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Investments
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]  
Investments
4.    INVESTMENTS
Ambac’s non-VIE invested assets are primarily comprised of fixed maturity securities classified as either available-for-sale or trading securities, and interests in pooled investment funds, 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 obligations of Puerto Rico issuing entities that are part of the the PROMESA restructuring process as described further in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Fixed Maturity Securities:
The amortized cost and estimated fair value of available-for-sale investments, excluding VIE investments, at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, were as follows:
March 31, 2024:December 31, 2023:
Amortized
Cost
Allowance for Credit Losses (2)
Gross UnrealizedEstimated
Fair Value
Amortized
Cost
Allowance for Credit LossesGross UnrealizedEstimated
Fair Value
GainsLossesGainsLosses
Fixed maturity securities:
Municipal obligations$72 $ $1 $1 $72 $72 — $$$72 
Corporate obligations807  3 45 765 785 — 44 745 
Foreign obligations105  1 7 99 105 — 100 
U.S. government obligations101   4 98 85 — 82 
Residential mortgage-backed securities239 2 28 12 253 239 28 14 250 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities27    27 19 — — — 19 
Collateralized debt obligations143  1  143 139 — 139 
Other asset-backed securities (1)
232  3 5 231 301 — 303 
1,726 2 37 74 1,687 1,744 40 71 1,710 
Short-term382    382 426 — — — 426 
2,108 2 37 74 2,068 2,170 40 71 2,135 
Fixed maturity securities pledged as collateral:
U.S. government obligations27   1 26 — — — — — 
Short-term     27 — — — 27 
27   1 26 27 — — — 27 
Total available-for-sale investments$2,135 $2 $37 $75 $2,095 $2,197 $40 $71 $2,162 
(1)Consists primarily of military housing and student loan securities.
(2)For the three months ended March 31, 2024, the allowance for credit losses changed by $0 on residential mortgage-backed securities for which credit losses were not previously recorded..

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of available-for-sale investments, excluding VIE investments, at March 31, 2024, by contractual maturity, were as follows:
Amortized
Cost
Estimated
Fair Value
Due in one year or less$515 $513 
Due after one year through five years538 517 
Due after five years through ten years308 284 
Due after ten years134 128 
1,494 1,441 
Residential mortgage-backed securities239 253 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities27 27 
Collateralized debt obligations143 143 
Other asset-backed securities232 231 
Total$2,135 $2,095 
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 March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, did not have an allowance for credit losses This information is aggregated by investment category and length of time that the individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position, at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
March 31, 2024December 31, 2023
Less Than 12 Months12 Months or MoreTotalLess Than 12 Months12 Months or MoreTotal
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$13 $ $16 $1 $29 $1 $$— $16 $$23 $
Corporate obligations91 2 504 44 596 45 75 509 43 584 44 
Foreign obligations9  57 7 66 7 — 56 64 
U.S. government obligations40 1 33 2 73 4 27 37 63 
Residential mortgage-backed securities42  111 12 153 12 — 98 14 104 14 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities      — — — — 
Collateralized debt obligations13  40  53  — 93 95 
Other asset-backed securities53 1 79 4 132 5 57 35 92 
261 4 839 70 1,101 74 184 844 68 1,028 71 
Short-term44    44  — — — — 
305 4 839 70 1,145 74 187 844 68 1,032 71 
U. S. government obligations27 1   27 1 — — — — — — 
Total collateralized investments27 1   27 1 — — — — — — 
Total temporarily impaired securities$332 $5 $839 $70 $1,172 $75 $187 $4 $844 $68 $1,032 $71 

Management has determined that the securities in the above table do not have credit impairment as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, 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 March 31, 2024, 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 March 31, 2024, 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 March 31, 2024, resulted primarily from an increase in interest rates since the securities were purchased. Unrealized losses of $45 related to 671 investment grade securities with an average unrealized loss equal to 7% of amortized cost at March 31, 2024. 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 March 31, 2024. Management believes that the full and timely receipt of all principal and interest payment on corporate
obligations with unrealized losses as of March 31, 2024, is probable.
Residential mortgage-backed securities and Other asset-backed securities
As of March 31, 2024, $12 of the unrealized loss on residential mortgage-backed securities related to 13 Ambac insured securities. Four of these account for $11 of the unrealized loss and have an average unrealized loss equal to 11% of amortized cost. The $5 unrealized loss on other asset backed securities related primarily to 14 Ambac-insured securities that have an average unrealized loss equal to 3% of amortized cost.
The majority of these unrealized losses for both residential mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities relate to securities with long dated weighted average lives making their fair values 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. 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:
Three Months Ended March 31,20242023
Fixed maturity securities$23 $17 
Short-term investments5 
Investment expense(1)(2)
Securities available-for-sale and short-term27 21 
Fixed maturity securities - trading2 — 
Other investments13 13 
Total net investment income (loss)$42 $34 
Net investment income (loss) from Other investments primarily represents changes in fair value on equity securities, including certain pooled investment funds, and income from investment limited partnerships and other equity interests accounted for under the equity method.
Net Investments Gains (Losses), including Impairments:
The following table details amounts included in net investment gains (losses) and impairments included in earnings for the affected periods:
Three Months Ended March 31,20242023
Gross realized gains on securities$ $— 
Gross realized losses on securities(1)(2)
Foreign exchange gains (losses)  (2)
Credit impairments1 (1)
Intent / requirement to sell impairments  
Net investment gains (losses), including impairments$1 $(4)
Ambac had an allowance for credit losses of $2 and $1 at March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Ambac did not purchase any financial assets with credit deterioration for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023.
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 $26 and $27 at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, 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 either "Fixed maturity securities pledged as collateral, at fair value" or "Short-term investments pledged as collateral, at fair value." Refer to Note 7. 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 $23 and $24 at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, 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 and $1 at March 31, 2024 and 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 $2 at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, are included in the 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 March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023,
respectively: 
March 31, 2024December 31, 2023
Municipal obligations$9 $
Mortgage-backed securities244 240 
Asset-backed securities154 232 
Total$406 482 
Weighted average underlying ratingB-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 $35 to private credit and private equity funds at March 31, 2024.
Fair Value
Class of FundsMarch 31,
2024
December 31, 2023Redemption FrequencyRedemption Notice Period
Hedge funds (1)
$115 $112 quarterly or semi-annually90 days
Private credit (2)
85 84 quarterly if permitted180 days if permitted
High yields and leveraged loans (3) (10)
142 85 daily0 - 30 days
Equity market investments (4) (10)
40 38 daily or quarterly0 - 90 days
Investment grade floating rate income (5)
52 52 weekly0 days
Private equity (6)
75 70 quarterly if permitted90 days if permitted
Real estate properties (7)
20 21 
see footnote (7)
see footnote (7)
Convertible bonds (8)(10)
16 — daily0 days
Insurance-linked investments (9)
 
see footnote (9)
see footnote (9)
Total equity investments in pooled funds$546 $463 
(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 aims to obtain high long-term returns primarily through credit and preferred equity investments with low liquidity and defined term.
(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 of funds aim to achieve long term growth through diversified exposure to global equity-markets.
(5)This class of funds includes investments in high quality floating rate debt securities including ABS and corporate floating rate notes.
(6)This class seeks to generate long-term capital appreciation through investments in private equity, equity-related and other instruments.
(7)Investments consist of UK property to generate income and capital growth. The fund in which Ambac is invested is in the process of terminating. Investors will be able to transfer their investments in the fund to an alternative UK property fund or redeem their investment on May 31, 2024. Transferring investors will receive units in the alternative fund and redeeming investors will receive distributions pro-rata to the number of fund units held, from cash and proceeds of future property sales as soon as possible following May 31, 2024.
(8)This class seeks to generate total returns from portfolios focused primarily on convertible securities.
(9)This class seeks to generate returns from insurance markets through investments in catastrophe bonds, life insurance and other insurance linked investments. This investment was restricted in connection with the unwind of certain insurance linked exposures. Ambac's investment was fully redeemed by March 31, 2024.
(10)These categories include fair value amounts totaling $152 and $77 at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, that are readily determinable and are priced through pricing vendors, including for Equity market investments $40 and $38, High yield and leveraged loans products $95 and $39, and Convertible bonds investments $16 and $0.
Other investments also include preferred equity investments with a carrying value of $13 and $13 as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, 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.