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Background and Business Description | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Background and Business Description | 1. BACKGROUND AND BUSINESS DESCRIPTION Ambac Financial Group, Inc. (“AFG”), headquartered in New York City, is a financial services holding company incorporated in the state of Delaware on April 29, 1991. AFG provides financial guarantee insurance policies through its principal operating subsidiary, Ambac Assurance Corporation ("Ambac Assurance" or "AAC") and its wholly owned subsidiary Ambac Assurance UK Limited (“Ambac UK”), both of which have been in runoff since 2008. References to “Ambac,” the “Company,” “we,” “our,” and “us” are to AFG and its subsidiaries, as the context requires. Insurance policies issued by Ambac Assurance and Ambac UK generally guarantee payment when due of the principal and interest on the obligations guaranteed. Ambac Assurance also has another wholly-owned subsidiary, Everspan Insurance Company (formerly known as Everspan Financial Guarantee Corp.), which has been in runoff since its acquisition in 1997. The deterioration of Ambac Assurance’s financial condition resulting from losses in its insured portfolio since 2007 has prevented Ambac Assurance and Ambac UK from being able to write new business. The inability to write new business has and will continue to negatively impact Ambac’s future operations and financial results. Ambac Assurance’s ability to pay dividends and, as a result, AFG’s liquidity, have been significantly restricted by the deterioration of Ambac Assurance’s financial condition and by the terms of the Settlement Agreement, dated as of June 7, 2010, as amended (the "Settlement Agreement"), by and among Ambac Assurance, Ambac Credit Products LLC (“ACP”), AFG and certain counterparties to credit default swaps with ACP that were guaranteed by Ambac Assurance. Ambac Assurance is also restricted in its ability to pay dividends pursuant to regulatory restrictions; the Stipulation and Order among the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance for the State of Wisconsin (“OCI”), AFG and Ambac Assurance that became effective on February 12, 2018, as amended (the “Stipulation and Order”); the terms of the indenture for the Tier 2 Notes (as defined below), which are substantially similar to the terms of the Settlement Agreement in this regard; and the terms of its Auction Market Preferred Shares ("AMPS"). It is highly unlikely that Ambac Assurance will be able to make dividend payments to AFG for the foreseeable future. Management reviews financial information, allocates resources and measures financial performance on a consolidated basis. As a result, the Company has a single reportable segment. Limitations on Voting and Transfer of Common Stock AFG’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation limits voting and transfer rights of stockholders in significant ways. Article IV contains voting restrictions applicable to any person owning at least 10% of AFG's common stock so that such person (including any group consisting of such person and any other person with whom such person or any affiliate or associate of such person has any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with respect to acquiring, voting, holding or disposing of AFG’s common stock) shall not be entitled to cast votes in excess of one vote less than 10% of the votes entitled to be cast by all common stock holders, except as otherwise approved by the OCI. Article XII contains substantial restrictions on the ability to transfer AFG’s common stock. In order to preserve certain tax benefits, subject to limited exceptions, any attempted transfer of common stock shall be prohibited and void to the extent that, as a result of such transfer (or any series of transfers of which such transfer is a part), either (i) any person or group of persons shall become a holder of 5% or more of the Company’s common stock or (ii) the percentage stock ownership interest in AFG of any holder of 5% or more of the Company’s common stock shall be increased (a “Prohibited Transfer”). These restrictions shall not apply to an attempted transfer if the transferor or the transferee obtains the written approval of AFG’s Board of Directors to such transfer. A purported transferee of a Prohibited Transfer shall not be recognized as a stockholder of AFG for any purpose whatsoever in respect of the securities which are the subject of the Prohibited Transfer (the “Excess Securities”). Until the Excess Securities are acquired by another person in a transfer that is not a Prohibited Transfer, the purported transferee of a Prohibited Transfer shall not be entitled with respect to such Excess Securities to any rights of stockholders of AFG, including, without limitation, the right to vote such Excess Securities and to receive dividends or distributions, whether liquidating or otherwise, in respect thereof, if any. Once the Excess Securities have been acquired in a transfer that is not a Prohibited Transfer, the securities shall cease to be Excess Securities. If the Board determines that a transfer of securities constitutes a Prohibited Transfer then, upon written demand by AFG, the purported transferee shall transfer or cause to be transferred any certificate or other evidence of ownership of the Excess Securities within the purported transferee’s possession or control, together with any distributions paid by AFG with respect to such Excess Securities, to an agent designated by AFG. Such agent shall thereafter sell such Excess Securities and the proceeds of such sale shall be distributed as set forth in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. If the purported transferee of a Prohibited Transfer has resold the Excess Securities before receiving such demand, such person shall be deemed to have sold the Excess Securities for AFG’s agent and shall be required to transfer to such agent the proceeds of such sale, which shall be distributed as set forth in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. Strategies to Enhance Shareholder Value Since the exit from rehabilitation of Ambac Assurance’s Segregated Account (as defined below) in February 2018, Ambac has been focused on and continues to progress all key strategic priorities, specifically:
• | Active runoff of Ambac Assurance and its subsidiaries through transaction terminations, policy commutations, reinsurance, settlements and restructurings, with a focus on our watch list credits and known and potential future adversely classified credits, that we believe will improve our risk profile, and maximizing the risk-adjusted return on invested assets;
• | Ongoing rationalization of Ambac's capital and liability structures;
• | Loss recovery through active litigation management and exercise of contractual and legal rights;
• | Ongoing review and adjustments focused on improving the effectiveness and efficiency of Ambac's operating platform; and
• | Evaluation of opportunities in certain business sectors that meet acceptable criteria that will generate long-term stockholder value with attractive risk-adjusted returns.
With respect to our new business strategy, we continue to evaluate and pursue strategic opportunities in credit, insurance, asset management and other financial services that we believe would be synergistic to Ambac and would leverage our core competencies. While we have increased our efforts in evaluating such potential opportunities, we continue to be measured and disciplined in our approach as we seek to deploy our capital on opportunities that will generate sustainable long-term shareholder value. Although we are exploring new business opportunities for Ambac, no assurance can be given that we will be able to identify or execute a suitable transaction and/or obtain the financial and other resources that may be required to finance the acquisition or development of any new businesses or assets. Due to these factors, as well as uncertainties relating to the ability of Ambac Assurance to deliver value to Ambac, the value of our securities remains speculative. The execution of Ambac’s strategy to increase the value of its investment in Ambac Assurance is subject to the restrictions set forth in the Settlement Agreement, dated as of June 7, 2010 (the "Settlement Agreement"), by and among Ambac Assurance, Ambac Credit Products LLC ("ACP"), AFG and certain counterparties to credit default swaps with ACP that were guaranteed by Ambac Assurance, as well as the Stipulation and Order (as defined in Note 1. Background and Business Description to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K) and in the indenture for the Tier 2 Notes (as defined in Note 1. Background and Business Description to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K), each of which requires OCI (as defined below) and, under certain circumstances, holders of the debt instruments benefiting from such restrictions, to approve certain actions taken by or in respect of Ambac Assurance. In exercising its approval rights, OCI will act for the benefit of policyholders, and will not take into account the interests of Ambac. See Note 1. Background and Business Description to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 in this Form 10-K for further information. Opportunities for remediating losses on poorly performing insured transactions also depend on market conditions, including the perception of Ambac Assurance’s creditworthiness, the structure of the underlying risk and associated policy as well as other counterparty specific factors. Ambac Assurance's ability to commute policies or purchase certain investments may also be limited by available liquidity. The Segregated Account In March 2010, Ambac Assurance established a Segregated Account pursuant to Wisc. Stat. §611.24 (2) (the “Segregated Account”) to segregate certain segments of Ambac Assurance’s liabilities, and the Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner, acting as rehabilitator (the "Rehabilitator") commenced rehabilitation proceedings in the Dane County, Wisconsin Circuit Court (the “Rehabilitation Court”) with respect to the Segregated Account (the “Segregated Account Rehabilitation Proceedings”) in order to permit OCI to facilitate an orderly run-off and/or settlement of the liabilities allocated to the Segregated Account. On October 8, 2010, OCI filed a plan of rehabilitation for the Segregated Account (the “Segregated Account Rehabilitation Plan”) in the Rehabilitation Court, which was confirmed on January 24, 2011. On June 11, 2014, the Rehabilitation Court approved amendments to the Segregated Account Rehabilitation Plan and the Segregated Account Rehabilitation Plan, as amended, became effective on June 12, 2014. Policy obligations not allocated to the Segregated Account remained in the General Account of Ambac Assurance, and such policies in the General Account were not subject to and, therefore, were not directly impacted by the Segregated Account Rehabilitation Plan. On February 12, 2018, the rehabilitation of the Segregated Account was concluded pursuant to an amendment to the Segregated Account Rehabilitation Plan (the "Second Amended Plan of Rehabilitation"). The conclusion of the rehabilitation followed the successful completion of Ambac's surplus note exchange offers and consent solicitation, which, together with the satisfaction of all conditions precedent to the effectiveness of the Second Amended Plan of Rehabilitation, including the discharge of all unpaid policy claims of the Segregated Account, including accretion amounts thereon ("Deferred Amounts"), completed the restructuring transactions (the "Rehabilitation Exit Transactions") . In exchange for an effective consideration package of 40% cash, 41% Secured Notes (as defined below) and 12.5% General Account Surplus Notes (as defined below), paid in respect of outstanding Deferred Amounts and General Account Surplus Notes. Ambac Assurance received the following benefits as a result of the completion of the Rehabilitation Exit Transactions:
• | Satisfaction and discharge of all outstanding Deferred Amounts (including accretion) of the Segregated Account, totaling $3,857;
• | Cancellation of $552 in principal amount outstanding, plus accrued and unpaid interest of $257 thereon, of Ambac Assurance's 5.1% surplus notes due 2020 (the "General Account Surplus Notes"); and
• | An effective discount of 6.5% on Deferred Amounts (applied first against accretion) and on the outstanding amount of principal and accrued and unpaid interest on tendered General Account Surplus Notes.
AFG received $0.91 in principal amount of Secured Notes for each $1.00 of Deferred Amounts (including accretion) that it held, and provided a $0.09 discount in full satisfaction and discharge of its Deferred Amount claims. AFG did not participate in the voluntary surplus note exchange offers. Until the earlier of (i) June 8, 2020 and (ii) the date on which at least 25% of the principal amount of General Account Surplus Notes (other than junior surplus notes) are no longer outstanding, AFG has agreed to hold and not sell General Account Surplus Notes (other than junior surplus notes) which, as of June 30, 2017, had an aggregate of $60 of principal amount and accrued and unpaid interest outstanding. The Secured Notes A newly formed special purpose entity, Ambac LSNI, LLC ("Ambac LSNI") issued $2,154 of new secured notes (the “Secured Notes”), secured by all assets of the special purpose entity, which include a note issued by Ambac Assurance to the special purpose entity (the "Ambac Note"), which is secured by a pledge of Ambac Assurance’s right, title and interest in up to the first $1,400 of proceeds (net of reinsurance) from certain litigations in which Ambac Assurance seeks redress for breaches of representations and warranties and/or fraud related to residential mortgage-backed securitizations (the “RMBS Litigations”). In addition, the Ambac Note is secured by cash and securities having a market value of $197 as of December 31, 2019. Ambac Assurance also pledged for the benefit of the holders of Secured Notes (other than Ambac Assurance) the proceeds of the Secured Notes held by Ambac Assurance from time to time, and issued a financial guaranty insurance policy to a trustee for the benefit of holders of Secured Notes irrevocably guarantying all principal and interest payments in respect of the Secured Notes as and when such payments become due and owing. Prior to the Rehabilitation Exit Transactions, AFG and Ambac Assurance owned securities that were insured by Ambac Assurance and allocated to the Segregated Account. As a result of the Rehabilitation Exit Transactions, AFG and Ambac Assurance received $125 and $644, respectively, of par amount of Secured Notes issued by Ambac LSNI. The current holdings of these secured notes are reported in Investments in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at their fair value. Tier 2 Financing On the effective date of the Rehabilitation Exit Transactions, Ambac Assurance issued $240 of senior notes (the “Tier 2 Notes”) secured by Ambac Assurance’s rights, title and interest in the cash and non-cash proceeds (net of reinsurance) above $1,600 received in connection with the RMBS Litigations. The indenture for the Tier 2 Notes limits certain activities of Ambac Assurance and its subsidiaries, such as issuing certain indebtedness; engaging in mergers and similar transactions; disposing of assets; making restricted payments; and creating or permitting liens (among other restrictions and limitations). The indenture for the Tier 2 Notes includes certain allowances with respect to these activities and generally requires the approval of OCI and, in some cases, holders of the Tier 2 Notes, for consents, waivers or amendments. Bank Settlement Agreement Waiver and Amendment As part of the Rehabilitation Exit Transactions, AFG and Ambac Assurance received sufficient consents from holders of General Account Surplus Notes for a waiver and amendment (the "BSA Waiver and Amendment") of the Settlement Agreement. Among other provisions, the BSA Waiver and Amendment includes amendments to the Settlement Agreement that (i) eliminate the requirement for Ambac Assurance to have "unaffiliated qualified directors" on its Board of Directors; (ii) eliminate the prohibition on new business activities; (iii) modify the restrictions on the incurrence of indebtedness and other material obligations; (iv) modify the restrictions on liens securing permitted indebtedness; (v) modify restrictions applicable to junior surplus notes; and (vi) modify restrictions on mergers or similar transactions. After giving effect to the BSA Waiver and Amendment, the Settlement Agreement continues to limit certain activities of Ambac Assurance and its subsidiaries, such as issuing indebtedness; engaging in mergers and similar transactions; disposing of assets; making restricted payments; creating or permitting liens; engaging in transactions with affiliates; modifying or creating tax sharing agreements; and taking certain actions with respect to surplus notes (among other restrictions and limitations). The Settlement Agreement includes certain allowances with respect to these activities and generally requires the approval of OCI and, in some cases, holders of surplus notes issued pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, for consents, waivers or amendments. Stipulation and Order Upon consummation of the Rehabilitation Exit Transactions, the Stipulation and Order became effective. The Stipulation and Order includes affirmative covenants, as well as restrictions on certain business activities and transactions, of AFG and Ambac Assurance. The Stipulation and Order has no fixed term and may be terminated or modified only with the approval of OCI. OCI reserved the right to modify or terminate the Stipulation and Order in a manner consistent with the interests of policyholders, creditors and the public generally. August 2018 AMPS Exchange At June 30, 2018, Ambac Assurance had 26,411 shares of issued and outstanding AMPS with a liquidation preference of $660 (reported as noncontrolling interest of $264 on Ambac's balance sheet). On July 3, 2018, AFG and Ambac Assurance commenced an offer to exchange (the “AMPS Exchange”) all of Ambac Assurance’s outstanding AMPS for General Account Surplus Notes and, from AFG, cash and warrants to purchase AFG's common stock. The General Account Surplus Notes offered in the AMPS Exchange have the same terms as other outstanding surplus notes of Ambac Assurance (other than junior surplus notes). The offering period for the AMPS Exchange expired on August 1, 2018 and the transaction closed on August 3, 2018 (the "Settlement Date"). In exchange for each AMPS share (i.e. $25 thousand of liquidation preference), holders received General Account Surplus Notes with a total outstanding amount (including accrued and unpaid interest thereon through June 22, 2018 (the "Signing Date")) equal to $13.875 thousand (the “Repurchase”). AMPS holders who tendered on or before July 17, 2018, representing 22,096 shares of the AMPS, also received from AFG $0.500 in cash and 37.3076 warrants (rounded down to the nearest whole warrant) to purchase an equivalent number of shares of common stock of AFG at an exercise price of $16.67 per share (the “AFG Purchase” and, together with the Repurchase, the “Purchases”). As a result of the completion of the Purchases, Ambac:
1) | Repurchased 84.4% or 22,296 AMPS with an aggregate liquidation preference of $557, including $35 in aggregate liquidation preference in the AFG Purchase;
2) | Captured a nominal discount of approximately $227 (a discount of approximately $253 on a fair market value basis) on $557 of the total outstanding liquidation preference of AMPS; and
3) | Issued, in aggregate, $213 in current principal amount of General Account Surplus Notes with accrued interest thereon on Settlement Date of $98, issued 824,307 warrants and paid $11 in cash.
The AMPS are reported on the balance sheet within non-controlling interests and are carried at their fair value at the date AFG emerged from bankruptcy in April 2013, which is lower than the fair value of the total consideration provided to the AMPS holders in the Purchases. The difference between the fair value of consideration provided to AMPS holders and the carrying amount of the AMPS was reflected as a reduction to Net income attributable to common stockholders in 2018 for approximately $82. At December 31, 2019, and December 31, 2018, Ambac Assurance had 5,501 and 4,115 shares of issued and outstanding AMPS with a liquidation preference of $138 and $103 (reported as noncontrolling interest of $60 and $41 on Ambac's balance sheet). The increase resulted from the re-issuance of 1,386 shares from the sale of AFG owned AMPS during 2019.

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