Printer Friendly
The Free Library
14,679,626 articles and books
Member login
User name  
Password 
 
Join us Forgot password?

MBIA Inc. Reports 16 Percent Increase in 2006 Net Income Per Share; Operating Earnings Per Share up 5 Percent in 2006.


ARMONK, N.Y. -- MBIA MBIA Montana Building Industry Association
MBIA Municipal Bond Insurance Association
MBIA Michigan Boating Industries Association
MBIA Municipal Bond Investors Assurance
MBIA Massachusetts Brain Injury Association
MBIA Maryland Business Incubation Association
 Inc. (NYSE NYSE

See: New York Stock Exchange
: MBI MBI Management Buy-In
MBI Moody Bible Institute
MBI Mathematical Biosciences Institute
MBI Modular Building Institute
MBI Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
MBI Molecular Biology Institute
MBI Maslach Burnout Inventory (psychometrics) 
), the holding company for MBIA Insurance Corporation, reported today that net income per share for 2006 increased 16 percent to $5.99, compared with $5.18 in 2005. Net income for 2006 was $819.3 million, up 15 percent compared with $711.0 million for 2005.

The increase was primarily due to a one-time, pre-tax accrual of $75 million made in the third quarter of 2005, or $0.52 per share on an after-tax basis After-tax basis

The comparison basis used to analyze the net after-tax returns on a corporate taxable bond and a municipal tax-free bond.
, for the total amount that the Company estimated it will pay in connection with the recently concluded regulatory investigations, as well as a 5 percent increase in operating earnings Operating Earnings

Profits after subtracting expenses such as marketing, cost of goods sold, administration and general operating costs from revenue.

Notes:
Tax and interest expenses are not subtracted - operating earnings are synonymous with EBIT (earnings before
 per share.
[TABLE OMITTED]


Operating income Operating Income

The profit realized from a business' own operations.

Notes:
This would not include income from things such as investments in other firms. Also referred to as operating profit or recurring profit.
 per share, a non-GAAP measure, which excludes the effects of net realized gains Realized Gain

A gain resulting from selling an asset at a price higher than the original purchase price.

Notes:
There may be tax consequences for a realized profit.
 and losses, net gains and losses on derivative instruments Derivative instruments

Contracts such as options and futures whose price is derived from the price of an underlying financial asset.
 and foreign exchange, income and losses from discontinued operations Discontinued operations

Divisions of a business that have been sold or written off and that no longer are maintained by the business.
, and the accrual for estimated penalties and disgorgement Disgorgement

A repayment of ill-gotten gains that is imposed on wrongdoers by the courts. Funds that were received through illegal or unethical business transactions are disgorged, or paid back, with interest to those affected by the action.
, rose 5 percent to $5.81 in 2006 compared with $5.55 in 2005. Excluding accelerated earned premiums due to refundings, 2006 operating income per share rose 3 percent to $5.10 from $4.94 in 2005.

Fourth quarter net income per share in 2006 was down 1 percent from 2005, at $1.32 compared with $1.34. Net income for the fourth quarter of 2006 was also down 1 percent from the prior year at $181.0 million, compared with $182.7 million in the same period of 2005.

For the fourth quarter of 2006, operating income per share decreased 4 percent to $1.31 compared with $1.37 in the fourth quarter of 2005. Excluding accelerated earned premiums due to refundings, fourth quarter operating income per share declined 3 percent to $1.16 in 2006 from $1.19 in the same period of 2005. The decrease was primarily due to lower scheduled premiums earned and accelerated expenses related to the adoption of a new retirement plan and certain long-term incentive compensation awards.

Gary Dunton, MBIA Chief Executive Officer, said, "We achieved acceptable financial and operating results despite a challenging market environment with strong competitive pressures. Business production was robust for the fourth quarter, where we recorded our highest quarterly adjusted direct premium in three years. Additionally, our asset management business had a strong year. We remain committed to pursuing only those business opportunities that meet our strict underwriting and return standards."

Insurance Operations

Adjusted direct premium (ADP (1) (Automatic Data Processing) Synonymous with data processing (DP), electronic data processing (EDP) and information processing.

(2) (Automatic Data Processing, Inc., Roseland, NJ, www.adp.
), a non-GAAP measure, which includes both upfront premiums written and the present value of estimated installment premiums for new business written in the period and excludes premiums assumed or ceded, declined 6 percent to $1.03 billion in 2006 from $1.10 billion in 2005. Business production was impacted by tighter credit spreads and increased competition from both the uninsured market and other monolines throughout 2006.
[TABLE OMITTED]


In 2006, global public finance ADP was approximately the same as 2005. U.S. public finance production decreased 34 percent in 2006, reflecting fewer transactions in the transportation and utility sectors as well as fewer transactions with large ADP. However, transportation and utility transactions in the Latin American and Australian markets helped boost the Company's non-U.S. public finance ADP, which was up 179 percent. Credit quality for global public finance transactions remained very high, with 84 percent of insured business written rated Single-A or higher in 2006.

Tight credit spreads and investor demand for uninsured transactions continued to impact global structured finance ADP in 2006, which decreased 13 percent versus 2005. U.S. structured finance ADP decreased 6 percent while non-U.S. ADP fell 23 percent compared with last year. Production was negatively affected by the relative lack of transactions with large ADP in 2006 despite strong production from the CDO (Collaborative Data Objects) A programming interface from Microsoft for accessing MAPI-based e-mail, calendaring and scheduling servers. Originally called "OLE Messaging" and "Active Messaging," CDO wraps the Enhanced MAPI library into a COM object that provides the  sector. In 2006, 71 percent of business written in global structured finance was rated Single-A or higher.

For the fourth quarter of 2006, total ADP was up 90 percent to $421.2 million compared with $221.4 million during the same period of 2005. International production was particularly strong for the fourth quarter, with non-U.S. public finance ADP up 417 percent and non-U.S. structured finance ADP 214 percent higher than the same period last year. U.S. production was also favorable for both markets for the quarter, with public finance up 24 percent and structured finance up 61 percent over the prior year's fourth quarter. There were several deals with larger ADP from various sectors, including transportation, utility, CDO, insurance securitization Securitization

The process of creating a financial instrument by combining other financial assets and then marketing them to investors.

Notes:
Mortgage backed securities are a perfect example of securitization.

May also be spelled as "securitisation.
 and military housing, which contributed more significantly to the fourth quarter's results.

Total premiums earned in 2006 declined 1 percent to $835.6 million from $842.7 million in 2005, due to a 4 percent decline in scheduled premiums earned, partially offset by an increase in earned premiums from refundings. Scheduled premiums earned were down due in part to the effect of refunding activity in the current and prior years. While refundings accelerate premiums earned into the period of the refunding, they also take premium earnings away from future periods. Premiums earned from refundings were strong due to the continued low interest rate environment, increasing 15 percent to $161.5 million in 2006. MBIA's premiums earned from refunded issues was boosted by several international transactions that had significant unearned premium at the time of the refunding.

Pre-tax net investment income in 2006 was $598.1 million, a 16 percent increase from $514.3 million in 2005. The increase was primarily due to interest received on Variable Interest Entities (VIEs), on the Northwest Airlines 2000-1 Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates (EETCs), and on reimbursed expenses. Investment income for VIEs and similar items has been shown in net investment income since the first quarter of 2006, and the related interest expense is included in the interest expense line on the Company's income statement. Excluding the effects of the items referenced above, pre-tax net investment income would have increased by 6 percent for 2006.

MBIA's fees and reimbursements were up 19 percent for 2006 to $33.5 million which includes reimbursements of $15.7 million for previously incurred expenses related to two credits, compared with $28.2 million for 2005.

Total insurance expenses were up 19 percent for 2006 to $379.3 million from $318.1 million in 2005. The increase resulted from higher interest expense for VIEs, interest expense related to the financing of the Northwest Airlines 2000-1 EETCs, and the lower deferral rate that the Company adopted during the third quarter of 2005 for gross insurance expenses related to policy acquisition costs. Gross insurance expenses, which are prior to any expense deferrals, were up 2 percent for the year. The increase was primarily due to the acceleration of expenses related to certain existing long-term incentive compensation awards and the adoption of a new retirement plan. Excluding these accelerated expenses, gross insurance expenses would have decreased 2 percent.

The Company incurred $80.9 million in loss and loss adjustment expenses in 2006, a 4 percent decrease compared to $84.3 million in 2005. Loss and LAE for both periods is based on the Company's formula of reserving 12 percent of scheduled premiums earned. During 2006, the net effect of MBIA's formula-based loss reserving combined with case loss reserve activity resulted in a $4.7 million increase to its unallocated loss reserve, increasing the Company's unallocated loss reserve to $213.3 million at December 31, 2006. Case loss activity in the fourth quarter included $27.9 million of net losses recorded in connection with MBIA's redemption of all of the remaining $117 million in principal of MBIA-insured notes backed by tax liens Tax Lien

A claim imposed by the federal government to liquidate a persons property until owing tax and debt is fully paid.

Notes:
Tax liens can be purchased from the government in the form of an investment.
 originated by Capital Asset and its sale and transfer of all of the remaining tax liens and real estate owned Real Estate Owned

Property owned by a lender - usually a bank - after an unsuccessful sale at a foreclosure auction. This is common because most of the properties up for sale at these auctions are worth less than the total amount owed to the bank: the minimum bid in most
 and originated by Capital Asset, as well as a partial write-down of expected litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute.

When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation.
 recoveries established in 1998 from the AHERF AHERF Allegheny Health Education and Research Foundation  bankruptcy estate.

The restructuring of Eurotunnel continues to move forward as the Safeguard Plan (the Plan) was approved by the Paris Commercial Court on January 15, 2007, previously having been agreed upon Adj. 1. agreed upon - constituted or contracted by stipulation or agreement; "stipulatory obligations"
stipulatory

noncontroversial, uncontroversial - not likely to arouse controversy
 by its creditors, vendors and employees. Once shareholders tender sufficient shareholdings, a general meeting will be convened to seek approval of the issuance of new shares and to finalize the necessary steps to implement the Plan. MBIA will have additional claim payments until the Plan is implemented. Upon implementation of the Plan, MBIA expects to receive full recovery for all of its claims.

Overall credit quality in the insured portfolio remained high, with 81 percent of the total book of business rated A or better, unchanged from the end of 2005. The percentage of the portfolio rated non-investment grade decreased to 1.9 percent from 2.1 percent in 2005, with about half of the reduction resulting from a decrease in the par amount of non-investment grade rated credits and the other half resulting from the growth of the outstanding book of business.

MBIA's pre-tax operating income from insurance operations, which excludes the effects of net realized gains and losses and net gains and losses on derivative instruments and foreign exchange, increased 2 percent to $1.09 billion in 2006 from $1.07 billion in 2005.

Investment Management Services

Pre-tax operating income from MBIA's investment management businesses, which excludes the effects of net realized gains and losses, and net gains and losses on derivative instruments and foreign exchange, increased 17 percent in 2006 to $101.2 million from $86.6 million in 2005. The Company's asset/liability products segment saw solid growth in its investment agreements business. Additionally, assets under management Assets Under Management (AUM) is a term used by financial services companies in the mutual fund and money management or investment management business to gauge how much money they are managing.  in the third-party/advisory asset management segment grew sharply. The market value of annual average assets under management, excluding conduits, was $52.1 billion in 2006, up 20 percent from $43.5 billion in 2005.

Corporate

The pre-tax operating loss operating loss

The excess of operating expenses over revenue. As with operating income, operating losses exclude revenues and expenses from operations that are not considered a regular part of the business. Also called deficit. Compare operating income.
 for the corporate segment, which includes net investment income, interest expense and corporate expenses, declined 50 percent in 2006 to $85.8 million compared with $171.9 million. Results in 2005 included the $75 million accrual in the third quarter of 2005 for estimated penalties and disgorgement, as well as higher legal and consulting expenses related to the regulatory investigations, and greater interest expenses due to higher average debt outstanding.

Gains and Losses

In 2006, MBIA recorded net realized gains of $15.4 million for all business operations Business operations are those activities involved in the running of a business for the purpose of producing value for the stakeholders. Compare business processes. The outcome of business operations is the harvesting of value from assets , compared to net realized losses Realized Loss

A loss recognized when assets are sold for a price lower than the original purchase price.

Notes:
A portion of the realized loss may be applied against a capital gain or realized profit to reduce taxes.
 of $2.9 million in 2005. The Company recorded net gains on derivative instruments and foreign exchange of $14.5 million in 2006, compared with net gains of $38.1 million in 2005.

Discontinued Operations

As previously announced, MBIA has completed the sale of MBIA MuniServices Company to an investor group led by the management of MuniServices Company. This business was treated as a discontinued operation discontinued operation

A segment of a business that has been abandoned or sold or for which plans for one or another of these actions have been approved. See also continuing operations.
 in the third quarter of 2006. Effective December 31, 2006, MBIA sold all of the Capital Asset operating entities, including any remaining non-Pittsburgh liens and real estate owned by such entities, to a third party company that is engaged in tax lien servicing and collection and that had been overseeing the servicing operations of Capital Asset since July of 2006. The Company no longer has any guaranteed tax lien securitizations outstanding and no longer owns or services tax liens originated by Capital Asset. Results for MBIA's Capital Asset operations, included in the corporate segment last quarter, are now also included in discontinued operations.

Book Value and Adjusted Book Value

MBIA's book value per share at December 31, 2006 was $53.43, up 9 percent from $49.17 at December 31, 2005. The increase was principally driven by net income from operations. Adjusted book value (ABV ABV Above
ABV Alcohol By Volume
ABV Abuja, Nigeria (airport code)
ABV Assault Breacher Vehicle
ABV Accredited Business Valuation specialist
ABV Auxiliary Building Ventilation
ABV Annual Buy Value
ABV Air Bleed Valve
) per share, a non-GAAP measure, at December 31, 2006 rose 7 percent to $75.72 from $70.62 at December 31, 2005. ABV includes the after-tax effects of deferred premium revenue less prepaid reinsurance The contract made between an insurance company and a third party to protect the insurance company from losses. The contract provides for the third party to pay for the loss sustained by the insurance company when the company makes a payment on the original contract.  premiums and deferred acquisition costs, the present value of installment premiums, the present value of the net spread of asset/liability products, and a provision for loss and loss adjustment expenses.

Insurance Company Dividends

In December 2006, MBIA Insurance Corporation received approval from the New York New York, state, United States
New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of
 State Insurance Department to pay a total of $500 million in dividends to MBIA Inc. during the fourth quarter. MBIA Insurance Corporation declared and paid $500 million in dividends to MBIA Inc. in the fourth quarter.

Share Repurchase Share Repurchase

A program by which a company buys back its own shares from the marketplace, reducing the number of outstanding shares. This is usually an indication that the company's management thinks the shares are undervalued.


During 2006, the Company did not repurchase any shares. At December 31, 2006, approximately 5 million shares remained in the Company's share buyback program, which was authorized by the Company's board of directors in August 2004.

Operating Return On Equity

For 2006, MBIA's operating return on equity, a non-GAAP measure, was 12.1 percent compared to 12.5 percent for 2005.

Conference Call

MBIA will host a conference call for investors today at 11 a.m. EST EST electroshock therapy.

EST
abbr.
electroshock therapy
. The conference call will consist of brief comments by Mr. C Mr C (aka Mr. Chuggs, born Richard West on January 2 1964) is a British DJ, musician and rapper. Best known for fronting The Shamen during their most commercially successful era, Mr C is also an acclaimed house music DJ and co-owner/co-founder of London's The End nightclub . Edward Chaplin, MBIA Chief Financial Officer, followed by a question and answer session. The dial-in number for the call is (877) 694-4769 in the U.S. and (973) 582-2849 from outside the U.S. The conference call code is 8315056. The conference call will also be broadcast live on MBIA's Web site at www.mbia.com. Those who are unable to participate in the conference call may listen to a replay by dialing (877) 519-4471 in the U.S. or (973) 341-3080 from outside the U.S. The replay call code is also 8315056. The replay will be available on MBIA's Web site approximately two hours after the end of the conference call.

MBIA Inc., through its subsidiaries, is a leading financial guarantor and provider of specialized financial services The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view of the subject.
Please [ improve this article] or discuss the issue on the talk page.
. MBIA's innovative and cost-effective products and services meet the credit enhancement Credit Enhancement

A method whereby a company attempts to improve its debt or credit worthiness.

Notes:
Credit enhancements take many different forms. An example of a credit enhancement would be conversion rights added on to a debt instrument in order to lower the issuing
, financial and investment needs of its public and private sector clients, domestically and internationally. MBIA Inc.'s principal operating subsidiary An operating subsidiary is a business term frequently used within the United States railroad industry. In the case of a railroad, it refers to a company that is a subsidiary but operates with its own identity and rolling stock. , MBIA Insurance Corporation, has a financial strength rating of Triple-A from Moody's Investors Service Moody's Investors Service

A leading global credit rating, research and risk analysis firm.


Moody's Investors Service

A leading firm engaged in credit rating, risk analysis, and research of fixed-income securities and their issuers.
, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services Ratings Service

A company, such as Moody's or Standard & Poor's, that rates various debt and preferred stock issues for safety of payment of principal, interest, or dividends.
, Fitch Ratings Fitch Ratings

An international rating agency for financial institutions, insurance companies, and corporate, sovereign, and municipal debt. Fitch Ratings has headquarters in New York and London and is wholly owned by FIMALAC of Paris.
, and Rating and Investment Information, Inc. Please visit MBIA's Web site at http://www.mbia.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements forward-looking statement

A projected financial statement based on management expectations. A forward-looking statement involves risks with regard to the accuracy of assumptions underlying the projections.
. Important factors such as general market conditions and the competitive environment could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect changes in events or expectations.

Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The following are explanations of why MBIA believes that the non-GAAP financial measures used in this press release, which serve to supplement GAAP GAAP

See: Generally Accepted Accounting Principles


GAAP

See generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).
 information, are meaningful to investors.

Operating Income: The Company believes operating income is a useful measurement of performance because it measures income from operations, unaffected by investment portfolio realized gains and losses, gains and losses on derivative instruments and foreign exchange and non-recurring items. Trends in the underlying profitability of the Company's businesses can be more clearly identified without the fluctuating effects of the items noted above.

Operating Return on Equity: The Company believes operating return on equity is a useful measurement of performance because it measures return on equity based upon income from operations and shareholders' equity Shareholders' Equity

A firms' total assets minus its total liabilities. Equivalently, it is share capital plus retained earnings minus treasury shares. Shareholders' equity is the amount by which a company is financed through common and preferred shares.
, unaffected by investment portfolio realized gains and losses, gains and losses on derivative instruments and foreign exchange, unrealized gains Unrealized Gain

A profit that results from holding on to an asset rather than cashing it in and using the funds.

Notes:
Let's say you own a stock that has doubled, but you haven't sold it yet. This is said to be an unrealized gain.
 and losses, and non-recurring items. Operating return on equity is also provided to assist research analysts and investors who use this information in their analysis of the Company.

Adjusted Direct Premiums: The Company believes adjusted direct premiums are a meaningful measure of the total value of the insurance business written during a reporting period since they represent the present value of all premiums collected and expected to be collected on policies closed during the period. As such, it gives investors an opportunity to measure the value of new business activities in a given period and compare it to new business activities in other periods. Other measures, such as premiums written and premiums earned, include the value of premiums resulting from business closed in prior periods and do not provide the same information to investors.

Adjusted Book Value: The Company believes the presentation of adjusted book value, which includes items that are expected to be realized in future periods, provides additional information that gives a comprehensive measure of the value of the Company. Since the Company expects these items to affect future results and, in general, they do not require any additional future performance obligation on the Company's part, ABV provides an indication of the Company's value in the absence of any new business activity. ABV is not a substitute for GAAP book value but does provide investors with additional information when viewed in conjunction with GAAP book value.
[TABLE OMITTED]
[TABLE OMITTED]
[TABLE OMITTED]
[TABLE OMITTED]
[TABLE OMITTED]
[TABLE OMITTED]
COPYRIGHT 2007 Business Wire
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 2007, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

 Reader Opinion

Title:

Comment:



 

Article Details
Printer friendly Cite/link Email Feedback
Publication:Business Wire
Article Type:Financial report
Date:Jan 30, 2007
Words:2781
Previous Article:Siemens Sets New Standard for Open, Easy Integration of Wired and Wireless LANs with the New HiPath Wireless C2400 Controller.
Next Article:Opexa Achieves Midpoint in Patient Admissions in Phase IIb Trial of Tovaxin(TM) for Multiple Sclerosis.
Topics:



Related Articles
MBIA Inc. reports 19 percent increase in both fourth quarter and 1996 net income.
MBIA Inc. Reports Solid Increase in 2000 Net Income; Operating Earnings Per Share Up 8 Percent for 2000.
MBIA Inc. Reports 9 Percent Increase in First Half Core Earnings Per Share; First Half Operating Earnings Up 11 Percent To $1.85 Per Share.
MBIA Inc. Reports 43 Percent Increase in 2003 Earnings Per Share.
MBIA Inc. Reports a 9 Percent Decrease in Earnings Per Share in First Nine Months; Operating Earnings Per Share up 5 Percent.
MBIA Inc. Reports 11 Percent Decrease in 2005 Earnings Per Share; Operating Earnings Per Share up 4 Percent in 2005.
MBIA Inc. Reports 4 Percent Decrease in First Quarter 2006 Earnings Per Share; Operating Income Per Share up 3 Percent.
MBIA Inc. Reports 10 Percent Increase in First Half Net Income Per Share; Operating Income Per Share up 6 Percent.
MBIA Inc. Reports 22 Percent Increase in Nine Months Net Income Per Share; Operating Income Per Share up 8 Percent.
Aetna Reports Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year 2006 Results.(Company overview)(Financial report)

Terms of use | Copyright © 2009 Farlex, Inc. | Feedback | For webmasters | Submit articles