ABK Ambac Financial Grp. Common Stock

London Underground Ltd (LUL) yesterday funded payment of the put option price on senior debt of Metronet Rail BCV (BCV) and Metronet Rail SSL (SSL). AUK insures �193m of the SSL indexed-linked bonds and �350m of the BCV fixed rate bonds. The debt was issued under Public Private Partnership (PPP) contracts to finance the operation, maintenance and the initial phase of asset upgrades for part of the London Underground. Under the applicable PPP contracts, insured bondholders and other senior creditors including commercial banks and the EIB benefit from an �Underpinned Amount� providing support from LUL. With respect to the AUK-insured BCV and SSL bonds, the sum of �617 million has been deposited into two separate escrow accounts opened in the joint names of AUK and Deutsche Trustee Company Limited (Deutsche) at Citibank, N.A., London Branch. Deutsche is the Bond Trustee under the Bond Trust Deed governing the BCV and SSL bonds. The funds held in escrow are available to meet debt service guaranteed by AUK and other amounts due in accordance with the Bond Trust Deed, the escrow agreement and other relevant documentation. While AUK is evaluating the options mentioned below, the funds will be invested in UK government securities, entities which invest solely in UK government securities, any short term instruments or deposits with a rating of A-1 or better by S&P and P-1 or better by Moody�s, or other investments as agreed by the Bond Trustee and AUK. Although AUK expressly reserves the right to direct that available funds be used for the acceleration of the bonds in accordance with the terms and conditions thereof, AUK is evaluating a number of options for the bonds, including long-term defeasance. Certain of these may require bondholder consent. AUK plans to communicate further with Deutsche and the bondholders depending on the outcome of this evaluation. AUK�s unconditional and irrevocable guaranty remains in full force and effect. Forward-Looking Statements This release contains statements about our future results that may constitute �forward-looking statements� within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management�s current expectations and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from those included in these statements due to a variety of factors. More information about these factors is contained in Ambac Financial Group Inc.�s (ultimate parent company to AUK) (�Ambac�) filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. There are a variety of factors, many of which are beyond Ambac�s control, which affect the operations, performance, business strategy and results and could cause its actual results to differ materially from the expectations and objectives expressed in any forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements which speak only as of the date they are made. Ambac does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect the impact of circumstances or events that arise after the date the forward-looking statements are made. The reader should, however, consult any further disclosures Ambac may make in its future filings of its reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. Ambac Financial Group, Inc., headquartered in New York City, is a holding company whose affiliates provide financial guarantees and financial services to clients in both the public and private sectors around the world. Ambac�s principal operating subsidiary, Ambac Assurance Corporation, a leading guarantor of public finance and structured finance obligations, has earned triple-A ratings from Moody�s Investors Service, Inc. and Standard & Poor�s Ratings Services; and a double-A rating from Fitch, Inc. Moody�s has placed Ambac�s triple-A rating on review for possible downgrade. Standard & Poor�s has placed Ambac�s triple-A rating on �credit watch negative.� Fitch has placed Ambac's double-A rating on �rating watch negative.� Ambac Financial Group, Inc. common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker symbol ABK).