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Investments
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2021
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]  
Investments
9. INVESTMENTS
Ambac’s non-VIE invested assets are primarily comprised of fixed maturity securities classified as available-for-sale and interests in pooled investment funds, which are reported within Other investments on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Interests in pooled investment funds in the form of common stock or in-substance common stock are classified as trading securities, while limited partner interests in such funds are reported using the equity method. Other investments also included equity interests held by AFG, including the equity Certificates in Corolla Trust, an unconsolidated trust created in connection with its sale of Segregated Account junior surplus notes on August 28, 2014. As further described in Note 1. Background and Business
Description, on January 22, 2021, AAC completed the Corolla Note Exchange transaction whereby it acquired 100% of the outstanding obligations and the Certificates of, and subsequently dissolved, the Corolla Trust. Disclosures in this Note for the periods ended September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, are in accordance with the new CECL standard adopted January 1, 2020, which is more fully described in Note 2, Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included Part II, Item 8 in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020,
Fixed Maturity Securities:
The amortized cost and estimated fair value of available-for-sale investments, excluding VIE investments, at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, were as follows:
Amortized
Cost
Allowance for Credit LossesGross
Unrealized
Gains
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Estimated
Fair Value
September 30, 2021:
Fixed maturity securities:
Municipal obligations$323 $ $29 $1 $352 
Corporate obligations650  15 6 659 
Foreign obligations88   2 87 
U.S. government obligations39  1 1 40 
Residential mortgage-backed securities185  62  247 
Collateralized debt obligations116    116 
Other asset-backed securities (2)
258  40  298 
1,660  147 9 1,797 
Short-term368    368 
2,027  147 9 2,165 
Fixed maturity securities pledged as collateral:
U.S. government obligations15    15 
Short-term105    105 
120    120 
Total available-for-sale investments$2,147 $ $147 $9 $2,285 
December 31, 2020:
Fixed maturity securities:
Municipal obligations$321 $— $37 $— $358 
Corporate obligations (1)
1,059 — 24 1,077 
Foreign obligations97 — — 98 
U.S. government obligations105 — 106 
Residential mortgage-backed securities256 — 46 — 302 
Collateralized debt obligations74 — — — 74 
Other asset-backed securities (2)
263 — 40 — 303 
2,175 — 149 2,317 
Short-term492 — — — 492 
2,667 — 149 2,809 
Fixed maturity securities pledged as collateral:
U.S. government obligations15 — — — 15 
Short-term125 — — — 125 
140 — — — 140 
Total available-for-sale investments$2,807 $ $149 $8 $2,949 
(1)Includes Ambac's holdings of the LSNI Secured Notes issued in connection with the Rehabilitation Exit Transactions.
(2)Consists primarily of Ambac's holdings of military housing and student loan securities.
The amortized cost and estimated fair value of available-for-sale investments, excluding VIE investments, at September 30, 2021, by contractual maturity, were as follows:
Amortized
Cost
Estimated
Fair Value
Due in one year or less$537 $537 
Due after one year through five years479 485 
Due after five years through ten years400 409 
Due after ten years173 193 
1,589 1,625 
Residential mortgage-backed securities185 247 
Collateralized debt obligations116 116 
Other asset-backed securities258 298 
Total$2,147 $2,285 
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 Maturity Securities:
The following table shows gross unrealized losses and fair values of Ambac’s available-for-sale investments, excluding VIE investments, which at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, did not have an allowance for credit losses under the CECL standard. This information is aggregated by investment category and length of time that the individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position, at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020:
Less Than 12 Months12 Months or MoreTotal
Fair ValueGross
Unrealized
Loss
Fair ValueGross
Unrealized
Loss
Fair ValueGross
Unrealized
Loss
September 30, 2021:
Fixed maturity securities:
Municipal obligations$42 $1 $2 $ $43 $1 
Corporate obligations243 5 12  256 6 
Foreign obligations78 2   78 2 
U.S. government obligations19 1   19 1 
Residential mortgage-backed securities
  2  2  
Collateralized debt obligations18  3  21  
Other asset-backed securities      
401 8 19  419 9 
Short-term77  7  84  
Total securities$477 $9 $25 $ $503 $9 
December 31, 2020:
Fixed maturity securities:
Municipal obligations$25 $— $$— $31 $— 
Corporate obligations543 — — 543 
Foreign obligations— — — — 
U.S. government obligations17 — — 17 
Residential mortgage-backed securities
14 — — — 14 — 
Collateralized debt obligations27 — 15 — 42 — 
Other asset-backed securities— — — — 
629 25 — 654 
Short-term187 — — — 187 — 
Total securities$816 $7 $25 $ $841 $8 
Management has determined that the securities in the above table do not have credit impairment as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, based upon (i) no actual or expected principal and interest payment defaults on these securities; (ii) analysis of the creditworthiness of the issuer and financial guarantor, as applicable, and (iii) for debt securities that are non-highly rated beneficial interests in securitized financial assets, analysis of whether there was an adverse change in projected cash flows. Management's evaluation as of September 30, 2021, includes the expectation that all principal and interest payments on securities guaranteed by AAC or Ambac UK will be made timely and in full.
Ambac’s assessment about whether a security is credit impaired reflects management’s current judgment regarding facts and circumstances specific to the security and other factors. If that judgment changes, Ambac may record a charge for credit impairment in future periods.
Realized Gains and Losses including Impairments:
The following table details amounts included in net realized gains (losses) and impairments included in earnings for the affected periods:
Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
2021202020212020
Gross realized gains on securities$1 $$9 $32 
Gross realized losses on securities (1)(2)(12)
Foreign exchange (losses) gains3 (2)(3)— 
Credit impairments    
Intent / requirement to sell impairments    
Net realized gains (losses)$3 $2 $4 $20 
Ambac had zero allowance for credit losses at September 30, 2021 and 2020.
Ambac did not purchase any financial assets with credit deterioration for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020.
Counterparty Collateral, Deposits with Regulators and Other Restrictions:
Ambac routinely pledges and receives collateral related to certain transactions. Securities held directly in Ambac’s investment portfolio with a fair value of $120 and $140 at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, were pledged to derivative counterparties. Ambac’s derivative counterparties have the right to re-pledge the investment securities and as such, these pledged securities are separately classified on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as “Fixed maturity securities pledged as collateral, at fair value” and "Short-term investments pledged as collateral, at fair value." Refer to Note 10. Derivative Instruments for further information on cash collateral. There was no cash or securities received from other counterparties that were re-pledged by Ambac.
Securities carried at $9 and $8 at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, were deposited by Ambac's insurance subsidiaries with governmental authorities or designated custodian banks as required by laws affecting insurance companies. Invested assets carried at $1 and $1 at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, were deposited as security in connection with a letter of credit issued for an office lease.
Securities with a fair value of $0 and $178 at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, were pledged as collateral and as sources of funding to repay the LSNI Ambac Note. AAC also pledged for the benefit of the holders of LSNI Secured Notes (other than AAC) the proceeds of interest payments and partial redemptions of the LSNI Secured Notes held by AAC. The amount of such proceeds held by AAC was $0 and $9 at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, and is included in Restricted cash on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. As further described in Note 1. Background and Business Description, on July 6, 2021, the LSNI Secured Notes were fully redeemed.
Securities with a fair value of $655 at September 30, 2021 were held by Ambac UK, the capital stock of which was pledged as collateral on the Sitka AAC Note. Refer to Note 11. Long-term Debt for further information about the Sitka AAC Note.
Guaranteed Securities:
Ambac’s fixed maturity portfolio includes securities covered by guarantees issued by AAC 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 and weighted-average underlying rating of insured securities in Ambac's investment portfolio at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively: 
Municipal
Obligations
Corporate
Obligations
(2)
Mortgage
and Asset-
backed
Securities
Total
Weighted
Average
Underlying
Rating 
(1)
September 30, 2021:
Ambac Assurance Corporation$317 $ $466 $783 B
National Public Finance Guarantee Corporation2   2 BBB-
Assured Guaranty Municipal Corporation1   1 A-
Total$320 $ $466 $785 B
December 31, 2020:
Ambac Assurance Corporation$320 $465 $481 $1,266 CCC+
National Public Finance Guarantee Corporation— — BBB-
Assured Guaranty Municipal Corporation— — C
Total$327 $465 $481 $1,273 CCC+
(1)Ratings are based on the lower of Standard & Poor’s or Moody’s rating. If unavailable, Ambac’s internal rating is used.
(2)Represents Ambac's holdings of LSNI Secured Notes issued in connection with the Rehabilitation Exit Transactions. These secured notes were insured by AAC. As further described in Note 1. Background and Business Description, on July 6, 2021, the LSNI Secured Notes were fully redeemed.
Other Investments:
Ambac's investment portfolio includes interests in various pooled investment funds. Fair value and additional information about investments in pooled funds, by investment type, is summarized in the table below. Except as noted in the table, fair value as reported is determined using net asset value ("NAV") as a practical expedient. Redemption of certain funds valued using NAV may be subject to withdrawal limitations and/or redemption fees which vary with the timing and notification of withdrawal provided by the investor. In addition to these investments, Ambac has unfunded commitments of $90 to private credit and private equity funds at September 30, 2021.
Fair Value
Class of FundsSeptember 30,
2021
December 31, 2020Redemption FrequencyRedemption Notice Period
Real estate properties (1)
$28 $16 quarterly10 business days
Hedge funds (2)
213 196 quarterly or semi-annually90 days
High yields and leveraged loans (3) (10)
77 78 daily0 - 30 days
Private credit (4)
75 65 quarterly if permitted180 days if permitted
Insurance-linked investments (5)
3 
see footnote (5)
see footnote (5)
Equity market investments (6) (10)
93 73 daily or quarterly0 - 90 days
Investment grade floating rate income (7)
106 73 weekly0 days
Private equity (8)
23 13 quarterly if permitted90 days if permitted
Emerging markets debt (9) (10)
38 25 daily 0 days
Total equity investments in pooled funds$656 $543 

(1)Investments consist of UK property to generate income and capital growth.
(2)This class seeks to generate superior risk-adjusted returns through selective asset sourcing, active trading and hedging strategies across a range of asset types.
(3)This class of funds includes investments in a range of instruments including high-yield bonds, leveraged loans, CLOs, ABS and floating rate notes to generate income and capital appreciation.
(4)This class aims to obtain high long-term returns primarily through credit and preferred equity investments with low liquidity and defined term.
(5)This class seeks to generate returns from insurance markets through investments in catastrophe bonds, life insurance and other insurance linked investments. This investment is restricted in connection with the unwind of certain insurance linked exposures. Ambac has redeemed its investment to the extent permitted by the fund.
(6)This class of funds aim to achieve long term growth through diversified exposure to global equity-markets.
(7)This class of funds includes investments in high quality floating rate debt securities including ABS and corporate floating rate notes.
(8)This class seeks to generate long-term capital appreciation through investments in private equity, equity-related and other instruments.
(9)This class seeks long-term income and growth through investments in the bonds of issuers in emerging markets.
(10)These categories include fair value amounts totaling $115 and $89 at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, that are readily determinable and are priced through pricing vendors, including for High yield and leveraged loans products: $0 and $3; for Equity market investments: $77 and $60; and for Emerging markets debt $38 and $25.

Ambac held preferred equity investments with a carrying value of $8 and $— as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, that do not have readily determinable fair values and are carried at cost, less any impairments as permitted under the Investments — Equity Securities Topic of the ASC. There were no impairments recorded on these investments or adjustments to fair value to reflect observable price changes in identical or similar investments from the same issuer during the periods presented.
Ambac held direct equity interests as of December 31, 2020, including in an unconsolidated trust created in connection with the 2014 sale of Segregated Account junior surplus notes, which was accounted for under the equity method.

Investment Income (Loss):
Net investment income (loss) was comprised of the following for the affected periods:
Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
2021202020212020
Fixed maturity securities$16 $24 $63 $79 
Short-term investments  
Investment expense(1)(1)(4)(4)
Securities available-for-sale and short-term15 24 59 80 
Other investments6 14 53 (11)
Total net investment income (loss)$21 $37 $112 $69 
Net investment income (loss) from Other investments primarily represents changes in fair value on equity securities, including certain pooled investment funds, and income from investment limited partnerships and other equity interests accounted for under the equity method.
The portion of net unrealized gains (losses) related to securities classified as trading and equity securities, excluding those
reported using the equity method, still held at the end of each period is as follows:
Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
2021202020212020
Net gains (losses) recognized during the period on equity securities$ $$16 $(12)
Less: net gains (losses) recognized during the reporting period on equity securities sold during the period — 2 (19)
Unrealized gains (losses) recognized during the reporting period on equity securities still held at the reporting date$(1)$3 $14 $7