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Investments (Tables)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]  
Summary of Amortized Cost and Estimated Fair Value of Available-for-Sale Investments, Excluding VIE Investments The amortized cost and estimated fair value of available-for-sale investments, excluding VIE investments, at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, were as follows:
Amortized
Cost
Allowance for Credit LossesGross
Unrealized
Gains in AOCI
Gross
Unrealized
Losses in AOCI
Estimated
Fair Value
September 30, 2020:
Fixed income securities:
Municipal obligations$322 $ $29 $1 $351 
Corporate obligations (1)
1,066  28 3 1,091 
Foreign obligations76  1  77 
U.S. government obligations118  4 1 122 
Residential mortgage-backed securities251  45  296 
Collateralized debt obligations74   1 73 
Other asset-backed securities268  33 1 300 
2,176  140 6 2,311 
Short-term586    586 
2,761  141 6 2,896 
Fixed income securities pledged as collateral:
Short-term152    152 
Total collateralized investments152    152 
Total available-for-sale investments$2,914 $ $141 $6 $3,048 
Amortized
Cost
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Estimated
Fair Value
Non-credit
Other-than
temporary
Impairments 
(2)
December 31, 2019:
Fixed income securities:
Municipal obligations$194 $22 $— $215 $— 
Corporate obligations (1)
1,396 36 1,430 — 
Foreign obligations44 — 44 — 
U.S. government obligations157 156 — 
Residential mortgage-backed securities200 47 — 248 — 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities49 — 50 — 
Collateralized debt obligations147 — 146 — 
Other asset-backed securities263 24 — 287 — 
2,450 132 2,577 — 
Short-term653 — — 653 — 
3,103 132 3,230 — 
Fixed income securities pledged as collateral:
Short-term85 — — 85 — 
Total collateralized investments85 — — 85 — 
Total available-for-sale investments$3,187 $132 $5 $3,314 $ 
(1)Includes Ambac's holdings of the secured notes issued by Ambac LSNI in connection with the Rehabilitation Exit Transactions.
(2)At December 31, 2019, represents the amount of non-credit other-than-temporary impairment losses remaining in accumulated other comprehensive income on securities that also had a credit impairment. These losses are included in gross unrealized losses at December 31, 2019.
Summary of Amortized Cost and Estimated Fair Value of Available-for-Sale Investments, Excluding VIE Investments Held by Successor Ambac, by Contractual Maturity
The amortized cost and estimated fair value of available-for-sale investments, excluding VIE investments, at September 30, 2020, by contractual maturity, were as follows:
Amortized
Cost
Estimated
Fair Value
Due in one year or less$830 $832 
Due after one year through five years876 888 
Due after five years through ten years432 453 
Due after ten years182 206 
2,320 2,379 
Residential mortgage-backed securities251 296 
Collateralized debt obligations74 73 
Other asset-backed securities268 300 
Total$2,914 $3,048 
Summary of Gross Unrealized Losses and Fair Values of Ambac's Available-for-Sale Investments
The following table shows gross unrealized losses and fair values of Ambac’s available-for-sale investments, excluding VIE investments, which at September 30, 2020, did not have an allowance for credit losses under the new CECL standard and, at December 31, 2019, did not have other-than-temporary impairments recorded in earnings under prior GAAP. 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, 2020 and December 31, 2019:
Less Than 12 Months12 Months or MoreTotal
Fair ValueGross
Unrealized
Loss
Fair ValueGross
Unrealized
Loss
Fair ValueGross
Unrealized
Loss
September 30, 2020:
Fixed income securities:
Municipal obligations$64 $1 $6 $ $70 $1 
Corporate obligations179 3   179 3 
Foreign obligations12    12  
U.S. government obligations11 1   11 1 
Residential mortgage-backed securities
19    19  
Collateralized debt obligations53 1 15  67 1 
Other asset-backed securities1  4 1 5 1 
338 5 25 1 363 6 
Short-term152    152  
Total securities$490 $5 $25 $1 $515 $6 
Less Than 12 Months12 Months or MoreTotal
Fair ValueGross
Unrealized
Loss
Fair ValueGross
Unrealized
Loss
Fair ValueGross
Unrealized
Loss
December 31, 2019:
Fixed income securities:
Municipal obligations$13 $— $10 $— $23 $— 
Corporate obligations63 — 68 
Foreign obligations20 — — — 20 — 
U.S. government obligations36 — 38 
Residential mortgage-backed securities
— — — — 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities— — — — 
Collateralized debt obligations53 — 63 116 
Other asset-backed securities— — 10 — 
200 88 288 
Short-term201 — — — 201 — 
Total securities$401 $4 $88 $1 $489 $5 
Summary of Amounts Included in Net Realized (Losses) Gains and Other-Than-Temporary 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,
2020201920202019
Gross realized gains on securities$5 $12 $32 $46 
Gross realized losses on securities(1)— (12)(5)
Net foreign exchange (losses) gains(2) 30 
Credit impairments (1)
    
Intent / requirement to sell impairments (2)
    
Net realized gains (losses)$2 $18 $20 $71 
(1)Includes securities 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.
(2)Includes securities which management either intends sell or it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell before recovery of the amortized cost basis.
Summary of Roll-Forward of Ambac's Cumulative Credit Losses on Debt Securities for Which Portion of Other-than-Temporary Impairment was Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income
The following table presents a roll-forward of Ambac’s cumulative credit losses on debt securities for which a portion of an other-than-temporary impairment was recognized in other comprehensive income under prior GAAP for the nine months ended September 30, 2019:
Balance, beginning of period$12 
Reductions for credit impairments previously recognized on:
Securities that matured or were sold during the period(1)
Balance, end of period$12 
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 September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively: 
Municipal
Obligations
Corporate
Obligations
(2)
Mortgage
and Asset-
backed
Securities
Total
Weighted
Average
Underlying
Rating 
(1)
September 30, 2020:
Ambac Assurance Corporation$310 $470 $473 $1,253 CCC+
National Public Finance Guarantee Corporation6   6 BBB-
Assured Guaranty Municipal Corporation1   1 C
Total$318 $470 $473 $1,260 CCC+
December 31, 2019:
Ambac Assurance Corporation$176 $535 $442 $1,153 B-
National Public Finance Guarantee Corporation11 — — 11 BBB-
Total$186 $535 $442 $1,164 B-
(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 secured notes issued by Ambac LSNI in connection with the Rehabilitation Exit Transactions. These secured notes are insured by Ambac Assurance.
Equity Method Investments [Table Text Block] Ambac has unfunded commitments of $48 to private credit and private equity funds at September 30, 2020.
Fair Value
Class of FundsSeptember 30,
2020
December 31,
2019
Redemption FrequencyRedemption Notice Period
Real estate properties (1)
$15 $16 quarterly10 business days
Hedge funds (2)
182 65 quarterly90 days
High yields and leveraged loans (3) (10)
53 176 daily0 - 30 days
Private credit (4)
57 51 quarterly180 days if permitted
Insurance-linked investments (5)
2 fully redeemednone
Equity market investments (6) (10)
33 55 daily0 days
Investment grade floating rate income (7)
69 66 weekly0 days
Private equity (8)
16 — quarterly90 days if permitted
Emerging markets debt (9) (10)
23 — daily 0 days
Total equity investments in pooled funds$451 $432 
(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 return 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.
(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 as well as ultra-short term bonds and money market instruments.
(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 $60 and $136 at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, that are readily determinable and are priced through pricing vendors, including for High yield and leveraged loans products: $3 and $81; for Equity market investments: $33 and $55; and for Emerging markets debt $23 and $0
Summary of Net Investment Income
Net investment income (loss) was comprised of the following for the affected periods:
Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
2020201920202019
Fixed income securities$24 $33 $79 $151 
Short-term investments1 4 14 
Loans —  
Investment expense(1)(1)(4)(4)
Securities available-for-sale and short-term24 36 80 161 
Other investments14 (11)25 
Total net investment income (loss)$37 $45 $69 $186 
Net investment income (loss) from Other investments primarily represents changes in fair value on securities classified as trading or accounted for under the fair value option, income from investment limited partnerships accounted for under the equity method and the above noted equity interest in an unconsolidated trust accounted for under the equity method.
The portion of net unrealized gains (losses) related to trading securities still held at the end of each period is as follows:
Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
2020201920202019
Net gains (losses) recognized during the period on trading securities
$3 $$(12)$19 
Less: net gains (losses) recognized during the reporting period on trading securities sold during the period
 (19)
Unrealized gains (losses) recognized during the reporting period on trading securities still held at the reporting date
$3 $4 $7 $15