XML 32 R11.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.24.0.1

Investments | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2023
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract] |
Investments | 4. INVESTMENTS Ambac’s non-VIE invested assets are primarily comprised of (i) fixed maturity securities classified as either available-for-sale or trading securities, (ii) interests in pooled investment funds which are reported within Other investments on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and (iii) preferred equity investments 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. Fixed maturity securities classified as trading are unrated municipal bond and other obligations of Puerto Rico issuing entities received in connection with the 2022 restructuring of AAC-insured Puerto Rico obligations. Fixed Maturity Securities The amortized cost and estimated fair value of available-for-sale investments, excluding VIE investments, at December 31, 2023 and 2022 were as follows:
|  | December 31, 2023 |  | December 31, 2022
|  | Amortized Cost |  | Allowance for Credit Losses |  | Gross Unrealized Gains |  | Gross Unrealized Losses |  | Estimated Fair Value |  | Amortized Cost |  | Allowance for Credit Losses |  | Gross Unrealized Gains |  | Gross Unrealized Losses |  | Estimated Fair Value
Fixed maturity securities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Municipal obligations |  | $ | 72 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 1 |  |  | $ | 1 |  |  | $ | 72 |  |  | $ | 44 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 2 |  |  | 43 |
Corporate obligations |  | 785 |  |  | — |  |  | 4 |  |  | 44 |  |  | 745 |  |  | 659 |  |  | — |  |  | 1 |  |  | 63 |  |  | 598 |
Foreign obligations |  | 105 |  |  | — |  |  | 1 |  |  | 6 |  |  | 100 |  |  | 85 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 9 |  |  | 76 |
U.S. government obligations |  | 85 |  |  | — |  |  | 1 |  |  | 4 |  |  | 82 |  |  | 68 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 4 |  |  | 65 |
Residential mortgage-backed securities |  | 239 |  |  | 3 |  |  | 28 |  |  | 14 |  |  | 250 |  |  | 230 |  |  | — |  |  | 28 |  |  | 19 |  |  | 238 |
Commercial mortgage-backed securities |  | 19 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 19 |  |  | 15 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 15 |
Collateralized debt obligations |  | 139 |  |  | — |  |  | 1 |  |  | 1 |  |  | 139 |  |  | 141 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 4 |  |  | 137 |
Other asset-backed securities (1) |  | 301 |  |  | — |  |  | 3 |  |  | 1 |  |  | 303 |  |  | 227 |  |  | — |  |  | 2 |  |  | 5 |  |  | 224 |
|  | 1,744 |  |  | 3 |  |  | 40 |  |  | 71 |  |  | 1,710 |  |  | 1,469 |  |  | — |  |  | 31 |  |  | 106 |  |  | 1,395 |
Short-term |  | 426 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 426 |  |  | 507 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 507 |
|  | 2,170 |  |  | 3 |  |  | 40 |  |  | 71 |  |  | 2,135 |  |  | 1,977 |  |  | — |  |  | 31 |  |  | 106 |  |  | 1,902 |
Fixed maturity securities pledged as collateral: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Short-term |  | 27 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 27 |  |  | 64 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 64 |
|  | 27 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 27 |  |  | 64 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 64 |
Total available-for-sale investments |  | $ | 2,197 |  |  | $ | 3 |  |  | $ | 40 |  |  | $ | 71 |  |  | $ | 2,162 |  |  | 2,041 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 31 |  |  | $ | 106 |  |  | $ | 1,966 |
(1)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 December 31, 2023, by contractual maturity, were as follows:
|  | Amortized Cost |  | Estimated Fair Value
Due in one year or less |  | $ | 544 |  |  | $ | 544 |
Due after one year through five years |  | 581 |  |  | 560 |
Due after five years through ten years |  | 293 |  |  | 271 |
Due after ten years |  | 80 |  |  | 76 |
|  | 1,500 |  |  | 1,451 |
Residential mortgage-backed securities |  | 239 |  |  | 250 |
Commercial mortgage-backed securities |  | 19 |  |  | 19 |
Collateralized debt obligations |  | 139 |  |  | 139 |
Other asset-backed securities |  | 301 |  |  | 303 |
Total |  | $ | 2,197 |  |  | $ | 2,162 |
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 December 31, 2023, 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 December 31, 2023 and 2022:
|  | December 31, 2023 |  | December 31, 2022
|  | Less Than 12 Months |  | 12 Months or More |  | Total |  | Less Than 12 Months |  | 12 Months or More |  | Total
|  | Fair Value |  | Gross Unrealized Loss |  | Fair Value |  | Gross Unrealized Loss |  | Fair Value |  | Gross Unrealized Loss |  | Fair Value |  | Gross Unrealized Loss |  | Fair Value |  | Gross Unrealized Loss |  | Fair Value |  | Gross Unrealized Loss
Fixed maturity securities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Municipal obligations |  | $ | 7 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 16 |  |  | $ | 1 |  |  | $ | 23 |  |  | $ | 1 |  |  | $ | 21 |  |  | $ | 1 |  |  | $ | 7 |  |  | $ | 1 |  |  | $ | 28 |  |  | $ | 2 |
Corporate obligations |  | 75 |  |  | 2 |  |  | 509 |  |  | 43 |  |  | 584 |  |  | 44 |  |  | 280 |  |  | 21 |  |  | 279 |  |  | 42 |  |  | 559 |  |  | 63 |
Foreign obligations |  | 8 |  |  | — |  |  | 56 |  |  | 6 |  |  | 64 |  |  | 6 |  |  | 27 |  |  | 2 |  |  | 47 |  |  | 7 |  |  | 73 |  |  | 9 |
U.S. government obligations |  | 27 |  |  | 1 |  |  | 37 |  |  | 2 |  |  | 63 |  |  | 4 |  |  | 40 |  |  | 3 |  |  | 19 |  |  | 1 |  |  | 58 |  |  | 4 |
Residential mortgage-backed securities |  | 6 |  |  | — |  |  | 98 |  |  | 14 |  |  | 104 |  |  | 14 |  |  | 132 |  |  | 19 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 132 |  |  | 19 |
Commercial mortgage-backed securities |  | 3 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 3 |  |  | — |  |  | 3 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 3 |  |  | — |
Collateralized debt obligations |  | 1 |  |  | — |  |  | 93 |  |  | 1 |  |  | 95 |  |  | 1 |  |  | 90 |  |  | 3 |  |  | 36 |  |  | 1 |  |  | 126 |  |  | 4 |
Other asset-backed securities |  | 57 |  |  | 1 |  |  | 35 |  |  | 1 |  |  | 92 |  |  | 1 |  |  | 198 |  |  | 4 |  |  | 5 |  |  | 1 |  |  | 203 |  |  | 5 |
|  | 184 |  |  | 4 |  |  | 844 |  |  | 68 |  |  | 1,028 |  |  | 71 |  |  | 791 |  |  | 53 |  |  | 392 |  |  | 53 |  |  | 1,183 |  |  | 106 |
Short-term |  | 4 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 4 |  |  | — |  |  | 78 |  |  | — |  |  | 8 |  |  | — |  |  | 86 |  |  | — |
Total temporarily impaired securities |  | $ | 187 |  |  | $ | 4 |  |  | $ | 844 |  |  | $ | 68 |  |  | $ | 1,032 |  |  | $ | 71 |  |  | $ | 869 |  |  | $ | 53 |  |  | $ | 400 |  |  | $ | 53 |  |  | $ | 1,269 |  |  | $ | 106 |
Management has determined that the securities in the above table do not have credit impairment as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 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 December 31, 2023, 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. The declines in fair value and resultant unrealized losses across asset classes as of December 31, 2023, included in the above table resulted from the impact of increasing interest rates and market spreads. Management has determined that the securities with unrealized losses are not credit impaired. Further discussion of management's assessment with respect to security categories with larger unrealized loss balances is below. Corporate obligations The gross unrealized losses on corporate obligations as of December 31, 2023, resulted from an increase in interest rates and, to a lesser extent, market spreads since the securities were purchased. Unrealized losses of $44 related to 662 investment grade securities with an average unrealized loss equal to 7% of amortized cost at December 31, 2023. Securities that have below investment grade credit ratings or are unrated comprise $1 of the gross unrealized loss and have an average unrealized loss equal to 5% of amortized cost at December 31, 2023. Management believes that the full and timely receipt of all principal and interest payment on corporate obligations with unrealized losses as of December 31, 2023, is probable. Residential mortgage-backed securities As of December 31, 2023, all of the $14 unrealized loss on residential mortgage-backed securities related to 11 Ambac-insured securities. Four of these account for $13 of the unrealized loss and have an average unrealized loss equal to 14% of amortized cost. The majority of these unrealized losses relate to securities with long dated weighted average lives making their fair values more sensitive to interest rate changes. Also, most of these securities have below investment grade credit ratings or are unrated. The unrealized losses on these obligations resulted from adverse market conditions for long dated credit assets. As noted above, expected cash flows used in evaluating credit impairment of Ambac-insured securities contemplate full and timely payment of all principal and interest payments on Ambac-insured securities. This assumption is included in the projection of model based cash flows used in evaluating credit impairments on beneficial interests in securitized financial assets, including the residential mortgage backed and student loan asset backed securities included in this group. Investment Income (Loss) Net investment income (loss) was comprised of the following for the affected periods:
Year Ended December 31, |  | 2023 |  | 2022 |  | 2021
Fixed maturity securities |  | $ | 76 |  |  | $ | 61 |  |  | $ | 78 |
Short-term investments |  | 22 |  |  | 11 |  |  | — |
Loans |  | — |  |  | 1 |  |  | — |
Investment expense |  | (6) |  |  | (6) |  |  | (6) |
Securities available-for-sale and short-term |  | 93 |  |  | 66 |  |  | 74 |
Fixed maturity securities - trading |  | 7 |  |  | (23) |  |  | — |
Other investments |  | 40 |  |  | (26) |  |  | 66 |
Total net investment income (loss) |  | $ | 140 |  |  | $ | 17 |  |  | $ | 139 |
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. Net Investments Gains (Losses), including Impairments The following table details amounts included in net investment gains (losses) and impairments included in earnings for the affected periods:
Year Ended December 31, |  | 2023 |  | 2022 |  | 2021
Gross realized gains on securities |  | $ | 1 |  |  | $ | 36 |  |  | $ | 14 |
Gross realized losses on securities |  | (4) |  |  | (18) |  |  | (2) |
Foreign exchange (losses) gains |  | (4) |  |  | 14 |  |  | (5) |
Credit impairments |  | (3) |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Intent to sell impairments |  | (12) |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Net investment gains (losses), including impairments |  | $ | (22) |  |  | $ | 31 |  |  | $ | 7 |
Ambac had an allowance for credit losses $3 and $0 at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The increase of $3 for the year ended December 31, 2023 relates to additions to the allowance for credit losses on residential mortgage-backed securities for which credit losses were not previously recorded. Ambac did not purchase any financial assets with credit deterioration for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022. 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 $27 and $64 at December 31, 2023 and 2022, 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 "Short-term investments pledged as collateral, at fair value". Refer to Note 9. 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 $24 and $23 at December 31, 2023 and 2022, 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 as December 31, 2023, were deposited as security in connection with a letter of credit issued for an office lease. Fiduciary funds held by Ambac's insurance distribution subsidiaries, carried at $2 and $— at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, are included in invested assets. Guaranteed Securities Ambac’s fixed maturity portfolio includes securities covered by guarantees issued by AAC or Ambac UK (“insured securities”). The following table represents the fair value and weighted-average underlying rating of insured securities in Ambac's investment portfolio at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively:
December 31, |  | Municipal Obligations |  |  |  | Mortgage-backed Securities |  | Asset-backed Securities |  |  |  | Total |  | Weighted Average Underlying Rating (1)
2023: |  | $ | 9 |  |  |  |  | $ | 240 |  |  | $ | 232 |  |  |  |  | $ | 482 |  |  | B-
2022: |  | $ | 10 |  |  |  |  | $ | 236 |  |  | $ | 157 |  |  |  |  | $ | 403 |  |  | B
(1)Ratings are based on the lower of Standard & Poor’s or Moody’s rating. If unavailable, Ambac’s internal rating is used. 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 $41 to private credit and private equity funds at December 31, 2023.
Class of Funds December 31, |  | 2023 |  | 2022 |  | Redemption Frequency |  | Redemption Notice Period
Hedge funds (1) |  | $ | 112 |  |  | $ | 186 |  |  | quarterly or semi-annually |  | 90 days
High yield and leveraged loans (2) (10) |  | 85 |  |  | 80 |  |  | daily |  | 0 - 30 days
Private credit (3) |  | 84 |  |  | 84 |  |  | quarterly if permitted |  | 180 days if permitted
Private equity (4) |  | 70 |  |  | 47 |  |  | quarterly if permitted |  | 90 days if permitted
Investment grade floating rate income (5) |  | 52 |  |  | 63 |  |  | weekly |  | 0 days
Equity market investments (6) (10) |  | 38 |  |  | 64 |  |  | daily or quarterly |  | 0 - 90 days
Real estate properties (7) |  | 21 |  |  | 22 |  |  | see footnote (7) |  | see footnote (7)
Insurance-linked investments (8) |  | 1 |  |  | 1 |  |  | see footnote (9) |  | see footnote (9)
Convertible bonds (9)(10) |  | — |  |  | 8 |  |  | daily |  | 0 days
Total equity investments in pooled funds |  | $ | 463 |  |  | $ | 556 |  |  |  |  |
(1)This class seeks to generate superior risk-adjusted returns through selective asset sourcing, active trading and hedging strategies across a range of asset types. (2)This class of funds includes investments in high quality floating rate debt securities including ABS and corporate floating rate notes. (3)This class aims to obtain high long-term returns primarily through credit and preferred equity investments with low liquidity and defined term. (4)This class seeks to generate long-term capital appreciation through investments in private equity, equity-related and other instruments. (5)This class of funds includes investments in high quality floating rate debt securities including ABS and corporate floating rate notes. (6)This class of funds aim to achieve long-term growth through diversified exposure to global equity markets. (7)Investments consist of UK property to generate income and capital growth. (8)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. (9)This class seeks to generate total return from portfolios focused primarily on convertible securities. (10)These categories include fair value amounts totaling $77 and $61 at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, that are readily determinable and are priced through pricing vendors, including for Equity market investments of $38 and $53, High yield and leveraged loans products $39 and $0, and Convertible bonds investments $0 and $8. Other investments also includes preferred equity investments with a carrying value of $13 and $12 as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, 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. 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:
Year Ended December 31, |  | 2023 |  | 2022 |  | 2021
Net gains (losses) recognized during the period on trading and equity securities |  | $ | 25 |  |  | $ | (48) |  |  | $ | 23 |
Less: net gains (losses) recognized during the reporting period on trading and equity securities sold during the period |  | 18 |  |  | (26) |  |  | 1 |
Unrealized gains (losses) recognized during the reporting period on trading and equity securities still held at the reporting date |  | $ | 7 |  |  | $ | (22) |  |  | $ | 22 |
Summary of Fair Value, Including Financial Guarantee, and Weighted-Average Underlying Rating, Excluding Financial Guarantee, of Insured Securities | The following table represents the fair value and weighted-average underlying rating of insured securities in Ambac's investment portfolio at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively:
December 31, |  | Municipal Obligations |  |  |  | Mortgage-backed Securities |  | Asset-backed Securities |  |  |  | Total |  | Weighted Average Underlying Rating (1)
2023: |  | $ | 9 |  |  |  |  | $ | 240 |  |  | $ | 232 |  |  |  |  | $ | 482 |  |  | B-
2022: |  | $ | 10 |  |  |  |  | $ | 236 |  |  | $ | 157 |  |  |  |  | $ | 403 |  |  | B
(1)Ratings are based on the lower of Standard & Poor’s or Moody’s rating. If unavailable, Ambac’s internal rating is used.

X
- Definition Fair Value And Weighted Average Underlying Rating Of Securities Covered by Guarantees [Table Text Block] + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_FairValueAndWeightedAverageUnderlyingRatingOfSecuritiesCoveredByGuaranteesTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | dtr-types1:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_InvestmentsDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The entire disclosure for investments in certain debt and equity securities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 320 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//320/tableOfContent Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 10 -Subparagraph (d) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481800/320-10-50-10 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 6B -Subparagraph (b) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-6B Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 6B -Subparagraph (c) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-6B Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name Regulation S-K (SK) -Number 229 -Section 1403 -Paragraph (b) -Publisher SEC Reference 6: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Topic 946 -SubTopic 320 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//946-320/tableOfContent Reference 7: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Topic 940 -SubTopic 320 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//940-320/tableOfContent Reference 8: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Topic 942 -SubTopic 320 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//942-320/tableOfContent + Details
Name: | us-gaap_InvestmentsInDebtAndMarketableEquitySecuritiesAndCertainTradingAssetsDisclosureTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | dtr-types:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration