Edgar Filing: PRIMUS GUARANTY LTD

Form 10-Q

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)


þ		QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2010


o		TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from to .

Commission File Number: 001-32307

Primus Guaranty, Ltd.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Bermuda		98-0402357
(State or other jurisdiction of		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)

Clarendon House
2 Church Street
Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

441-296-0519
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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 þ No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes o No o

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


Large accelerated filer o	Accelerated filer o	Non-accelerated filer þ	Smaller reporting company o
		(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No þ

As of November 8, 2010, the number of shares outstanding of the issuer’s common shares, $0.08 par value, was 37,394,630.

Primus Guaranty, Ltd.

Form 10-Q

For the three months ended September 30, 2010

INDEX


Part I. Financial Information

Item 1. Financial Statements

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition (Unaudited) as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009			3

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009			4

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009			5

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity (Deficit) (Unaudited) for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and year ended December 31, 2009			6

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)			7

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations			31

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information			52

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk			53

Item 4. Controls and Procedures			54

Part II. Other Information

Item 1. Legal Proceedings			54

Item 1A. Risk Factors			54

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds			55

Item 6. Exhibits			55

Signatures			56

Exhibit 10.1
Exhibit 10.2
Exhibit 10.3
Exhibit 10.4
Exhibit 12
Exhibit 31.1
Exhibit 31.2
Exhibit 32

Part I. Financial Information

Item 1. Financial Statements

Primus Guaranty, Ltd.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition (Unaudited)

(in thousands except share amounts)


	September 30,			December 31,
	2010			2009

Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	132,674		$	299,514
Investments (includes $365,770 and $274,275 at fair value)		365,940			274,444
Restricted cash and investments		131,469			127,116
CLO cash and cash equivalents		133,970			—
CLO loans and securities, at fair value		2,479,970			—
CLO other assets		20,287			—
Accrued interest and premiums		7,181			6,163
Unrealized gain on credit swaps, at fair value		233			2,207
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net		7,560			8,017
Other assets		14,573			15,286

Total assets	$	3,293,857		$	732,747


Liabilities and Equity (deficit)
Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	$	5,123		$	7,855
Unrealized loss on credit swaps, at fair value		526,567			691,905
Payable for credit events		4,038			28,596
CLO notes, at fair value		2,348,223			—
CLO other liabilities		67,056			—
Long-term debt		223,433			244,051
Other liabilities		34,841			9,787

Total liabilities		3,209,281			982,194

Commitments and contingencies
Equity (deficit)
Common shares, $0.08 par value, 62,500,000 shares authorized, 37,563,002 and 38,267,546 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009		3,005			3,061
Additional paid-in capital		277,423			280,685
Accumulated other comprehensive income		6,684			2,148
Retained earnings (deficit)		(500,401	)		(628,443	)
Appropriated retained earnings from CLO consolidation		204,763			—

Total shareholders’ equity (deficit) of Primus Guaranty, Ltd.		(8,526	)		(342,549	)
Preferred securities of subsidiary		93,102			93,102

Total equity (deficit)		84,576			(249,447	)

Total liabilities and equity (deficit)	$	3,293,857		$	732,747

See accompanying notes.

Primus Guaranty, Ltd.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)

(in thousands except per share amounts)


	Three Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
	September 30,					September 30,
	2010			2009		2010			2009

Revenues
Net credit swap revenue	$	227,547		$	471,835	$	125,369		$	1,154,599
Net CLO loss		(30,000	)		—		(77,249	)		—
CLO interest income		22,859			—		65,791			—
Asset management and advisory fees		115			1,270		669			2,076
Interest income		3,675			1,218		9,916			4,716
Gain on retirement of long-term debt		752			643		8,185			39,591
Impairment loss on investments		—			—		—			(761	)
Other income		2,453			548		2,299			3,022

Total revenues		227,401			475,514		134,980			1,203,243


Expenses
CLO interest expense		9,823			—		23,918			—
CLO other expenses		1,920			—		5,212			—
Compensation and employee benefits		5,080			6,418		16,271			15,699
Professional and legal fees		1,928			2,253		5,875			5,631
Interest expense		1,760			2,026		5,366			7,094
Other		1,412			2,543		9,538			6,648

Total expenses		21,923			13,240		66,180			35,072

Income before provision for income taxes		205,478			462,274		68,800			1,168,171
Provision for income taxes		74			5		77			152

Net income		205,404			462,269		68,723			1,168,019
Distributions on preferred securities of subsidiary		732			726		2,444			2,740
Net loss attributable to non-parent interests in CLOs		(24,355	)		—		(60,876	)		—

Net income available to common shares	$	229,027		$	461,543	$	127,155		$	1,165,279


Income per common share:
Basic	$	6.02		$	11.54	$	3.30		$	28.82
Diluted	$	5.72		$	11.14	$	3.12		$	28.26
Average common shares outstanding:
Basic		38,049			39,999		38,546			40,430
Diluted		40,042			41,414		40,737			41,238

See accompanying notes.

Primus Guaranty, Ltd.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

(in thousands)


	Nine Months Ended
	September 30,
	2010			2009

Cash flows from operating activities
Net income available to common shares	$	127,155		$	1,165,279
Net loss attributable to non-parent interests in CLOs		(60,876	)		—
Distributions on preferred securities of subsidiary		2,444			2,740

Net income		68,723			1,168,019
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:
Non-cash items included in net income:
Net unrealized gains on CLO loans and securities		(36,482	)		—
Net unrealized losses on CLO notes		177,700			—
Net realized gains by the CLOs		(54,067	)		—
Net unrealized gains on credit swaps		(163,364	)		(1,146,965	)
Gain on retirement of long-term debt		(8,185	)		(39,591	)
Impairment loss on available-for-sale investments		—			761
Other		3,680			4,044
Increase (decrease) in cash resulting from changes in:
CLO cash and cash equivalents		(41,832	)		—
CLO other assets		19,547			—
CLO other liabilities		24,932			—
Restricted cash		(3,410	)		—
Accrued interest and premiums		(1,018	)		2,322
Other assets		(1,505	)		601
Trading account assets		(54,568	)		3,715
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		(2,732	)		2,034
Payable for credit events		(24,558	)		(2,346	)
Other liabilities		28,481			322

Net cash used in operating activities		(68,658	)		(7,084	)


Cash flows from investing activities
Proceeds from sale of CLO loans and securities		728,428			—
Purchases of CLO loans and securities		(720,141	)		—
Business acquisition		(3,427	)		(3,208	)
Fixed asset purchases		(23	)		(97	)
Payments received from CLO investments		552			94
Purchases of available-for-sale investments		(179,645	)		(154,559	)
Maturities and sales of available-for-sale investments		138,191			479,627

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		(36,065	)		321,857


Cash flows from financing activities
Repayment of CLO notes by the CLOs		(37,209	)		—
Retirement of long-term debt		(14,233	)		(19,052	)
Purchase, retirement and issuance of common shares		(8,190	)		(5,463	)
Purchase of preferred securities from subsidiary		—			(908	)
Net preferred distributions of subsidiary		(2,444	)		(2,740	)

Net cash used in financing activities		(62,076	)		(28,163	)

Net effect of exchange rate changes on cash		(41	)		168
Net increase (decrease) in cash		(166,840	)		286,778
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		299,514			280,912

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	132,674		$	567,690


Supplemental disclosures
Cash paid for interest	$	4,197		$	8,292
Cash paid for taxes	$	67		$	128

See accompanying notes.

Primus Guaranty, Ltd.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity (Deficit) (Unaudited)

(in thousands)


	Nine Months Ended			Year Ended
	September 30, 2010			December 31, 2009
Common shares
Balance at beginning of period	$	3,061		$	3,263
Common shares purchased and retired		(138	)		(275	)
Shares issued under employee compensation plans		82			73

Balance at end of period		3,005			3,061


Additional paid-in capital
Balance at beginning of period		280,685			281,596
Common shares purchased and retired		(8,134	)		(10,150	)
Shares vested under employee compensation plans		4,872			4,728
Preferred shares purchased by subsidiary		—			4,511

Balance at end of period		277,423			280,685


Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
Balance at beginning of period		2,148			908
Adoption of ASC Topic 810, Consolidation		(1,061	)		—
Foreign currency translation adjustments		(41	)		232
Change in unrealized holding gains on available-for-sale securities		5,638			1,008

Balance at end of period		6,684			2,148


Retained earnings (deficit)
Balance at beginning of period		(628,443	)		(2,088,723	)
Adoption of ASC Topic 810, Consolidation		887			—
Net income		68,723			1,463,697
Net loss attributable to non-parent interests in CLOs		60,876			—
Distributions on preferred securities of subsidiary		(2,444	)		(3,417	)

Balance at end of period		(500,401	)		(628,443	)


Appropriated retained earnings from CLO consolidation
Adoption of ASC Topic 810, Consolidation		265,639			—
Net loss attributable to non-parent interests in CLOs		(60,876	)		—

Balance at end of period		204,763			—


Total shareholders’ equity (deficit) of Primus Guaranty, Ltd.		(8,526	)		(342,549	)


Preferred securities of subsidiary
Balance at beginning of period		93,102			98,521
Net purchase of preferred shares		—			(5,419	)

Balance at end of period		93,102			93,102


Total equity (deficit) at end of period	$	84,576		$	(249,447	)

See accompanying notes.

Primus Guaranty, Ltd.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

1. Organization

Primus Guaranty, Ltd., together with its consolidated wholly owned subsidiaries and, as the context requires, with the collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”) under management as required by ASC Topic 810, Consolidation (as discussed below) (“Primus Guaranty” or “the Company”), is a Bermuda holding company that conducts business currently through its two principal operating subsidiaries, Primus Asset Management, Inc. together with its wholly owned subsidiary CypressTree Investment Management, LLC (collectively “Primus Asset Management”) and Primus Financial Products, LLC (together with its consolidated wholly owned subsidiaries, “Primus Financial”).

Effective January 1, 2010, the Company adopted ASC Topic 810, Consolidation, which required it to consolidate the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of the CLOs under its management.

Primus Asset Management manages CLOs, collateralized swap obligations (“CSOs”), investment fund vehicles and separately managed accounts on behalf of third parties. Additionally Primus Asset Management, Inc. acts as manager of the credit swap and cash investment portfolios of its affiliate, Primus Financial. Primus Asset Management receives fees for its investment management services. Primus Asset Management, Inc. has entered into a Services Agreement with its affiliates, whereby it provides management, consulting and information technology services, among others, to its affiliates.

On September 22, 2010, Primus Asset Management entered into a binding letter of intent to sell CypressTree Investment Management, LLC (“CypressTree”). CypressTree, a CLO manager, managed or sub-advised approximately $2.8 billion of high yield and leveraged loan assets in CLOs as of September 30, 2010. Terms of the proposed transaction are pending and will be subject to final executed definitive agreements. The sale is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2010.

Primus Financial Products, LLC, as a credit derivative product company (“CDPC”), was established to sell credit protection in the form of credit swaps primarily to global financial institutions and major credit swap dealers. During 2009, the Company announced its intention to amortize Primus Financial Products, LLC’s credit swap portfolio. Under the amortization model, Primus Financial’s existing credit swap contracts will expire at maturity (unless terminated early) and it is not expected that additional credit swaps will be added to its portfolio, unless associated with a risk mitigation transaction.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Accounting Standards Codification

In June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC” or “Codification”) which becomes the source of authoritative U.S generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) recognized by the FASB. Rules and interpretive releases of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under authority of the U.S. federal securities law are also sources of authoritative GAAP for SEC registrants. This guidance, which is incorporated in ASC Topic 105, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, was adopted by the Company on July 1, 2009. As of the effective date, the Codification supersedes all pre-existing non-SEC accounting and reporting standards. Under the Codification, the FASB issues new standards in the form of Accounting Standards Updates (“ASUs”).

Primus Guaranty, Ltd.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Primus Guaranty, Ltd. have been prepared in accordance with GAAP for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation pursuant to these requirements have been included. The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results for a full year.

Commencing with the first quarter of 2010, the Company’s segment reporting has been modified. The Company’s operations are reorganized into two segments for financial reporting purposes: (i) credit protection, asset management and corporate, and (ii) the CLOs on a standalone basis. The condensed consolidated financial statements are presented in U.S. dollar equivalents. During the periods presented, the Company’s credit swap activities were conducted in U.S. dollars and euros.

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation. There was no effect on net income (loss) available to common shares as a result of these reclassifications.

Impact of Adoption of ASC Topic 810, Consolidation

Effective January 1, 2010, the Company adopted ASC Topic 810, Consolidation, which modified the previous analysis required to determine whether an enterprise’s variable interest(s) give it a controlling financial interest in entities that are variable interest entities (“VIEs”). This analysis identifies the primary beneficiary of a VIE as the enterprise that has both the power to direct the activities and an obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could be potentially significant to a VIE. The Company is required to consolidate the VIE if it is determined to be the primary beneficiary.

The Company’s current involvement with VIEs is primarily through activities of Primus Asset Management, which acts as collateral manager for CLOs. The Company performed an analysis to determine if it is the primary beneficiary under the accounting standard. The analysis indicated that Primus Asset Management has the power to direct the activities of each CLO. In addition, the variability of both management fees and the Company’s investment in the junior subordinated notes or preferred shares issued by certain CLOs indicated an obligation to absorb losses or a right to receive benefits that are potentially significant to each CLO. The analysis concluded that Primus Asset Management is the primary beneficiary of the CLOs under management and therefore, the CLOs under management are required to be consolidated into the Company’s financial statements.

Upon adoption of this accounting change on January 1, 2010, the Company consolidated all of the CLOs Primus Asset Management managed as of September 30, 2010. The consolidation of these CLOs resulted in an increase for the Company in total assets of $2.5 billion, an increase in total liabilities of $2.3 billion and an increase to total shareholders’ equity of $266 million on January 1, 2010. The $266 million increase in shareholders’ equity is not available to the common shareholders of Primus Guaranty. During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, the net loss attributable to non-parent CLOs was $60.9 million, which reduced shareholders’ equity. See note 5 of these notes to condensed consolidated financial statements for further discussion.

Primus Guaranty, Ltd.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Although these CLOs are consolidated, the assets of the CLOs are not available to Primus Guaranty for its general operations or in satisfaction of its debt obligations. Primus Guaranty does not have any rights to or ownership of these assets. The assets of the CLOs are restricted solely to satisfy the liabilities of the CLOs. Similarly, Primus Guaranty does not have any obligation to settle the liabilities of the CLOs. In addition, Primus Guaranty investments in the CLOs and management fees receivable will be eliminated in consolidation. Primus Guaranty has no contractual obligation to fund or provide other financial support to any CLO.

Appropriated Retained Earnings from CLO Consolidations

As a result of the adoption of ASC Topic 810, Consolidation, the Company established an “appropriated retained earnings from CLO consolidations” account in the shareholders’ equity section on the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. Upon consolidation of the CLOs under management, the Company elected fair value option treatment under ASC Topic 825-10-25 to measure the CLO loans (including unfunded loan commitments) and securities and the CLO notes. The Company has determined that measurement of the CLO notes issued by CLOs at fair value better correlates with the value of the CLO loans and securities held by CLOs, which are held to provide the cash flows for the note obligations. Upon initial consolidation of the CLOs on January 1, 2010, the difference between the fair value amounts of the CLO assets and CLO liabilities was recorded in appropriated retained earnings from CLO consolidations as a cumulative effect adjustment. Subsequent to January 1, 2010, the net income or loss attributable to non-parent interests in the CLOs for each period will also be reflected in this account.

Principles of Consolidation

The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, its wholly owned subsidiaries and other entities in which the Company has a controlling financial interest, including CLOs, for which Primus Guaranty is deemed to be the primary beneficiary. All significant intercompany balances have been eliminated.

Other Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2010, the FASB issued ASU No. 2010-06, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Topic 820) — Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements. ASU No. 2010-06 provides amended disclosure requirements related to fair value measurements, including transfers in and out of Levels 1 and 2 and activity in Level 3 under the fair value hierarchy. ASU No. 2010-06 is effective for financial statements issued for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009 for certain disclosures and for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2010 for certain additional disclosures regarding activity in Level 3 fair value measurements. Since these amended principles require only additional disclosures concerning fair value measurements, adoption of ASU No. 2010-06 will not affect the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

In July 2010, the FASB issued ASU No. 2010-20, Receivables (Topic 310), Disclosures about the Credit Quality of Financing Receivables and the Allowance for Credit Losses. ASU No. 2010-20 requires new disclosures about information related to financing receivables, credit quality of loans and the allowance for loan losses. ASU No. 2010-20 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods ending on or after December 15, 2010. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU No. 2010-20 to affect its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Primus Guaranty, Ltd.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

3. Investments

The following tables summarize the composition of the Company’s investments at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 (in thousands):


	September 30, 2010
	Amortized		Unrealized		Unrealized			Estimated
	Cost		Gains		Losses			Fair Value

Available-for-sale:
Corporate debt securities	$	303,131	$	6,548	$	(41	)	$	309,638
ABS bonds		1,308		255		—			1,563

Total available-for-sale		304,439		6,803		(41	)		311,201


Trading:
Corporate loans and debt securities		55,017		341		(789	)		54,569

Total trading		55,017		341		(789	)		54,569


Held-to-maturity:
Certificate of deposit		170		—		—			170

Total held-to-maturity		170		—		—			170

Total investments	$	359,626	$	7,144	$	(830	)	$	365,940


	December 31, 2009
	Amortized		Unrealized		Unrealized			Estimated
	Cost		Gains		Losses			Fair Value

Available-for-sale:
Corporate debt securities	$	271,809	$	1,784	$	(662	)	$	272,931
Investments in CLOs under management		203		1,062		—			1,265
ABS bonds		84		—		(5	)		79

Total available-for-sale		272,096		2,846		(667	)		274,275


Held-to-maturity:
Certificate of deposit		169		—		—			169

Total held-to-maturity		169		—		—			169

Total investments	$	272,265	$	2,846	$	(667	)	$	274,444

The Company’s investments in the subordinated notes of the CLOs with a fair value of $10.7 million as of September 30, 2010 have been eliminated in consolidation.

The Company’s trading account assets of $54.6 million relate to the two funds launched by the Company during the first quarter of 2010. All securities transactions of the two funds are cleared by banking and securities firms, pursuant to customer agreements. Additional liquidity is available for the Primus Absolute Return Credit Master Fund, Ltd. (the “Fund”) from the brokers using investments in securities and derivatives as collateral. Included in Other liabilities is a margin balance of $22.2 million as of September 30, 2010. The Fund is charged interest at fluctuating rates based on the prevailing broker call rate. The Fund’s trading securities are held by the broker and are pledged to the broker on terms which permit the broker to sell or repledge to others, subject to certain limitations. See note 7 of these notes to condensed consolidated financial statements for further discussion.

Primus Guaranty, Ltd.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

As of September 30, 2010, approximately $304.0 million, or approximately 98%, in the fair value of corporate debt securities will mature before December 31, 2014. The ABS bonds are estimated to mature between 2011 and 2029, although the actual maturity may differ.

As of September 30, 2010, the Company has a restricted investment within restricted cash and investments, which is comprised of a corporate note issued by a counterparty. At September 30, 2010, the carrying value of this held to maturity restricted investment was $37.4 million.

The tables below summarize the fair value of available-for-sale investments that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for less than 12 months and for 12 months or more at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 (in thousands). See note 6 of notes to these condensed consolidated financial statements for the fair value of the financial instruments held by the CLOs under management.


	September 30, 2010
	Securities with Unrealized Losses
	Less than 12 Months					12 Months or More				Total
			Gross					Gross				Gross
	Fair		Unrealized			Fair		Unrealized		Fair		Unrealized
	Value		Losses			Value		Losses		Value		Losses
Corporate debt securities	$	25,678	$	(41	)	$	—	$	—	$	25,678	$	(41	)


Total	$	25,678	$	(41	)	$	—	$	—	$	25,678	$	(41	)


	December 31, 2009
	Securities with Unrealized Losses
	Less than 12 Months					12 Months or More					Total
			Gross					Gross					Gross
	Fair		Unrealized			Fair		Unrealized			Fair		Unrealized
	Value		Losses			Value		Losses			Value		Losses
Corporate debt securities	$	121,983	$	(405	)	$	2,248	$	(257	)	$	124,231	$	(662	)
ABS bonds		79		(5	)		—		—			79		(5	)

Total	$	122,062	$	(410	)	$	2,248	$	(257	)	$	124,310	$	(667	)

The Company makes an assessment to determine whether unrealized losses reflect declines in value of securities that are other-than-temporarily impaired. The Company considers many factors, including the length of time and significance of the decline in fair value of the investment; the intent to sell the investment or if it is more likely than not it will be required to sell the investment before recovery in fair value; recent events specific to the issuer or industry; credit ratings and asset quality of collateral structure; and any significant changes in estimated cash flows of the investment. If the Company, based on its evaluation, determines that the credit related impairment is other-than-temporary, the carrying value of the security is written down to fair value and the unrealized loss is recognized through a charge to earnings in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, it was determined that there were no credit related impairment losses on investments.

Primus Guaranty, Ltd.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

4. Credit Swaps

Net Credit Swap Revenue

Net credit swap revenue as presented in the condensed consolidated statements of operations comprises changes in the fair value of credit swaps, realized gains or losses on the termination of credit swaps sold, before their stated maturity, realized losses on credit events and premium income or expense. The realization of gains or losses on the termination of credit swaps or credit events generally will result in a reduction in unrealized gains or losses and accrued premium at the point in time realization occurs.

Credit swaps sold by Primus Financial on a single corporate or sovereign issuer, specified as a Reference Entity are referred to as “single name credit swaps.” Primus Financial also has sold credit swaps referencing portfolios containing obligations of multiple Reference Entities, which are referred to as “tranches.” Additionally, Primus Financial has sold credit swaps on asset-backed securities, which are referred to as “CDS on ABS.” These asset-backed securities reference residential mortgage-backed securities.

The table below presents the components of net credit swap revenue for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 (in thousands).


	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30,						September 30,
	2010			2009			2010			2009

Net premiums earned	$	14,014		$	21,885		$	45,684		$	66,588
Net realized losses on credit swaps		(17,543	)		(21,500	)		(83,679	)		(58,953	)
Net unrealized gains on credit swaps		231,076			471,450			163,364			1,146,964

Total net credit swap revenue	$	227,547		$	471,835		$	125,369		$	1,154,599

Credit Events and Terminations of Credit Swaps

The table below presents the components of gross realized losses recorded by Primus Financial, related to risk mitigation transactions, terminations of credit swaps and credit events for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, as discussed further below (in thousands).


	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30,						September 30,
	2010			2009			2010			2009

Realized losses on single name credit swaps	$	(14,797	)	$	(21,500	)	$	(44,031	)	$	(31,350	)
Realized losses on tranches		(267	)		—			(35,350	)		—
Realized losses on CDS on ABS		(2,778	)		—			(4,597	)		(27,628	)

Total realized losses	$	(17,842	)	$	(21,500	)	$	(83,978	)	$	(58,978	)

Primus Guaranty, Ltd.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Realized losses on credit swaps sold were $17.8 million and $21.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Realized losses for the three months ended September 30, 2010 primarily included a $17.5 million payment by Primus Financial to Lehman Brothers Special Financing Inc. (“LBSF”) to terminate and settle all outstanding claims and credit swap transactions between the parties as discussed below. Realized losses for the three months ended September 30, 2009 resulted from payments to two counterparties for portfolio repositioning transactions.

Realized losses on credit swaps sold were $84.0 million and $59.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Realized losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 primarily included a $17.5 million payment to LBSF to terminate and settle all outstanding claims and credit swap transactions with LBSF, a $35.0 million payment relating to the termination of three tranche transactions, $29.2 million was paid to terminate single name credit swaps referencing Ambac Financial Group, Inc. and MBIA Inc. and realized losses of $1.8 million on the CDS on ABS portfolio. Realized losses of $59.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 primarily related to payments to two counterparties for portfolio repositioning transactions and realized losses on the CDS on ABS portfolio.

Lehman Brothers Special Financing Inc.

Primus Financial had entered into credit swap transactions with LBSF, pursuant to an ISDA Master Agreement. At the time of these transactions, LBSF was an indirect subsidiary of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. (“LBH”), and LBH was the credit support provider under these transactions. During and subsequent to the end of the third quarter of 2008, LBSF suffered a number of events of default under the ISDA Master Agreement, including bankruptcy, failure to pay premiums when due and bankruptcy of its credit support provider. Primus Financial did not designate any early termination date under the ISDA Master Agreement, and accordingly, continued the credit swap agreements, which referenced approximately $1.1 billion of underlying reference obligations. Included in these credit swaps were five reference entities referencing $66 million of obligations of which credit events had occurred prior to and after the LBSF and LBH bankruptcy events. Under relevant accounting standards, Primus Financial continued to carry outstanding credit swaps at their fair value. LBSF was obligated to pay approximately $16.0 million in premiums on its credit swap transactions from the third quarter of 2008 until the third quarter of 2010, but had failed to do so.

Primus Guaranty, Ltd.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Credit Swap Portfolio Information

The tables below summarize, by S&P credit rating of Reference Entities and of counterparties, the notional amounts and unrealized gain or (loss) for fair values of credit swap transactions outstanding as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 (in thousands) (excluding primarily a CDS index transaction with fair value of $18 thousand). If a Reference Entity is not rated by S&P, an equivalent credit rating is obtained from another Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization, if available. Transactions with LBSF as of December 31, 2009 are included in the following tables and are noted as with a non rated counterparty.


	September 30, 2010					December 31, 2009
	Notional		Fair			Notional		Fair
Rating Category	Amount		Value			Amount		Value
By Single Name Reference Entity/Tranche
Credit Swaps Sold-Single Name:
AAA	$	95,899	$	(1,975	)	$	347,963	$	(5,765	)
AA		1,179,834		(9,953	)		1,449,137		(7,442	)
A		3,395,353		(15,919	)		5,656,180		(11,217	)
BBB		2,698,438		(11,939	)		4,730,878		(8,438	)
BB		278,384		(3,558	)		598,908		(16,584	)
B		48,633		(1,325	)		189,284		(2,726	)
CCC		40,000		(1,370	)		85,000		(8,864	)
CC		—		—			213,087		(106,143	)
D		—		—			41,000		(21,868	)
Non rated		278,772		(59,624	)		56,482		(628	)

Total	$	8,015,313	$	(105,663	)	$	13,367,919	$	(189,675	)


Credit Swaps Sold-Tranche:
AAA	$	2,650,000	$	(232,642	)	$	1,575,000	$	(120,112	)
AA		200,000		(18,380	)		1,275,000		(122,406	)
A		300,000		(40,895	)		—		—
BBB		450,000		(64,879	)		750,000		(103,601	)
BB		150,000		(20,156	)		100,000		(12,997	)
B		—		—			100,000		(17,373	)
CCC		—		—			200,000		(45,393	)
C		—		—			100,000		(53,802	)
Non rated		50,000		(26,382	)		—		—

Total	$	3,800,000	$	(403,334	)	$	4,100,000	$	(475,684	)


CDS on ABS:
BBB	$	736	$	(361	)	$	3,682	$	(2,880	)
B		—		—			5,000		(4,357	)
CCC		18,000		(15,206	)		13,000		(10,534	)
CC		5,000		(4,648	)		10,000		(8,989	)

Total	$	23,736	$	(20,215	)	$	31,682	$	(26,760	)

Primus Guaranty, Ltd.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)


	September 30, 2010						December 31, 2009
	Notional			Fair			Notional			Fair
Rating Category	Amount			Value			Amount			Value
By Single Name Reference Entity/Tranche
Credit Swaps Purchased-Single Name:
A	$	(4,120	)	$	81		$	(4,120	)	$	25
CC		(4,040	)		2,779			(4,040	)		2,396

Total	$	(8,160	)	$	2,860		$	(8,160	)	$	2,421


By Counterparty Buyer / (Seller)
Credit Swaps Sold-Single Name:
AA	$	1,512,054		$	(9,586	)	$	3,263,322		$	(25,340	)
A		6,498,259			(96,081	)		8,888,189			(136,293	)
BBB		5,000			4			—			—
B		—			—			—			—
Non rated		—			—			1,216,408			(28,042	)

Total	$	8,015,313		$	(105,663	)	$	13,367,919		$	(189,675	)


Credit Swaps Sold-Tranche:
AA	$	1,850,000		$	(202,988	)	$	1,850,000		$	(199,745	)
A		1,500,000			(135,467	)		1,800,000			(210,057	)
BBB		450,000			(64,879	)		450,000			(65,882	)

Total	$	3,800,000		$	(403,334	)	$	4,100,000		$	(475,684	)


CDS on ABS:
A	$	23,736		$	(20,215	)	$	26,682		$	(22,380	)
B		—			—			—			—
Non rated		—			—			5,000			(4,380	)

Total	$	23,736		$	(20,215	)	$	31,682		$	(26,760	)


Credit Swaps Purchased-Single Name:
A	$	(8,160	)	$	2,860		$	(8,160	)	$	2,421

Total	$	(8,160	)	$	2,860		$	(8,160	)	$	2,421

Primus Guaranty, Ltd.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

The table below shows the geographical distribution of the credit swap portfolio by domicile of the Reference Entity and domicile of the counterparty (including transactions with LBSF as of December 31, 2009), as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 (in thousands).


	September 30, 2010						December 31, 2009
	Notional			Fair			Notional			Fair
Country of Domicile	Amount			Value			Amount			Value
Credit Swaps Sold-Single Name
By Reference Entity:
North America	$	3,301,615		$	(70,186	)	$	6,836,087		$	(161,513	)
Europe		4,311,698			(32,470	)		5,869,832			(24,249	)
Asia-Pacific		352,000			(2,815	)		522,000			(3,714	)
Others		50,000			(192	)		140,000			(199	)

Total	$	8,015,313		$	(105,663	)	$	13,367,919		$	(189,675	)


By Counterparty:
North America	$	3,248,847		$	(23,491	)	$	6,359,144		$	(76,784	)
Europe		4,704,466			(81,873	)		6,891,775			(111,894	)
Asia-Pacific		62,000			(299	)		117,000			(997	)

Total	$	8,015,313		$	(105,663	)	$	13,367,919		$	(189,675	)


Credit Swaps Sold -Tranche
By Counterparty:
North America	$	600,000		$	(44,416	)	$	600,000		$	(47,099	)
Europe		3,200,000			(358,917	)		3,500,000			(428,585	)

Total	$	3,800,000		$	(403,333	)	$	4,100,000		$	(475,684	)


CDS on ABS
By Reference Entity:
North America	$	23,736		$	(20,215	)	$	31,682		$	(26,760	)

Total	$	23,736		$	(20,215	)	$	31,682		$	(26,760	)


By Counterparty:
North America	$	13,736		$	(11,843	)	$	21,682		$	(18,830	)
Europe		10,000			(8,372	)		10,000			(7,930	)

Total	$	23,736		$	(20,215	)	$	31,682		$	(26,760	)


Credit Swaps Purchased-Single Name
By Reference Entity:
North America	$	(8,160	)	$	2,860		$	(8,160	)	$	2,421

Total	$	(8,160	)	$	2,860		$	(8,160	)	$	2,421


By Counterparty:
Europe	$	(8,160	)	$	2,860		$	(8,160	)	$	2,421

Total	$	(8,160	)	$	2,860		$	(8,160	)	$	2,421

Primus Guaranty, Ltd.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

The table below shows the distribution of the credit swap portfolio (including transactions with LBSF as of December 31, 2009), by year of maturity as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 (in thousands). With respect to the CDS on ABS caption below, the maturity dates presented are estimated maturities; the actual maturity date for any contract will vary depending on the level of voluntary prepayments, defaults and interest rates with respect to the underlying mortgage loans. As a result, the actual maturity date for any such contract may be earlier or later than the estimated maturity indicated.


	September 30, 2010						December 31, 2009
	Notional			Fair			Notional			Fair
	Amount			Value			Amount			Value
Credit Swaps Sold-Single Name

Year of Maturity
2010	$	1,333,127		$	(743	)	$	5,435,860		$	(24,057	)
2011		2,278,810			(64,094	)		2,510,612			(101,066	)
2012		3,700,359			(39,740	)		4,394,718			(69,285	)
2013		703,017			(1,086	)		1,026,729			4,733

Total	$	8,015,313		$	(105,663	)	$	13,367,919		$	(189,675	)


Credit Swaps Sold-Tranche
Year of Maturity
2012	$	375,000		$	(11,594	)	$	375,000		$	(13,350	)
2013		100,000			(33,790	)		200,000			(71,175	)
2014		3,325,000			(357,950	)		3,525,000			(391,159	)

Total	$	3,800,000		$	(403,334	)	$	4,100,000		$	(475,684	)


CDS on ABS
Estimated Year of Maturity
2010	$	—		$	—		$	10,000		$	(8,989	)
2011		18,000			(16,125	)		16,682			(14,199	)
2012		5,000			(3,729	)		5,000			(3,572	)
2020		736			(361	)		—			—

Total	$	23,736		$	(20,215	)	$	31,682		$	(26,760	)


Credit Swaps Purchased-Single Name
Year of Maturity
2014	$	(8,160	)	$	2,860		$	(8,160	)	$	2,421

Total	$	(8,160	)	$	2,860		$	(8,160	)	$	2,421

Primus Guaranty, Ltd.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

5. Variable Interest Entities and CLOs

The Company’s current involvement with VIEs is primarily through activities of Primus Asset Management, which acts as collateral manager for CLOs and earns asset management fees, subject to the terms of each collateral management agreement.

A VIE is defined as an entity that has: (1) an insufficient amount of equity investment to carry out its principal activities without additional subordinated financial support; (2) a group of equity owners that are unable to make significant decisions about its activities; or (3) a group of equity owners that do not have the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive returns generated by the entity.

CLOs

A CLO is a special purpose vehicle set up to hold and manage pools of loans and securities. The loans held by a CLO generally are senior secured loans to companies rated below investment grade (BB+ and below by Standard & Poor’s and Ba1 and below by Moody’s Investor Services). The investments in a CLO are constrained by investment guidelines agreed with the ratings agencies which, among other criteria, generally provide for diversification across a number of industries and limits on overall risk to any single industry or issuer. Generally the loans are floating rate instruments and pay interest at a specified spread over LIBOR. Most CLOs have a defined investment period when they are allowed to make investments or reinvest capital as it comes available.

CLOs typically issue a series of notes with varying ratings, size and levels of subordination. The most senior notes, generally rated AAA/Aaa, generally represent 70% to 80% of the total liabilities of each CLO. The AAA class of notes is issued at a specified spread over LIBOR and under a defined payment waterfall which provides them with a first claim on the cash paid out by the CLO’s investments. The notes next in line in the waterfall generally have ratings ranging from AA/Aa to BB/Ba and also are issued at a specified spread over LIBOR with higher spreads paid to noteholders at lower rating levels. These classes of notes receive payments under a defined payment waterfall from the CLO’s investments and are paid only after higher rated tranches are paid. The most junior subordinated class of debt (or preferred shares) generally receive no coupon payments but are entitled to receive any residual cash flow from the CLO’s investments after all other classes are paid.

CLOs generally appoint a collateral manager to manage the investments in the vehicle. CLO managers are paid fees generally structured around senior fees, which rank high in the defined payment waterfall, and subordinated fees, which rank lower in the payment waterfall. The CLOs also utilize a bank trustee, which is responsible for holding the vehicle’s investments, collecting investment income and distributing that income to noteholders and paying the manager and other service providers as specified in the payment waterfall. Generally, CLOs have a stated maturity date generally in the range of 10-12 years. At maturity, or when called, all net investment capital in the CLO is distributed according to the defined payment waterfall.

Primus Guaranty, Ltd.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Primus Guaranty’s risk with respect to a CLO under management is confined to any investment in the junior subordinated notes or preferred shares issued by the CLO and any uncollected management fees. If Primus Guaranty were to liquidate, the assets of the CLOs would not be available to the general creditors of Primus Guaranty, and as a result, Primus Guaranty does not consider investments held by the CLOs under management to be its assets. Additionally, the investors in the CLOs have no recourse to the general credit of Primus Guaranty for the notes issued by the CLOs. Therefore, Primus Guaranty does not consider this debt to be its legal liability.

The Company has determined that although the junior subordinated notes issued by the CLOs under management have certain characteristics of equity, they should be accounted for, and disclosed as, debt on the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. The preferred shares have certain characteristics of debt and are also classified as debt on the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of financial condition.

Since the adoption of ASC Topic 810, Consolidation is applied on a prospective basis; the Company’s condensed consolidated statement of operations reflects the elimination of asset management fees earned from the CLOs, changes in the fair value attributable to Primus Guaranty’s investment in the CLOs, and includes the revenues and expenses of the CLOs for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010.

The following table presents the components of net CLO loss for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended			Nine Months Ended
	September 30, 2010			September 30, 2010
Net CLO loss
Net realized gains on CLO loans and securities	$	12,109		$	60,805
Net unrealized gains on CLO loans and securities		42,847			36,481
Net realized losses on CLO notes		(622	)		(6,737	)
Net unrealized losses on CLO notes		(83,099	)		(168,051	)
Other income (loss)		(1,235	)		253

Total net CLO loss	$	(30,000	)	$	(77,249	)

Primus Guaranty, Ltd.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

6. Financial Instruments and Fair Value Disclosures

A significant number of the Company’s financial instruments are carried at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in earnings each period. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (an exit price). In determining fair value, the Company uses various valuation techniques and considers the fair value hierarchy.

The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to valuation techniques using unobservable inputs (Level 3). Observable inputs are inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability that are based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs reflect the Company’s estimates of the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the best information available in the circumstances. These valuation techniques involve some level of management estimation and judgment. The degree to which management’s estimation and judgment is required is generally dependent upon the market price transparency for the instruments, the availability of observable inputs, frequency of trading in the instruments and the instrument’s complexity.

In measuring the fair market values of its financial instruments, the Company maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs based on the fair value hierarchy. The hierarchy is categorized into three levels based on the reliability of inputs as follows:

•

Level 1 — Valuations based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Cash and cash equivalents, which include deposits in banks, money market accounts, money market funds and CLO cash and cash equivalents, are categorized within Level 1.

•

Level 2 — Valuations based on quoted prices in markets that are not considered to be active; or valuations for which all significant inputs are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data, either directly or indirectly.

Corporate debt securities, interest rate swap and CLO loans and securities are categorized within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. The interest rate swap is included in other assets in the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition.

•

Level 3 — Valuations in which a significant input or inputs are unobservable and that are supported by little or no market activity.

The fair value of the credit swap portfolio is categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy, which includes single name credit swaps, tranches and CDS on ABS. The credit swap portfolio classification in Level 3 primarily is the result of the estimation of nonperformance risk, as discussed below. In addition, CLO notes, trading account assets, ABS bonds and contingent consideration payments are categorized within Level 3. The contingent consideration payments are included in other liabilities in the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition.

Primus Guaranty, Ltd.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Fair Value of CLO Assets and Liabilities

At September 30, 2010 the aggregate fair value of the CLO loans and securities was approximately $2.5 billion. At September 30, 2010, the aggregate contractual principal amount of the CLO loans and securities was $2.7 billion. At September 30, 2010, CLO loans and securities in nonaccrual status were approximately $108.3 million in aggregate unpaid principal balance with a fair value of $45.0 million. At September 30, 2010, the aggregate fair value of CLO loans and securities that are 90 days or more past due was $33.3 million.

At September 30, 2010, the total outstanding fair value of all the CLO notes and preferred shares issued by the CLOs under management was $2.3 billion. At September 30, 2010, the aggregate unpaid principal balance of the CLO notes was $2.9 billion.

Interest income of CLO loans and securities results from interest generated by the collateral assets held by the CLOs, which is used to satisfy the interest expense of the CLO notes issued by the CLOs. The Company generally places CLO loans and securities on nonaccrual status when full and timely collection of interest or principal becomes uncertain or when loans are 90 days past due as to either principal or interest. Previously accrued but unpaid interest is reversed and charged against interest income. Interest payments received on nonaccrual loans are recorded as interest income.

Valuation Techniques

A description of the valuation techniques applied to the CLO assets, which primarily include CLO loans and securities, and CLO liabilities, which primarily include CLO notes measured at fair value follows.

Valuation Techniques — CLO loans and securities

Loans and other securities held by the CLOs under management are carried at fair value. The fair values of the CLO loans and securities are derived from prices obtained from an independent third-party pricing source.

Valuation Techniques — CLO notes

The notes issued by the CLOs under management are carried at fair value based on the Company’s election for fair value under ASC Topic 825, Financial Instruments. There is no observable market or pricing for the notes issued by the Company’s CLOs under management. However, indicative pricing quotes for certain CLO notes are available. The Company uses this data to compute discount rates appropriate to each tranche of notes issued by the CLOs under management. The discount rates are applied to projected future cash flow models which have been constructed for each of the CLOs under management to derive the fair value of the notes issued by each CLO. The inputs to the projected future cash flow models include details of the loans and securities held by each CLO, projected future default rates, projected repayments of loans, projected future interest rates and a representation of the requirements of the indenture for each CLO (the “waterfall”).

Primus Guaranty, Ltd.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Nonperformance Risk Adjustment — Credit Swap Portfolio

The Company considers the effect of its nonperformance risk in determining the fair value of its liabilities. Since the adoption of ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, on January 1, 2008, the Company has incorporated a nonperformance risk adjustment in the computation of the fair value of the credit swap portfolio. An industry standard for calculating this adjustment is to incorporate changes in an entity’s own credit spread into the computation of the mark-to-market of liabilities. The Company derives an estimate of a credit spread because it does not have an observable market credit spread. This estimated credit spread was obtained by reference to similar entities, primarily in the financial insurance business, which have observable spreads.

The following table represents the effect of the nonperformance risk adjustments on the Company’s unrealized loss on credit swaps, at fair value in the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 (in thousands):


	September 30,			December 31,
	2010			2009

Unrealized loss on credit swaps, at fair value, without nonperformance risk adjustments	$	639,248		$	906,382
Nonperformance risk adjustments		(112,681	)		(214,477	)

Unrealized loss on credit swaps, at fair value, after nonperformance risk adjustments	$	526,567		$	691,905

The following table represents the effect of the changes in nonperformance risk adjustment on the Company’s net credit swap revenue in the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30,						September 30,
	2010			2009			2010			2009

Net credit swap revenue without nonperformance risk adjustments	$	329,442		$	683,868		$	227,165		$	2,124,460
Nonperformance risk adjustments		(101,895	)		(212,033	)		(101,796	)		(969,861	)

Net credit swap revenue after nonperformance risk adjustments	$	227,547		$	471,835		$	125,369		$	1,154,599

Primus Guaranty, Ltd.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Fair Value Hierarchy Tables

The following fair value hierarchy table presents information about the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2010 (in thousands):


	Quoted Prices
	in		Significant
	Active Markets		Other		Significant		Assets /
	for		Observable		Unobservable		Liabilities
	Identical Assets		Inputs		Inputs		at Fair
	(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)		Value

Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	132,674	$	—	$	—	$	132,674
Investments		—		364,207		1,563		365,770
CLO cash and cash equivalents		133,970		—		—		133,970
CLO loans and securities		—		2,479,970		—		2,479,970
Unrealized gain on credit swaps		—		—		233		233
Other assets		—		4,008		—		4,008

Total Assets	$	266,644	$	2,848,185	$	1,796	$	3,116,625


Liabilities
Unrealized loss on credit swaps	$	—	$	—	$	526,567	$	526,567
Other liabilities		—		—		8,062		8,062
CLO notes		—		—		2,348,223		2,348,223

Total Liabilities	$	—	$	—	$	2,882,852	$	2,882,852

The following fair value hierarchy table presents information about the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2009 (in thousands):


	Quoted Prices
	in		Significant				Total
	Active Markets		Other		Significant		Assets /
	for		Observable		Unobservable		Liabilities
	Identical Assets		Inputs		Inputs		at Fair
	(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)		Value

Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	299,514	$	—	$	—	$	299,514
Investments		—		272,931		1,344		274,275
Unrealized gain on credit swaps		—		—		2,207		2,207
Other assets		—		1,837		—		1,837

Total Assets	$	299,514	$	274,768	$	3,551	$	577,833


Liabilities
Unrealized loss on credit swaps	$	—	$	—	$	691,905	$	691,905
Other liabilities						5,470		5,470

Total Liabilities	$	—	$	—	$	697,375	$	697,375

Primus Guaranty, Ltd.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Level 3 Assets and Liabilities Reconciliation Tables

The following table provides a reconciliation for the Company’s assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended					Three Months Ended
	September 30, 2010					September 30, 2009
	Unrealized					Unrealized
	Gain on					Gain on
	Credit Swaps			Investments		Credit Swaps		Investments

Balance, beginning of period	$	126		$	1,197	$	—	$	263
Realized gains		145			—		—		262
Unrealized gains (losses)		(38	)		366		670		50
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements		—			—		—		(146	)

Balance, end of period	$	233		$	1,563	$	670	$	429

The following table provides a reconciliation for the Company’s assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 (in thousands):


	Nine Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30, 2010						September 30, 2009
	Unrealized						Unrealized
	Gain on						Gain on
	Credit Swaps			Investments			Credit Swaps		Investments

Balance, beginning of period	$	2,207		$	1,344		$	—	$	4,737
Realized gains (losses)		228			—			—		(1,832	)
Unrealized gains (losses)		(2,202	)		357			670		138
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements		—			(138	)		—		(6,278	)

Balance, end of period	$	233		$	1,563		$	670	$	429

Unrealized gains and losses on Level 3 assets (available-for-sale investments) are recorded in “Accumulated other comprehensive income”, which is a component of Shareholders’ equity in the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. Unrealized gains or losses on Level 3 assets (trading account assets) are recorded in the “Other income” caption under “Revenues” in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Primus Guaranty, Ltd.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

The following table provides a reconciliation for the Company’s liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended									Three Months Ended
	September 30, 2010									September 30, 2009
							Unrealized
				Other			Loss on Credit			Unrealized Loss on
	CLO Notes			Liabilities			Swaps			Credit Swaps

Balance, beginning of period	$	(2,266,583	)	$	(9,117	)	$	(757,537	)	$	(1,497,947	)
Realized gains (losses)		(622	)		—			17,398			21,500
Unrealized gains (losses)		(83,099	)		1,055			213,572			449,281
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements		2,081			—			—			—

Balance, end of period	$	(2,348,223	)	$	(8,062	)	$	(526,567	)	$	(1,027,166	)

The following table provides a reconciliation for the Company’s liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 (in thousands):


	Nine Months Ended									Nine Months Ended
	September 30, 2010									September 30, 2009
							Unrealized
				Other			Loss on Credit			Unrealized Loss on
	CLO Notes			Liabilities			Swaps			Credit Swaps

Balance, beginning of period	$	—		$	(5,470	)	$	(691,905	)	$	(2,173,461	)
Adoption of ASC Topic 810, Consolidation		(2,210,642	)		—			—			—
Realized gains (losses)		(6,737	)		—			83,452			58,953
Unrealized gains (losses)		(168,051	)		(2,592	)		81,886			1,087,342
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements		37,207			—			—			—

Balance, end of period	$	(2,348,223	)	$	(8,062	)	$	(526,567	)	$	(1,027,166	)

Realized and unrealized gains and losses on Level 3 liabilities (unrealized loss on credit swaps) are included in the “Net credit swap revenue” caption in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. The reconciliation above does not include credit swap premiums collected during the period. Unrealized losses on Level 3 liabilities (other liabilities) are included in the “Other” caption under Expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. Unrealized losses on Level 3 liabilities (CLO notes) are included in “Net CLO loss” caption in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Primus Guaranty, Ltd.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Financial Instruments Not Carried at Fair Value

The Company’s long-term debt is recorded at historical amounts. At September 30, 2010, the carrying value and fair value of the original face value $125 million, 7% Senior Notes issued in December 2006 (the “7% Senior Notes”) were $90.4 million and $71.8 million, respectively. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company repurchased approximately $1.0 million and $4.2 million, respectively, of face value of its 7% Senior Notes at a cost of $0.7 million and $3.0 million, respectively. As a result, the Company recorded a net gain of $0.3 million and $1.1 million, respectively, on retirement of debt, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, after related write-off of unamortized issuance costs. The fair value of the 7% Senior Notes, which are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, was estimated using the quoted market price.

At September 30, 2010, the carrying value of Primus Financial’s subordinated deferrable interest notes was $129.0 million. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, Primus Financial repurchased $1.5 million and $18.6 million, respectively, of face value of its subordinated deferral interest notes at a cost of $1.0 million and $11.3 million, respectively for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010. As a result, Primus Financial recorded a net gain of $0.5 million and $7.1 million, respectively on retirement of long-term debt for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, after related write-off of unamortized issuance costs. It is not practicable to estimate the fair value of Primus Financial’s subordinated deferrable interest notes, as such notes are not listed on any exchange or publicly traded in any market and there is no consistent market activity or pricing of which the Company is aware for such notes. The average interest rate on these subordinated deferrable interest notes was 3.55% for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, with the first maturity date on such notes scheduled in June 2021.

Fair Value Option

Effective January 1, 2008, ASC Topic 825, Financial Instruments, provides a fair value option election that allows companies to irrevocably elect fair value as the initial and subsequent measurement attribute for certain financial assets and liabilities, with changes in fair value recognized in earnings as they occur. ASC Topic 825, Financial Instruments, permits the fair value option election on an instrument by instrument basis at initial recognition of an eligible asset or eligible liability, that otherwise are not accounted for at fair value under other accounting standards. Upon adoption of ASC Topic 825, Financial Instruments, as of the effective date, the Company did not elect the fair value option on any of its existing eligible financial assets and liabilities.

Effective January 1, 2010, upon consolidation of the CLOs under management, the Company elected fair value option treatment under ASC Topic 825-10-25 to measure the CLO loans (including unfunded loan commitments) and securities and the CLO notes, as the determination of the carrying amounts was not practicable. The Company has determined that measurement of the CLO notes issued by CLOs at fair value better correlates with the value of the CLO loans and securities held by CLOs, which are held to provide the cash flows for the note obligations.

Primus Guaranty, Ltd.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

7. Primus Absolute Return Credit Fund and Primus Credit Strategies Fund

During the first quarter of 2010, the Company launched two funds, Primus Absolute Return Credit Fund and Primus Credit Strategies Fund. The funds invest primarily in corporate debt securities and loans. During the first quarter of 2010, the Company had invested an aggregate of $40.0 million in these funds as seed capital.

In September 2010, the Company decided to close the Primus Credit Strategies Fund and commenced the liquidation of all open positions. For accounting purposes, the funds are consolidated in the Company’s financial statements as of September 30, 2010 and their financial results are recorded in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

8. Earnings per Share

Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) is calculated by dividing earnings available to common shares by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted EPS is similar to basic EPS, but adjusts for the effect of the potential issuance of common shares. The following table presents the computations of basic and diluted EPS (in thousands, except per share data):


	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2010		2009		2010		2009

Net income available to common shares	$	229,027	$	461,543	$	127,155	$	1,165,279
Weighted-average basic shares outstanding		38,049		39,999		38,546		40,430
Effect of dilutive instruments:
Restricted share units		1,993		1,415		2,191		808

Weighted-average diluted shares		40,042		41,414		40,737		41,238
Basic EPS	$	6.02	$	11.54	$	3.30	$	28.82
Diluted EPS	$	5.72	$	11.14	$	3.12	$	28.26

For the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, approximately 0.9 million shares and 1.0 million shares, respectively, were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because to do so would have been anti-dilutive for the periods presented.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, approximately 0.9 million shares and 1.4 million shares, respectively, were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because to do so would have been anti-dilutive for the periods presented.

9. Share — Based Compensation

The Company measures and recognizes compensation expense for all share-based payment awards made to employees and directors including share options and other forms of equity compensation based on estimated fair value of share options, performance shares, restricted shares and share units, as determined on the date of grant and is being expensed over the related vesting period or expected term. Share-based compensation expense is included in compensation and employee benefits in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

The fair value of share options granted is determined using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The use of the Black-Scholes option-pricing model requires certain estimates for values of variables used in the model. The fair value of performance shares awarded with a market condition is determined using a Monte Carlo simulation pricing model which requires certain estimates for values of variables used in the model. Performance shares with a market condition are amortized over the estimated expected term derived from the model. The Company did not grant any share options during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009.

Primus Guaranty, Ltd.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

The Company recorded share-based compensation expense of approximately $1.4 million and $1.2 million during the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The Company recorded share-based compensation expense of approximately $4.9 million and $3.3 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

As of September 30, 2010, total unrecognized share-based compensation expense related to nonvested share awards was approximately $2.9 million. This expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.56 years.

10. Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 is as follows (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
	September 30,					September 30,
	2010			2009		2010			2009

Net income	$	205,404		$	462,269	$	68,723		$	1,168,019

Other comprehensive income (loss):

Foreign currency translation adjustments		33			51		(41	)		168
Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale investments		2,833			1,603		5,638			196

Comprehensive income		208,270			463,923		74,320			1,168,383
Less: Distributions on preferred securities of subsidiary		732			726		2,444			2,740
Less: Net loss attributable to non-parent interests in CLOs		(24,355	)		—		(60,876	)		—

Comprehensive income available to common shares	$	231,893		$	463,197	$	132,752		$	1,165,643

11. Income Taxes

Primus Guaranty and certain of its subsidiaries are under U.S. Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) audit for the tax years 2004 through 2006. The IRS audit has not yet been finalized and the outcome cannot be predicted with certainty. Should any issues considered in the audit be resolved in a manner not consistent with management’s expectations, Primus Guaranty could be required to adjust its provision for income tax in the period such resolution occurs. Therefore, it is reasonably possible that Primus Guaranty’s unrecognized tax benefits could materially change in the next 12 months. However, because of the uncertainty of the potential outcome of outstanding issues in the audit, quantification of an estimated range for any provision cannot be made at this time.

12. Subsequent Events

On October 8, 2010, the trustee of one of CypressTree’s CLOs under management notified CypressTree that it had been replaced as collateral manager and a successor collateral manager had been appointed as of that date. At September 30, 2010, the CLO had assets and liabilities of $352.7 million and $321.8 million, respectively.

Primus Guaranty, Ltd.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

On October 27, 2010, the Company’s board of directors authorized an additional expenditure of up to $10.0 million of available cash for the purchase of the Company’s common shares and/or its 7% Senior Notes.

13. Segment Reporting

Effective January 1, 2010, the Company adopted ASC Topic 810, Consolidation, which significantly affected the Company’s financial statements, which required it to consolidate the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of all of the CLOs under management. As a result of the adoption of ASC Topic 810, Consolidation, commencing with the first quarter of 2010, the Company’s segment reporting has been modified. The Company’s operations are reorganized into two segments for financial reporting purposes: (i) credit protection, asset management and corporate, and (ii) the CLOs on a standalone basis. Primus Guaranty’s credit protection, asset management and corporate business is consistent with previous reporting.

The following table summarizes the Company’s operations and allocation of assets as of and for the three months ended September 30, 2010:


	Three Months Ended September 30, 2010
	Credit
	Protection,
	Asset
	Management
	and		CLOs						Consolidated
	Corporate		Standalone			Eliminations			Totals
Revenues:
Net credit swap revenue	$	227,547	$	—		$	—		$	227,547
Net CLO loss		—		(32,042	)		2,042			(30,000	)
CLO Interest income		—		22,859			—			22,859
Asset management and advisory fees		3,355		—			(3,240	)		115
Interest income		3,864		—			(189	)		3,675
Gain on retirement of long-term debt		752		—			—			752
Other income		4,495		—			(2,042	)		2,453

Total revenues (losses)	$	240,013	$	(9,183	)	$	(3,429	)	$	227,401


Expenses:
CLO interest expense	$	—	$	10,012		$	(189	)	$	9,823
CLO expenses		—		5,160			(3,240	)		1,920
Compensation and employee benefits		5,080		—			—			5,080
Professional and legal fees		1,928		—			—			1,928
Interest expense		1,760		—			—			1,760
Other expenses		1,412		—			—			1,412

Total expenses	$	10,180	$	15,172		$	(3,429	)	$	21,923


Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	$	229,833	$	(24,355	)	$	—		$	205,478
Provision for income tax		74		—			—			74

Net income (loss)	$	229,759	$	(24,355	)	$	—		$	205,404
Less: Distributions on preferred securities of subsidiary		732		—			—			732
Less: Net loss attributable to non-parent interests in CLOs	$	—	$	(24,355	)	$	—		$	(24,355	)

Net income available to common shares	$	229,027	$	—		$	—		$	229,027


Segment assets	$	673,814	$	2,634,227		$	(14,184	)	$	3,293,857

Primus Guaranty, Ltd.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

The following table summarizes the Company’s operations and allocation of assets as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2010:


	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010
	Credit
	Protection,
	Asset
	Management
	and		CLOs						Consolidated
	Corporate		Standalone			Eliminations			Totals
Revenues:
Net credit swap revenue	$	125,369	$	—		$	—		$	125,369
Net CLO loss		—		(86,898	)		9,649			(77,249	)
CLO Interest income		—		65,791			—			65,791
Asset management and advisory fees		10,755		—			(10,086	)		669
Interest income		10,469		—			(553	)		9,916
Gain on retirement of long-term debt		8,185		—			—			8,185
Other income		11,948		—			(9,649	)		2,299

Total revenues (losses)	$	166,726	$	(21,107	)	$	(10,639	)	$	134,980


Expenses:
CLO interest expense	$	—	$	24,471		$	(553	)	$	23,918
CLO expenses		—		15,298			(10,086	)		5,212
Compensation and employee benefits		16,271		—			—			16,271
Professional and legal fees		5,875		—			—			5,875
Interest expense		5,366		—			—			5,366
Other expenses		9,538		—			—			9,538

Total expenses	$	37,050	$	39,769		$	(10,639	)	$	66,180


Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	$	129,676	$	(60,876	)	$	—		$	68,800
Provision for income tax		77		—			—			77

Net income (loss)	$	129,599	$	(60,876	)	$	—		$	68,723
Less: Distributions on preferred securities of subsidiary		2,444		—			—			2,444
Less: Net loss attributable to non-parent interests in CLOs	$	—	$	(60,876	)	$	—		$	(60,876	)

Net income available to common shares	$	127,155	$	—		$	—		$	127,155


Segment assets	$	673,814	$	2,634,227		$	(14,184	)	$	3,293,857

Item 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following is a discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto, included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report and our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes which appear in the Company’s 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K. It contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those discussed below and in the Company’s 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K, particularly under Item 1A “Risk Factors” and the heading “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.” In this discussion, the terms “Primus Guaranty” and “we,” “us,” “our,” and similar terms refer to Primus Guaranty, Ltd. and its wholly owned subsidiaries; the term “the Company” refers to Primus Guaranty and the CLOs required to be consolidated as a result of the adoption of ASC Topic 810, Consolidation; and other capitalized items used but not defined are as defined elsewhere in this Quarterly Report.

Business

Primus Guaranty is a holding company that conducts business currently through its two principal operating subsidiaries, Primus Asset Management, an investment manager to affiliated companies and third-party entities, and Primus Financial, a credit derivative product company and a provider of credit protection.

Effective January 1, 2010, the Company adopted ASC Topic 810, Consolidation, which required it to consolidate the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of the CLOs under Primus Asset Management’s management. The impact of the consolidation of the CLOs under management is discussed further below.

Primus Asset Management

Primus Asset Management manages CLOs, CSOs, investment fund vehicles and separately managed accounts on behalf of third parties. Additionally, Primus Asset Management acts as manager of the credit swap and cash investment portfolios of its affiliate, Primus Financial. Primus Asset Management receives fees for investment management services. Primus Asset Management has entered into a Services Agreement with its affiliates, whereby it provides management, consulting and information technology services, among others, to its affiliates. As of September 30, 2010, Primus Asset Management managed Primus Financial’s consolidated credit swap portfolio of $11.8 billion in notional amount and assets of approximately $3.3 billion in CLOs, CSOs, investment fund vehicles and separately managed accounts.

On September 22, 2010, Primus Asset Management entered into a binding letter of intent to sell CypressTree. CypressTree, a CLO manager, managed or sub advised approximately $2.8 billion of high yield and leveraged loan assets in CLOs as of September 30, 2010. Terms of the proposed transaction are pending and will be subject to final executed definitive agreements. The sale is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2010.

Primus Financial

Primus Financial Products, LLC was established to sell credit protection in the form of credit swaps primarily to global financial institutions and major credit swap dealers. Credit swaps include single name, tranches, and CDS on ABS. During 2009, Primus Guaranty announced its intention to amortize Primus Financial Products, LLC’s credit swap portfolio. Under the amortization model, Primus Financial’s existing credit swap contracts will expire at maturity (unless terminated early) and it is not expected that additional credit swaps will be added to its portfolio, unless associated with a risk mitigation transaction.

At September 30, 2010, Primus Financial’s credit swap portfolio had a total notional amount of $11.8 billion, which included $8.0 billion of single name credit swaps, $3.8 billion of tranches and $23.7 million of CDS on ABS. Primus Financial’s portfolio of credit swaps includes single name credit swaps denominated in euros. Euro-denominated credit swaps comprised 53% of the notional amount of our Primus Financial single name credit swaps sold portfolio at September 30, 2010. Euro-denominated credit swaps constitute 36% of Primus Financial’s total credit swap portfolio of $11.8 billion in notional amount, which include single name, tranche transactions and CDS on ABS. See note 4 of notes to condensed consolidated financial statements for further information on the credit swap portfolio.

Executive Overview and Business Outlook

In August 2010, we advised that we were considering strategic alternatives for our asset management business and that Berkshire Capital Securities LLC had been retained to assist us in that review. Subsequently, we announced that we entered into a binding letter of intent to sell CypressTree, our third-party asset management subsidiary, to Commercial Industrial Finance Corp. As a result of the pending sale, CLO management will no longer be a core business for us. We expect the transaction to close in the fourth quarter of 2010. We are also in process of closing the Primus Credit Strategies Fund which had been established under CypressTree’s management and are seeking to transfer the management of the Primus Absolute Return Credit Fund which had been established earlier in 2010.

Going forward our focus will be directed toward managing the risks of Primus Financial’s credit protection business as it amortizes, optimizing our capital structure, managing our portfolio of investments and containing our expenses.

When the financial crisis hit in 2008, it signaled significant changes in the credit markets and for Primus Financial, and we took steps to address those changes. Our focus shifted to preserving the value we believe we had created in Primus Financial’s credit protection business. Over the last two years, Primus Financial has undertaken a series of portfolio repositioning and risk mitigating transactions designed to de-risk its portfolio. We believe these efforts have significantly reduced Primus Financial’s exposure to certain higher risk tranches, single-name reference entities and industry concentrations, particularly the monoline financial guarantors.

Primus Financial continued to take steps in the third quarter of 2010 to de-risk its credit swap portfolio. In the third quarter of 2010, Primus Financial terminated all credit swaps and settled all outstanding claims with LBSF; Primus Financial paid LBSF $17.5 million. Premiums unpaid by LBSF and owing to Primus Financial totaled approximately $16 million at the time of settlement. The mark-to-market value of the portfolio, together with the settlement prices of the credit default swaps which had suffered credit events, totaled approximately $54.4 million in favor of LBSF. The current portfolio which was terminated also included exposure to three financial guaranty companies, including Ambac Financial Group, Inc.

At September 30, 2010, we anticipate Primus Financial receiving approximately $108 million in future cash premiums, assuming that the credit swaps in its portfolio run to full maturity.

A source of value to shareholders is returns from the investment of Primus Guaranty’s capital. Since requesting the withdrawal of Primus Financial’s credit ratings in 2009, Primus Financial’s investment strategy has been amended to enable investment in predominately investment grade corporate debt, which has enhanced investment returns.

Under our program to buy back Primus Guaranty’s common shares and debt, we purchased 1.1 million shares of our common shares at an aggregate price of $4.7 million in the third quarter of 2010. We also purchased a total of $1.0 million in par value of our long-term debt and Primus Financial purchased a total of $1.5 million in par value of its long-term debt at an overall cost of $1.7 million, resulting in net realized gains of $0.8 million. The buy back of debt has enabled us to reduce our financing costs over the past year and has enabled us to realize gains as debt is bought back at a discount to par.

In terms of operating expenses, the planned divestiture of CypressTree and other reductions in our asset management activities will reduce our ongoing operating expenses.

Details of the results of the third quarter of 2010 are discussed under “Overview of Financial Results” below.

Critical Accounting Policies

The discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations are based on our condensed consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of these condensed consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the periods presented. Actual results could differ from those estimates, and those differences may be material.

Critical accounting policies and estimates are defined as those that require management to make significant judgments and involve a higher degree of complexity. Management believes that the adoption of ASC Topic 810, Consolidation, as discussed below, had a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010.

Impact of Adoption of ASC Topic 810, Consolidation

The adoption of ASC Topic 810, Consolidation, significantly affected the Company’s financial statements. The consolidation of CLOs under management on January 1, 2010 resulted in an increase in total assets of approximately $2.5 billion, an increase in total liabilities of $2.3 billion and an increase to total shareholders’ equity of $266 million as required under the accounting standard. The $266 million increase in equity is not available to the shareholders of Primus Guaranty.

Although these CLOs under management are consolidated, the assets of the CLOs are not available to Primus Guaranty for general operations or in satisfaction of its debt obligations. Primus Guaranty does not have any rights to or ownership of these assets. The assets of the CLOs are restricted solely to satisfy the liabilities of the CLOs. Similarly, Primus Guaranty does not have any obligation to settle the liabilities of the CLOs. In addition, Primus Guaranty’s investments in the CLOs and asset management fees earned from the CLOs are eliminated in consolidation. Primus Guaranty has no contractual obligation to fund or provide other financial support to any CLO.

See notes 2, 5 and 6 of notes to condensed consolidated financial statements in Part 1, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for information regarding Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Financial Instruments and Fair Value Disclosures and further discussion of CLOs.

Nonperformance Risk Adjustment

We consider the effect of our nonperformance risk in determining the fair value of our liabilities. Since the adoption of ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, on January 1, 2008, the Company has incorporated a nonperformance risk adjustment in the computation of the fair value of Primus Financial’s credit swap portfolio. An industry standard for calculating this adjustment is to incorporate changes in an entity’s own credit spread into the computation of the mark-to-market of liabilities. We derive an estimate of a credit spread because we do not have an observable market credit spread. This estimated credit spread was obtained by reference to similar entities, primarily in the financial insurance business, which have observable spreads. See note 6 of notes to condensed consolidated financial statements for further information on impact of nonperformance risk adjustment.

Fair Value Hierarchy — Level 3 Assets and Liabilities

Level 3 assets at September 30, 2010, which included the unrealized gain on credit swaps and ABS bonds, were $1.8 million, or 0.06% of the total assets measured at fair value. Level 3 liabilities at September 30, 2010, which included the CLO notes, unrealized loss on credit swaps sold and a contingent consideration liability, were $2.9 billion, or 100% of total liabilities measured at fair value.

Level 3 assets at December 31, 2009, which included the unrealized gain on credit swaps, investments in CLOs and ABS bonds, were $3.6 million, or 0.6% of the total assets measured at fair value. Level 3 liabilities at December 31, 2009, which included the unrealized loss on credit swaps sold and a contingent consideration liability, were $697.4 million, or 100% of total liabilities measured at fair value.

Lehman Brothers Special Financing Inc.

Primus Financial had entered into credit swap transactions with Lehman Brothers Special Financing Inc. (“LBSF”), pursuant to an ISDA Master Agreement. At the time of these transactions, LBSF was an indirect subsidiary of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. (“LBH”), and LBH was the credit support provider under these transactions. During and subsequent to the end of the third quarter of 2008, LBSF suffered a number of events of default under the ISDA Master Agreement, including bankruptcy, failure to pay premiums when due and bankruptcy of its credit support provider. Primus Financial did not designate any early termination date under the ISDA Master Agreement, and accordingly, continued the credit swap agreements. Under relevant accounting standards, Primus Financial continued to carry outstanding credit swaps at their fair value. LBSF was obligated to pay approximately $16.0 million in premiums on its credit swap transactions from the third quarter of 2008 until the third quarter of 2010, but had failed to do so.

In September 2010, Primus Financial entered into a termination agreement with LBSF to settle all outstanding claims and credit swap transactions between the parties. Under the terms of the agreement, Primus Financial and LBSF terminated approximately $1.1 billion notional principal of credit swaps, which represented LBSF’s then-existing entire portfolio with Primus Financial, including credit swaps on five reference entities that had suffered a credit event which Primus Financial had sold protection aggregating $66 million of notional principal amount to LBSF. At the time of termination, the mark-to-market value of the current portfolio, together with the settlement prices of the credit default swaps which had suffered credit events, totaled approximately $54.4 million in favor of LBSF. Also at the time of termination, the current portfolio included exposure to three financial guaranty companies, including Ambac Financial Group, Inc. As part of the termination, Primus Financial resolved its outstanding claims for unpaid premiums and paid LBSF a net termination fee of $17.5 million. We believe eliminating the inherent risk and corresponding investment of time and money associated with contentious litigation and further de-risking of the credit swap portfolio by reducing the potential exposure to the monoline insurers was in Primus Guaranty’s best interest, particularly in consideration that Primus Financial is in amortization.

Results of Operations

Introduction

As previously discussed, effective January 1, 2010, under new accounting rules, we were required to adopt ASC Topic 810, Consolidation, which significantly affected the Company’s results of operations. The adoption of ASC Topic 810, Consolidation required us to consolidate the revenues and expenses of the CLOs under management on a prospective basis. Prior year comparable information regarding CLO revenue and expenses is neither required by GAAP nor practicable to obtain. As a result of the adoption, we have incorporated net CLO loss, CLO interest income, CLO interest expense and other CLO expenses into our results of operations, as further discussed below. As with CLO revenues and expenses, prior year comparable data for the consolidated CLOs activities are neither required by GAAP nor practicable to obtain.

One of our main sources of revenue is premium income. Net credit swap revenue incorporates credit swap premium income, together with realized gains and losses arising from the termination of credit swaps, as a result of credit events or credit mitigation decisions. In addition, changes in the unrealized gains (losses) fair value of credit swap portfolio are included in net credit swap revenue.

Other sources of revenue consist of interest income earned on our investments and gains recognized on retirement of long-term debt.

Expenses include interest expense on the debt issued by Primus Guaranty and Primus Financial, employee compensation and other expenses.

Primus Financial also makes net distributions on its preferred securities. These components are discussed in more detail below.

Three Months Ended September 30, 2010 Compared With Three Months Ended September 30, 2009

Overview of Financial Results

GAAP net income available to common shares for the third quarter of 2010 was $229.0 million, compared with GAAP net income available to common shares of $461.5 million for the third quarter of 2009. The net loss attributable to non-parent interests, which relates to the CLOs, has been deducted from net income to arrive at GAAP net income available to common shares. The Company’s GAAP net income available to common shares primarily was driven by net credit swap revenue of $227.5 million and $471.8 million, respectively. During the third quarter of 2010, there was a tightening in credit spreads across the investment grade and non-investment grade sectors as credit spreads recouped part of the widening experienced in the second quarter of 2010.

Net credit swap premiums earned were $14.0 million in the third quarter of 2010, compared with $21.9 million in the third quarter of 2009. The decrease in net premiums is primarily attributable to the amortization of Primus Financial’s credit swap portfolio, as Primus Financial did not write any additional credit protection during these periods. The components of our net credit swap revenue (loss) for Primus Financial are discussed in detail below.

Interest income on our portfolio of investments (excluding CLO loans and securities) was $3.7 million in the third quarter of 2010, compared with $1.2 million in the third quarter of 2009. The increase is primarily attributable to higher returns on our invested balances.

During the third quarter of 2010, in aggregate, we recorded a net gain of approximately $0.8 million on the retirement of long-term debt, which included purchases by Primus Guaranty of its 7% Senior Notes and purchases by our subsidiary, Primus Financial, of its long-term debt, net of a related write-off of unamortized issuance costs.

Interest expense and distributions on preferred securities issued by Primus Financial were $2.5 million in the third quarter of 2010, compared with $2.8 million in the third quarter of 2009. The decrease is primarily attributable to lower LIBOR and reduced debt levels.

Operating expenses were $10.3 million in the third quarter of 2010, compared with $11.2 million in the third quarter of 2009. The decrease in operating expenses was principally a result of lower compensation and benefits, a reduction in the provision for contingent earn-out payments related to the CypressTree acquisition, lower professional fees offset by the additional CLO expenses attributable to the consolidation of the CLOs under management on January 1, 2010. Absent the consolidation of the CLOs expenses, our operating expenses would have been $8.4 million for the third quarter of 2010.

Net Credit Swap Revenue

Net credit swap revenue was $227.5 million and $471.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Net credit swap revenue includes:

•

Net premiums earned;

•

Net realized gains (losses) on credit swaps, which include gain (losses) on terminated credit swaps sold and losses on credit events during the period; and

•

Net unrealized gains (losses) on credit swaps.

The table below shows the components of net credit swap revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 (in thousands).


	Three Months Ended
	September 30,
	2010			2009
Net premiums earned	$	14,014		$	21,885
Net realized losses on credit swaps		(17,543	)		(21,500	)
Net unrealized gains on credit swaps		231,076			471,450

Total net credit swap revenue	$	227,547		$	471,835

Net Premiums Earned

Net premiums earned were $14.0 million and $21.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The decrease was primarily attributable to the reduced notional principal of Primus Financial’s credit swap portfolio.

Net Realized Losses on Credit Swaps

Net realized losses on credit swaps sold were $17.5 million and $21.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Net realized losses for the three months ended September 30, 2010 primarily included a $17.5 million payment by Primus Financial to LBSF to terminate and settle all outstanding claims and credit swap transactions between the parties, as previously discussed.

Net realized losses for the three months ended September 30, 2009 resulted from payments to two counterparties for portfolio repositioning transactions.

Net Unrealized Gains on Credit Swaps

Net unrealized gains on credit swaps were $231.1 million and $471.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The change in unrealized gains (losses) on credit swaps reflected the change in the fair value of Primus Financial’s credit swap portfolio during these periods. During the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, Primus Financial recorded nonperformance risk adjustments of $(101.9) million and $(212.0) million, respectively.

Net CLO Loss

Net CLO loss includes realized and unrealized gains or losses on loans and securities in the CLOs and realized and unrealized losses on CLO notes. Net CLO loss was $(30.0) million for the three months ended September 30, 2010. Net CLO loss primarily consisted of $12.1 million of realized gains on CLO loans and securities; $42.8 million of unrealized gains on CLO loans and securities; $(83.7) million of realized and unrealized losses on the CLO notes, and other losses of $(1.2) million.

CLO Interest Income

CLO interest income includes interest earned on CLO loans and securities held by the CLOs. CLO interest income was $22.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010.

Asset Management and Advisory Fees

We earned $0.1 million and $1.3 million of asset management and advisory fees for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Primus Asset Management acts as collateral manager for CLOs. Under the terms of the collateral management agreements, Primus Asset Management receives management fees quarterly for managing the selection, acquisition and disposition of the underlying collateral and for monitoring the underlying collateral, subject to the terms of the agreement. As a result of the consolidation of the CLOs under management, asset management fees earned from the CLOs for the three months ended September 30, 2010 of $3.2 million have been eliminated from the Company’s consolidated financial statements presentation.

In addition, Primus Asset Management manages CSOs, on behalf of third parties. Some of the CSO asset management contracts also provide for the receipt of contingent performance fees at the maturity of the contracts, none of which has been earned or accrued at September 30, 2010 or 2009, respectively. The CSO contracts mature between December 2010 and June 2013.

Interest Income

We earned interest income of $3.7 million and $1.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The increase in interest income is attributable to higher average yields on our investment portfolio, principally a result of an increase in the proportion of investment grade corporate debt securities held in the portfolio.

Weighted average yields on our cash, cash equivalents and investments were 2.52% for the three months ended September 30, 2010, compared with 0.67% for the three months ended September 30, 2009.

Gain on Retirement of Long-Term Debt

During the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, in aggregate, we recorded gains of $0.8 million and $0.6 million, respectively, on the retirement of long-term debt, net of a related write-off of unamortized issuance costs.

During the three months ended September 30, 2010, Primus Financial purchased, in the aggregate, approximately $1.5 million in face value of its subordinated deferrable notes at a cost of approximately $1.0 million. These transactions resulted in a net realized gain of $0.5 million on retirement of long-term debt.

During the three months ended September 30, 2010, Primus Guaranty purchased and retired approximately $1.0 million in face value of its 7% Senior Notes at a cost of approximately $0.7 million. As a result, we recorded a net gain of approximately $0.3 million on the retirement of our long-term debt.

Other Income

Other income includes realized and unrealized gains or losses on investment securities, foreign currency revaluation losses and sublease rental income. Other income was $2.5 million and $0.5 million during the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Other income during the three months ended September 30, 2010 consisted primarily of realized and unrealized gains on investment securities, sublease rental income, partially offset by foreign currency losses. Other income during the three months ended September 30, 2009 consisted primarily of realized gains on corporate bonds by Primus Financial as a result of the bonds delivered related to the settlement of a credit event on a single name credit swap sold.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses were $10.3 million and $11.2 million for the three months ending September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, as summarized in the table below (dollars in thousands).


	Three Months Ended
	September 30,
	2010		2009
CLO expenses	$	1,920	$	—
Compensation and employee benefits		5,080		6,418
Professional and legal fees		1,928		2,253
Other		1,412		2,543

Total operating expenses	$	10,340	$	11,214


Number of full-time employees, at end of period		45		45

Compensation and employee benefits include salaries, benefits, accrual for incentive bonuses and share-based compensation. Incentive bonus awards are affected by our financial performance. Compensation expense for the three months ended September 30, 2010 decreased by approximately $1.3 million over the comparable prior period. The decrease was primarily the result of a lower accrual for incentive bonuses. Share-based compensation expense was approximately $1.4 million and $1.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Professional and legal fees expense includes audit and tax advisor fees, legal costs, consulting fees, recruitment fees and director and officer liability insurance expense. The decrease in professional fees is primarily attributable to lower consulting fees and advisory fees, partially offset by higher legal fees. During the three months ended September, 2009, we incurred higher consulting and advisory fees related to the CypressTree acquisition in July 2009.

Other operating expenses include a provision for contingent consideration, rent, depreciation and amortization, bank fees, ratings agency fees, brokerage expense, travel and entertainment, exchange fees and other administrative expenses. The decrease in other operating expenses primarily was a result of a reduction in the provision for contingent earn-out payments to the former owners and related parties in connection with the CypressTree acquisition.

CLO expenses include professional fees, technology and data expenses and administrative expenses. CLO expenses were $1.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010.

CLO Interest Expense

CLO interest expense includes interest paid on CLO notes issued by the CLOs. CLO interest expense was $9.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010.

Interest Expense and Preferred Distributions

Interest Expense

Interest expense includes costs related to the 7% Senior Notes issued by Primus Guaranty, after adjustment for an interest rate swap, and interest on the subordinated deferrable notes issued by Primus Financial.

During the course of 2009 and 2010 we have repurchased some of our 7% Senior Notes. At September 30, 2010, $90.4 million of the 7% Senior Notes was outstanding. The reduction in principal outstanding and the decline in LIBOR from 2009 to 2010 had the effect of reducing the net interest expense on these Notes. The average interest rate was 2.56% and 2.64% for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. For the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, we recorded $0.6 million and $0.6 million of interest expense on the 7% Senior Notes, respectively.

Primus Financial’s subordinated deferrable interest notes were issued in the auction rate market. This market continues to be dislocated and as a result, the interest rates on the notes were set at the contractually specified rates over LIBOR in the third quarter of 2009 and in the third quarter of 2010. During the course of 2009 and 2010 Primus Financial has repurchased a portion of its subordinated deferrable interest notes. At September 30, 2010, $129.0 million of the subordinated deferrable interest notes was outstanding. At September 30, 2010, Primus Financial’s subordinated deferrable interest notes were accruing interest at an all in rate of 3.40%. The subordinated deferrable interest notes mature in June 2021 and July 2034.

For the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, we recorded $1.1 million and $1.4 million of interest expense on Primus Financial’s subordinated deferrable interest notes, respectively. Interest expense decreased primarily as a result of lower LIBOR and reduced debt levels.

Preferred Distributions

Primus Financial issued net $100 million of perpetual preferred securities in the auction rate market in 2002. The rate of distributions on the perpetual preferred distributions is set by reference to a contractual spread over LIBOR. Currently, the spread is set at 3.0%. During 2009, Primus Financial repurchased $5.5 million of the perpetual preferred securities. At September 30, 2010, the all in distribution rate on Primus Financial’s perpetual preferred securities was 3.26%.

Primus Financial paid net distributions of approximately $0.7 million during each of the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, on its perpetual preferred securities. The average distribution rate on these securities was 3.10% and 3.07% for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Provision for Income Taxes

Provision for income taxes was $74 thousand and $5 thousand for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Primus Guaranty had a net deferred tax asset, fully offset by a valuation allowance of $14.6 million and $12.7 million as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. The change in the deferred tax asset and valuation allowance resulted primarily from Primus Asset Management’s estimated net operating loss and share compensation expense. We believe that the income of only Primus Asset Management and its subsidiaries is likely to be subject to U.S. federal and local income taxes. However, were one of our wholly owned subsidiaries, Primus (Bermuda), Ltd. (“Primus Bermuda”), to be subject to income tax, at a combined U.S. federal, New York State and New York City income tax rate of 46%, on its GAAP income, then its income tax expense, excluding interest and penalties, would have been approximately $104.2 million and $209.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. These figures assume that Primus Financial is not deemed to be making distributions to Primus Bermuda; such distributions would subject Primus Bermuda to an additional U.S. federal branch profits tax.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 Compared With Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009

Overview of Financial Results

GAAP net income available to common shares for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 was $127.2 million, compared with GAAP net income available to common shares of $1.2 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. The net loss attributable to non-parent interests, which relates to the CLOs, has been deducted from net income to arrive at GAAP net income available to common shares. The Company’s GAAP net income available to common shares primarily was driven by net credit swap revenue of $125.4 million and $1.2 billion, respectively. Net credit swap revenue for the periods primarily was attributable to mark-to-market unrealized gains on Primus Financial’s credit swap portfolio.

Net credit swap premiums earned were $45.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, compared with $66.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. The decrease in net premiums is primarily attributable to the amortization of Primus Financial’s credit swap portfolio, as Primus Financial did not write any additional credit protection during these periods. The components of our net credit swap revenue (loss) for Primus Financial are discussed in detail below.

Interest income on our portfolio of investments (excluding CLO loans and securities) was $9.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, compared with $4.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. The increase is primarily attributable to higher returns on our invested balances.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, in aggregate, we recorded a net gain of approximately $8.2 million on the retirement of long-term debt, which included purchases by Primus Guaranty of its 7% Senior Notes and purchases by our subsidiary, Primus Financial, of its long-term debt.

Interest expense and distributions on preferred securities issued by Primus Financial were $7.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, compared with $9.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. The decrease is primarily attributable to lower LIBOR and reduced debt levels.

Operating expenses were $36.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, compared with $28.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. The increase in operating expenses was principally a result of an increase in the provision for contingent earn-out payments related to the CypressTree acquisition, higher share-based compensation and the CLO expenses attributable to the consolidation of the CLOs under management on January 1, 2010. Absent the consolidation of the CLOs expenses, our operating expenses would have been $31.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.

Net Credit Swap Revenue

Net credit swap revenue was $125.4 million and $1.2 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Net credit swap revenue includes:

•

Net premiums earned;

•

Net realized gains (losses) on credit swaps, which include gain (losses) on terminated credit swaps sold and losses on credit events during the period; and

•

Net unrealized gains (losses) on credit swaps.

The table below shows the components of net credit swap revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 (in thousands).


	Nine Months Ended
	September 30,
	2010			2009
Net premiums earned	$	45,684		$	66,588
Net realized losses on credit swaps		(83,679	)		(58,953	)
Net unrealized gains on credit swaps		163,364			1,146,964

Total net credit swap revenue	$	125,369		$	1,154,599

Net Premiums Earned

Net premiums earned were $45.7 million and $66.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The decrease was primarily attributable to the reduced notional principal of Primus Financial’s credit swap portfolio.

Net Realized Losses on Credit Swaps

Net realized losses on credit swaps sold were $83.7 million and $59.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Net realized losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 primarily included a $17.5 million payment to LBSF to terminate all credit swaps and settle all outstanding claims with LBSF, a $35.0 million payment relating to the termination of three tranche transactions, a $29.2 million payment to terminate single name credit swaps referencing Ambac Financial Group, Inc. and MBIA Inc. and realized losses of $1.8 million on the CDS on ABS portfolio.

Net realized losses of $59.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 primarily related to payments to two counterparties for portfolio repositioning transactions and realized losses on the CDS on ABS portfolio.

Net Unrealized Gains on Credit Swaps

Net unrealized gains on credit swaps were $163.4 million and $1.1 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The change in unrealized gains (losses) on credit swaps reflected the change in the fair value of Primus Financial’s credit swap portfolio during these periods. During the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, Primus Financial recorded nonperformance risk adjustments of $(101.8) million and $(969.9) million, respectively.

Net CLO Loss

Net CLO loss includes realized and unrealized gains or losses on loans and securities by the CLOs and realized and unrealized losses on CLO notes. Net CLO loss was $(77.2) million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. Net CLO loss primarily consisted of $60.8 million of realized gains on CLO loans and securities; $36.5 million of unrealized gains on CLO loans and securities; $(174.8) million of realized and unrealized losses on the CLO notes, and other income of $0.3 million.

CLO Interest Income

CLO interest income includes interest earned on CLO loans and securities held by the CLOs. CLO interest income was $65.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.

Asset Management and Advisory Fees

We earned $0.7 million and $2.1 million of asset management and advisory fees for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Primus Asset Management acts as collateral manager for CLOs. Under the terms of the collateral management agreements, Primus Asset Management receives management fees quarterly for managing the selection, acquisition and disposition of the underlying collateral and for monitoring the underlying collateral, subject to the terms of the agreement. As a result of the consolidation of the CLOs under management, asset management fees earned from the CLOs for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 of $10.1 million have been eliminated from the Company’s consolidated financial statements presentation.

Interest Income

We earned interest income of $9.9 million and $4.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The increase in interest income is attributable to higher average yields on our investment portfolio, principally a result of an increase in the proportion of investment grade corporate debt securities held in the portfolio.

Weighted average yields on our cash, cash equivalents and investments were 2.18% in the nine months ended September 30, 2010, compared with 0.85% for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.

Gain on Retirement of Long-Term Debt

During the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, in aggregate, we recorded gains of $8.2 million and $39.6 million, respectively, on the retirement of long-term debt, net of a related write-off of unamortized issuance costs.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, Primus Financial purchased, in the aggregate, approximately $18.6 million in face value of its subordinated deferrable notes at a cost of approximately $11.3 million. These transactions resulted in a net gain of $7.1 million on retirement of long-term debt, after a related write-off of $0.2 million of unamortized issuance costs.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, Primus Guaranty purchased and retired approximately $4.2 million in face value of its 7% Senior Notes at a cost of approximately $3.0 million. As a result, we recorded a net gain of $1.1 million on the retirement of our long-term debt, after a related write-off of $0.1 million of unamortized issuance costs.

Impairment Loss on Investments

During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we did not record any impairment losses. During the nine months ended September 30, 2009, we recorded an impairment loss of $761 thousand on an investment in the subordinated notes issued by certain of the CLOs. The impairment loss was a result of reduced estimated future cash flows to the investments as a result of an increase in projected default levels and credit ratings downgrades on the underlying collateral loans.

Other Income

Other income includes realized and unrealized gains or losses on investment securities, foreign currency revaluation losses and sublease rental income. Other income was $2.3 million and $3.0 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Other income during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 consisted primarily of realized and unrealized gains on investment securities, sublease rental income, offset by foreign currency losses. Other income during the nine months ended September 30, 2009 consisted primarily of realized gains on the sale of corporate bonds by Primus Financial as a result of the bonds delivered related to the settlement of a credit event on a single name credit swap sold.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses were $36.9 million and $28.0 million for the nine months ending September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, as summarized in the table below (dollars in thousands).


	Nine Months Ended
	September 30,
	2010		2009
CLO expenses	$	5,212	$	—
Compensation and employee benefits		16,271		15,699
Professional and legal fees		5,875		5,631
Other		9,538		6,648

Total operating expenses	$	36,896	$	27,978


Number of full-time employees, at end of period		45		45

Compensation and employee benefits include salaries, benefits, accrual for incentive bonuses and share-based compensation. Incentive bonus awards are impacted by our financial performance. Compensation expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 increased by approximately $0.6 million over the comparable prior period. The increase was primarily the result of higher share-based compensation, partially offset by a reduction in accrual for incentive bonuses during the nine months ended September 30, 2009. Share-based compensation expense was approximately $4.9 million and $3.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Professional and legal fees expense includes audit and tax advisor fees, legal costs, consulting fees, recruitment fees and director and officer liability insurance expense. The increase in professional fees is primarily attributable to higher insurance costs and accounting consulting services related to the CLO consolidations, partially offset by lower legal fees.

Other operating expenses include a provision for contingent consideration earn-out payments, rent, depreciation and amortization, bank fees, ratings agency fees, brokerage expense, travel and entertainment, exchange fees and other administrative expenses. The increase in other operating expenses primarily was a result of an additional provision for contingent earn-out payments to the former owners and related parties in connection with the CypressTree acquisition.

CLO expenses include professional fees, technology and data expenses and administrative expenses. CLO expenses were $5.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.

CLO Interest Expense

CLO interest expense includes interest paid on CLO notes issued by the CLOs. CLO interest expense was $23.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.

Interest Expense and Preferred Distributions

Interest Expense

During the course of 2009 and 2010 we have repurchased some of our 7% Senior Notes. At September 30, 2010, $90.4 million of the 7% Senior Notes was outstanding. The reduction in principal outstanding and the decline in LIBOR from 2009 to 2010 had the effect of reducing the net interest expense on these Notes. The average interest rate was 2.50% and 3.13% for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, we recorded $1.7 million and $2.3 million of interest expense on the 7% Senior Notes, respectively.

Primus Financial’s subordinated deferrable interest notes were issued in the auction rate market. This market continues to be dislocated and as a result, the interest rates on the notes were set at the contractually specified rates over LIBOR during 2009 and 2010. During the course of 2009 and 2010 Primus Financial has repurchased a portion of its subordinated deferrable interest notes. At September 30, 2010, $129.0 million of the subordinated deferrable interest notes was outstanding. At September 30, 2010, Primus Financial’s subordinated deferrable interest notes were accruing interest at an all in rate of 3.40%. The subordinated deferrable interest notes mature in June 2021 and July 2034.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, we recorded $3.6 million and $4.8 million of interest expense on Primus Financial’s subordinated deferrable interest notes, respectively. Interest expense decreased primarily as a result of lower LIBOR and reduced debt levels.

Preferred Distributions

Primus Financial issued net $100 million of perpetual preferred securities in 2002. The rate of distributions on the perpetual preferred distributions is set by reference to a contractual spread over LIBOR. Currently, the spread is set at 3.0%. During 2009, Primus Financial repurchased $5.5 million of the perpetual preferred securities. At September 30, 2010, the all in distribution rate on Primus Financial’s perpetual preferred securities was 3.26%.

Primus Financial paid net distributions of approximately $2.4 million and $2.7 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, on its perpetual preferred securities. The decrease in net distributions in 2010 was primarily a result of lower LIBOR. The average distribution rate on these securities was 3.45% and 3.76% for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Provision for Income Taxes

Provision for income taxes was $77 thousand and $152 thousand for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Primus Guaranty had a net deferred tax asset, fully offset by a valuation allowance of $14.6 million and $12.7 million as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. The change in the deferred tax asset and valuation allowance resulted primarily from Primus Asset Management’s estimated net operating loss and share compensation expense. We believe that the income of only Primus Asset Management and its subsidiaries is likely to be subject to U.S. federal and local income taxes. However, were one of our wholly owned subsidiaries, Primus Bermuda, to be subject to income tax, at a combined U.S. federal, New York State and New York City income tax rate of 46%, on its GAAP income, then its income tax expense, excluding interest and penalties, would have been approximately $55.2 million and $534.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. These figures assume that Primus Financial is not deemed to be making distributions to Primus Bermuda; such distributions would subject Primus Bermuda to an additional U.S. federal branch profits tax.

Income Taxes

Primus Guaranty, Primus Bermuda and Primus Financial are not expected to be engaged in the active conduct of a trade or business in the United States and as a result are not expected to be subject to U.S. federal, state or local income tax. Primus Asset Management is a United States domiciled corporation and is subject to U.S. federal, state and local income tax on its income, including on fees received from Primus Financial. CypressTree is a United States domiciled limited liability company and is subject to U.S. federal and state income tax. Primus Re, Ltd. (“Primus Re”), one of our wholly owned subsidiaries, may be subject to U.S. federal, state or local income tax, or Primus Asset Management may be required to include all or part of Primus Re’s income in calculating its liability for U.S. federal, state or local income tax, depending on the manner in which Primus Re conducts its business and the tax elections it makes.

The maximum combined rate of U.S. federal, state and local income tax that could apply to Primus Financial or Primus Bermuda, were they found to be engaged in a U.S. business in New York City and subject to income tax, is approximately 46% (not including U.S. federal branch profits tax that would be imposed on Primus Bermuda were Primus Financial deemed to be making distributions to Primus Bermuda). Primus Guaranty and certain of its subsidiaries are undergoing IRS audits for the years 2004 through 2006; however, no audit has yet been finalized. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, Primus Guaranty, Primus Bermuda and Primus Bermuda’s investments in the subordinated notes of Primus CLO I, Ltd. and Primus CLO II, Ltd., respectively, are likely to be treated as PFICs.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures — Economic Results

In addition to the results of operations presented in accordance with GAAP, our management and the board of directors of Primus Guaranty, Ltd. use certain non-GAAP financial measures called “Economic Results”. We believe that our Economic Results provide information useful to investors in understanding our underlying operational performance and business trends. In addition, Economic Results are useful to investors as they have been used by management and our board of directors in establishing performance-based incentives. Economic Results is an accrual based measure of our financial performance, which in our view, better reflects our long-term buy and hold strategy in our credit protection business. However, Economic Results is not a measurement of financial performance or liquidity under GAAP; therefore, these non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as an alternative or substitute for GAAP.

Beginning with the first quarter of 2010, we amended our presentation of Economic Results. These amendments have been made primarily to address the adoption of ASC Topic 810, Consolidation, in our GAAP financial statements commencing in 2010. We believe that the consolidation of the CLOs into the GAAP financial statements may affect a reader’s analysis of our underlying results of operations and could result in investor confusion or the production of information by analysts or external credit rating agencies that is not reflective of the underlying financial results of operations and financial condition of Primus Guaranty, Ltd. Accordingly, we now exclude for Economic Results the net income (loss) attributable to non-parent interests, which reflects CLO income attributable to third parties. Economic Results have not been restated or amended for any previously published financial results.

We define Economic Results as GAAP net income (loss) available to common shares (which reflects the deduction of net income (loss) attributable to non-parent interests) adjusted for the following:

•

Unrealized gains (losses) on credit swaps sold by Primus Financial are excluded from GAAP net income (loss) available to common shares;

•

Realized gains from early termination of credit swaps sold by Primus Financial are excluded from GAAP net income (loss) available to common shares;

•

Realized gains from early termination of credit swaps sold by Primus Financial are amortized over the period that would have been the remaining life of the credit swap, and that amortization is added to GAAP net income (loss) available to common shares;

•

Provision for CDS on ABS credit events; and

•

Reduction in provision for CDS on ABS credit events upon termination of credit swaps.

Economic Results includes realized and unrealized gains and losses on credit swap transactions undertaken by the Primus Absolute Return Credit Fund. We exclude unrealized gains (losses) on credit swaps sold because quarterly changes in the fair value of the credit swap portfolio do not necessarily cause Primus Financial to take any specific actions relative to any Reference Entity or group of Reference Entities. We manage the Primus Financial portfolio based on our assessment of credit fundamentals with a general strategy of holding credit swaps to maturity. At maturity, the mark-to-market values would revert to zero, to the extent no realized gains or losses had occurred. Additionally, changes in the fair value of the credit swap portfolio have no impact on our liquidity, as Primus Financial does not provide counterparties with collateral. We exclude realized gains on credit swaps sold because our strategy is focused on generation of premium income as opposed to trading gains and losses, although we amortize any realized gains over the original remaining life of the terminated contracts.

As previously discussed, credit events related to CDS on ABS may include any or all of the following: failure to pay principal, write-down in the reference obligation and distressed ratings downgrades on the reference obligation as defined in the related credit swap agreement. There may be a protracted period between the occurrence and the settlement of a credit event on CDS on ABS, and thus the estimated loss resulting from the credit event continues to be classified as an unrealized loss in net credit swap revenues. We make provisions in Economic Results for estimated costs of CDS on ABS credit events in the period in which the credit event occurs since our Economic Results excludes the change in unrealized losses on credit swaps sold for the period. These provisions are adjusted subsequently to reflect the known settlement amount(s) in the period in which the settlement occurs.

The following table below presents a reconciliation of our Economic Results (Non-GAAP measures) to GAAP for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30,						September 30,
	2010			2009			2010			2009

GAAP net income available to common shares	$	229,027		$	461,543		$	127,155		$	1,165,279
Adjustments:
Change in unrealized fair value of credit swaps sold (gain) loss by Primus Financial		(231,173	)		(471,450	)		(163,346	)		(1,146,964	)
Realized gains from early termination of credit swaps sold by Primus Financial		—			—			—			—
Amortization of realized gains from the early termination of credit swap sold by Primus Financial		145			339			703			1,100
Provision for CDS on ABS credit events		—			—			(2,374	)		(15,242	)
Reduction in provision for CDS on ABS credit events upon termination of credit swaps		—			—			1,819			27,628


Economic Results	$	(2,001	)	$	(9,568	)	$	(36,043	)	$	31,801

Economic Results earnings (loss) per GAAP diluted share	$	(0.05	)	$	(0.23	)	$	(0.88	)	$	0.77
Economic Results weighted average common shares outstanding — GAAP diluted		40,042			41,414			40,737			41,238

Economic Results earnings (loss) per GAAP diluted share is calculated by dividing net economic results by the weighted average number of common shares adjusted for the potential issuance of common shares (dilutive securities).

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements (as such term is defined in Item 303 of Regulation S-K) that are reasonably likely to have a current or future material effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.

Contractual Obligations

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations at September 30, 2010 and the effect that those obligations are expected to have on our liquidity and cash flows in future periods (in thousands):


	Payment due by period
			Less than						More than
	Total		1 year		1-3 years		3-5 years		5 years
Property leases	$	8,116	$	1,737	$	2,911	$	2,312	$	1,156
7% Senior Notes		90,426		—		—		—		90,426
Interest on 7% Senior Notes (a)		160,758		2,030		11,630		12,660		134,438
Subordinated deferrable interest notes		129,000		—		—		—		129,000
Interest on subordinated deferrable interest notes (b)		64,720		4,445		8,902		8,890		42,483

Total	$	453,020	$	8,212	$	23,443	$	23,862	$	397,503


(a)		Net interest payments on the outstanding 7% Senior Notes at September 30, 2010 are adjusted by the interest rate swap agreement, which converts a portion of the interest payment on the 7% Senior Notes from a fixed to a floating basis, as previously discussed. Future payments of interest on the interest rate swap will be determined by future LIBOR rates, to which a predetermined contractual rate is added. For the purpose of this table, estimated future LIBOR rates were based on the last rate set during the third quarter of 2010. The counterparty has the right to terminate the interest rate swap agreement in 2011, and for the purpose of this table, the interest rate swap is assumed to be terminated at that date.

(b)		Future payments for interest on our subordinated deferrable interest notes will be determined by future LIBOR rates, to which a predetermined contractual spread is added, as previously discussed. For the purpose of this table, estimated future LIBOR rates were based on the last rate set during the third quarter of 2010.

Property leases: Primus Financial leases approximately 17,500 square feet of office space at 360 Madison Avenue, New York, New York, at a fixed yearly rental (subject to certain escalations specified in the lease) that expires in 2016. In the third quarter of 2009, Primus Financial subleased approximately 5,500 square feet of its office space.

In addition, we lease approximately 2,900 square feet of office space in London. In June 2010, we exercised our rights to early terminate such lease as of December 31, 2010. We also occupy approximately 13,800 square feet of office space in Boston, Massachusetts, under a lease that expires in 2012. There are no material restrictions imposed by our lease agreements and the leases are categorized as operating leases.

CLOs: The CLOs have unfunded loan commitments of $9.3 million at September 30, 2010, with the last maturity date in March 2014.

We have no other material long-term contractual obligations.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As previously discussed, Primus Guaranty was required to consolidate the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of the CLOs under management. The consolidation of the CLOs did not have an affect on Primus Guaranty’s liquidity and capital resources. Although these CLOs are consolidated, the assets of the CLOs are not available to Primus Guaranty for general operations or in satisfaction of its debt obligations. Primus Guaranty does not have any rights to or ownership of these assets. The assets of the CLOs are restricted solely to satisfy the liabilities of the CLOs. Similarly, Primus Guaranty does not have any obligation to settle the liabilities of the CLOs. In addition, the Company’s investments in the CLOs will be eliminated in consolidation. Primus Guaranty has no contractual obligation to fund or provide other financial support to any CLO.

Our cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and investments were $630.1 million and $701.1 million as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. Since our inception, we have raised both debt and equity capital and have contributed capital to our operating subsidiaries. We are a holding company with no direct operations of our own, and as such, we are largely dependent upon the ability of our operating subsidiaries to generate cash to service our debt obligations and provide for our working capital needs.

Since October 2008, Primus Guaranty has been able to purchase and retire approximately $34.5 million in face value of its 7% Senior Notes at a cost of approximately $14.5 million. At September 30, 2010, the outstanding balance of the 7% Senior Notes was $90.4 million.

Since inception of our common share buyback program in 2008, we purchased and retired approximately 9.7 million common shares at a cost of approximately $20.5 million.

Primus Financial’s subordinated deferrable interest notes were issued in the auction rate market. During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, Primus Financial purchased in the aggregate, approximately $18.6 million in face value of its subordinated deferrable notes at a cost of approximately $11.3 million. At September 30, 2010, the total outstanding balance of deferrable interest notes was $129.0 million.

As a result of Primus Financial’s portfolio repositioning transactions in 2009, approximately $131.5 million of restricted cash and investments have been pledged as security in favor of two counterparties at September 30, 2010.

Primus Financial’s capital resources are available to support counterparty claims to the extent there is a defined credit event on a Reference Entity in its portfolio. Counterparties have no right to demand capital from Primus Financial resulting from changes in fair value on its credit swap portfolio. At September 30, 2010, Primus Financial had cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and investments of $569.5 million, which excludes investments of $22.2 million pledged as collateral. Primus Financial will continue to collect quarterly premium payments from its performing counterparties on outstanding credit swap contracts. At September 30, 2010, the average remaining tenor on the credit swap portfolio was 2.18 years and the total future premium cash receipts on Primus Financial’s credit swap portfolio was approximately $108 million (assuming all credit swaps in the portfolio run to full maturity).

Primus Financial receives cash from the receipt of credit swap premiums, any realized gains from the early termination of credit swaps and interest income earned on its investment portfolio. Cash is used to pay operating and administrative expenses, premiums on credit swaps purchased, realized losses from the early termination of credit swaps, settlement of amounts for credit events and interest on debt and preferred share distributions.

Cash Flows

Cash flows from operating activities — Net cash used in operating activities was $68.7 million and $7.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The change primarily was attributable to realized losses on credit swaps related to risk mitigation transactions, the LBSF settlement and lower premium income on a reduced credit swap portfolio during the first nine months of 2010 compared with the first nine months of 2009.

Cash flows from investing activities — Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities was $(36.1) million and $321.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The change primarily was attributable to net purchases of available-for-sale investments during the first nine months of 2010 compared with the maturity of our available-for-sale-investments during the first nine months of 2009.

Cash flows from financing activities — Net cash used in financing activities was $62.1 million and $28.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The change primarily was attributable to repayments of CLO notes by the CLOs as a result of the consolidation of the CLOs under management during the nine months ended September 30, 2010.

With our current capital resources and anticipated future credit swap premium receipts, interest and other income, we believe we have sufficient liquidity to pay our operating expenses, debt service obligations and Primus Financial’s preferred distributions over at least the next twelve months.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements with respect to our future financial or business performance, strategies or expectations. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, which change over time. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this document regarding our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “project,” “opportunity,” “seek,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements we make and future results could differ materially from historical performance. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures or investments we may make. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we do not assume any obligation to, and do not undertake to, update any forward-looking statements. The following are some of the 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:

	•		fluctuations in the economic, credit, interest rate or foreign currency environment in the United States and abroad;

	•		the level of activity within the national and international credit markets;

	•		the level of activity in the leveraged buyout and private equity markets;

	•		competitive conditions and pricing levels;

	•		change in rating agency requirements or methodology;

	•		counterparty limits and risk;

	•		legislative and regulatory developments, including changes in accounting principles;

	•		technological developments;

	•		changes in tax laws;

	•		changes in international or national political or economic conditions, including any terrorist attacks;

	•		the effects of implementation of new or revised accounting pronouncements;

	•		successful divestiture of CypressTree and certain other third-party asset management products; and

	•		uncertainties that have not been identified at this time.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Market risk represents the potential for gains or losses that may result from changes in the value of a financial instrument as a consequence of changes in market conditions. Our primary market risk is changes in market credit swap premium levels, which increase or decrease the fair value of the credit swap portfolio. Market credit swap premium levels change as a result of specific events or news related to a Reference Entity, such as a change in a credit rating by any of the rating agencies. Additionally, market credit swap premium levels can vary as a result of changes in market sentiment. As a general matter, given Primus Financial’s strategy of holding credit swaps sold until maturity, we do not seek to manage our overall exposure to market credit swap premium levels, and we expect fluctuations in the fair value of the credit swap portfolio as a result of these changes. As of September 30, 2010, each ten basis point increase or decrease in market credit swap premiums would decrease or increase the fair value of the credit swap portfolio by approximately $52.1 million.

We face other market risks, which are likely to have a lesser impact upon our net income (loss) available to common shares than those associated with market credit swap premium level risk. These other risks include interest rate risk associated with market interest rate movements. These movements may affect the value of the credit swap portfolio as our pricing model includes an interest rate component, which is used to discount future expected cash flows. Interest rate movements may also affect the carrying value of and yield on our investments. The Primus Financial Perpetual Preferred Shares pays distributions that are based upon LIBOR. Each 25 basis point increase or decrease in the level of those rates would increase or decrease Primus Financial’s annual distribution cost by approximately $236,250 for its perpetual preferred securities. In addition, interest rate movements may increase or decrease the interest expense we incur on Primus Financial’s $129.0 million of subordinated deferrable interest notes at September 30, 2010. A 25 basis point increase in the level of those rates would increase Primus Financial’s interest expense by $322,500 annually.

In February 2007, we entered into an interest rate swap agreement with a major financial institution that effectively converted a notional amount of $75 million of our 7% Senior Notes, to floating rate debt based on three-month LIBOR plus a fixed spread of 0.96%. Assuming a 25 basis point increase or decrease in three-month LIBOR, our interest expense would increase or decrease by $187,500 annually.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

The Company has carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to rules 13a-15 and 15-15d promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective to provide reasonable assurance that all material information relating to the Company required to be filed in this report have been made known to them in a timely fashion. New accounting standards require the Company to consolidate CLOs under management beginning January 1, 2010. Controls and procedures have been designed to ensure that the information required to consolidate these CLOs and report on them is available and prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. There have been no other changes in internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to affect, internal control over financial reporting.

The Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, does not expect that the Company’s disclosure controls or its internal controls can prevent all errors and all fraud. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. As a result of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making are faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. As a result of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected. Accordingly, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the disclosure controls and procedures are met.

Part II. Other Information

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

In the ordinary course of operating our business, we may encounter litigation from time to time. However, we are not party to nor are we currently aware of any material pending or overtly threatened litigation.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have not been any material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

The following table provides information about our purchases of our common shares during the third quarter ended September 30, 2010:


					Total Number of		Approximate Dollar
	Total				Shares Purchased		Value of Shares that
	Number of		Average		as Part of Publicly		May Yet Be Purchased
	Shares		Price Paid		Announced Plans		under the Plans or
Period	Purchased		per Share		or Programs		Programs (a)

July 1 – 31		450,600	$	4.06		450,600	$	22,747,256
August 1 – 31		400,300	$	4.11		400,300	$	21,102,023
September 1 – 30		277,400	$	4.37		277,400	$	19,889,785

Total		1,128,300	$	4.15		1,128,300


(a)		On October 8, 2008, our board of directors authorized the implementation of a buyback program for the purchase of our common shares and/or the 7% Senior Notes in the aggregate up to $25.0 million. On February 3, 2010, our board of directors authorized an additional expenditure of up to $15.0 million of available cash for the purchase of our common shares and/or our 7% Senior Notes. On July 29, 2010, our board of directors authorized an additional expenditure of up to $5.0 million of available cash for the purchase of our common shares and/or our 7% Senior Notes. The amounts in this column do not reflect the cost of approximately $14.5 million for purchases of our 7% Senior Notes, since inception of our buyback program through the quarter ended September 30, 2010.

Item 6. Exhibits

Exhibits:


	10.1			Primus Guaranty, Ltd. Restricted Share Unit Deferral Plan (As amended and restated effective as of July 29, 2010)

	10.2			Primus Guaranty, Ltd. Incentive Compensation Plan (including amendments through July 29, 2010)

	10.3			Termination Agreement, dated September 27, 2010, by and among Primus Financial Products, LLC, Lehman Brothers Special Financing Inc. and Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.

	10.4			Separation Agreement, dated October 29, 2010, between Thomas W. Jasper and Primus Asset Management, Inc.

	12			Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Share Dividend Requirements

	31.1			Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

	31.2			Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

	32			Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


	PRIMUS GUARANTY, LTD.
	/s/ Richard Claiden
	Richard Claiden
	Chief Executive Officer


	/s/ Christopher N. Gerosa
	Christopher N. Gerosa
	Chief Financial Officer (Duly Authorized Officer and Principal Financial Officer)

Date: November 12, 2010

EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit No.		Description

	10.1	Primus Guaranty, Ltd. Restricted Share Unit Deferral Plan (As amended and restated effective as of July 29, 2010)

	10.2	Primus Guaranty, Ltd. Incentive Compensation Plan (including amendments through July 29, 2010)

	10.3	Termination Agreement, dated September 27, 2010, by and among Primus Financial Products, LLC, Lehman Brothers Special Financing Inc. and Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.

	10.4	Separation Agreement, dated October 29, 2010, between Thomas W. Jasper and Primus Asset Management, Inc.

	12	Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Share Dividend Requirements

	31.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

	31.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

	32	Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002