Special Purpose Entities, Including Variable Interest Entities

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Special Purpose Entities, Including Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]

Special Purpose Entities, Including Variable Interest Entities

5. Special Purpose Entities, Including Variable Interest Entities

Ambac has engaged in transactions with special purpose entities, including VIEs, in various capacities. Ambac most commonly has provided financial guarantees, including credit derivative contracts, for various debt obligations issued by special purpose entities, including VIEs. Ambac has also sponsored two special purpose entities that issued medium-term notes to fund the purchase of certain financial assets. Ambac is also an investor in collateralized debt obligations, mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities issued by VIEs and its ownership interest is generally insignificant to the VIE and/or Ambac does not have rights that direct the activities that are most significant to such VIE. In 2011, Ambac entered into a secured borrowing transaction under which two VIEs were created for the purpose of resecuritizing certain invested assets and collateralizing the borrowing. These VIEs are consolidated because Ambac was involved in their design and holds a significant amount of the beneficial interests issued by the VIEs or guarantees the assets held by the VIEs. VIE debt outstanding to third parties under this secured borrowing transaction was $24,964 and $35,600 as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. The debt represents the senior-most tranche of the securitization structure and is to be repaid from the non-insurance proceeds of certain RMBS securities which are guaranteed by Ambac Assurance. Such securities had a fair value of $193,346 and $172,880 as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. Refer to Note 8, Investments for further discussion of the restrictions on these securities.

Financial Guarantees:

Ambac has provided financial guarantees in respect of assets held or debt obligations of special purpose entities, including VIEs. Ambac’s primary variable interest exists through this financial guarantee insurance or credit derivative contract. The transaction structure provides certain financial protection to Ambac. This financial protection can take several forms; however, the most common are over-collateralization, first loss and excess spread. In the case of over-collateralization (i.e., the principal amount of the securitized assets exceeds the principal amount of the debt obligations guaranteed by Ambac Assurance), the structure allows the transaction to experience defaults among the securitized assets before a default is experienced on the debt obligations that have been guaranteed by Ambac Assurance. In the case of first loss, the financial guarantee insurance policy only covers a senior layer of losses on assets held or debt issued by special purpose entities, including VIEs. The first loss with respect to the assets is either retained by the asset seller or sold off in the form of equity or mezzanine debt to other investors. In the case of excess spread, the securitized assets contributed to special purpose entities, including VIEs, generate interest cash flows that are in excess of the interest payments on the related debt; such excess cash flow is applied to redeem debt, thus creating over-collateralization. Generally, upon deterioration in the performance of a transaction or upon an event of default as specified in the transaction legal documents, Ambac will obtain certain loss remediation rights. These rights may enable Ambac to direct the activities of the entity that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance.

We determined that Ambac generally has the obligation to absorb the VIE’s expected losses given that we have issued financial guarantees supporting the liabilities (and in certain cases assets) of a VIE. As further described below, we consolidated certain VIEs because: a) we determined for certain transactions that experienced the aforementioned performance deterioration, that we had the power, through voting rights or similar rights, to direct the activities of certain VIEs that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance because certain triggers had been breached in these transactions resulting in Ambac having the ability to exercise certain loss remediation activities, or b) due to the passive nature of the VIEs’ activities, Ambac’s contingent loss remediation rights upon a breach of certain triggers in the future is considered to be the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIEs’ economic performance. With respect to existing VIEs involving Ambac financial guarantees, Ambac is generally required to consolidate a VIE in the period that applicable triggers result in Ambac having control over the VIE’s most significant economic activities. A VIE is deconsolidated in the period that Ambac no longer has such control, which generally occurs in connection with an insurance policy being allocated to the Segregated Account, execution of remediation activities on the transaction or amortization of insured exposure, any of which may reduce the degree of Ambac’s control over a VIE.

Ambac Sponsored VIEs:

A subsidiary of Ambac has transferred financial assets to two special purpose entities. The business purpose of these entities is to provide certain financial guarantee clients with funding for their debt obligations. These special purpose entities are legal entities that are demonstrably distinct from Ambac. Ambac, its affiliates or its agents cannot unilaterally dissolve these entities. The permitted activities of these entities are limited to those outlined below. Ambac does not consolidate these entities because Ambac’s policies issued to these entities have been allocated to the Segregated Account, thereby limiting Ambac’s control over the entities’ most significant economic activities. Ambac has elected to account for its equity interest in these entities at fair value under the fair value option in accordance with ASC Topic 825, Financial Instruments. We believe that the fair value of the investments in these entities provides for greater transparency for recording profit or loss as compared to the equity method under ASC Topic 323, Investments—Equity Method in Joint Ventures. Refer to Note 7 for further information on the valuation technique and inputs used to measure the fair value of Ambac’s equity interest in these entities. At June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 the fair value of these entities is $15,792 and $16,779, respectively, and is reported within Other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The change in fair value of these entities is ($231) and ($554) for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and ($987) and $542 for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Since their inception, there have been 15 individual transactions with these entities, of which 5 transactions were outstanding as of June 30, 2012. Total principal amount of debt outstanding was $574,509 and $578,562 at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. In each case, Ambac sold assets to these entities. The assets are composed of asset-backed securities and utility obligations with a weighted average rating of BBB+ at June 30, 2012 and weighted average life of 8.1 years. The purchase by these entities was financed through the issuance of medium-term notes (“MTNs”), which are cross-collateralized by the purchased assets. The MTNs have the same expected weighted average life as the purchased assets. Derivative contracts (interest rate swaps) are used within the entities for economic hedging purposes only. Hedges are established at the time MTNs are issued to purchase financial assets. The activities of these entities are contractually limited to purchasing assets from Ambac, issuing MTNs to fund such purchase, executing derivative hedges and obtaining financial guarantee policies with respect to indebtedness incurred. As of June 30, 2012 Ambac Assurance had financial guarantee insurance policies issued for all assets, MTNs and derivative contracts owned and outstanding by the entities.

Insurance premiums paid to Ambac Assurance by these entities are earned in a manner consistent with other insurance policies, over the risk period. Additionally, any losses incurred on such insurance policies are included in Ambac’s Consolidated Statements of Total Comprehensive Income. Under the terms of an Administrative Agency Agreement, Ambac provides certain administrative duties, primarily collecting amounts due on the obligations and making interest payments on the MTNs.

There were no assets sold to these entities during the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011. Ambac Assurance earned premiums for issuing the financial guarantee policies on the assets, MTNs and derivative contracts of $110 and $191 for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively; and $255 and $427 for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Ambac paid no claims to these entities under its financial guarantee policies during the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011. Ambac also earned fees for providing other services amounting to $11 and $12 for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively; and $22 and $23 for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Derivative contracts are provided by Ambac Financial Services to these entities. Consistent with other derivatives, Ambac Financial Services (“AFS”) accounts for these contracts on a trade date basis at fair value. AFS received $3,886 and $4,206 for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively; and received $3,747 and $4,075 for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, under these derivative contracts.

Consolidation of VIEs:

Upon initial consolidation of a VIE, we recognize a gain or loss in earnings for the difference between: a) the fair value of the consideration paid, the fair value of any non-controlling interests and the reported amount of any previously held interests and b) the net amount, as measured on a fair value basis, of the assets and liabilities consolidated. Upon deconsolidation of a VIE, we recognize a gain or loss for the difference between: a) the fair value of any consideration received, the fair value of any retained non-controlling investment in the VIE and the carrying amount of any non-controlling interest in the VIE and b) the carrying amount of the VIE’s assets and liabilities. Gains or losses from consolidation and deconsolidation that are reported in earnings are reported within Income (loss) on variable interest entities.

The variable interest in VIE generally involves one or more of the following: a financial guarantee policy issued to the VIE, a written credit derivative contract that references liabilities of the VIE or an investment in securities issued by the VIE. The impact of consolidating such VIEs on Ambac’s balance sheet is follows. For a financial guarantee policy issued to a consolidated VIE, Ambac does not reflect the financial guarantee insurance policy in accordance with the related insurance accounting rules under ASC Topic 944, Financial Services—Insurance. The financial guarantee policy would be eliminated upon consolidation. Consequently, Ambac eliminates insurance assets (premium receivables, reinsurance recoverable, deferred ceded premium, subrogation recoverable and deferred acquisition costs) and insurance liabilities (unearned premiums, loss and loss expense reserves and ceded premiums payable) from the Consolidated Balance Sheets. For investment securities owned by Ambac that are debt instruments issued by the VIE, the investment securities balance is eliminated upon consolidation.

As of June 30, 2012, consolidated VIE assets and liabilities relating to 18 consolidated entities were $16,620,359 and $16,444,608, respectively. As of December 31, 2011, consolidated VIE assets and liabilities relating to 19 consolidated entities were $16,543,207 and $16,379,386, respectively. Ambac is not primarily liable for, and does not guarantee all of the debt obligations issued by the VIEs. Ambac would only be required to make payments on the guaranteed debt obligations in the event that the issuer of such debt obligations defaults on any principal or interest due. Additionally, Ambac’s creditors do not have rights with regard to the assets of the VIEs. Ambac evaluates the net income statement effects and earnings per share effects to determine attributions between Ambac and non-controlling interests as a result of consolidating a VIE. Ambac has determined that the net changes in fair value of most consolidated VIE assets and liabilities are attributable to Ambac due to Ambac’s interest through financial guarantee premium and loss payments with the VIE.

The financial reports of certain VIEs are prepared by outside trustees and are not available within the time constraints Ambac requires to ensure the financial accuracy of the operating results. As such, the financial results of certain VIEs are consolidated on a time lag that is no longer than 90 days.

The table below provides the fair value of fixed income securities, by asset-type, held by consolidated VIEs as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011:

	June 30, 2012		December 31, 2011
Investments:
Corporate obligations	$	2,162,062	$	2,199,338
Total variable interest entity assets: Fixed income securities	$	2,162,062	$	2,199,338

The following table provides supplemental information about the loans held as assets and long-term debt associated with the VIEs for which the fair value option has been elected as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011:

	Estimated fair value		Unpaid principal balance
June 30, 2012:
Loans	$	14,238,273	$	13,508,803
Long-term debt	$	14,132,936	$	14,923,319
December 31, 2011:
Loans	$	14,126,994	$	13,735,799
Long-term debt	$	14,039,450	$	15,134,711

Effective April 1, 2011, Ambac was required to consolidate one VIE which was subsequently deconsolidated effective December 31, 2011. The assets of this VIE consisted primarily of identified intangible assets associated with its subsidiaries’ operations. The intangible assets recorded at fair value upon consolidation on April 1, 2011 were $326,342, and were being amortized over their estimated useful lives. The weighted-average amortization period at the consolidation date was 28 years. Accumulated amortization on the intangible assets as of June 30, 2011 was $8,162. Amortization expense for intangible assets for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 was $8,162 and is included in Income (loss) on variable interest entities on the Consolidated Statements of Total Comprehensive Income.

Variable Interests in Non-Consolidated VIEs

The following table displays the carrying amount of the assets, liabilities and maximum exposure to loss of Ambac’s variable interests in non-consolidated VIEs resulting from financial guarantee and credit derivative contracts by major underlying asset classes, as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011:

	Carrying Value of Assets and Liabilities
	Maximum Exposure To Loss(1)		Insurance Assets(2)		Insurance Liabilities(3)		Derivative Liabilities(4)
June 30, 2012:
Global Structured Finance:
Collateralized debt obligations	$	12,408,367	$	12,834	$	20,677	$	119,319
Mortgage-backed—residential		27,072,283		597,836		5,483,692		—
Mortgage-backed—commercial		646,669		—		—		6,196
Other consumer asset-backed		7,072,240		125,354		1,184,897		42,853
Other commercial asset-backed		11,228,636		471,108		1,397,059		7,606
Other		5,812,959		133,287		647,864		2,456
Total Global Structured Finance		64,241,154		1,340,419		8,734,189		178,430
Global Public Finance		37,097,587		555,461		687,564		23,516
Total	$	101,338,741	$	1,895,880	$	9,421,753	$	201,946

	Carrying Value of Assets and Liabilities
	Maximum Exposure To Loss(1)		Insurance Assets(2)		Insurance Liabilities(3)		Derivative Liabilities(4)
December 31, 2011:
Global Structured Finance:
Collateralized debt obligations	$	14,093,243	$	15,096	$	105,219	$	120,614
Mortgage-backed—residential		30,307,753		783,329		5,396,711		—
Mortgage-backed—commercial		685,870		—		—		6,241
Other consumer asset-backed		7,851,980		129,234		1,315,146		35,583
Other commercial asset-backed		13,363,434		559,884		1,045,477		4,541
Other		7,552,264		139,586		643,864		1,837
Total Global Structured Finance		73,854,544		1,627,129		8,506,417		168,816
Global Public Finance		37,893,726		569,032		700,690		14,850
Total	$	111,748,270	$	2,196,161	$	9,207,107	$	183,666

(1) Maximum exposure to loss represents the gross maximum future payments of principal and interest on insured obligations and credit derivative contracts. Ambac’s maximum exposure to loss does not include the benefit of any financial instruments (such as reinsurance or hedge contracts) that Ambac may utilize to mitigate the risks associated with these variable interests.

(2) Insurance assets represent the amount recorded in “Premium receivables” and “Subrogation recoverable” for financial guarantee contracts on Ambac’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

(3) Insurance liabilities represent the amount recorded in “Losses and loss expense reserve” and “Unearned premiums” for financial guarantee contracts on Ambac’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

(4) Derivative liabilities represent the fair value recognized on credit derivative contracts on Ambac’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.