Social Responsibility

INVESTING IN OUR EMPLOYEES

At Assured Guaranty, our people are among our most valued assets and critical to our success.  Investing in both our workforce and our workplace strengthens our company, supports our business objectives and better serves our clients. 

Employee Development
At Assured Guaranty, we want to recruit and retain talented people. We have programs in place to help our employees improve their credentials and skill sets so that they can achieve their career goals. We maintain a strong commitment to continued education, learning and development – we offer tuition reimbursement, payment of fees for business certifications and professional exams, as well as professional development and training including in leadership, management and effective communication and presentation skills, and access to mentoring. When employees thrive, Assured Guaranty thrives too.

Employee Engagement 
In 2022, we launched our inaugural employee engagement survey. While we encourage open dialogue, the engagement survey was conducted through a third-party vendor to offer a confidential forum for employees to provide more candid feedback.  The vendor conducted the survey, collected and aggregated feedback, and benchmarked results relative to other similar-size financial services companies. The survey was sent to our entire workforce around the world and we received responses from 88% of our employees. Our overall engagement score exceeded the benchmark. Since then, we periodically engage in employee engagement surveys.

Diversity and Inclusion
We view – and value – diversity, because it is an expression of our long-standing commitment to anti-discrimination and equal opportunity in the workplace, and inclusivity, because it embodies our objective of fostering a respectful environment not just free from unlawful harassment but one where employees feel they can be their authentic selves. For these reasons, Assured Guaranty is committed to building and sustaining a diverse workforce and creating an inclusive culture that embraces our differences and utilizes our many and varied talents.  Our Diversity and Inclusion policy, which defines what we mean by diversity and inclusion, can be viewed here. 

Diversity in perspectives, backgrounds, experiences and education – in an inclusive environment – enhances our collective performance by expanding the breadth of ideas, nurturing collaboration, and encouraging employee engagement. Fostering a work environment that promotes inclusion results in a more productive and impactful sharing of ideas and a stronger community. Respect, professionalism, and fairness are at the heart of our corporate culture.

We are committed to equal employment opportunity and compliance with all applicable work-related laws and regulations. Employment decisions are made and terms and conditions of employment are set without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We also make reasonable accommodations for disabled employees and applicants, as required by law. Our annual Global Code of Ethics training, which is required for all employees, reminds us that we are all responsible for being part of a respectful and inclusive environment where everyone feels comfortable contributing their ideas and is valued for doing so. 

Our diversity and inclusion strategy starts with Intentionality, and is 

         - guided by Leadership, 
         - supported through Organizational Commitment and Legal Compliance, and
         - communicated with Transparency.

Intentionality: Assured Guaranty added a number of talent acquisition strategies to our recruiting practices in order to deliberately reach and attract the best and broadest applicant pool. To cast a wider net, positions are posted on Assured Guaranty’s websites and other public job and recruiting websites. 

Leadership: Our Board of Directors, acting through the Environmental and Social Responsibility Committee, reviews information about our diversity and inclusion initiatives and provides oversight. Board members also support the Company’s programming by participating in events sponsored by the Company’s employee resource groups (ERGs) and D&I Committee, both described below, and members of our senior management serve as mentors and executive sponsors of the ERGs. 

Organizational Commitment: Responsibility for implementing the goals of diversity and inclusion is shared across our organization. In addition to the leadership and oversight provided by our board and senior management, Assured Guaranty’s employee-led Diversity and Inclusion Committee (D&I Committee) (described below) and ERGs bring us together and combine our collective talents so that we can create a respectful and inclusive culture that engages our employees and enriches our environment.  Though the laws may differ from time to time and across the jurisdictions where we do business, our core values of respect, opportunity, and equality remain constant and consistent. We are diligent about understanding and complying with applicable laws regarding anti-discrimination and anti-harassment. Our annual Global Code of Ethics training, which is required for all employees, reminds us that we are all responsible for being part of a respectful and inclusive environment where everyone feels comfortable contributing their ideas and is valued for doing so.

•    Employee-led Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Our employee-led D&I Committee is composed of dedicated employees with different backgrounds, points of view, levels of seniority and tenure with Assured Guaranty, who provide input into policies and strategies for creating cultural awareness, supporting a diverse workforce and fostering an inclusive culture. The D&I Committee has played a key role in recommending and working to implement strategies and initiatives, such as the mentoring program, Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), hosting firm-wide events and investing in organizations that work to provide access to education, career and skills development and networking opportunities. 

•    Employee Resource Groups. Based on employee feedback, we currently have the following ERGs: the African Heritage ERG, the Women's ERG, the Working  Parents ERG, the Asian and Pacific Islander ERG, and the Young Professionals ERG. These groups create community and awareness and encourage employees to engage with and support one another. Because the ERGs are employee-led, they provide additional opportunities for employees to develop and demonstrate their leadership and organizational skills. The ERGs also prepare and present (to senior leadership) strategic plans that incorporate the Company’s business objectives into their programming. The ERGs align with the Company’s initiatives by providing mentorship, career development and training, and assisting the Company in its efforts to retain, develop and promote its employees and to foster a more collaborative and collegial culture. Membership in the ERGs is voluntary and open to all employees regardless of whether they identify with the group’s characteristics. Each ERG is supported by two executive sponsors, a member and an ally, who offer guidance and advocate on behalf of the group.

Transparency: In the spirit of transparency and disclosure, we make available information about the gender, racial or ethnic composition of Assured Guaranty’s Board here and the most recent EEO-1 Report for our U.S. workforce here. 

Living Wage
We pay our employees a fair living wage and offer a generous benefits package to eligible employees that includes health insurance for employees and their families, and a 401K plan and employee stock purchase plan to give employees the opportunity to plan for their future. 

Health and Wellness
We are committed to promoting a culture of health and wellness for our employees. We offer comprehensive health benefits, gym membership discounts and reimbursements (up to a cap), bicycle parking in our offices that can be paid for out of pre-tax dollars, and health and wellness events throughout the year. In addition, we provide:

• TouchCare, an independent company that provides concierge services to help our employees navigate the healthcare system
• Employee Assistance Programs that provide confidential assistance to employees on issues as well as topics such as personal development, mental and behavioral health and wellness, parenting and family, substance abuse and recovery, financial planning, and legal issues
• A partnership with UrbanSitter around childcare, elder care and pet care
• Fertility and family planning benefits
• Workshops and educational sessions for employees
• The option for employees to work remotely for a portion of their time – both as a convenience to them and to remain competitive as an employer.

ENGAGING WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS

As a publicly traded company that is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker: AGO), we are subject to, and comply with, numerous disclosure requirements. We also understand the value of dialogue. We welcome the opportunity to communicate and engage with a broad range of stakeholders that includes regulators, policyholders, issuers, investors, shareholders and our own employees. Engagement with stakeholders is not exclusive to our Investor Relations group; in their respective roles, members of our Board, senior management, and others at Assured Guaranty also participate in outreach and make themselves available in compliance with our Corporate Communications policy. We work hard to earn the trust of our stakeholders through a robust program of engagement.

• We seek to engage with our shareholders with respect to compensation matters. We periodically contact holders of an aggregate of over 85% of our outstanding Common Shares and offer to discuss our executive compensation program. 
• Senior management and Investor Relations conduct investor road trips and one-on-one visits with shareholders to discuss our performance and gain insight into the issues they care about
• Investor Relations regularly fields calls and emails from shareholders and policyholders
• We sponsor seminars, conferences and social events where our Public and Structured Finance professionals, as well as senior management and Investor Relations, meet with issuers and investors to respond to questions and receive ideas
• We participate in industry groups and trade associations and join in the conversations about policies that affect our business
• Members of our regulatory group are in contact with the insurance departments and regulatory bodies in the many jurisdictions where we are licensed to do business and respond to their requests for information
• Each quarter, following our earnings call, our CEO, CFO, and COO hold a town-hall style meeting for all employees where they provide an update on our company’s performance, acknowledge the contributions made by employees to the continued success of the business and answer questions

CONTRIBUTING TO OUR COMMUNITIES

At Assured Guaranty, an important part of our commitment to improving the communities we serve is by helping to lower the cost for local, state and sovereign governments to fund vital infrastructure projects. For example, we guarantee financings that benefit public and private school systems, universities, teaching hospitals and medical institutions throughout the United States and the United Kingdom.

We also believe in giving back – in strengthening our communities through corporate philanthropy, volunteering, and encouraging employees to contribute to the causes they care about. We donate directly to many worthy causes and also match employee charitable contributions. We undertake corporate level philanthropic initiatives throughout the year and sponsor events that enable our employees to participate in fund-raising and community outreach activities.

Below are some of the activities we and our employees work together on to express our strong commitment to giving back.

Supporting Women in Public Finance
In addition to the Women's ERG, Assured Guaranty and our employees are actively involved in several industry groups that support and work to advance women in public finance. Assured Guaranty proudly sponsors:

• Northeast Women in Public Finance (NEWPF). Assured Guaranty is a sponsor of NEWPF, which is a professional organization for women who work in public finance. Assured Guaranty professionals have long been active in the organization and have served on its board. Our involvement includes sponsorship of the NEWPF Mentoring Program and its Tax Reform panel.
• Women in Public Finance (WPF). WPF is a nationwide professional networking organization for women in the public finance industry, seeking to advance women’s leadership opportunities by fostering relationships and providing educational activities and forums. Assured Guaranty is a sponsor of a number of WPF events, with employees also active in the organization.
• Ladies First. Ladies First is a professional association of women engaged in the public finance industry. Assured Guaranty is a sponsor of Ladies First and our employees participate in their events.
• Municipal Bond Women’s Forum. Assured Guaranty is a sponsor of this annual day-long event focused on discussion, networking, and learning from women leaders in the municipal bond business.

Promoting Education
In addition to educational advancement programs for its employees, we maintain a strong commitment to the education of future business leaders, members of the larger municipal bond industry and, through our outside efforts, within our immediate communities and communities in need.

Examples of the ways we promote education more generally, including outside of our organization, include:

• We sponsor and teach at the Municipal Bond School run by the Municipal Bond Club of New York, which provides a forum for education and charitable giving and promotes an atmosphere of fellowship and integrity among its members
• We participate in the Urban Leadership Fellows (ULF) Program run by the Municipal Forum of New York, where talented young people from underserved communities are introduced to the municipal securities industry
• We contribute to a number of education-related charities through our Matching Gifts and Holiday Card Initiatives

Paid Internship Program
We provide a paid Summer Intern program designed to give college students an opportunity to experience working in a corporate environment. Interns have the opportunity to gain valuable work experiences in departments throughout the company and to be mentored by experienced professionals. We also host a series of internal seminars to educate interns on the fundamentals of the bond insurance industry.

Employee Volunteering
Throughout the year, Assured Guaranty employees choose to volunteer for many and different causes. The Company allows each employee eight hours per annum to participate in volunteer activities. Below are a few examples of the ways we give back by sharing a very valuable resource – our time.

New York Cares Days : Assured Guaranty employees participate in New York Cares Day as part of our commitment to volunteering. Volunteers donate their time to volunteering at schools, beautifying public parks and coat drives. 

Cycle for Survival: Cycle for Survival, jointly run by Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital and Equinox Gym, raises money to beat rare cancers, which make up about half of all people fighting cancer. Every dollar raised is directly allocated to rare cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Assured Guaranty employees have participated annually in the events, which entail raising funds and an evening of cycling.

Social Justice
As a company, Assured Guaranty is committed to providing equal employment opportunities, promoting inclusion and diversity in our workforce, forbidding racial and other forms of discrimination, and striving every day to maintain a working environment based upon mutual respect and cooperation. In response to racially biased incidents, Assured Guaranty has added its voice to those who speak out against unjust acts of violence and supported efforts to advance social justice. We support organizations that work to reduce bias. In addition, Assured Guaranty UK Ltd. published a statement on slavery and human trafficking. For our U.S. offices we announced a holiday in observance of Juneteenth. 

Philanthropy and Matching Gifts
In support of our commitment to philanthropy, we match 100% of our employees’ and Board members’ donations to causes that meet our criteria for charitable contributions, up to an approved amount, aiding our employees in making meaningful contributions to the organizations that they wish to support.

The Philanthropy Committee each year selects a number of charities to give to and also has a core of several organizations that we work closely with throughout the year. 

Holiday Card Initiative
Every holiday season, Assured Guaranty’s President and CEO, Dominic Frederico, encourages all employees to submit the names of charities that are meaningful to them, from which Assured Guaranty selects two or three to receive sizeable donations. The selected charities typically provide services in a direct, hands-on way to the people they serve and are small enough for our donation to have a real impact. We announce the charities in our yearly greeting “card” to clients, which is an emailed animation; we forgo the printing and mailing of greeting cards during the holiday season both to help fund the charitable contributions and for environmentally friendly reasons.
 

Data Security and Privacy
Like most organizations, Assured Guaranty relies on digital technology to conduct its businesses and interact with market participants and vendors. With this reliance on technology comes the associated security risks from using today’s communication technology and networks. To defend Assured Guaranty's computer systems from cyberattacks, we use tools such as firewalls, anti-malware software, multifactor authentication, e-mail security services, virtual private networks, third-party security experts, and timely applied software patches, among others.

Awareness and alertness are important components of Assured Guaranty’s cybersecurity program; each year we provide employees with cybersecurity training and phishing exercises throughout the year designed to educate employees about best practices and help them identify and avoid potential threats. We ensure all employees take the required mandated cybersecurity training. We also regularly test employees’ awareness through simulated phishing exercises and then share the results with them.

Assured Guaranty also engages third-party consultants to conduct penetration tests to identify any potential security vulnerabilities. Given the ongoing proliferation of viruses and malware, we continually monitor our computer networks for new types of threats.

Assured Guaranty’s business operations also rely on the continuous availability of its computer systems. We maintain and test our business continuity plan and report on the results to senior management.

Assured Guaranty’s internal audit function, which has been outsourced to an international accounting firm, conducts periodic audits of data security and privacy and reports on such matters to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors oversees the risk management process, including cybersecurity risks, and engages with management on risk management issues, including cybersecurity issues. The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has specific responsibility for overseeing information technology matters, including cybersecurity risk, and the Risk Oversight Committee of the Board of Directors addresses cybersecurity matters and vendor management as part of its enterprise risk management responsibilities.

Assured Guaranty also protects itself against risks associated with third party vendors who have access to confidential information or provide business critical functions. Through its Vendor Management Program, we screen these third-party vendors to assess their data security protocols both prior to initial engagement and periodically thereafter for compliance with the program standards.

Assured Guaranty and its subsidiaries are subject to numerous laws and regulations of a number of jurisdictions regarding its information systems, particularly with regard to non-public personally identifiable information. We are committed to protecting personal data and respecting personal privacy. Assured Guaranty’s Privacy Policy explains the type of information that Assured Guaranty collects from its websites and how we will use it. Assured Guaranty’s Security Policy provides important information about internet fraud.

Risk Management
Assured Guaranty has an enterprise risk management framework in place, which operates under the direction of the Risk Oversight Committee of the Board of Directors that is responsible for overseeing that all of the company’s material risks, including credit, liquidity, market, reputational and operating risk, are effectively identified, assessed, monitored, managed and reported to management and the Board. The framework seeks to ensure that risks to the business are appropriately managed to achieve our business strategy and objectives over time, and our risk management protocols and programs are embedded in our business practices. The key components of the framework are the Risk Register, the Risk Appetite Statement and the Own Risk & Solvency Assessment.