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Item 1A. Risk Factors
The following should be read in conjunction with and supplements the risk factors described under Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors of the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. Except as set forth below, there have been no material changes to the risk factors previously disclosed in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
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.
Certain issuers are reporting 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.
In particular, while the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico has completed its court-ordered restructuring pursuant to the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA), the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) currently remains in a bankruptcy-like proceeding under PROMESA in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico.
As of JuneSeptember 30, 2024, National had $792670 million of insured debt service outstanding related to PREPA. On January 1, 2024 and July 1, 2024, PREPA defaulted on scheduled debt service for certain National insured bonds and National paid gross claims in the aggregate of $16 million and $122 million, respectively.
On January 29, 2024, the First Circuit Court of Appeals heard argument on the appeal of Judge Swain's ruling on the scope of the bondholder liens and the allowed amount of the under-secured portion of the bondholders' unsecured claim. On June 12, 2024, the First Circuit reversed Judge Swain's prior rulings on bondholder liens and claim amounts. FolloOn June 26, 2024, the Oversight Board filed a petition for a First Circuit panel rehearing, and the Unsecured Creditors Committee filed an en banc appeal. Both are currently pending. Following a status conference held on July 10, 2024, the Court imposed a 60-day stay of all litigation and other filings related to the amended Plan, and ordered the parties into mediation. The stay was subsequently extended until January 31, 2025. The Oversight Board unilaterally altered the consideration provided in the amended RPREPA RSA and, as a result, National provided notice to the Oversight Board that National did not support the board's actions and that such actions constituted a breach and termination of the PREPA RSA, as amended. There is no assurance that a plan that is substantially similar in the treatment of National's claims and rights will ultimately be confirmed and become effective.
Refer to the U.S. Public Finance Insurance Puerto Rico Exposures section in Part I, Item 2 of this Form 10-Q for additional information on our Puerto Rico exposures.
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