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Investments | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2017
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract] |
Investments | 8. INVESTMENTS Ambac’s non-VIE invested assets are primarily comprised of fixed income securities classified as available-for-sale and equity interests in pooled investment funds. Such equity interests in the form of common stock or in-substance common stock are classified as trading securities and are reported within Other investments on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Other investments also include Ambac's equity interest in an unconsolidated trust created in connection with its sale of Segregated Account junior surplus notes on August 28, 2014. Fixed Income Securities: The amortized cost and estimated fair value of available-for-sale investments, excluding VIE investments, at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 were as follows:
|  | Amortized Cost |  | Gross Unrealized Gains |  | Gross Unrealized Losses |  | Estimated Fair Value |  | Non-credit other-than temporary Impairments (1)
March 31, 2017: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fixed income securities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Municipal obligations |  | $ | 458,363 |  |  | $ | 5,928 |  |  | $ | 7,584 |  |  | $ | 456,707 |  |  | $ | — |
Corporate obligations |  | 1,769,546 |  |  | 20,681 |  |  | 15,303 |  |  | 1,774,924 |  |  | — |
Foreign obligations |  | 28,652 |  |  | 843 |  |  | 32 |  |  | 29,463 |  |  | — |
U.S. government obligations |  | 41,074 |  |  | 1,042 |  |  | 107 |  |  | 42,009 |  |  | — |
U.S. agency obligations |  | 4,020 |  |  | — |  |  | 2 |  |  | 4,018 |  |  | — |
Residential mortgage-backed securities |  | 2,240,984 |  |  | 110,762 |  |  | 37,259 |  |  | 2,314,487 |  |  | 31,056 |
Collateralized debt obligations |  | 152,507 |  |  | 601 |  |  | 4 |  |  | 153,104 |  |  | — |
Other asset-backed securities |  | 608,577 |  |  | 68,875 |  |  | 8,165 |  |  | 669,287 |  |  | — |
|  | 5,303,723 |  |  | 208,732 |  |  | 68,456 |  |  | 5,443,999 |  |  | 31,056 |
Short-term |  | 347,152 |  |  | 12 |  |  | 109 |  |  | 347,055 |  |  | — |
|  | 5,650,875 |  |  | 208,744 |  |  | 68,565 |  |  | 5,791,054 |  |  | 31,056 |
Fixed income securities pledged as collateral: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. government obligations |  | 64,889 |  |  | 19 |  |  | — |  |  | 64,908 |  |  | — |
Total collateralized investments |  | 64,889 |  |  | 19 |  |  | — |  |  | 64,908 |  |  | — |
Total available-for-sale investments |  | $ | 5,715,764 |  |  | $ | 208,763 |  |  | $ | 68,565 |  |  | $ | 5,855,962 |  |  | $ | 31,056 |
December 31, 2016: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fixed income securities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Municipal obligations |  | $ | 376,064 |  |  | $ | 5,509 |  |  | $ | 7,205 |  |  | $ | 374,368 |  |  | $ | — |
Corporate obligations |  | 1,803,136 |  |  | 19,589 |  |  | 20,560 |  |  | 1,802,165 |  |  | — |
Foreign obligations |  | 41,932 |  |  | 1,303 |  |  | 100 |  |  | 43,135 |  |  | — |
U.S. government obligations |  | 33,732 |  |  | 2,551 |  |  | 97 |  |  | 36,186 |  |  | — |
U.S. agency obligations |  | 4,063 |  |  | — |  |  | 3 |  |  | 4,060 |  |  | — |
Residential mortgage-backed securities |  | 2,284,425 |  |  | 110,955 |  |  | 43,785 |  |  | 2,351,595 |  |  | 35,232 |
Collateralized debt obligations |  | 113,650 |  |  | 493 |  |  | 220 |  |  | 113,923 |  |  | — |
Other asset-backed securities |  | 778,383 |  |  | 58,028 |  |  | 7,628 |  |  | 828,783 |  |  | — |
|  | 5,435,385 |  |  | 198,428 |  |  | 79,598 |  |  | 5,554,215 |  |  | 35,232 |
Short-term |  | 430,827 |  |  | 5 |  |  | 44 |  |  | 430,788 |  |  | — |
|  | 5,866,212 |  |  | 198,433 |  |  | 79,642 |  |  | 5,985,003 |  |  | 35,232 |
Fixed income securities pledged as collateral: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. government obligations |  | 64,833 |  |  | 72 |  |  | — |  |  | 64,905 |  |  | — |
Total collateralized investments |  | 64,833 |  |  | 72 |  |  | — |  |  | 64,905 |  |  | — |
Total available-for-sale investments |  | $ | 5,931,045 |  |  | $ | 198,505 |  |  | $ | 79,642 |  |  | $ | 6,049,908 |  |  | $ | 35,232 |
(1) | Represents the amount of non-credit other-than-temporary impairment losses remaining in accumulated other comprehensive income on securities that also had a credit impairment. These losses are included in gross unrealized losses as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016.
The amortized cost and estimated fair value of available-for-sale investments, excluding VIE investments, at March 31, 2017, by contractual maturity, were as follows:
|  | Amortized Cost |  | Estimated Fair Value
Due in one year or less |  | $ | 482,916 |  |  | $ | 483,125 |
Due after one year through five years |  | 1,213,216 |  |  | 1,218,029 |
Due after five years through ten years |  | 752,256 |  |  | 753,397 |
Due after ten years |  | 265,308 |  |  | 264,533 |
|  | 2,713,696 |  |  | 2,719,084 |
Residential mortgage-backed securities |  | 2,240,984 |  |  | 2,314,487 |
Collateralized debt obligations |  | 152,507 |  |  | 153,104 |
Other asset-backed securities |  | 608,577 |  |  | 669,287 |
Total |  | $ | 5,715,764 |  |  | $ | 5,855,962 |
Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay certain obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. Unrealized Losses on Fixed Income Securities: The following table shows gross unrealized losses and fair values of Ambac’s available-for-sale investments, aggregated by investment category and length of time that the individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position, at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016:
|  | Less Than 12 Months |  | 12 Months or More |  | Total
|  | Fair Value |  | Gross Unrealized Loss |  | Fair Value |  | Gross Unrealized Loss |  | Fair Value |  | Gross Unrealized Loss
March 31, 2017: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fixed income securities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Municipal obligations |  | $ | 140,215 |  |  | $ | 2,633 |  |  | $ | 109,137 |  |  | $ | 4,951 |  |  | $ | 249,352 |  |  | $ | 7,584 |
Corporate obligations |  | 756,173 |  |  | 15,149 |  |  | 3,937 |  |  | 154 |  |  | 760,110 |  |  | 15,303 |
Foreign obligations |  | 3,604 |  |  | 32 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 3,604 |  |  | 32 |
U.S. government obligations |  | 10,615 |  |  | 103 |  |  | 5,021 |  |  | 4 |  |  | 15,636 |  |  | 107 |
U.S. agency obligations |  | 4,018 |  |  | 2 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 4,018 |  |  | 2 |
Residential mortgage-backed securities |  | 280,529 |  |  | 4,081 |  |  | 442,162 |  |  | 33,178 |  |  | 722,691 |  |  | 37,259 |
Collateralized debt obligations |  | 23,149 |  |  | 2 |  |  | 8,005 |  |  | 2 |  |  | 31,154 |  |  | 4 |
Other asset-backed securities |  | 132,395 |  |  | 685 |  |  | 71,081 |  |  | 7,480 |  |  | 203,476 |  |  | 8,165 |
|  | 1,350,698 |  |  | 22,687 |  |  | 639,343 |  |  | 45,769 |  |  | 1,990,041 |  |  | 68,456 |
Short-term |  | 126,441 |  |  | 109 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 126,441 |  |  | 109 |
Total temporarily impaired securities |  | $ | 1,477,139 |  |  | $ | 22,796 |  |  | $ | 639,343 |  |  | $ | 45,769 |  |  | $ | 2,116,482 |  |  | $ | 68,565 |
|  | Less Than 12 Months |  | 12 Months or More |  | Total
|  | Fair Value |  | Gross Unrealized Loss |  | Fair Value |  | Gross Unrealized Loss |  | Fair Value |  | Gross Unrealized Loss
December 31, 2016: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fixed income securities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Municipal obligations |  | $ | 98,147 |  |  | $ | 2,045 |  |  | $ | 122,928 |  |  | $ | 5,160 |  |  | $ | 221,075 |  |  | $ | 7,205 |
Corporate obligations |  | 963,513 |  |  | 20,232 |  |  | 6,492 |  |  | 328 |  |  | 970,005 |  |  | 20,560 |
Foreign obligations |  | 5,063 |  |  | 100 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 5,063 |  |  | 100 |
U.S. government obligations |  | 6,037 |  |  | 93 |  |  | 5,045 |  |  | 4 |  |  | 11,082 |  |  | 97 |
U.S. agency obligations |  | 4,060 |  |  | 3 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 4,060 |  |  | 3 |
Residential mortgage-backed securities |  | 226,889 |  |  | 7,201 |  |  | 550,807 |  |  | 36,584 |  |  | 777,696 |  |  | 43,785 |
Collateralized debt obligations |  | 6,986 |  |  | 23 |  |  | 25,780 |  |  | 197 |  |  | 32,766 |  |  | 220 |
Other asset-backed securities |  | 115,622 |  |  | 203 |  |  | 77,712 |  |  | 7,425 |  |  | 193,334 |  |  | 7,628 |
|  | 1,426,317 |  |  | 29,900 |  |  | 788,764 |  |  | 49,698 |  |  | 2,215,081 |  |  | 79,598 |
Short-term |  | 65,176 |  |  | 44 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 65,176 |  |  | 44 |
Total temporarily impaired securities |  | $ | 1,491,493 |  |  | $ | 29,944 |  |  | $ | 788,764 |  |  | $ | 49,698 |  |  | $ | 2,280,257 |  |  | $ | 79,642 |
Management has determined that the unrealized losses reflected in the tables above are temporary in nature as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 based upon (i) no unexpected principal and interest payment defaults on these securities; (ii) analysis of the creditworthiness of the issuer and financial guarantor, as applicable, and analysis of projected defaults on the underlying collateral; (iii) management has no intent to sell these investments in debt securities; and (iv) it is not more likely than not that Ambac will be required to sell these debt securities before the anticipated recovery of its amortized cost basis. The assessment under (iv) is based on a comparison of future available liquidity from the investment portfolio against the projected net cash outflow from operating activities and debt service. For purposes of this assessment, available liquidity from the investment portfolio is comprised of the fair value of securities for which management has asserted its intent to sell, the fair value of other securities that are available for sale and in an unrealized gain position, trading securities plus the scheduled maturities and interest payments from the remaining securities in the portfolio. To the extent that securities that management intends to sell are in an unrealized loss position, they would have already been considered other-than-temporarily impaired with the amortized cost written down to fair value. Because the above-described assessment indicates that future available liquidity exceeds projected net cash outflow, it is not more likely than not that we would be required to sell securities in an unrealized loss position before the recovery of their amortized cost basis. In the liquidity assessment described above, principal payments on securities pledged as collateral are not considered to be available for other liquidity needs until the collateralized positions are projected to be settled. Projected interest receipts on securities pledged as collateral generally belong to Ambac and are considered to be sources of available liquidity from the investment portfolio. As of March 31, 2017, for securities that have indications of possible other-than-temporary impairment but which management does not intend to sell and will not more likely than not be required to sell, management compared the present value of cash flows expected to be collected to the amortized cost basis of the securities to assess whether the amortized cost will be recovered. Cash flows were discounted at the effective interest rate implicit in the security at the date of acquisition (or Fresh Start Reporting Date of April 30, 2013 for securities purchased prior to that date) or for debt securities that are beneficial interests in securitized financial assets, at a rate equal to the current yield used to accrete the beneficial interest. For floating rate securities, future cash flows and the discount rate used were both adjusted to reflect changes in the index rate applicable to each security as of the evaluation date. Of the securities that were in a gross unrealized loss position at March 31, 2017, $985,032 of the total fair value and $48,888 of the unrealized loss related to below investment grade and non-rated securities. Of the securities that were in a gross unrealized loss position at December 31, 2016, $890,952 of the total fair value and $53,273 of the unrealized loss related to below investment grade and non-rated securities. With respect to Ambac guaranteed securities, future cash flows relating to those invested assets include the sum of (i) the bond’s intrinsic cash flows and (ii) the estimated Ambac claim payments, including Deferred Amounts (as defined in the Segregated Account Rehabilitation Plan) for securities with policies allocated to the Segregated Account. Ambac estimates the timing of such claim payment receipts but the actual timing of such amounts are at the sole discretion of the Rehabilitator. Further modifications to the Segregated Account Rehabilitation Plan or to the rules and guidelines promulgated thereunder, orders from the Rehabilitation Court or actions by the Rehabilitator with respect to the form, amount and timing of satisfying permitted policy claims, or making payments on Deferred Amounts or surplus notes, or the accretion rate on Deferred Amounts, may have a material effect on the fair value of Ambac insured securities and future recognition of other-than-temporary impairments. Refer to Note 1. Background and Business Description and to Note 1. Background and Business Description in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 for information relating to the amended Segregated Account Rehabilitation Plan. Ambac’s assessment about whether a decline in value is other-than-temporary reflects management’s current judgment regarding facts and circumstances specific to a security and the factors noted above. If that judgment changes, Ambac may ultimately record a charge for other-than-temporary impairment in future periods. Municipal and corporate obligations The gross unrealized losses on municipal and corporate obligations as of March 31, 2017 are primarily the result of the increase in interest rates since purchase (or the Fresh Start Reporting Date of April 30, 2013 if owned as of that date). These securities are primarily fixed-rate securities with an investment grade credit rating. Management believes that the timely receipt of all principal and interest on these positions is probable. Residential mortgage-backed securities Of the $37,259 of unrealized losses on residential mortgage-backed securities, $36,995 is attributable to Ambac insured securities. The unrealized loss on these securities is primarily the result of discount accretion, which has exceeded the increase in fair value since either the purchase date or Fresh Start Reporting Date of April 30, 2013 for securities owned prior to such date. As part of the quarterly impairment review process, management estimates expected future cash flows from residential mortgage-backed securities. This approach includes the utilization of market accepted software models in conjunction with detailed data of the historical performance of the collateral pools, which assists in the determination of assumptions such as defaults, severity and voluntary prepayment rates that are largely driven by home price forecasts as well as other macro-economic factors. Additionally, for Ambac insured securities that are allocated to the Segregated Account, expected future cash flows include assumptions about the timing of Ambac Assurance claim payments, including interest on Deferred Amounts, although the actual timing of such payments are at the sole discretion of the Rehabilitator. These assumptions are used to project future cash flows for each security. Management considered this analysis in making our determination that a credit loss has not occurred at March 31, 2017 on these transactions. Realized Gains and Losses and Other-Than-Temporary Impairments: The following table details amounts included in net realized gains (losses) and other-than-temporary impairments included in earnings for the affected periods:
|  | Three Months Ended March 31,
|  | 2017 |  | 2016
Gross realized gains on securities |  | $ | 2,659 |  |  | $ | 1,928 |
Gross realized losses on securities |  | (9,471 | ) |  | (3,609 | )
Net foreign exchange gains |  | 1,916 |  |  | 2,783 |
Net realized gains (losses) |  | $ | (4,896 | ) |  | $ | 1,102 |
Net other-than-temporary impairments (1) |  | $ | (3,942 | ) |  | $ | (9,334 | )
(1) | Other-than-temporary impairments exclude impairment amounts recorded in other comprehensive income under ASC Paragraph 320-10-65-1, which comprise non-credit related amounts on securities that are credit impaired but which management does not intend to sell and it is not more likely than not that Ambac will be required to sell before recovery of the amortized cost basis.
Since commencement of the Segregated Account Rehabilitation Proceedings, changes in the estimated timing of claim payments have resulted in adverse changes in projected cash flows on certain impaired Ambac insured securities. Such changes in estimated claim payments on Ambac insured securities contributed to net other-than-temporary impairments for the periods presented in the table above. Further changes to the estimated timing of claim payments could result in additional other-than-temporary impairment charges in the future. Future changes in our estimated liquidity needs could result in a determination that Ambac no longer has the ability to hold securities that are in an unrealized loss position, which could result in additional other-than-temporary impairment charges. The following table presents a roll-forward of Ambac’s cumulative credit losses on debt securities held as of March 31, 2017 and 2016 for which a portion of an other-than-temporary impairment was recognized in other comprehensive income:
|  | Three Months Ended March 31,
|  | 2017 |  | 2016
Balance, beginning of period |  | $ | 52,070 |  |  | $ | 31,176 |
Additions for credit impairments recognized on: |  |  |  |
Securities not previously impaired |  | 307 |  |  | 580 |
Securities previously impaired |  | 1,985 |  |  | 8,756 |
Balance, end of period |  | $ | 54,362 |  |  | $ | 40,512 |
Counterparty Collateral, Deposits with Regulators and Other Restrictions: Ambac routinely pledges and receives collateral related to certain transactions. Ambac pledges assets it holds in its investment portfolio to investment agreement (prior to repayment in March 2017) and derivative counterparties as collateral. Securities pledged to investment agreement counterparties were not to be re-pledged to another entity. Ambac’s counterparties under derivative agreements have the right to pledge or rehypothecate the securities and as such, these pledged securities are separately classified on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as “Fixed income securities pledged as collateral, at fair value”. The following table presents (i) the sources of collateral either received from various counterparties where Ambac is permitted to sell or re-pledge the collateral or collateral held directly in the investment portfolio and (ii) how that collateral was pledged to investment agreement and derivative counterparties at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016:
|  | Fair Value of Cash and Underlying Securities |  | Fair Value of Cash and Securities Pledged to Investment Agreement Counterparties |  | Fair Value of Cash and Securities Pledged to Derivative Counterparties
March 31, 2017: |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash and securities pledged directly from the investment portfolio |  | $ | 122,242 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 122,242 |
December 31, 2016: |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash and securities pledged directly from the investment portfolio |  | $ | 291,545 |  |  | $ | 88,940 |  |  | $ | 202,605 |
Securities carried at $5,859 and $5,872 at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, were deposited by Ambac Assurance and Everspan with governmental authorities or designated custodian banks as required by laws affecting insurance companies. Securities with fair value of $355,223 and $360,759 at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, were held by a bankruptcy remote trust to collateralize and fund repayment of debt issued through a re-securitization transaction. The securities may not be sold or repledged by the trust. These assets are held and the secured debt is issued by entities that qualify as VIEs and are consolidated in Ambac’s unaudited consolidated financial statements. Refer to Note 3. Special Purpose Entities, Including Variable Interest Entities for a further description of this transaction. Guaranteed Securities: Ambac’s fixed income portfolio includes securities covered by guarantees issued by Ambac Assurance and other financial guarantors (“insured securities”). The published rating agency ratings on these securities reflect the higher of the financial strength rating of the financial guarantor or the rating of the underlying issuer. Rating agencies do not always publish separate underlying ratings (those ratings excluding the insurance by the financial guarantor). In the event these underlying ratings are not available from the rating agencies, Ambac will assign an internal rating. The following table represents the fair value, including the value of the financial guarantee, and weighted-average underlying rating, excluding the financial guarantee, of the insured securities at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively:
|  | Municipal obligations |  | Corporate obligations |  | Mortgage and asset- backed securities |  | Total |  | Weighted Average Underlying Rating (1)
March 31, 2017: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ambac Assurance Corporation (2) |  | $ | 178,535 |  |  | $ | 31,731 |  |  | $ | 2,723,614 |  |  | $ | 2,933,880 |  |  | CC
National Public Finance Guarantee Corporation |  | 37,051 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 37,051 |  |  | A-
Assured Guaranty Municipal Corporation |  | 25,654 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 25,654 |  |  | AA
MBIA Insurance Corporation |  | — |  |  | 2,613 |  |  | — |  |  | 2,613 |  |  | BBB+
Total |  | $ | 241,240 |  |  | $ | 34,344 |  |  | $ | 2,723,614 |  |  | $ | 2,999,198 |  |  | CC
December 31, 2016: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ambac Assurance Corporation (2) |  | $ | 81,651 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 2,739,073 |  |  | $ | 2,820,724 |  |  | CC
National Public Finance Guarantee Corporation |  | 38,687 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 38,687 |  |  | A-
Assured Guaranty Municipal Corporation |  | 25,660 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 25,660 |  |  | AA
MBIA Insurance Corporation |  | — |  |  | 2,630 |  |  | — |  |  | 2,630 |  |  | BBB+
Total |  | $ | 145,998 |  |  | $ | 2,630 |  |  | $ | 2,739,073 |  |  | $ | 2,887,701 |  |  | CC
(1) | Ratings are based on the lower of Standard & Poor’s or Moody’s rating. If unavailable, Ambac’s internal rating is used.
(2) | Includes corporate obligations and asset-backed securities with a fair value of $166,126 and $118,813 at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, insured by Ambac UK.
Equity Interests: Ambac's investment portfolio includes equity interests in various pooled investment funds, which are classified as trading. The fair value and additional information about such investments in pooled funds, by investment type, is summarized in the table below. Except as noted in the table, fair value reported is determined using NAV per share as a practical expedient. There are no unfunded commitments applicable to any of these investments for the periods disclosed.
|  | Fair Value |  |  |  |
Class of Funds |  | March 31, 2017 |  | December 31, 2016 |  | Redemption Frequency |  | Redemption Notice Period
Real estate properties (1) |  | $ | 31,518 |  |  | $ | 33,303 |  |  | quarterly |  | 10 business days
Diversified hedge fund strategies (2) |  | 48,283 |  |  | 53,985 |  |  | semi-monthly |  | 15 - 30 days
Interest rate products (3) (7) |  | 278,166 |  |  | 261,315 |  |  | daily, weekly or monthly |  | 0 - 30 days
Illiquid investments (4) |  | 40,814 |  |  | 39,068 |  |  | quarterly |  | 180 days
Insurance-linked investments (5) |  | 12,658 |  |  | — |  |  | quarterly |  | 90-120 days
Equity market investments (6) (7) |  | 35,048 |  |  | 32,633 |  |  | daily |  | 0 days
Total equity investments in pooled funds |  | $ | 446,487 |  |  | $ | 420,304 |  |  |  |  |
(1) | Investments consist of UK property to generate income and capital growth.
(2) | Investments seek diversified exposure to hedge fund core strategies to produce high risk-adjusted returns, with low long-term correlation to traditional markets and with targeted volatility levels. Funds may have the right to defer redemptions under certain circumstances.
(3) | This class of funds includes investments in a range of instruments including leveraged loans, CLOs, asset-backed securities and floating rate notes to generate income and capital appreciation. Funds with less frequent redemption periods limit redemptions to as little as 15% per period. Funds with a same day redemption notice period are redeemable only weekly, while funds that may be redeemed any business day have notice periods of 15-30 days.
(4) | This class seeks to obtain high long-term total return through investments with low liquidity and defined term, resulting in expected capital distributions to subscribers between 2020 and 2023. Redemptions cannot occur prior to the expiration of the investment lock-up period in May 2018.
(5) | This class aims to provide returns from the insurance and reinsurance markets through investments in catastrophe bonds, life insurance and other insurance linked investments. Redemption periods are quarterly, subject to 90-day notice for January/July redemption dates and 120-day notice for April/October redemption dates with redemptions greater than 3.5% during the first five years following share issuance subject to redemption fees.
(6) | Investments represent a diversified exposure to global equity market returns through holdings of various regional market index funds.
(7) | Interest rate products include $76,750 at March 31, 2017 and $51,158 at December 31, 2016 and equity market investments include $35,048 at March 31, 2017 and $32,633 at December 31, 2016 that have readily determinable fair values priced through pricing vendors.
Ambac also holds an equity interest in an unconsolidated trust created in connection with the 2014 sale of Segregated Account junior surplus notes, which is accounted for under the equity method. Investment Income: Net investment income was comprised of the following for the affected periods:
|  | Three Months Ended March 31,
|  | 2017 |  | 2016
Fixed income securities |  | $ | 74,069 |  |  | $ | 59,426 |
Short-term investments |  | 989 |  |  | 553 |
Loans |  | 89 |  |  | 106 |
Investment expense |  | (1,997 | ) |  | (2,103 | )
Securities available-for-sale and short-term |  | 73,150 |  |  | 57,982 |
Other investments |  | 8,409 |  |  | 2,839 |
Total net investment income |  | $ | 81,559 |  |  | $ | 60,821 |
Net investment income from Other investments primarily represents changes in fair value on securities classified as trading or under the fair value option plus income from Ambac's equity interest in an unconsolidated trust created in connection with its sale of Segregated Account junior surplus notes. The portion of net unrealized gains (losses) related to trading securities still held at the end of each period is as follows:
|  | Three Months Ended March 31,
|  | 2017 |  | 2016
Net gains (losses) recognized during the period on trading securities |  | $ | 7,211 |  |  | $ | 1,707 |
Less: net gains (losses) recognized during the reporting period on trading securities sold during the period |  | 1,283 |  |  | 406 |
Unrealized gains (losses) recognized during the reporting period on trading securities still held at the reporting date |  | $ | 5,928 |  |  | $ | 1,301 |

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- Definition The entire disclosure for investments in certain debt and equity securities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -Glossary Debt Security -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6509901 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27290-111563 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6379141&loc=d3e15032-111544 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27232-111563 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -Glossary Equity Security -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6511694 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 320 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6957658&loc=d3e62557-112803 Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27161-111563 Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27357-111563 Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 10 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27405-111563 + Details
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