Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Reorganization

As required by ASC Topic 852, Reorganizations, the amount of the Liabilities subject to compromise represents our estimate of known or potential pre-petition and post-petition claims to be addressed in connection with the Bankruptcy Filing. Such claims are subject to future adjustments.

Professional advisory fees and other costs directly associated with our reorganization are reported separately as reorganization items pursuant to ASC Topic 852.

Financial Instruments

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.

Investments-Equity Method in Joint Ventures

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.

Financial Services Insurance

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.

Fair Value Measurements and Disclosure

ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures establishes a framework for measuring fair value and disclosures about fair value measurements.

Fair value Hierarchy:

ASC Topic 820 specifies a fair value hierarchy based on whether the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value are observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect Company-based market assumptions. In accordance with ASC Topic 820, the fair value hierarchy prioritizes model inputs into three broad levels as follows:

•    Level 1	–	Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets. Assets and liabilities classified as Level 1 include US Treasury securities, exchange traded futures contracts, variable rate demand obligations, money market funds and mutual funds.
•    Level 2	–	Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets. Assets and liabilities classified as Level 2 generally include direct investments in fixed income securities representing municipal, asset-backed and corporate obligations, financial services derivatives (including certain interest rate and currency swap derivatives), certain credit derivative contracts and most long-term debt of variable interest entities consolidated under ASC Topic 810.
•    Level 3	–	Model derived valuations in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable. This hierarchy requires the use of observable market data when available. Assets and liabilities classified as Level 3 include most credit derivative contracts written as part of the financial guarantee business, certain financial services interest rate swap contracts which are not referenced to commonly quoted interest rates, call options on long-term debt, equity interests in Ambac sponsored special purpose entities and certain investments in fixed income securities. Additionally, Level 3 assets and liabilities generally include fixed income securities and loan receivables, as well as certain long-term debt of variable interest entities consolidated under ASC Topic 810.

Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities

In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-11, Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities. The ASU requires disclosures to allow investors to better compare financial statements prepared under U.S. GAAP with financial statements prepared under International Financial Reporting Standards. The new disclosures include: a) gross amounts of financial assets and financial liabilities; b) amounts of financial assets and financial liabilities offset on the balance sheet; c) net amounts after taking into account (a) and (b); d) amounts subject to enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreements not otherwise included in (b); and e) net amounts after deducting amounts in (d) from the amounts in (c). ASU 2011-11 is effective for annual periods beginning January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods. Retrospective application is required. Ambac will adopt ASU 2011-11 on January 1, 2013. Since this ASU requires enhanced disclosures only, the adoption of this ASU will not have a material effect on Ambac’s financial statements.

Presentation of Comprehensive Income

Effective January 1, 2012, Ambac adopted ASU No. 2011-05, Presentation of Comprehensive Income retrospectively for all periods presented. Upon the adoption of this ASU, Ambac presented the components of net income and other comprehensive income in a single continuous statement within the Consolidated Statements of Total Comprehensive Income. Components of other comprehensive income are no longer included within the Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity.