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Investments
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2014
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]  
Investments
INVESTMENTS
Ambac’s 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.
The amortized cost and estimated fair value of available-for-sale investments, excluding VIE investments, at June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 were as follows:
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Estimated
Fair Value
 
Non-credit  other-
than-temporary
Impairments 
(1)
Successor Ambac - June 30, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed income securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Municipal obligations
$
969,764

 
$
19,268

 
$
7,950

 
$
981,082

 
$

Corporate obligations
1,879,233

 
20,139

 
7,538

 
1,891,834

 

Foreign obligations
148,791

 
532

 
5,198

 
144,125

 

U.S. government obligations
79,402

 
59

 
1,877

 
77,584

 

U.S. agency obligations
30,210

 
22

 
41

 
30,191

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities
1,686,675

 
174,110

 
7,376

 
1,853,409

 
1,931

Collateralized debt obligations
144,386

 
319

 
329

 
144,376

 

Other asset-backed securities
929,997

 
47,865

 
32

 
977,830

 

 
5,868,458

 
262,314

 
30,341

 
6,100,431

 
1,931

Short-term
344,187

 
1

 
1

 
344,187

 

 
6,212,645

 
262,315

 
30,342

 
6,444,618

 
1,931

Fixed income securities pledged as collateral:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government obligations
65,027

 
2

 

 
65,029

 

Total collateralized investments
65,027

 
2

 

 
65,029

 

Total available-for-sale investments
$
6,277,672

 
$
262,317

 
$
30,342

 
$
6,509,647

 
$
1,931

Successor Ambac - December 31, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed income securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Municipal obligations
$
1,405,293

 
$
857

 
$
28,427

 
$
1,377,723

 
$

Corporate obligations
1,508,377

 
4,886

 
23,894

 
1,489,369

 

Foreign obligations
131,709

 
69

 
6,901

 
124,877

 

U.S. government obligations
128,415

 
9

 
2,176

 
126,248

 

U.S. agency obligations
32,214

 
10

 
70

 
32,154

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities
1,516,877

 
59,853

 
18,105

 
1,558,625

 
852

Collateralized debt obligations
184,118

 
217

 
463

 
183,872

 

Other asset-backed securities
1,020,251

 
8,795

 
36,598

 
992,448

 

 
5,927,254

 
74,696

 
116,634

 
5,885,316

 
852

Short-term
271,118

 
1

 

 
271,119

 

 
6,198,372

 
74,697

 
116,634

 
6,156,435

 
852

Fixed income securities pledged as collateral:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government obligations
126,196

 
27

 

 
126,223

 

Total collateralized investments
126,196

 
27

 

 
126,223

 

Total available-for-sale investments
$
6,324,568

 
$
74,724

 
$
116,634

 
$
6,282,658

 
$
852

 
(1)
Represents the amount of non-credit other-than-temporary impairment losses remaining in accumulated other comprehensive loss on securities that also had a credit impairment. These losses are included in gross unrealized losses as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.
The amortized cost and estimated fair value of available-for-sale investments, excluding VIE investments, at June 30, 2014, by contractual maturity, were as follows:
 
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Estimated
Fair Value
Due in one year or less
$
572,605

 
$
572,407

Due after one year through five years
1,181,838

 
1,185,501

Due after five years through ten years
1,322,550

 
1,327,073

Due after ten years
439,621

 
449,051

 
3,516,614

 
3,534,032

Residential mortgage-backed securities
1,686,675

 
1,853,409

Collateralized debt obligations
144,386

 
144,376

Other asset-backed securities
929,997

 
977,830

 
$
6,277,672

 
$
6,509,647


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:
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 June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
 
 
Less Than 12 Months
 
12 Months or More
 
Total
 
Fair Value
 
Gross
Unrealized
Loss
 
Fair Value
 
Gross Unrealized Loss
 
Fair Value
 
Gross Unrealized Loss
Successor Ambac - June 30, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed income securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Municipal obligations
$
49,581

 
$
200

 
$
205,645

 
$
7,750

 
$
255,226

 
$
7,950

Corporate obligations
213,064

 
1,655

 
243,059

 
5,883

 
456,123

 
7,538

Foreign government obligations
50,394

 
1,284

 
61,621

 
3,914

 
112,015

 
5,198

U.S. government obligations
15,325

 
824

 
15,737

 
1,053

 
31,062

 
1,877

U.S. agency obligations

 

 
4,460

 
41

 
4,460

 
41

Residential mortgage-backed securities
167,511

 
7,186

 
10,130

 
190

 
177,641

 
7,376

Collateralized debt obligations
10,055

 
329

 

 

 
10,055

 
329

Other asset-backed securities
32,969

 
32

 

 

 
32,969

 
32

 
538,899

 
11,510

 
540,652

 
18,831

 
1,079,551

 
30,341

Short-term
4,009

 
1

 

 

 
4,009

 
1

Total temporarily impaired securities
$
542,908

 
$
11,511

 
$
540,652

 
$
18,831

 
$
1,083,560

 
$
30,342

 




 
Less Than 12 Months (1)
 
Fair Value
 
Gross
Unrealized
Loss
Successor Ambac - December 31, 2013
 
 
 
Fixed income securities:
 
 
 
Municipal obligations
$
437,683

 
$
28,427

Corporate obligations
877,356

 
23,894

Foreign government obligations
117,905

 
6,901

U.S. government obligations
70,044

 
2,176

U.S. agency obligations
5,834

 
70

Residential mortgage-backed securities
644,502

 
18,105

Collateralized debt obligations
137,685

 
463

Other asset-backed securities
629,957

 
36,598

 
2,920,966

 
116,634

Short-term

 

Total temporarily impaired securities
$
2,920,966

 
$
116,634

(1)
As a result of the implementation of Fresh Start, amortized cost for available for sale securities were set to equal fair value on April 30, 2013. Accordingly, as of December 31, 2013 Successor Ambac did not have any gross unrealized losses that were in a continuous unrealized loss position for greater than 12 months.
Management has determined that the unrealized losses reflected in the tables above are temporary in nature as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 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, 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 June 30, 2014, 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 June 30, 2014, $279,145 of the total fair value and $9,109 of the unrealized loss related to below investment grade securities and non-rated securities. Of the securities that were in a gross unrealized loss position at December 31, 2013, $826,969 of the total fair value and $36,946 of the unrealized loss related to below investment grade securities and non-rated securities. With respect to Ambac-wrapped securities guaranteed under policies that have been allocated to the Segregated Account, future cash flows used to measure credit impairment represents the sum of (i) the bond’s intrinsic cash flows and (ii) the estimated Ambac Assurance claim payments. Ambac estimates the timing of such claim payment receipts but the actual timing of such amounts are at the sole discretion of the Rehabilitator. Refer to Note 1 to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q for information relating to the amended Segregated Account Rehabilitation Plan, increases to the percentage of permitted policy claims to be paid from 25% to 45%, and the making of certain payments on Deferred Amounts, together with interest thereon, as well as early redemptions of a portion of outstanding surplus notes (including accrued and unpaid interest thereon). Our evaluation of other-than-temporary impairments as of June 30, 2014, particularly with respect to Ambac's ability to hold securities that are in an unrealized loss position, considered the impact of increased cash outflow that would result in 2014 from the increased claim payment percentage, payment on Deferred Amounts and surplus note redemptions. Declines in the fair value of investment securities or changes in management's intent to sell securities to fund these increased cash payments could result in future recognition of other-than-temporary impairments. Additionally, 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, may have a material effect on the fair value of Ambac-wrapped securities and future recognition of other-than-temporary impairments.
Municipal and corporate obligations
The gross unrealized losses on municipal and corporate obligations as of June 30, 2014 are primarily the result of the increase in interest rates since April 30, 2013. 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 $7,376 of unrealized losses on residential mortgage-backed securities, $5,521 is attributable to Ambac-wrapped securities. The unrealized loss on these securities is primarily the result of discount accretion, which has exceeded the increase in fair value since April 30, 2013. 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. 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 June 30, 2014 on these transactions.

Realized Gains and Losses and Other-Than-Temporary Impairments:
The following table details amounts included in net realized gains and other-than-temporary impairments included in earnings for the affected periods:
 
Successor Ambac –
 
 
Predecessor Ambac –
 
Period from April 1 through June 30, 2014
Period from May 1 through June 30, 2013
 
 
Period from April 1 through April 30, 2013
Gross realized gains on securities
$
10,120

$
16,612

 
 
$
5,870

Gross realized losses on securities
(2,742
)
(1,592
)
 
 
(2
)
Foreign exchange losses
(4,311
)
3,452

 
 
1,377

Net realized gains
$
3,067

$
18,472

 
 
$
7,245

Net other-than-temporary impairments (1)
$
(8,754
)
$
(2,002
)
 
 
$
(467
)
 

 
Successor Ambac –
 
 
Predecessor Ambac –
 
Period from January 1 through June 30, 2014
Period from May 1 through June 30, 2013
 
 
Period from January 1 through April 30, 2013
Gross realized gains on securities
$
29,697

$
16,612

 
 
$
47,448

Gross realized losses on securities
(3,871
)
(1,592
)
 
 
(320
)
Foreign exchange (losses) gains
(6,470
)
3,452

 
 
6,177

Net realized gains
$
19,356

$
18,472

 
 
$
53,305

Net other-than-temporary impairments (1)
$
(19,146
)
$
(2,002
)
 
 
$
(467
)


 
(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 the company will be required to sell before recovery of the amortized cost basis.
During 2002 and 2003 Ambac recognized investment realized losses relating to its investment in asset-backed notes issued by National Century Financial Enterprises, Inc. (“NCFE”). These notes defaulted and NCFE filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in November 2002. In connection with a full and final settlement of a lawsuit brought by NCFE bondholders against Credit Suisse Securities LLC, a subsidiary of Ambac Assurance received cash recoveries of $39,978 in the three months ended March 31, 2013. These amounts were recorded within gross realized gains on securities.
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-wrapped securities. Such changes in estimated claim payments on Ambac-wrapped securities contributed to net other-than-temporary impairments for the periods presented in the table above. Further changes to the timing of estimated claim payments could result in additional other-than-temporary impairment charges in the future. Successor Ambac’s net other-than-temporary impairments relate to adverse changes in projected cash flows on certain Ambac-wrapped securities as well as the company’s intent to sell certain securities that were in an unrealized loss position as of June 30, 2014. Future changes in our estimated liquidity needs could result in a determination that Ambac no longer has the ability to hold additional securities, 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 June 30, 2014 and 2013 for which a portion of an other-than-temporary impairment was recognized in other comprehensive income:
 
Credit
Impairment
Successor Ambac:
 
Balance as of January 1, 2014
$
1,182

Additions for credit impairments recognized on:
 
Securities not previously impaired
9,696

Securities previously impaired

Reductions for credit impairments previously recognized on:
 
Securities that matured or were sold during the period

Securities that no longer have a portion of other-than-temporary impairment in other comprehensive income because of Ambac's intent to sell such securities

Balance as of June 30, 2014
$
10,878

Predecessor Ambac:
 
Balance as of January 1, 2013
$
183,300

Additions for credit impairments recognized on:
 
Securities not previously impaired
467

Securities previously impaired

Reductions for credit impairments previously recognized on:
 
Securities that matured or were sold during the period
(183,767
)
Balance as of April 30, 2013
$

Successor Ambac:

Balance as of May 1, 2013
$

Additions for credit impairments recognized on:

Securities not previously impaired
2,002

Securities previously impaired

Reductions for credit impairments previously recognized on:

Securities that matured or were sold during the period

Balance as of June 30, 2013
$
2,002




 Counterparty Collateral, Deposits with Regulators and Other Restrictions:
Ambac routinely pledges and receives collateral related to certain business lines and/or transactions. The following is a description of those arrangements by collateral source:
(1)
Cash and securities held in Ambac’s investment portfolio—Ambac pledges assets it holds in its investment portfolio to investment agreement and derivative counterparties. Securities pledged to investment agreement counterparties may not then 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”.
(2)
Cash and securities pledged to Ambac under derivative agreements—Ambac may re-pledge securities it holds from certain derivative counterparties to other derivative counterparties in accordance with its rights and obligations under those agreements.
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 various investment agreement, derivative and repurchase agreement counterparties at June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
 
 
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
Successor Ambac - June 30, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
Sources of Collateral:
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and securities pledged directly from the investment portfolio
$
328,258

 
$
168,171

 
$
160,087

Cash and securities pledged from derivative counterparties
$

 
$

 
$

Successor Ambac - December 31, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
Sources of Collateral:
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and securities pledged directly from the investment portfolio
$
500,986

 
$
371,723

 
$
129,263

Cash and securities pledged from derivative counterparties
$
690

 
$

 
$


Securities carried at $6,800 and $6,799 at June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, 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 $278,317 and $240,150 at June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, 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) because the insurance cannot be legally separated from the underlying security by the insurer. 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 June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively: 
 
Municipal
obligations
 
Corporate
obligations
 
Mortgage
and asset-
backed
securities
 
Short-term
 
Total
 
Weighted
Average
Underlying Rating 
(1)
Successor Ambac - June 30, 2014:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ambac Assurance Corporation (2)
$
68,194

 
$

 
$
2,173,188

 
$

 
$
2,241,382

 
CCC-
Assured Guaranty Municipal Corporation
291,532

 
78,492

 

 

 
370,024

 
A+
National Public Finance Guarantee Corporation
255,505

 
37,801

 

 

 
293,306

 
A+
MBIA Insurance Corporation

 

 

 

 

 

Assured Guaranty Corporation

 

 
2,686

 

 
2,686

 
D
Financial Guarantee Insurance Corporation

 

 
2,334

 

 
2,334

 
D
Total
$
615,231

 
$
116,293

 
$
2,178,208

 
$

 
$
2,909,732

 
B
Successor Ambac - December 31, 2013:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ambac Assurance Corporation (2)
$
64,596

 
$

 
$
1,747,283

 
$

 
$
1,811,879

 
CCC+
Assured Guaranty Municipal Corporation
372,392

 
77,163

 

 

 
449,555

 
A+
National Public Finance Guarantee Corporation
532,752

 
37,642

 

 

 
570,394

 
A+
MBIA Insurance Corporation

 
17,444

 

 

 
17,444

 
BBB-
Assured Guaranty Corporation

 

 
2,917

 

 
2,917

 
D
Financial Guarantee Insurance Corporation

 

 
2,869

 

 
2,869

 
D
Total
$
969,740

 
$
132,249

 
$
1,753,069

 
$

 
$
2,855,058

 
BB-
 
(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 asset-backed securities with a fair value of $51,395 and $50,953 at June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, insured by Ambac UK.
Investment Income:
Net investment income was comprised of the following for the affected periods:
 
Successor Ambac –
 
 
Predecessor Ambac –
 
Period from April 1 through June 30, 2014
Period from May 1 through June 30, 2013
 
 
Period from April 1 through April 30, 2013
Fixed income securities
$
78,554

$
30,431

 
 
$
31,766

Short-term investments
865

162

 
 
82

Loans
175

84

 
 
38

Investment expense
(2,712
)
(1,466
)
 
 
(572
)
Securities available-for-sale and short-term
76,882

29,211

 
 
31,314

Other investments
3,211

(3,015
)
 
 
912

Total net investment income
$
80,093

$
26,196

 
 
$
32,226

 
Successor Ambac –
 
 
Predecessor Ambac –
 
Period from January 1 through June 30, 2014
Period from May 1 through June 30, 2013
 
 
Period from January 1 through April 30, 2013
Fixed income securities
$
149,539

$
30,431

 
 
$
118,097

Short-term investments
1,168

162

 
 
677

Loans
292

84

 
 
146

Investment expense
(5,310
)
(1,466
)
 
 
(2,549
)
Securities available-for-sale and short-term
145,689

29,211

 
 
116,371

Other investments
5,205

(3,015
)
 
 
369

Total net investment income
$
150,894

$
26,196

 
 
$
116,740



Net investment income from Other investments represents changes in fair value on securities classified as trading or under the fair value option. Successor Ambac gains for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014 on securities still held at June 30, 2014 was $3,211 and $5,636, respectively.