2016.

INSURED PORTFOLIO EXPOSURE Financial guarantee insurance companies use a variety of approaches to assess the underlying credit risk profile of their insured portfolios. National uses both an internally developed credit rating system as well as third-party rating sources in the analysis of credit quality measures of its insured portfolio. In evaluating credit risk, we obtain, when available, the underlying rating(s) of the insured obligation before the benefit of National’s insurance policy from nationally recognized rating agencies, Moody’s Investor Services (“Moody’s”) and Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”). Other companies within the financial guarantee industry may report credit quality information based upon internal ratings that would not be comparable to our presentation. We maintain internal ratings on our entire portfolio, and our ratings may be higher or lower than the underlying ratings assigned by Moody’s or S&P.

The following table presents the credit quality distribution of National’s U.S. public finance outstanding gross par insured as of December 31, 2018 and 2017. CABs are reported at the par amount at the time of issuance of the insurance policy. All ratings are as of the period presented and represent S&P underlying ratings, where available. If transactions are not rated by S&P, a Moody’s equivalent rating is used. If transactions are not rated by either S&P or Moody’s, an internal equivalent rating is used.

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (continued)

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (continued)

U.S. Public Finance Insurance Puerto Rico Exposures

The following is a summary of exposures within the insured portfolio of our U.S. public finance insurance segment related to Puerto Rico as of December 31, 2018.

(1)—Includes CABs that reflect the gross par amount at the time of issuance of the insurance policy.

(2)—Additionally secured by the guarantee of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

(3)—As a result of the confirmation order for the COFINA Plan of Adjustment on February 4, 2019, National’s COFINA gross par outstanding, gross par outstanding plus CABs accreted interest and debt service outstanding declined by approximately $211 million, $365 million and $1.3 billion, respectively.

(4)—As a result of debt service payments made as of January 1, 2019, National’s total Puerto Rico debt service outstanding declined by $67 million.

On June 30, 2016, the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act (“PROMESA”), was signed into law by the President of the United States. PROMESA provides both for the creation of an independent oversight board (the “Oversight Board”) with powers relating to the development and implementation of a fiscal plan for Puerto Rico as well as a court-supervised process that allows Puerto Rico to restructure its debt if voluntary agreements cannot be reached with creditors through a collective action process.

On May 3, 2017, the Oversight Board certified and filed a petition under Title III of PROMESA for Puerto Rico with the District Court of Puerto Rico thereby commencing a bankruptcy-like case for Puerto Rico. Under a separate petition, the Oversight Board also commenced a Title III case for COFINA on May 5, 2017. Subsequently, the Oversight Board also certified and filed voluntary petitions under Title III of PROMESA for several other municipalities, including PRHTA and PREPA on May 21, 2017 and July 2, 2017, respectively.

On February 15, 2019, the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit issued its decision on the appeal by Aurelius Investments LLC and other appellants seeking to dismiss the Title III proceedings as unconstitutional. In its decision, the First Circuit agreed with appellants that the process PROMESA provides for the appointment of Board member is unconstitutional under the U.S. Constitution’s Appointments Clause. Notwithstanding that holding, the First Circuit affirmed Judge Swain’s denial of appellants’ motions to dismiss the Title III petitions, concluding that the Board’s constitutional infirmity did not alter or impair the validity of the Board’s past acts, and stayed its mandate for 90 days to allow the President and the Senate to validate the currently defective appointments or reconstitute the Board in accordance with the Appointments Clause. During the 90-day stay, the Board continues to operate as it does currently.

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (continued)

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (continued)

As a result of prior defaults, various stays and the Title III cases, Puerto Rico failed to make certain scheduled debt service payments for National insured bonds. As a consequence, National has paid gross claims in the aggregate amount of $691 million relating to general obligation (“GO”) bonds, PBA bonds PREPA bonds and PRHTA bonds through 2018. On January 1, 2019, Puerto Rico also defaulted on scheduled debt service for National insured bonds and National paid gross claims in the aggregate of $65 million. Inclusive of the January 1, 2019 claims, National has paid total gross claims in the aggregate of $756 million related to Puerto Rico.

Status of Puerto Rico’s Fiscal Plans

In 2018, the Puerto Rico government submitted several draft fiscal plans to the Oversight Board, which purported to reflect the government’s expected economic outlook for Puerto Rico over a five year period after integrating four additional key drivers into the prior projections that had formed the basis of previous fiscal plan submissions: (i) the negative impact of Hurricane Maria, (ii) mitigating impact of disaster relief assistance, (iii) changes to revenue and expense measures, and (iv) impact of structural reforms.

On October 23, 2018, the Oversight Board voted to certify the Commonwealth fiscal plan, as amended. This certified fiscal plan reflects a $17.0 billion surplus over a six-year period as compared to $7.2 billion in the government’s prior fiscal plan.

On September 7, 2018, COFINA submitted a revised fiscal plan, that incorporated changes and explanations required by the Oversight Board. On October 18, 2018, the Oversight Board voted to certify the COFINA fiscal plan, as amended.

On May 25, 2018, National submitted proofs of claim in the Commonwealth, COFINA, PRHTA, and PREPA Title III Cases on account of its rights and remedies relating to the GO, PBA, COFINA, PRHTA and PREPA bonds that it insures and/or owns.

COFINA

The Oversight Board filed a Plan of Adjustment and Disclosure Statement on October 19, 2018. The Plan of Adjustment is the culmination of efforts by interested parties to resolve the Commonwealth-COFINA dispute over the ownership of the territory’s sales and use taxes. The Plan of Adjustment reflects the settlement of the Commonwealth-COFINA dispute by allocating an amount up to 53.65% of the Pledged Sales Tax Base Amount in any given year to COFINA and the balance (46.35%) of the annual Pledged Sales Tax Base Amount to the Commonwealth. The Plan of Adjustment further provided for senior COFINA bondholders to receive a 93.0% recovery on their prepetition bond claims and subordinate bondholders to receive approximately 56.4% of their prepetition claims. In addition, to compensate bondholders for the cost of negotiating and executing the Plan Support Agreement (“PSA”), bondholders that are party to the PSA received, subject to certain exceptions, a pro rata share of additional cash in an amount equal to 2.0% of the aggregate amount of existing COFINA bond claims. A hearing regarding the Commonwealth’s motion for approval of the Settlement Agreement and to confirm the Plan of Adjustment was held on January 16 and 17, 2019 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Court took confirmation of the Plan of Adjustment and approval of the Settlement Agreement under advisement and directed the parties to submit supplementation in support of the relief requested at the Confirmation Hearing by January 21, 2019 and supplemental briefing by January 24, 2019 supporting the authority of the Court to determine the substantive validity of the new COFINA bond legislation and resolve constitutional challenges to the COFINA structure, among other things. A confirmation order was issued on February 4, 2019 and the closing occurred on February 12, 2019.

As part of the Plan of Adjustment, National tendered and commuted $182 million market value of National insured COFINA bonds it owned for new uninsured COFINA bonds, which in conjunction with other tendered and commuted bonds, resulted in a reduction to National’s insured exposure to COFINA. In the aggregate, as a result of National-insured bondholders, including National, choosing to receive uninsured COFINA bonds, and the distribution of cash to trust certificate holders, National’s COFINA gross par outstanding, gross par outstanding plus CABs accreted interest and debt service outstanding declined by approximately $211 million, $365 million and $1.3 billion, respectively.

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (continued)

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (continued)

PREPA

National’s largest exposure to Puerto Rico, by gross par outstanding, is to PREPA. Initial attempts to reach a consensual restructuring for PREPA were rejected by the Oversight Board in June 2017 and PREPA entered Title III restructuring on July 2, 2017.

PREPA sustained heavy damage to its infrastructure from the two September 2017 hurricanes and in particular from Hurricane Maria. Its generating assets, located along the coast sustained only minor damage but damage to the transmission and distribution infrastructure was extensive. Lack of power had a knock-on effect of disabling telecommunication and water systems as well. Restoration efforts are being coordinated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under contract with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (“FEMA”); monies from FEMA are expected to finance the reconstruction effort.

The PREPA revised Fiscal Plan certified on August 1, 2018 calls for a wholesale transformation of PREPA to at least a partially privatized entity. Specifics regarding implementation and the impact on creditors were not detailed or readily apparent in the Plan. Advisors to the Oversight Board have taken steps to assess investor interest for privatization.

Separately, the government of Puerto Rico enacted its own privatization legislation which proposes the sale and privatization of generating assets and concessionaire agreement for transmission and distribution assets. Many important details remain under development. In October 2018 the Commonwealth issued a request for qualifications seeking to identify interested parties for a potential concession or other management arrangement of the transmission and distribution assets of PREPA. To date no further developments have been reported. Separately the Puerto Rican Senate passed legislation in December 2018 to establish the regulatory and legislative framework to govern such an arrangement; that Bill awaits action in the Puerto Rican House.

The Governor appointed four new Board members and a new CEO was named on July 18, 2018. On December 21, 2018, the Governor appointed three independent directors to the Board bringing the total to seven; the elected consumer member has not been seated.

On July 30, 2018, PREPA, the Oversight Board, the Puerto Rico Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority (“AAFAF”) and the Governor announced a preliminary restructuring support agreement with certain members of the Ad Hoc Group of bondholders. National is not a party to that agreement. This preliminary agreement has not been finalized and the parties continue to extend certain expiration dates.

On October 3, 2018, National, together with Assured Guaranty Corp., Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp., and Syncora Guarantee Inc. (collectively, “Movants”) filed a motion in the Title III case for PREPA for relief from the automatic stay to allow Movants to exercise their statutory right to have a receiver appointed at PREPA. Movants argue that PREPA’s long history of mismanagement and politicization has harmed, and will continue to harm, all of its stakeholders, including creditors and the people of Puerto Rico. Movants write that a Receiver is necessary to ensure that PREPA is managed in the best interests of all of its constituents. Discovery in connection with Movants’ motion is ongoing; the current trial date is set for May of 2019.

PRHTA

On May 21, 2017, the Oversight Board commenced a Title III case for PRHTA. On June 3, 2017, National, together with Assured and Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp., filed an adversary proceeding seeking to enforce the special revenue protections of the Bankruptcy Code which are incorporated into PROMESA. These provisions ensure, among other things, that (i) current tax and toll revenues remain subject to liens and (ii) the automatic stay resulting from a filing of a Title III petition does not stay or limit application of these pledged special revenues to the repayment of PRHTA debt. On January 30, 2018, the court granted motions to dismiss the adversary proceeding. The plaintiffs appealed this decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and oral argument was held on November 5, 2018 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. No decision has been rendered.

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (continued)

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (continued)

Additionally, on June 20, 2017, AAFAF informed Bank of New York, as fiscal agent for the PRHTA bonds, that due to the Title III case, the funds in the debt service reserve account in AAFAF’s view were not property of the bondholders and that Bank of New York should not disburse these funds to bondholders on July 1, 2017. The parties agreed that such funds would be held by the Bank of New York and disbursement of such funds would be addressed in the pending adversary proceeding.

Other

Other than Inter American University of Puerto Rico Inc., S&P, Fitch Ratings and/or Moody’s have downgraded the ratings of all Puerto Rico issuers to below investment grade with a negative outlook due to ongoing economic pressures, which will weigh on Puerto Rico’s ability to meet debt and other funding obligations, potentially driving bondholder recovery rates lower as restructuring the island’s debt burden unfolds.

On January 10, 2019, the University of Puerto Rico (the “University”) received notification from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education placing the University’s 11 institutions on “show cause” status. The University had until the end of January 2019 to submit requested reports and argue why its accreditation should not be revoked. On January 14, 2019, the University submitted audited financial statements, among other things, to the accreditation agency. While it continues to evaluate the University’s situation, there are several options that accreditation agency may take, which include withdrawing the accreditation, reaffirming the accreditation, or keeping the University under show cause status.

The following table presents our scheduled gross debt service due on our Puerto Rico insured exposures as of December 31, 2018, for each of the subsequent five years ending December 31 and thereafter:

Corporate

Our corporate segment consists of general corporate activities, including providing support services to MBIA Inc.’s subsidiaries and asset and capital management. Support services are provided by our service company, MBIA Services, and include, among others, management, legal, accounting, treasury, information technology, and insurance portfolio surveillance, on a fee-for-service basis. Capital management includes activities related to servicing obligations issued by MBIA Inc. and its subsidiaries, MBIA Global Funding, LLC (“GFL”) and MBIA Investment Management Corp. (“IMC”). MBIA Inc. issued debt to finance the operations of the MBIA group. GFL raised funds through the issuance of medium-term notes (“MTNs”) with varying maturities, which were in turn guaranteed by MBIA Corp. GFL lent the proceeds of these MTN issuances to MBIA Inc. IMC, along with MBIA Inc., provided customized investment agreements, guaranteed by MBIA Corp., for bond proceeds and other public funds for such purposes as construction, loan origination, escrow and debt service or other reserve fund requirements. The Company has ceased issuing new MTNs and investment agreements and the outstanding liability balances and corresponding asset balances have declined over time as liabilities matured, terminated or were called or repurchased. All of the debt within the corporate segment is managed collectively and is serviced by available liquidity.

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (continued)

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (continued)

The following table summarizes the consolidated results of our corporate segment for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016:

n/m—Percent change not meaningful.

FEES The decrease in fees for 2018 compared with 2017 was primarily due to a decrease in fees paid by our U.S. public finance insurance and international and structured finance insurance segments for administrative and other services.

NET GAINS (LOSSES) ON FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AT FAIR VALUE AND FOREIGN EXCHANGE The favorable change in net gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange for 2018 compared with 2017 was primarily due to foreign exchange gains on Euro denominated liabilities from the strengthening of the U.S. dollar, partially offset by unfavorable changes in the fair value of the warrants issued on MBIA Inc. common stock as a result of the increase in the stock price, which were exercised during the second quarter of 2018.

The unfavorable change for 2017 compared with 2016 was primarily due to foreign exchange losses on Euro denominated liabilities from the weakening of the U.S. dollar, partially offset by favorable changes in the fair value of the warrants issued on MBIA Inc. common stock, a decrease in net losses on the sales of investments and an increase in gains from our interest rate swaps. The changes in the fair value of warrants were primarily attributable to a decrease in the price of MBIA Inc.’s common stock and changes in volatility, which are used in the valuation of the warrants.

NET GAINS (LOSSES) ON EXTINGUISHMENT OF DEBT The decrease in net gains on extinguishment of debt for 2018 compared with 2017 was primarily due to a decrease in gains from purchases, at discounts, of MTNs issued by the Company. The increase in net gains on extinguishment of debt for 2017 compared with 2016 was primarily due to an increase in gains from purchases, at discounts, of MTNs issued by the Company.

OPERATING EXPENSES Operating expenses decreased for 2018 compared with 2017 and 2016 primarily due to decreases in compensation expense, primarily as a result of lower headcount.

INTEREST EXPENSE Interest expense increased for 2018 compared with 2017 due to the purchase by National in the fourth quarter of 2017 of $129 million principal amount of MBIA Inc. 5.700% Senior Notes due 2034 that were previously repurchased by MBIA Inc. and had not been retired. Interest expense decreased for 2017 compared with 2016 due to the maturities and repurchases of debt obligations issued by the Company.

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (continued)

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (continued)

International and Structured Finance Insurance

Our international and structured finance insurance portfolios are managed through MBIA Corp. The financial guarantees issued by MBIA Corp. generally provide unconditional and irrevocable guarantees of the payment of the principal of, and interest or other amounts owing on, non-U.S. public finance and global structured finance insured obligations when due or, in the event MBIA Corp. has the right, at its discretion, to accelerate insured obligations upon default or otherwise. Effective on January 10, 2017, MBIA Corp.’s wholly-owned subsidiary, MBIA UK Holdings, sold its operating subsidiary, MBIA UK, to Assured.

MBIA Corp. has insured sovereign-related and sub-sovereign bonds, privately issued bonds used for the financing of utilities, toll roads, bridges, airports, public transportation facilities, and other types of infrastructure projects serving a substantial public purpose. Global structured finance and asset-backed obligations typically are securities repayable from cash flows generated by a specified pool of assets, such as residential and commercial mortgages, insurance policies, consumer loans, corporate loans and bonds, trade and export receivables, and leases for equipment, aircraft and real estate property. MBIA Insurance Corporation insures the investment contracts written by MBIA Inc., and if MBIA Inc. or such subsidiaries were to have insufficient assets to pay amounts due upon maturity or termination, MBIA Insurance Corporation would be required to make such payments under its insurance policies. MBIA Insurance Corporation also insured debt obligations of other affiliates, including GFL, IMC and MZ Funding LLC (“MZ Funding”). MBIA Corp. has also written insurance policies guaranteeing the obligations under credit default swap (“CDS”) contracts of an affiliate, LaCrosse Financial Products, LLC and certain other derivative contracts. Certain policies cover payments potentially due under CDS, including termination payments that may become due in certain circumstances, including the occurrence of certain insolvency or payment defaults under the CDS or derivative contracts by the insured counterparty or by the guarantor. We no longer insure new credit derivative contracts except for transactions related to the restructuring or reduction of existing derivative exposure. MBIA Insurance Corporation provides reinsurance to MBIA Mexico.

MBIA Corp. has contributed to the Company’s net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforward, which is used in the calculation of our consolidated income taxes. If MBIA Corp. becomes profitable, it is not expected to make any tax payments under our tax sharing agreement. Refer to “Note 11: Income Taxes” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information about taxes. Based on MBIA Corp.’s current projected earnings and our expectation that it will not write new business, we believe it is unlikely that MBIA Corp. will generate significant income in the near future. As a result of MBIA Corp.’s capital structure and business prospects, we do not expect its financial performance to have a material impact on MBIA Inc.

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (continued)

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (continued)

The following table presents our international and structured finance insurance segment results for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016: