Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") for interim financial reporting and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and disclosures required by GAAP for annual periods. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,

2019. The accompanying consolidated financial statements have not been audited by an independent registered public accounting firm in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (U.S.), but in the opinion of management such financial statements include all adjustments necessary for the fair presentation of the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations. The results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, may not be indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2020. The December 31, 2019, consolidated balance sheet was derived from audited financial statements.

The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. As additional information becomes available or actual amounts become determinable, the recorded estimates are revised and reflected in operating results.

Foreign Currency Transactions and Translations Policy [Policy Text Block]

Foreign Currency:

Financial statement accounts expressed in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars in accordance with the Foreign Currency Matters Topic of the ASC. The functional currencies of AFG's subsidiaries are the local currencies of the country where the respective subsidiaries are based, which are also the primary operating environments in which the subsidiaries operate.

Foreign currency translation: Functional currency assets and liabilities of AFG’s foreign subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars using exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet dates and the related translation adjustments, net of deferred taxes, are included as a component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Stockholders' Equity. Functional currency operating results of foreign subsidiaries are translated using average exchange rates.

Foreign currency transactions: The impact of non-functional currency transactions and the remeasurement of non-functional currency assets and liabilities into the respective subsidiaries' functional currency (collectively "foreign currency transactions gains/(losses)") are $3 and $13 for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Foreign currency transactions gains/(losses) are primarily the result of remeasuring Ambac UK's assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than its functional currency, primarily the U.S. dollar and the Euro.

Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information	Six Months Ended June 30,
	2020		2019
Cash paid during the period for:
Income taxes	$	11	$	1
Interest on long-term debt	58		74
Non-cash financing activities:
Exchange of investments in Puerto Rico COFINA bonds for new bonds issued in the Plan of Adjustment	$	—	$	510
	June 30,
	2020		2019
Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported within the Consolidated Balance Sheets to the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	17	$	18
Restricted cash	15		—
Variable Interest Entity Restricted cash	2		29
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows	$	34	$	46

Reclassifications

Reclassifications and Rounding

Reclassifications may have been made to prior years' amounts to conform to the current year's presentation. Certain amounts and tables in the consolidated financial statements and associated notes may not add due to rounding.

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Adopted Accounting Standards:

Effective January 1, 2020, the Company adopted the following accounting standards:

Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (CECL)

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326) - Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, subsequently amended by ASU 2018-19, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses; ASU 2019-04, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses, Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and Topic 825, Financial Instruments; ASU 2019-05, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Targeted Transition Relief; and ASU 2019-11, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (collectively the Current Expected Credit Loss standard or "CECL")

The new CECL standard affects how reporting entities measure credit losses for financial assets that are not accounted for at fair value through net income. For Ambac, these financial assets include available-for-sale debt securities, premium receivables, reinsurance recoverables, and loans. CECL does not apply to recoveries of previously paid losses on financial guarantee insurance contracts accounted for under ASC 944 nor does it apply to equity method investments accounted for under ASC 323.

For available-for-sale debt securities, the updated guidance was applied prospectively and for financial instruments measured at amortized cost, the updated guidance was applied by a cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings at January 1, 2020. This adjustment was not material to retained earnings or any individual balance sheet line item.

As a result of adopting CECL, management revised its policies and procedures around the credit impairment evaluation process. CECL also introduced new disclosures related to the credit impairment process, including certain accounting policy elections that Ambac made under the the new standard. Enhanced disclosures related to accounting policies for each type of asset impacted by CECL are discussed below. The disclosures below should be read in conjunction with disclosures in Note 2. Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies, Note 6. Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts and Note 8. Investments in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.

Available-for-Sale Debt Securities

For available-for-sale debt securities, credit losses under CECL are measured similarly to other-than-temporary impairments under prior GAAP. However, under CECL, the recognition of credit losses for available-for-sale debt securities will be recorded as an allowance for credit losses with an offsetting charge to net income, rather than as a direct write-down of the security as was required under prior GAAP. As a result, improvements to estimated credit losses for available-for-sale debt securities will be recognized immediately in net income rather than as interest income over time. Furthermore, as required under CECL, Ambac no longer considers the length of time a security has continuously been in an unrealized loss in the credit impairment process.

Ambac has made certain accounting policy elections related to accrued interest receivable ("AIR") for available-for-sale investments under CECL, which are consistent with past practices under prior GAAP. Elections include: i) not measuring AIR for credit impairment, instead AIR is written off when it becomes 90 days past due; ii) writing off AIR by reversing interest income; iii) presenting AIR separately in Other Assets on the balance sheet and iv) excluding AIR from amortized cost balances in required CECL disclosures found in Note 8. Investments. AIR at June 30, 2020 was $13.

Refer to Note 8. Investments for further credit impairment disclosures.

Amortized cost assets

For financial assets measured at amortized cost, CECL replaces the "incurred loss" model used for certain types of assets which generally delayed recognition of the full amount of credit losses until the loss was probable of occurring, with an "expected loss" model, which reflects an entity's current estimate of all expected lifetime credit losses. The estimate of expected lifetime credit losses should consider historical information, current information, as well as reasonable and supportable forecasts. Expected lifetime credit losses for amortized cost assets will be recorded as an allowance for credit losses, with subsequent increases or decreases in the allowance reflected in net income each period. The CECL measurement approach for Ambac's affected asset types were not materially different than the approaches under prior GAAP. Refer to the discussion below for each asset type.

Premium receivables. For financial guarantee contracts, the issuer's ability and willingness to pay its insured debt obligation impacts the payment of policy losses by Ambac as well as the receipt of premiums from the issuer. As such, management leverages its existing loss reserve estimation process to evaluate credit impairment for premium receivables. Key factors in assessing credit impairment include historical premium collection data, internal risk classifications, credit ratings and loss severities. For structured finance transactions involving special purpose entities, we further evaluate the priority of premiums paid to Ambac within the contractual waterfall, as required by bond indentures.

Management utilizes either a discounted cash flow ("DCF") or probability of default/loss given default ("PD/LGD") approach to estimate credit impairment. The DCF approach utilizes expected cash flows developed by Ambac's Risk Management Group using the same (or similar) models used for estimating loss reserves where such models can identify shortfalls in premiums. Credit impairment using the DCF approach is equal to the difference between amortized cost and the present value of expected cash flows. Credit impairment under the PD/LGD approach is the product of (i) the premium receivable carrying value, (ii) internally developed default probability (considering internal ratings and average life), and (iii) internally developed loss severities.

Refer to Note 6. Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts for further credit impairment disclosures.

Loans. The key factors in assessing credit impairment for loans are internal credit ratings and loss severities. Management utilizes a PD/LGD approach, similar to the one described above for premium receivables, which is applied to the loan carrying value.

Reinsurance recoverables. Ambac has elected the to use the practical expedient of considering the fair value of collateral posted by reinsurers when evaluating credit impairment. To determine the total unsecured recoverable to be evaluated for impairment, Ambac nets the reinsurance recoverable amount by ceded premiums payable and the fair value of collateral posted, if any.

The key factors in assessing credit impairment for reinsurance recoverables are independent rating agency credit ratings and loss severities. Management utilizes a PD/LGD approach, similar to the one described above for premium receivables, which is applied to the net unsecured reinsurance recoverable amount.

Refer to Note 6. Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts for further credit impairment disclosures.

Fair Value Measurement Disclosures

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) - Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. The ASU modified various disclosure requirements on fair value measurements. Relevant disclosures that were removed, modified and added are as follows:

• Removals: 1) Amount of and reasons for transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, 2) Policy for timing of transfers between levels, and 3) Valuation processes for Level 3 fair value measurements.

• Modifications: 1) For investments in certain entities that calculate net asset value, disclosures are required for the timing of liquidation of an investee's assets and the date when restrictions from redemption might lapse, only if the investee has communicated the timing to the reporting entity or publicly announced it and 2) Clarification that the measurement uncertainty disclosure is to communicate information about the uncertainty in measurement as of the reporting date and not possible future changes.

• Additions: 1) Changes in unrealized gains and losses for the period included in other comprehensive income for recurring Level 3 fair value measurements held at the end of the reporting period and 2) Range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements. Alternatively, an entity may disclose other quantitative information (such as the median or arithmetic average) if it determines that it is a more reasonable and rational method to reflect the distribution of unobservable inputs used.

Disclosure amendments related to changes in unrealized gains and losses included in other comprehensive income (loss) for Level 3 instruments, the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs, and the narrative description of measurement uncertainty were applied prospectively only for the most recent interim or annual period presented. All other disclosure amendments were applied retrospectively to all periods presented.

Refer to Note 7. Fair Value Measurements for further disclosures.

VIE Related Party Guidance

In October 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-17, Consolidation (Topic 810) - Targeted Improvements to Related Party Guidance for Variable Interest Entities. To determine whether a decision-making fee is a variable interest, under the new guidance a reporting entity must consider indirect interests held through related parties under common control on a proportional basis rather than as a direct interest in its entirety (as was previously required under prior GAAP). These amendments create alignment between determining whether a decision making fee is a variable interest and determining whether a reporting entity within a related party group is the primary beneficiary of a VIE. Adoption of this ASU did not impact Ambac's financial statements.

Cloud Computing Arrangement Service Contracts

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other— Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40) - Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract. The new guidance requires a customer in a cloud computing arrangement that is a service contract to capitalize certain implementation costs as if the arrangement was an internal-use software project. The internal-use software guidance requires the capitalization of certain costs incurred only during the application development stage. That guidance also requires entities to expense costs during the preliminary project and post-implementation stages as they are incurred. Adoption of this ASU did not impact Ambac's financial statements.

Description of New Accounting Pronouncements Not yet Adopted [Text Block]

Future Application of Accounting Standards:

Reference Rate Reform

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848) - Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. The ASU provides companies with optional guidance to ease the potential accounting burden related to transitioning away from reference rates, such as LIBOR, that are expected to be discontinued as a result of initiatives undertaken by various jurisdictions around the world. For example, under current GAAP, contract modifications which change a reference rate are required to be evaluated in determining whether the modifications result in the establishment of new contracts or the continuation of existing contracts. The amendments in this ASU provide optional expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. The ASU can be applied prospectively as of the beginning of the interim period that includes March 12, 2020, (January 1, 2020 for calendar year companies) or any date thereafter, but does not apply to contract modifications and other transactions entered into or evaluated after December 31, 2022. Management has not determined if and when it will adopt this ASU, and the impact on Ambac's financial statements is being evaluated.