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Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts (Tables)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Insurance [Line Items]  
Summary of Gross Premium Receivable Roll-Forward (Direct and Assumed Contracts)
Below is the gross premium receivable roll-forward (direct and assumed contracts) for the affected periods:
Year Ended December 31,
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Beginning premium receivable
$
831,575

 
$
1,000,607

 
$
1,453,021

Premium receipts
(77,038
)
 
(108,029
)
 
(126,497
)
Adjustments for changes in expected and contractual cash flows
(78,528
)
 
(64,740
)
 
(322,443
)
Accretion of premium receivable discount
18,637

 
24,628

 
36,651

Changes to uncollectable premiums
6,054

 
2,540

 
(2,518
)
Other adjustments (including foreign exchange)
(39,363
)
 
(23,431
)
 
(37,607
)
Ending premium receivable (1)
$
661,337

 
$
831,575

 
$
1,000,607
Schedule Of Reinsurance Recoverable And Provision By Category Of Reinsurer [Table Text Block]
The following table represents the percentage ceded to reinsurers and reinsurance recoverable at December 31, 2016 and its rating levels obtained from each reinsurers website as of February 24, 2017:
Reinsurers
Moody’s
Rating
 
Percentage
Ceded Par
 
Net Unsecured
Reinsurance
Recoverable(1)
Assured Guaranty Re Ltd
NR
 
86.6%
 
$
—

Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Insurance, Inc.
A1
 
6.6
 
—

Assured Guaranty Corporation
A3
 
6.8
 
3,879

Total
 
 
100%
 
$
3,879

(1)
Represents reinsurance recoverables on paid and unpaid losses and deferred ceded premiums, net of ceded premium payables due to reinsurers, letters of credit, and collateral posted for the benefit of Ambac Assurance.
Effect of Reinsurance on Premiums Written and Earned
The effect of reinsurance on premiums written and earned was as follows:
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Year Ended December 31,
Written
 
Earned
 
Written
 
Earned
 
Written
 
Earned
Direct
$
(53,837
)
 
$
215,564

 
$
(37,572
)
 
$
336,025

 
$
(288,310
)
 
$
261,634

Assumed
—

 
85

 
—

 
87

 
—

 
137

Ceded
(8,772
)
 
18,362

 
(3,001
)
 
23,517

 
(6,842
)
 
15,411

Net premiums
$
(45,065
)
 
$
197,287

 
$
(34,571
)
 
$
312,595

 
$
(281,468
)
 
$
246,360
Summarized Future Gross Undiscounted Premiums Expected to be Collected and Future Expected Premiums Earned, Net of Reinsurance
The table below summarizes the future gross undiscounted premiums to be collected and future premiums earned, net of reinsurance at December 31, 2016:
 
Future Premiums
to be Collected (1)
 
Future
Premiums to
be Earned Net of
Reinsurance (1)
Three months ended:
 
 
 
March 31, 2017
$
17,868

 
$
27,058

June 30, 2017
16,383

 
25,473

September 30, 2017
16,410

 
23,070

December 31, 2017
15,317

 
20,118

Twelve months ended:
 
 
 
December 31, 2018
61,442

 
73,572

December 31, 2019
57,915

 
67,643

December 31, 2020
55,019

 
63,473

December 31, 2021
48,935

 
58,214

Five years ended:
 
 
 
December 31, 2026
216,216

 
237,998

December 31, 2031
172,442

 
159,638

December 31, 2036
101,161

 
89,051

December 31, 2041
33,640

 
30,619

December 31, 2046
16,053

 
14,847

December 31, 2051
5,293

 
6,174

December 31, 2056
243

 
686

Total
$
834,337

 
$
897,634

(1)
Future premiums to be collected is undiscounted and relates to the discounted premium receivable asset recorded on Ambac's balance sheet. Future premiums to be earned, net of reinsurance relate to the unearned premium liability and deferred ceded premium asset recorded on Ambac’s balance sheet. The use of contractual lives for many bond types which do not have homogeneous pools of underlying collateral is required in the calculation of the premium receivable as described in Note 2. Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies, results in a different premium receivable balance than if expected lives were considered. If installment paying policies are retired or prepay early, premiums reflected in the premium receivable asset and amounts reported in the above table for such policies may not be collected. Future premiums to be earned also considers the use of contractual lives for many bond types which do not have homogeneous pools of underlying collateral, which results in different unearned premium than if expected lives were considered. If those bonds types are retired early, premium earnings may be negative in the period of call or refinancing.
Schedule of Loss And Loss Expense Reserves And Subrogation Recoverable Table [Table Text Block]
Below are the components of the Loss and loss expense reserves liability and the Subrogation recoverable asset at December 31, 2016 and 2015:
 
Unpaid Claims
 
Present Value of Expected
Net Cash Flows
 
 
 
 
Balance Sheet Line Item
Claims
 
Accrued
Interest
 
Claims and
Loss Expenses
 
Recoveries
 
Unearned
Premium
Revenue
 
Gross Loss and
Loss Expense
Reserves
December 31, 2016:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss and loss expense reserves
$
2,411,105

 
$
529,703

 
$
2,681,198

 
$
(1,098,096
)
 
$
(143,141
)
 
$
4,380,769

Subrogation recoverable
583,042

 
132,139

 
68,419

 
(1,468,331
)
 
—

 
(684,731
)
Totals
$
2,994,147

 
$
661,842

 
$
2,749,617

 
$
(2,566,427
)
 
$
(143,141
)
 
$
3,696,038

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2015:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss and loss expense reserves
$
2,138,952

 
$
349,668

 
$
3,265,349

 
$
(1,476,276
)
 
$
(189,587
)
 
$
4,088,106

Subrogation recoverable
828,802

 
141,349

 
207,674

 
(2,407,118
)
 
—

 
(1,229,293
)
Totals
$
2,967,754

 
$
491,017

 
$
3,473,023

 
$
(3,883,394
)
 
$
(189,587
)
 
$
2,858,813
Summary of Loss Reserve Roll-Forward, Net of Subrogation Recoverable and Reinsurance
Below is the loss and loss expense reserve roll-forward, net of subrogation recoverable and reinsurance, for the affected periods. Current year represents activity related to policies with newly established loss and loss expense reserves. Prior years represents activity related to policies with loss and loss expense reserves established in prior years.
Year Ended December 31,
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Beginning gross loss and loss expense reserves
$
2,858,813

 
$
3,798,733

 
$
5,470,234

Reinsurance recoverable
44,059

 
100,355

 
122,357

Beginning balance of net loss and loss expense reserves
$
2,814,754

 
$
3,698,378

 
$
5,347,877

Losses and loss expenses (benefit) incurred:
 
 
 
 
 
Current year
6,675

 
1,183

 
309

Prior years
(18,164
)
 
(769,890
)
 
(545,883
)
Total (1)(2)
(11,489
)
 
(768,707
)
 
(545,574
)
Loss and loss expenses (recovered) paid:
 
 
 
 
 
Current year
5,371

 
—

 
17

Prior years
(944,955
)
 
90,086

 
1,067,321

Total
(939,584
)
 
90,086

 
1,067,338

Foreign exchange effect
(77,578
)
 
(24,831
)
 
(36,587
)
Ending net loss and loss expense reserves
$
3,665,271

 
$
2,814,754

 
$
3,698,378

Reinsurance recoverable (3)
30,767

 
44,059

 
100,355

Ending gross loss and loss expense reserves (4)
$
3,696,038

 
$
2,858,813

 
$
3,798,733


(1)
Total losses and loss expenses (benefit) incurred includes $5,421, $47,085 and $21,164 or the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively, related to ceded reinsurance.
(2)
Ambac records the impact of estimated recoveries related to securitized loans in RMBS transactions that breached certain representations and warranties within losses and loss expenses (benefit). The losses and loss expense (benefit) incurred associated with changes in estimated representation and warranties for the year ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014 was $(71,369), $(303,633) and $(481,669), respectively.
(3)
Represents reinsurance recoverable on future loss and loss expenses. Additionally, the Balance Sheet line "Reinsurance recoverable on paid and unpaid losses" includes reinsurance recoverables (payables) of $(349), $(60) and $(517) as of December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively, related to previously presented loss and loss expenses and subrogation.
(4)
Includes Euro denominated gross loss and loss expense reserves of $21,375 (€20,297), $19,019 (€17,515) and $16,094 (€13,300) at December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Summary of Information Related to Policies Currently Included in Ambac's Loss Reserves or Subrogation Recoverable
The tables below summarize information related to policies currently included in Ambac’s loss and loss expense reserves or subrogation recoverable at December 31, 2016 and 2015. Gross par exposures include capital appreciation bonds which are reported at the par amount at the time of issuance of the insurance policy. The weighted average risk-free rate used to discount loss reserves at December 31, 2016 and 2015 was 2.7% and 2.4%, respectively.
 
 
Surveillance Categories as of December 31, 2016
 
 
I/SL
 
IA
 
II
 
III
 
IV
 
V
 
Total
Number of policies
 
19

 
22

 
26

 
43

 
169

 
3

 
282

Remaining weighted-average contract period (in years)
 
9

 
8

 
30

 
17

 
14

 
5

 
16

Gross insured contractual payments outstanding:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Principal
 
$
918,456

 
$
733,036

 
$
1,992,543

 
$
1,779,889

 
$
7,926,991

 
$
49,247

 
$
13,400,162

Interest
 
345,802

 
199,631

 
7,080,969

 
1,110,051

 
2,275,421

 
14,185

 
11,026,059

Total
 
$
1,264,258

 
$
932,667

 
$
9,073,512

 
$
2,889,940

 
$
10,202,412

 
$
63,432

 
$
24,426,221

Gross undiscounted claim liability (1)
 
$
3,439

 
$
21,175

 
$
547,550

 
$
861,455

 
$
6,139,060

 
$
63,431

 
$
7,636,110

Discount, gross claim liability
 
(314
)
 
(1,243
)
 
(331,234
)
 
(256,108
)
 
(710,608
)
 
(5,859
)
 
(1,305,366
)
Gross claim liability before all subrogation and before reinsurance
 
$
3,125

 
$
19,932

 
$
216,316

 
$
605,347

 
$
5,428,452

 
$
57,572

 
$
6,330,744

Less:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross RMBS subrogation (2)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(1,926,165
)
 
—

 
(1,926,165
)
Discount, RMBS subrogation
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
19,130

 
—

 
19,130

Discounted RMBS subrogation, before reinsurance
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(1,907,035
)
 
—

 
(1,907,035
)
Less:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross other subrogation (3)
 
—

 
—

 
(14,529
)
 
(118,272
)
 
(593,919
)
 
(12,751
)
 
(739,471
)
Discount, other subrogation
 
—

 
—

 
6,526

 
13,426

 
56,273

 
3,854

 
80,079

Discounted other subrogation, before reinsurance
 
—

 
—

 
(8,003
)
 
(104,846
)
 
(537,646
)
 
(8,897
)
 
(659,392
)
Gross claim liability, net of all subrogation and discounts, before reinsurance
 
$
3,125

 
$
19,932

 
$
208,313

 
$
500,501

 
$
2,983,771

 
$
48,675

 
$
3,764,317

Less: Unearned premium revenue
 
(2,394
)
 
(1,807
)
 
(49,578
)
 
(31,785
)
 
(57,194
)
 
(383
)
 
(143,141
)
Plus: Loss expense reserves
 
6,621

 
339

 
777

 
11,036

 
56,089

 
—

 
74,862

Gross loss and loss expense reserves
 
$
7,352

 
$
18,464

 
$
159,512

 
$
479,752

 
$
2,982,666

 
$
48,292

 
$
3,696,038

Reinsurance recoverable reported on Balance Sheet (4)
 
$
120

 
$
6,063

 
$
2,737

 
$
39,352

 
$
(17,854
)
 
$
—

 
$
30,418

 
(1)
Gross undiscounted claim liability includes unpaid claims, including accrued interest on Deferred Amounts, on policies allocated to the Segregated Account and Ambac's estimate of expected future claims.
(2)
RMBS subrogation represents Ambac’s estimate of subrogation recoveries from RMBS transaction sponsors for representation and warranty ("R&W") breaches.
(3)
Other subrogation primarily represents subrogation related to excess spread or other contractual cash flows on public finance and structured finance transactions including RMBS.
(4)
Reinsurance recoverable reported on Balance Sheet includes reinsurance recoverables of $30,767 related to future loss and loss expenses and $(349) related to presented loss and loss expenses and subrogation.
 
 
Surveillance Categories as of December 31, 2015
 
 
I/SL
 
IA
 
II
 
III
 
IV
 
V
 
Total
Number of policies
 
33

 
14

 
23

 
63

 
157

 
3

 
293

Remaining weighted-average contract period (in years)
 
9

 
17

 
26

 
19

 
13

 
6

 
15

Gross insured contractual payments outstanding:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Principal
 
$
1,830,549

 
$
263,288

 
$
1,912,237

 
$
2,972,615

 
$
8,942,730

 
$
54,590

 
$
15,976,009

Interest
 
724,940

 
107,624

 
6,834,538

 
1,792,525

 
2,391,523

 
16,791

 
11,867,941

Total
 
$
2,555,489

 
$
370,912

 
$
8,746,775

 
$
4,765,140

 
$
11,334,253

 
$
71,381

 
$
27,843,950

Gross undiscounted claim liability (1)
 
$
6,188

 
$
5,632

 
$
173,930

 
$
1,595,525

 
$
6,339,537

 
$
71,381

 
$
8,192,193

Discount, gross claim liability
 
(515
)
 
(652
)
 
(96,218
)
 
(458,805
)
 
(770,694
)
 
(6,779
)
 
(1,333,663
)
Gross claim liability before all subrogation and before reinsurance
 
$
5,673

 
$
4,980

 
$
77,712

 
$
1,136,720

 
$
5,568,843

 
$
64,602

 
$
6,858,530

Less:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross RMBS subrogation (2)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(2,841,291
)
 
—

 
(2,841,291
)
Discount, RMBS subrogation
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
11,716

 
—

 
11,716

Discounted RMBS subrogation, before reinsurance
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(2,829,575
)
 
—

 
(2,829,575
)
Less:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross other subrogation (3)
 
—

 
—

 
(12,937
)
 
(526,957
)
 
(835,078
)
 
(13,098
)
 
(1,388,070
)
Discount, other subrogation
 
—

 
—

 
3,961

 
198,643

 
127,669

 
3,978

 
334,251

Discounted other subrogation, before reinsurance
 
—

 
—

 
(8,976
)
 
(328,314
)
 
(707,409
)
 
(9,120
)
 
(1,053,819
)
Gross claim liability, net of all subrogation and discounts, before reinsurance
 
$
5,673

 
$
4,980

 
$
68,736

 
$
808,406

 
$
2,031,859

 
$
55,482

 
$
2,975,136

Less: Unearned premium revenue
 
(3,360
)
 
(1,796
)
 
(48,871
)
 
(63,257
)
 
(71,848
)
 
(455
)
 
(189,587
)
Plus: Loss expense reserves
 
—

 
66

 
629

 
15,090

 
57,479

 
—

 
73,264

Gross loss and loss expense reserves
 
$
2,313

 
$
3,250

 
$
20,494

 
$
760,239

 
$
2,017,490

 
$
55,027

 
$
2,858,813

Reinsurance recoverable reported on Balance Sheet (4)
 
$
642

 
$
880

 
$
85

 
$
59,503

 
$
(17,111
)
 
$
—

 
$
43,999

(1)
Gross undiscounted claim liability includes unpaid claims, including accrued interest on Deferred Amounts, on policies allocated to the Segregated Account and Ambac's estimate of expected future claims.
(2)
RMBS subrogation represents Ambac’s estimate of subrogation recoveries from RMBS transaction sponsors for R&W breaches.
(3)
Other subrogation primarily represents subrogation related to excess spread or other contractual cash flows on public finance and structured finance transactions, including RMBS.
(4)
Reinsurance recoverable reported on Balance Sheet includes reinsurance recoverables of $44,059 related to future loss and loss expenses and $(60) related to presented loss and loss expenses and subrogation.
Summary of Balance of Subrogation Recoveries and Related Claim Liabilities, by Estimation Approach
The balance of RMBS subrogation recoveries and the related loss reserves, using Random Samples as the estimation approach, at December 31, 2016 and 2015, are as follows:
Random Samples Approach
Gross Loss
Reserves Before
Subrogation
Recoveries (1)
 
Subrogation
Recoveries (2)(3)
 
Gross Loss
Reserves After
Subrogation
Recoveries
At December 31, 2016
$
1,351,640

 
$
(1,907,035
)
 
$
(555,395
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
At December 31, 2015
$
1,850,804

 
$
(2,829,575
)
 
$
(978,771
)
(1)
Includes unpaid RMBS claims, including accrued interest on Deferred Amounts, on policies allocated to the Segregated Account.
(2)
The amount of recorded subrogation recoveries related to each securitization is limited to ever-to-date paid and unpaid losses plus the present value of expected cash flows for each policy. To the extent losses have been paid but not yet fully recovered, the recorded amount of RMBS subrogation recoveries may exceed the sum of the unpaid claims and the present value of expected cash flows for a given policy. The net cash inflow for these policies is recorded as a “Subrogation recoverable” asset. For those transactions where the subrogation recovery is less than the sum of unpaid claims and the present value of expected cash flows, the net cash outflow for these policies is recorded as a “Loss and loss expense reserves” liability.
(3)
The sponsor’s repurchase obligation may differ depending on the terms of the particular transaction and the status of the specific loan, such as whether it is performing or has been liquidated or charged off. The estimated subrogation recovery for these transactions is based primarily on loan level data provided through trustee reports received in the normal course of our surveillance activities or provided by the sponsor. While this data may not include all the components of the sponsor’s contractual repurchase obligation we believe it is the best information available to estimate the subrogation recovery.
Summary of Rollforward of RMBS Subrogation, by Estimation Approach
Below is the rollforward of RMBS subrogation, by estimation approach, for the affected periods:
 
Random
Sample
 
Adverse
Sample
 
Total
Discounted RMBS subrogation (gross of reinsurance) at January 1, 2016
$
2,829,575

 
$
—

 
$
2,829,575

Changes recognized in 2016:
 
 
 
 
 
Impact of sponsor actions (1)
(995,000
)
 
—

 
(995,000
)
All other changes (2)
72,460

 
—

 
72,460

Discounted RMBS subrogation (gross of reinsurance) at December 31, 2016
$
1,907,035

 
$
—

 
$
1,907,035

 
 
 
 
 
 
Discounted RMBS subrogation (gross of reinsurance) at January 1, 2015
$
2,523,540

 
$
—

 
$
2,523,540

Changes recognized in 2015:
 
 
 
 
 
All other changes (2)
306,035

 
—

 
306,035

Discounted RMBS subrogation (gross of reinsurance) at December 31, 2015
$
2,829,575

 
$
—

 
$
2,829,575

 
 
 
 
 
 
Discounted RMBS subrogation (gross of reinsurance) at January 1, 2014
$
953,825

 
$
1,252,773

 
$
2,206,598

Changes recognized in 2014:
 
 
 
 
 
Additional transactions reviewed
24,565

 
—

 
24,565

Changes in estimation approach (3)
1,417,556

 
(1,218,681
)
 
198,875

Impact of sponsor actions (1)
(146,270
)
 
—

 
(146,270
)
All other changes (2)
273,864

 
(34,092
)
 
239,772

Discounted RMBS subrogation (gross of reinsurance) at December 31, 2014
$
2,523,540

 
$
—

 
$
2,523,540

(1)
Sponsor actions include loan repurchases, direct payments to Ambac and other contributions from sponsors. In January 2016, Ambac Assurance settled its RMBS-related disputes and litigation against JP Morgan Chase & Co. and certain of its affiliates (collectively "JP Morgan"). Pursuant to the settlement, JP Morgan paid Ambac Assurance $995,000 in cash in return for releases of all of Ambac Assurance's claims against JP Morgan arising from certain RMBS transactions insured by Ambac Assurance. Ambac Assurance also agreed to withdraw its objections to JP Morgan's global RMBS settlement with RMBS trustees.
(2)
All other changes which may impact R&W subrogation recoveries include changes in actual or projected collateral performance, changes in the creditworthiness of a sponsor and/or the projected timing of recoveries. All other changes may also include estimates of potential sponsor settlements that may not have been subject to a sampling approach or have been executed but the settlement amounts have not yet been received. Those that have not been subject to a sampling approach are not material to Ambac’s financial results and therefore are included in the Random Sample column of this table.
(3)
Represents estimated subrogation for those transactions previously evaluated using the Adverse Sample approach, which are evaluated using a Random Sample approach beginning June 30, 2014. The amounts shown in the Random and Adverse Sample columns are different as a result of the differences in estimation approaches.
Insurance Intangible Asset [Member]  
Insurance [Line Items]  
Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense [Table Text Block]
The estimated future amortization expense for the net insurance intangible asset is as follows:
Future Insurance Intangible Amortization (1)
2017
 
2018
 
2019
 
2020
 
2021
 
Thereafter
$
94,815

 
$
81,469

 
$
72,967

 
$
67,115

 
$
60,621

 
$
585,093


(1)
The insurance intangible asset will be amortized using a level yield method based on par exposure of the related financial guarantee insurance or reinsurance contracts as described in Note 2. Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies. As exposures are called or prepay, amortization of the insurance intangible asset will be recognized earlier and the timing will differ from the amounts provided in the table above.