QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the Quarterly Period Ended June 30, 2024
☐
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Commission File Number:
1-10777
AMBAC FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
13-3621676
(State of incorporation)
(I.R.S. employer identification no.)
One World Trade Center
New York
NY
10007
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip code)
(212)
658-7470
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading Symbol
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common stock par value $0.01 per share
AMBC
New York Stock Exchange
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit such files). Yes☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See definition of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company” and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act): (Check one):
Large accelerated filer
☐
Accelerated filer
☒
Non-accelerated filer
☐
Smaller reporting company
☐
Emerging growth company
☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Sections 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court. Yes ☒ No ☐
As of August 2, 2024, 47,440,995 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Registrant were outstanding.
AMBAC FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Cautionary Statement Pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995
Management has included in Parts I and II of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, statements that may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “estimate,” “project,” “plan,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “planned,” “potential” and similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “should,” “would,” “could,” and “may,” or the negative of those expressions or verbs, identify forward-looking statements. We caution readers that these statements are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts but instead represent only our beliefs regarding future events, which may by their nature be inherently uncertain and some of which may be outside our control. These statements may relate to plans and objectives with respect to the future, among other things which may change. We are alerting you to the possibility that our actual results may differ, possibly materially, from the expected objectives or anticipated results that may be suggested, expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our results to differ, possibly materially, from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, those discussed under “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of the 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K and in Part II, Item 1A of this quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Any or all of management’s forward-looking statements here or in other publications may turn out to be incorrect and are based on management’s current belief or opinions. Ambac Financial Group’s (“AFG”) and its subsidiaries’ (collectively, “Ambac” or the “Company”) actual results may vary materially, and there are no guarantees about the performance of Ambac’s securities. Among events, risks, uncertainties or factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are: (1) the high degree of volatility in the price of AFG’s common stock; (2) uncertainty concerning the Company’s ability to achieve value for holders of its securities, whether from Ambac Assurance Corporation (“AAC”) and its subsidiaries or from the specialty property and casualty insurance business, the insurance distribution business, or related businesses; (3) inadequacy of reserves established for losses and loss expenses and the possibility that changes in loss reserves may result in further volatility of earnings or financial results; (4) potential for rehabilitation proceedings or other regulatory intervention or restrictions against AAC; (5) credit risk throughout Ambac’s business, including but not limited to credit risk related to insured residential mortgage-backed securities, student loan and other asset securitizations, public finance obligations (including risks associated with Chapter 9 and other restructuring proceedings), issuers of securities in our investment portfolios, and exposures to reinsurers; (6) our inability to effectively reduce insured financial guarantee exposures or achieve recoveries or investment objectives; (7) AAC’s inability to generate the significant amount of cash needed to service its debt and financial obligations, and its inability to refinance its indebtedness; (8) AAC’s substantial indebtedness could adversely affect the Company’s financial condition and operating flexibility; (9) Ambac may not be able to obtain financing, refinance its outstanding indebtedness, or raise capital on acceptable terms or at all due to its substantial indebtedness and financial condition; (10) greater than expected underwriting losses in the Company’s specialty property and casualty insurance business; (11) failure of
specialty insurance program partners to properly market, underwrite or administer policies; (12) inability to obtain reinsurance coverage on expected terms; (13) loss of key relationships for production of business in specialty property and casualty and insurance distribution businesses or the inability to secure such additional relationships to produce expected results; (14) the impact of catastrophic public health, environmental or natural events, or global or regional conflicts; (15) credit risks related to large single risks, risk concentrations and correlated risks; (16) risks associated with adverse selection as Ambac’s financial guarantee insurance portfolio runs off; (17) the risk that Ambac’s risk management policies and practices do not anticipate certain risks and/or the magnitude of potential for loss; (18) restrictive covenants in agreements and instruments that impair Ambac’s ability to pursue or achieve its business strategies; (19) adverse effects on operating results or the Company’s financial position resulting from measures taken to reduce financial guarantee risks in its insured portfolio; (20) disagreements or disputes with Ambac's insurance regulators; (21) loss of control rights in transactions for which we provide financial guarantee insurance; (22) inability to realize expected recoveries of financial guarantee losses; (23) risks attendant to the change in composition of securities in Ambac’s investment portfolio; (24) adverse impacts from changes in prevailing interest rates; (25) events or circumstances that result in the impairment of our intangible assets and/or goodwill that was recorded in connection with Ambac’s acquisitions; (26) factors that may negatively influence the amount of installment premiums paid to Ambac; (27) the risk of litigation, regulatory inquiries, investigations, claims or proceedings, and the risk of adverse outcomes in connection therewith; (28) the Company’s ability to adapt to the rapid pace of regulatory change; (29) actions of stakeholders whose interests are not aligned with broader interests of Ambac's stockholders; (30) system security risks, data protection breaches and cyber attacks; (31) regulatory oversight of Ambac Assurance UK Limited (“Ambac UK”) and applicable regulatory restrictions may adversely affect our ability to realize value from Ambac UK or the amount of value we ultimately realize; (32) failures in services or products provided by third parties; (33) political developments that disrupt the economies where the Company has insured exposures; (34) our inability to attract and retain qualified executives, senior managers and other employees, or the loss of such personnel; (35) fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; (36) failure to realize our business expansion plans or failure of such plans to create value; (37) greater competition for our specialty property and casualty insurance business and/or our insurance distribution business; (38) loss or lowering of the AM Best rating for our property and casualty insurance company subsidiaries; (39) disintermediation within the insurance industry or greater competition from technology-based insurance solutions or non-traditional insurance markets; (40) changes in law or in the functioning of the healthcare market that impair the business model of our accident and health managing general underwriter; (41) failure to consummate the proposed sale of all of the common stock of AAC and the transactions contemplated by the related stock purchase agreement (the “Sale Transactions”) in a timely manner or at all; (42) potential litigation relating to the proposed Sale Transactions; (43) disruptions from the proposed Sale Transactions that may harm Ambac’s business, including current plans and operations; (44) potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships resulting from the announcement or completion of the proposed Sale Transactions; (45) difficulties in integrating acquired businesses into our business; and (46) other risks and uncertainties that have not been identified at this time.
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
Ambac Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(Dollar Amounts in Millions, Except Share Amounts)
1. BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
Business
The following description provides an update of Note 1. Background and Business Description and Note 2. Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and should be read in conjunction with the complete descriptions provided in the Form 10-K. Capitalized terms used, but not defined herein, and in the other footnotes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Ambac Financial Group, Inc. (“AFG”), headquartered in New York City, is a specialty insurance holding company incorporated in the state of Delaware on April 29, 1991. References to “Ambac,” the “Company,” “we,” “our,” and “us” are to AFG and its subsidiaries, as the context requires. Ambac's principal businesses include:
•Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance — Ambac's Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance program business. Currently includes six carriers (collectively, “Everspan”). Everspan carriers have an A.M. Best rating of 'A-' (Excellent) that was affirmed on June 13, 2024.
•Insurance Distribution — Ambac's specialty property and casualty ("P&C") insurance distribution business, which could include Managing General Agents and Underwriters (collectively "MGAs"), insurance brokers, and other distribution businesses. At June 30, 2024 Ambac's insurance distribution platform includes five businesses that operate in the following lines of business: accident and health, specialty commercial automobile insurance for specific "for-hire" auto clauses, marine and international risk and professional liability.
•Legacy Financial Guarantee Insurance — Ambac's legacy financial guarantee business includes the activities of Ambac Assurance Corporation ("AAC") and its wholly owned subsidiaries, including Ambac Assurance UK Limited (“Ambac UK”) and Ambac Financial Services LLC ("AFS"). Both AAC and Ambac UK (the "Legacy Financial Guarantee Companies") have financial guarantee insurance portfolios that have been in runoff since 2008. AFS provided interest rate derivatives to financial guarantee customers and used derivatives to hedge interest rate risk in AAC's insurance and investment portfolios. AFS' remaining derivative positions include a limited number of legacy customer swaps and their associated hedges.
The Company reports these three business operations as segments; see Note 2. Segment Information for further information.
Sale of Ambac Assurance Corporation ("AAC")
On June 4, 2024, AFG entered into a stock purchase agreement (the "Purchase Agreement") with American Acorn Corporation (the “Buyer”), a Delaware corporation owned by funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., pursuant to which and subject to the conditions set forth therein, AFG will sell all of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of AAC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AFG, to Buyer for aggregate consideration of $420 in cash (the "Sale"). The terms of the Sale as contemplated by the Purchase Agreement provide that, at the closing of the Sale (the “Closing”), Buyer will acquire complete ownership of the common stock of AAC and all of its wholly owned subsidiaries, including Ambac UK.
The Purchase Agreement provides that AFG will seek the affirmative vote in favor of the Sale by the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of AFG common stock entitled to vote thereon (the “Stockholder Approval”). On August 2, 2024, AFG filed a preliminary proxy statement with the SEC, which proxy statement includes the recommendation of the board of directors of AFG that the Sale be approved by shareholders of AFG.
The Purchase Agreement contains certain customary termination rights for each of AFG and Buyer, including (i) by mutual written agreement, (ii) if the Sale has not been consummated on or before April 4, 2025 (the “End Date”), subject to certain extensions for 90 days, (iii) the other party is in breach of the Purchase Agreement in a manner that would result in a failure of an applicable closing condition and such breach cannot be cured or, if curable, has not been cured within 60 days after written notice to the other party of such breach, (iv) the Stockholder Approval is not received, or (v) if any applicable law makes the consummation of the Closing illegal or otherwise prohibited or any judgment, order or decree of any governmental authority enjoins Buyer and AFG from consummating the Closing. In addition, Buyer may terminate the Purchase Agreement if AFG changes its recommendation to AFG's stockholders regarding the Sale. AFG would pay Buyer an amount equal to $22 (the “Termination Fee”) if all of the following occur: (i) the Purchase Agreement is terminated as a result of (a) not closing the Sale and other transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement by the End Date, subject to certain conditional extension for 90 days, (b) failure to obtain the Stockholder Approval or (c) an AFG breach of representations or covenants that would cause certain closing conditions not to be satisfied, (ii) AFG has received an alternative acquisition proposal prior to a valid termination of the Purchase Agreement, and (iii) within 12 months after termination of the Purchase Agreement, AFG enters into a definitive agreement for an alternative acquisition. AFG would also pay Buyer the Termination Fee if the Purchase Agreement is terminated for (x) AFG breach of certain covenants that would cause closing conditions not to be satisfied, (y) failure to obtain the Stockholder Approval at a time when Buyer could have terminated the Purchase Agreement for an AFG breach of certain covenants that would cause closing conditions not to be satisfied, or (z) AFG changing its recommendation to the Company’s stockholders regarding the sale. In addition to the Termination Fee, AFG would pay Buyer up to $6 as a reimbursement of Buyer’s reasonably documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
Ambac Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(Dollar Amounts in Millions, Except Share Amounts)
incurred in connection with the Sale and other transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement if (i) the Purchase Agreement is terminated as a result of not closing the Sale and other transactions by the End Date and the Termination Fee is also payable, (ii) there is a failure to obtain the Stockholder Approval when the Buyer could have terminated the Purchase Agreement because there is an AFG breach of representations or covenants related to regulatory efforts, non-solicitation or the AFG stockholders meeting that would cause certain closing conditions not to be satisfied, (iii) the Purchase Agreement is terminated as a result of AFG changing its recommendation to the AFG stockholders regarding the Sale, or (iv) there is an AFG breach of representations or covenants that would cause certain closing conditions not to be satisfied. The Closing is subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of specified regulatory approvals and the Stockholder Approval.
In connection with and pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, AFG has agreed to issue to Buyer a warrant exercisable for a number of shares of common stock, par value $0.01, of AFG representing 9.9% of the fully diluted shares of AFG’s common stock as of March 31, 2024, pro forma for the issuance of the Warrant. The Warrant will have an exercise price per share of $18.50 with a 6.5 year term from the date of issuance and will be immediately exercisable. Payment of the exercise price may be settled, at AFG’s option, by way of a cash exercise or by net share settlement.
While management and the Board have approved the Sale, the final commitment to sell AAC is subject to approval by our shareholders and regulators in both the US and UK. The Sale will have a major effect on AFG's operations and financial results and therefore at the date we meet the held-for-sale reporting requirements, we will report the pending sale as a discontinued operation.
At June 30, 2024, the carrying value of AFG's investment in AAC is approximately $939. Once the shareholders vote is obtained and regulatory approval is probable, a loss on the transaction will be reflected in the Statement of Comprehensive Income equal to the difference between the sales proceeds (net of the value of the Warrants to be issued) and AAC's carrying value. Additionally, net income will be adversely impacted by a reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income relating to unrealized losses on available-for-sale investment securities, foreign currency translation losses and credit risk changes of fair value option liabilities, which at June 30, 2024 amounted to $168.
The Sale is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2024 or the first quarter of 2025.
Acquisition of Beat Capital Partners Limited ("Beat")
On June 4, 2024, the Company, entered into a share purchase agreement (the “Beat Purchase Agreement”), by and among the Company, Cirrata V LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of AFG (the “Purchaser”), certain sellers set forth therein (the “Sellers”) and Beat, pursuant to which, effective July 31, 2024, the Purchaser purchased from the Sellers approximately 60% of the entire
issued share capital of Beat for total consideration, as of the closing date, of approximately $278, of which approximately $249 was paid in cash and the remainder of which was satisfied through the issuance of 2,216,023 shares of AFG common stock to certain Sellers (the "Beat Transaction"). Beat’s management team and Bain Capital Credit LP (“Bain” and, together with certain members of Beat’s management team, the “Rollover Shareholders”) each retained approximately 20% of Beat’s issued share capital immediately after closing. AFG guaranteed the Purchaser’s performance under the Beat Purchase Agreement and the Shareholders’ Agreement (as defined below).
AFG issued the common stock free and clear of any liens or restrictions (other than those arising under state and federal securities laws of the United States) and bearing a restrictive legend. The common stock has not been registered under the Securities Act in reliance upon an exemption from registration pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
AFG funded the cash portion of the consideration with a combination of available cash, approximately $65 of funding from AAC, and $150 of new indebtedness (the "Credit Facility") that was issued in the third quarter of 2024. Funding received from AAC and the Credit Facility are required to be repaid upon closing of the sale of AAC. To reduce its exposure to appreciation of the British Pound Sterling ("GBP") relative to the U.S. Dollar ("USD"), AFG entered into a foreign exchange futures contract under which it agreed to purchase an amount of GBP sufficient to cover the cash portion of the purchase price of Beat along with estimated GBP denominated expenses at an exchange rate of 1.2662 per USD.
At the closing of the Beat Transaction, AFG entered into a Shareholders’ Agreement by and among AFG, the Purchaser, the Rollover Shareholders and Beat (the “Shareholders’ Agreement”).
The Shareholders’ Agreement provides for, among other things, the granting of (i) put options to each Rollover Shareholder to require the Purchaser to purchase from such Rollover Shareholder, the Relevant Shares (as defined in the Shareholders’ Agreement), and (ii) call options to the Purchaser to purchase from each Rollover Shareholder, the Relevant Shares.
Basis of Presentation
The Company has disclosed its significant accounting policies 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. The following significant accounting policies provide an update to those included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.
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
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
Ambac Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(Dollar Amounts in Millions, Except Share Amounts)
ended December 31, 2023. 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, 2024, may not be indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2024. The December 31, 2023, 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.
Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of AFG and all other entities in which AFG (directly or through its subsidiaries) has a controlling financial interest, including variable interest entities (“VIEs”) for which AFG or an AFG subsidiary is deemed the primary beneficiary in accordance with the Consolidation Topic of the Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC"). All significant intercompany balances have been eliminated. See Note 8. Variable Interest Entities, for a detailed discussion of Ambac’s involvement in VIEs, Ambac’s methodology for determining whether Ambac is required to consolidate a VIE and the effects of VIEs being consolidated and deconsolidated.
Foreign Currency
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 $(1) and $(3) for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Foreign currency transactions gains/(losses) are primarily the
result of remeasuring Ambac UK's assets and liabilities denominated in currencies (primarily the U.S. dollar and the Euro) other than its functional currency (the British Pound Sterling).
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest
The Riverton, All Trans, Capacity Marine and Xchange acquisitions resulted in a majority ownership of the acquired entities by Ambac. Under the terms of all the acquisition agreements, Ambac has call options to purchase the remaining interests from the minority owners (i.e., noncontrolling interests) and the minority owners have put options to sell their interests to Ambac. Because the exercise of the put options are outside the control of Ambac, in accordance with the Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity Topic of the ASC, Ambac reports redeemable noncontrolling interests in the mezzanine section of its consolidated balance sheet.
The redeemable noncontrolling interest is remeasured each period as the greater of:
i.the carrying value under ASC 810, which attributes a portion of consolidated net income (loss) to the redeemable noncontrolling interest, and
ii.the redemption value of the put option under ASC 480 as if it were exercisable at the end of the reporting period.
Any increase (decrease) in the carrying amount of the redeemable noncontrolling interest as a result of adjusting to the redemption value of the put option is recorded as an offset to retained earnings. The impact of such differences on earnings per share are presented in Note 11. Net Income Per Share.
Following is a rollforward of redeemable noncontrolling interest.
Six Months Ended June 30,
2024
2023
Beginning balance
$
17
$
20
Fair value of redeemable noncontrolling interest at acquisition date
—
—
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest (ASC 810)
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
Ambac Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(Dollar Amounts in Millions, Except Share Amounts)
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information
Six Months Ended June 30,
2024
2023
Cash paid during the period for:
Income taxes
$
7
$
6
Interest on long-term debt
—
50
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Securities acquired (transferred) in transactions related to Puerto Rico restructurings
—
(1)
Securities acquired (transferred) in connection with financial guarantee commutations
(65)
—
June 30,
2024
2023
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
$
24
$
33
Restricted cash
11
10
Variable Interest Entity restricted cash
62
266
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
$
97
$
309
Restricted cash is cash that we do not have the right to use for general purposes and includes fiduciary cash held by Ambac's insurance distribution subsidiaries, consolidated variable interest entity cash to support the obligations of the consolidated VIEs and cash received as collateral under their derivatives agreements.
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.
Adopted Accounting Standards
There have been no new accounting standards adopted during 2024.
Future Application of Accounting Standards and Required Disclosures
Segment Reporting
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280) - Improvement to Reportable Segment Disclosures. The ASU requires disclosure of the following:
•Significant segment expenses regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker (CODM) and included within the reported measure(s) of a segment’s profit or loss.
•The amount and composition of "other segment items." This amount reconciles segment revenue, less significant expenses, to the reported measure(s) of a segment’s profit or loss.
•The CODM's title and position.
•How the CODM uses the reported measure(s) of a segment’s profit or loss to assess segment performance and decide how to allocate resources.
•All segment profit or loss and assets disclosures currently required annually by Topic 280, as well as those introduced by the ASU, to also be disclosed in interim periods.
The ASU also permits a public entity to report multiple measures of a segment’s profit or loss as long as: i) all the reported measures of a segment’s profit or loss are used by the CODM for
purposes of assessing performance and allocating resources and ii) the measure closest to GAAP is also provided. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. Ambac will adopt this ASU for the annual reporting period ending December 31, 2024 and we are evaluating its impact on Ambac's financial statements.
Income Taxes
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740) - Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. The enhancements in the ASU include the following:
•Within the rate reconciliation table, disclosure of additional categories of information about federal, state and foreign income taxes and providing more details about the reconciling items in some categories if the items meet a quantitative threshold.
•Annual disclosure of income taxes paid (net of refunds received) disaggregated by federal (national), state and foreign taxes and disaggregation of the information by jurisdiction based on a quantitative threshold.
•Other disclosures include: i) income (or loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense (or benefit) disaggregated between domestic and foreign and ii) income tax expense (or benefit) from continuing operations disaggregated by federal (national), state, and foreign.
The ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. Ambac will adopt this ASU on January 1, 2025 and we are evaluating its impact on Ambac's financial statements.
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
Ambac Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(Dollar Amounts in Millions, Except Share Amounts)
2. SEGMENT INFORMATION
The Company reports its results of operations in three segments: Legacy Financial Guarantee Insurance, Specialty Property and Casualty Insurance and Insurance Distribution, separate from Corporate and Other, which is consistent with the manner in which the Company's chief operating decision maker ("CODM") reviews the business to assess performance and allocate resources. See Note 1. Business and Basis of Presentation for a description of each of the Company's business segments.
The following tables summarize the components of the Company’s total revenues and expenses, pretax income (loss) and total assets by reportable business segment. Information provided below for “Corporate and Other” primarily relates to the operations of AFG, which will include investment income on its investment portfolio and costs to maintain the operations of AFG, including public company reporting, capital management and business development costs for the acquisition and development of new business initiatives.
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
Ambac Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(Dollar Amounts in Millions, Except Share Amounts)
Three Months Ended June 30, 2024
Three Months Ended June 30, 2023
Legacy Financial Guarantee Insurance
Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance
Insurance Distribution
Corporate & Other
Consoli-dated (2)
Legacy Financial Guarantee Insurance
Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance
Insurance Distribution
Corporate & Other
Consoli-dated (2)
Revenues:
Net premiums earned
$
6
$
27
$
33
$
8
$
8
$
15
Commission income
$
13
13
$
10
10
Program fees
3
3
2
2
Net investment income
32
1
—
$
2
36
32
1
—
$
2
35
Net investment gains (losses), including impairments
(1)
—
5
4
(3)
—
—
(3)
Net gains (losses) on derivative contracts
1
—
—
1
—
—
Other (1)
16
—
—
—
15
2
—
—
—
3
Total revenues (2)
53
32
13
6
105
39
11
10
2
62
Expenses:
Losses and loss adjustment expenses (benefit)
(5)
23
18
2
6
7
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs, net
—
5
5
—
1
1
Commission expenses
8
8
6
6
General and administrative expenses (3)
22
5
3
17
47
23
4
2
6
36
Depreciation expense (3)
—
—
—
—
1
—
—
—
—
—
Intangible amortization
7
1
8
6
1
7
Interest expense
16
16
16
16
Total expenses (2)
40
33
12
17
103
47
11
9
6
73
Pretax income (loss)
$
13
$
(1)
$
1
$
(11)
$
2
$
(8)
$
—
$
1
$
(4)
$
(11)
Total assets (2)
$
7,100
$
713
$
155
$
216
$
8,184
$
7,376
$
395
$
137
$
225
$
8,132
Six Months Ended June 30, 2024
Six Months Ended June 30, 2023
Legacy Financial Guarantee Insurance
Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance
Insurance Distribution
Corporate & Other
Consoli-dated (2)
Legacy Financial Guarantee Insurance
Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance
Insurance Distribution
Corporate & Other
Consoli-dated (2)
Revenues:
Net premiums earned
$
13
$
53
$
66
$
14
$
15
$
29
Commission income
$
31
$
31
$
25
$
25
Program fees
$
6
$
6
$
4
$
4
Net investment income (loss)
$
70
$
3
$
—
$
4
$
78
$
63
$
2
$
4
$
69
Net investment gains (losses), including impairments
$
—
$
—
$
5
$
4
$
(8)
$
—
$
—
$
(8)
Net gains (losses) on derivative contracts
$
2
$
—
$
2
$
(3)
$
—
$
(3)
Other (1)
$
21
$
—
$
—
$
—
$
21
$
4
$
—
$
—
$
—
$
4
Total revenues (2)
$
107
$
61
$
31
$
8
$
207
$
71
$
20
$
25
$
4
$
120
Expenses:
Losses and loss adjustment expenses
$
(26)
$
42
$
16
$
15
$
10
$
25
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs, net
$
—
$
10
$
10
$
—
$
3
$
3
Commission expenses
$
18
$
18
$
14
$
14
General and administrative expenses (3)
$
44
$
8
$
6
$
24
$
82
$
52
$
8
$
5
$
7
$
72
Depreciation expense (3)
$
—
$
—
$
—
$
1
$
1
$
1
$
—
$
—
$
—
$
1
Intangible amortization
$
18
$
2
$
21
$
11
$
2
$
13
Interest expense
$
32
$
32
$
32
$
32
Total expenses (2)
$
69
$
61
$
26
$
24
$
180
$
111
$
21
$
20
$
8
$
160
Pretax income (loss)
$
38
$
1
$
5
$
(16)
$
27
$
(40)
$
(1)
$
4
$
(3)
$
(40)
(1)Other revenues include the following line item on the Consolidated Statements of Total Comprehensive Income: Income (loss) on variable interest entities and other income.
(2)Inter-segment revenues and inter-segment pre-tax income (loss) amounts are insignificant and are not presented separately.
(3)The Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income presents the sum of these items as General & Administrative Expenses.
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
Ambac Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(Dollar Amounts in Millions, Except Share Amounts)
3. 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 June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, were as follows:
June 30, 2024:
December 31, 2023:
Amortized Cost
Allowance for Credit Losses (2)
Gross Unrealized
Estimated Fair Value
Amortized Cost
Allowance for Credit Losses
Gross Unrealized
Estimated Fair Value
Gains
Losses
Gains
Losses
Fixed maturity securities:
Municipal obligations
$
71
$
—
$
1
$
2
$
71
$
72
—
$
1
$
1
$
72
Corporate obligations
786
—
2
46
742
785
—
4
44
745
Foreign obligations
111
—
—
7
105
105
—
1
6
100
U.S. government obligations
108
—
—
4
105
85
—
1
4
82
Residential mortgage-backed securities
240
3
28
13
253
239
3
28
14
250
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
46
—
—
—
46
19
—
—
—
19
Collateralized debt obligations
141
—
1
—
141
139
—
1
1
139
Other asset-backed securities (1)
234
—
12
5
241
301
—
3
1
303
1,737
3
45
77
1,703
1,744
3
40
71
1,710
Short-term
314
—
—
—
314
426
—
—
—
426
2,051
3
45
77
2,017
2,170
3
40
71
2,135
Fixed maturity securities pledged as collateral:
U.S. government obligations
27
—
—
1
25
—
—
—
—
—
Short-term
—
—
—
—
—
27
—
—
—
27
27
—
—
1
25
27
—
—
—
27
Total available-for-sale investments
$
2,078
$
3
$
45
$
78
$
2,043
$
2,197
3
$
40
$
71
$
2,162
(1)Consists primarily of military housing and student loan securities.
(2)For the three and six months ended June 30, 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 June 30, 2024, by contractual maturity, were as follows:
Amortized Cost
Estimated Fair Value
Due in one year or less
$
439
$
437
Due after one year through five years
543
521
Due after five years through ten years
304
279
Due after ten years
132
124
1,418
1,361
Residential mortgage-backed securities
240
253
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
46
46
Collateralized debt obligations
141
141
Other asset-backed securities
234
241
Total
$
2,078
$
2,043
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 June 30, 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 June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
Ambac Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(Dollar Amounts in Millions, Except Share Amounts)
June 30, 2024
December 31, 2023
Less Than 12 Months
12 Months or More
Total
Less Than 12 Months
12 Months or More
Total
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
$
21
$
—
$
15
$
1
$
35
$
2
$
7
$
—
$
16
$
1
$
23
$
1
Corporate obligations
125
3
493
43
618
46
75
2
509
43
584
44
Foreign obligations
25
—
55
7
80
7
8
—
56
6
64
6
U.S. government obligations
58
1
37
3
95
4
27
1
37
2
63
4
Residential mortgage-backed securities
16
—
113
13
129
13
6
—
98
14
104
14
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
17
—
—
—
17
—
3
—
—
—
3
—
Collateralized debt obligations
18
—
3
—
22
—
1
—
93
1
95
1
Other asset-backed securities
45
1
72
4
117
5
57
1
35
1
92
1
326
5
787
71
1,113
77
184
4
844
68
1,028
71
Short-term
46
—
—
—
46
—
4
—
—
—
4
—
372
5
787
71
1,159
77
187
4
844
68
1,032
71
U. S. government obligations
25
1
—
—
25
1
—
—
—
—
—
—
Total collateralized investments
25
1
—
—
25
1
—
—
—
—
—
—
Total temporarily impaired securities
$
398
$
7
$
787
$
71
$
1,184
$
78
$
187
$
4
$
844
$
68
$
1,032
$
71
Management has determined that the securities in the above table do not have credit impairment as of June 30, 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 June 30, 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 June 30, 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 June 30, 2024, resulted primarily from an increase in interest rates since the securities were purchased. Unrealized losses of $45 related to 733 investment grade securities with an average unrealized loss equal to 7% of amortized cost at June 30, 2024. Securities that have below investment grade credit ratings or are unrated comprise less than a million of the gross unrealized loss and have an average unrealized loss equal to 8% of amortized cost at June 30, 2024. Management believes that the full and timely receipt of all principal and interest payment on corporate
obligations with unrealized losses as of June 30, 2024, is probable.
Residential mortgage-backed securities and Other asset-backed securities
As of June 30, 2024, $13 of the unrealized loss on residential mortgage-backed securities related to 15 Ambac insured securities. Five of these account for $13 of the unrealized loss and have an average unrealized loss equal to 12% of amortized cost. The $5 unrealized loss on other asset backed securities related primarily to 13 Ambac-insured securities that have an average unrealized loss equal to 5% 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.
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
Ambac Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(Dollar Amounts in Millions, Except Share Amounts)
Investment Income (Loss)
Net investment income (loss) was comprised of the following for the affected periods:
Three Months Ended June 30,
Six Months Ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Fixed maturity securities
$
22
$
19
$
45
$
35
Short-term investments
5
5
10
10
Investment expense
(1)
(1)
(3)
(3)
Securities available-for-sale and short-term
26
22
52
43
Fixed maturity securities - trading
2
4
4
5
Other investments
8
9
21
22
Total net investment income (loss)
$
36
$
35
$
78
$
69
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 June 30,
Six Months Ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Gross realized gains on securities
$
7
$
—
$
7
$
1
Gross realized losses on securities
(1)
(2)
(1)
(3)
Foreign exchange gains (losses)
(1)
(2)
—
(4)
Credit impairments
(2)
—
(1)
(1)
Intent / requirement to sell impairments
—
—
—
—
Net investment gains (losses), including impairments
$
4
$
(3)
$
4
$
(8)
Ambac had an allowance for credit losses of $3 and $1 at June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Ambac did not purchase any financial assets with credit deterioration for the three and six months ended June 30, 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 $25 and $27 at June 30, 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 6. 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 $29 and $24 at June 30, 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 June 30, 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 June 30, 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 June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023,
respectively:
June 30, 2024
December 31, 2023
Municipal obligations
$
8
$
9
Mortgage-backed securities
244
240
Asset-backed securities
151
232
Total
$
403
482
Weighted average underlying rating
B-
B-
(1)Ratings are based on the lower of Standard & Poor’s or Moody’s rating. If unavailable, Ambac’s internal rating is used.
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
Ambac Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(Dollar Amounts in Millions, Except Share Amounts)
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 $30 to private credit and private equity funds at June 30, 2024.
Fair Value
Class of Funds
June 30, 2024
December 31, 2023
Redemption Frequency
Redemption Notice Period
Hedge funds (1)
$
117
$
112
quarterly or semi-annually
90 days
Private credit (2)
83
84
quarterly if permitted
180 days if permitted
High yields and leveraged loans (3) (10)
137
85
daily
0 - 30 days
Equity market investments (4) (10)
40
38
daily
0 days
Investment grade floating rate income (5)
53
52
weekly
0 days
Private equity (6)
79
70
quarterly if permitted
90 days if permitted
Real estate properties (7)
—
21
see footnote (7)
see footnote (7)
Convertible bonds (8)(10)
23
—
daily
0 days
Insurance-linked investments (9)
—
1
see footnote (9)
see footnote (9)
Total equity investments in pooled funds
$
533
$
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 consisted of UK property to generate income and capital growth. The fund in which Ambac was invested has terminated on May 30, 2024 and is in the process of distributing remaining capital. Amounts owed Ambac from the fund are included in Other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of June 30, 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 $153 and $77 at June 30, 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 $89 and $39, and Convertible bonds investments $23 and $0.
Other investments also include preferred equity investments with a carrying value of $26 and $13 as of June 30, 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. Impairments of $1 were recorded on these investments in the three and six months ended June 30, 2024. There were no adjustments to fair value to reflect observable price changes in identical or similar investments from the same issuer during the three and six months ended June 30, 2023.
The portion of net unrealized gains (losses) related to securities classified as trading and equity securities, excluding those reported using the equity method, still held at the end of each period is as follows:
Three Months Ended June 30,
Six Months Ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Net gains (losses) recognized during the period on trading and equity securities
$
5
$
9
$
12
$
16
Less: net gains (losses) recognized during the reporting period on trading and equity securities sold during the period
3
6
3
10
Unrealized gains (losses) recognized during the reporting period on trading and equity securities still held at the reporting date
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
Ambac Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(Dollar Amounts in Millions, Except Share Amounts)
4. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
The Fair Value Measurement Topic of the ASC establishes a framework for measuring fair value and disclosures about fair value measurements.
Fair Value Hierarchy:
The Fair Value Measurement Topic of the ASC 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 assumptions. The fair value hierarchy has three broad levels as follows:
l
Level 1
Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets. Assets and liabilities classified as Level 1 include US Treasury and foreign government obligations traded in highly liquid and transparent markets, certain highly liquid pooled fund investments, exchange traded futures contracts and money market funds.
l
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 investments in fixed maturity securities representing municipal, asset-backed and corporate obligations, certain interest rate swap contracts and most long-term debt of variable interest entities consolidated under the Consolidation Topic of the ASC.
l
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 certain uncollateralized interest rate swap contracts and certain investments in fixed maturity securities. Additionally, Level 3 assets and liabilities generally include loan receivables, and certain long-term debt of variable interest entities consolidated under the Consolidation Topic of the ASC.
The Fair Value Measurement Topic of the ASC permits, as a practical expedient, the estimation of fair value of certain investments in funds using the net asset value per share of the investment or its equivalent (“NAV”). Investments in funds valued using NAV are not categorized as Level 1, 2 or 3 under the fair value hierarchy. The Investments — Equity Securities Topic of the ASC permits the measurement of certain equity securities without a readily determinable fair value at cost, less impairment, and adjusted to fair value when observable price changes in identical or similar investments from the same issuer occur (the "measurement alternative"). The fair values of investments measured under this measurement alternative are not included in the below disclosures of fair value of financial instruments.
The following table sets forth the carrying amount and fair value of Ambac’s financial assets and liabilities as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, including the level within the fair value hierarchy at which fair value measurements are categorized. As required by the Fair Value Measurement Topic of the ASC, financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
Ambac Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(Dollar Amounts in Millions, Except Share Amounts)
June 30, 2024
December 31, 2023
Carrying Amount
Total Fair Value
Fair Value Measurements Categorized as:
Carrying Amount
Total Fair Value
Fair Value Measurements Categorized as:
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Financial assets:
Fixed maturity securities:
Municipal obligations
$
101
$
101
$
—
$
101
$
—
$
99
$
99
$
—
$
99
$
—
Corporate obligations
742
742
—
742
—
745
745
—
726
19
Foreign obligations
105
105
105
—
—
100
100
100
—
—
U.S. government obligations
105
105
105
—
—
82
82
82
—
—
Residential mortgage-backed securities
253
253
—
253
—
250
250
—
250
—
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
46
46
—
46
—
19
19
—
19
—
Collateralized debt obligations
141
141
—
141
—
139
139
—
139
—
Other asset-backed securities
241
241
—
164
77
303
303
—
235
68
Fixed maturity securities, pledged as collateral:
U.S. government obligations
25
25
25
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Short-term
—
—
—
—
—
27
27
27
—
—
Short term investments
314
314
313
1
—
426
426
421
5
—
Other investments (1)
558
533
153
—
—
475
463
77
—
—
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
35
35
35
—
—
28
28
27
2
—
Other assets - Derivatives:
Interest rate swaps—asset position
18
18
—
—
18
25
25
—
—
25
Warrants
1
1
—
—
1
1
1
—
—
1
Other assets-Loans
2
1
—
—
1
2
2
—
—
2
Variable interest entity assets:
Fixed maturity securities: Corporate obligations, fair value option
2,010
2,010
—
—
2,010
2,072
2,072
—
—
2,072
Fixed maturity securities: Municipal obligations, available-for-sale
91
91
—
91
—
95
95
—
95
—
Restricted cash
62
62
62
—
—
246
246
246
—
Loans
1,567
1,567
—
—
1,567
1,663
1,663
—
—
1,663
Derivative assets: Interest rate swaps—asset position
174
174
—
174
—
190
190
—
190
—
Derivative assets: Currency swaps—asset position
34
34
—
34
—
36
36
—
36
—
Total financial assets
$
6,626
$
6,600
$
797
$
1,748
$
3,675
$
7,022
$
7,010
$
979
$
1,795
$
3,850
Financial liabilities:
Long term debt, including accrued interest
$
1,015
$
772
$
—
$
753
$
19
$
983
$
697
$
—
$
679
$
18
Other liabilities - Derivatives:
Interest rate swaps—liability position
25
25
—
25
—
35
35
—
35
—
FX forward
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Liabilities for net financial guarantees
written (2)
229
488
—
—
488
292
788
—
—
788
Variable interest entity liabilities:
Long-term debt
2,853
2,852
—
2,646
205
2,967
2,980
—
2,760
220
Derivative liabilities: Interest rate swaps—liability position
1,136
1,136
—
1,136
—
1,197
1,197
—
1,197
—
Total financial liabilities
$
5,258
$
5,273
$
—
$
4,561
$
712
$
5,474
$
5,697
$
—
$
4,671
$
1,026
(1)Excluded from the fair value measurement categories in the table above are investment funds of $380 and $386 as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, which are measured using NAV as a practical expedient. Also excluded from the fair value amounts in the table above are equity securities with a carrying value of $26 and $13 as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, that do not have readily determinable fair values and have carrying amounts determined using the measurement alternative.
(2)The carrying value of net financial guarantees written includes financial guarantee amounts in the following balance sheet items: Premium receivables; Reinsurance recoverable on paid and unpaid losses; Deferred ceded premium; Subrogation recoverable; Insurance intangible asset; Unearned premiums; Loss and loss expense reserves; Ceded premiums payable, premiums taxes payable and other deferred fees recorded in Other liabilities.
Determination of Fair Value:
When available, Ambac uses quoted active market prices specific to the financial instrument to determine fair value, and classifies such items within Level 1. The determination of fair value for financial instruments categorized in Level 2 or 3 involves judgment due to the complexity of factors contributing to the valuation. Third-party sources from which we obtain independent market quotes also use assumptions, judgments and estimates in determining financial instrument values and different third parties may use different methodologies or provide different values for financial instruments. In addition, the use of internal valuation
models may require assumptions about hypothetical or inactive markets. As a result of these factors, the actual trade value of a financial instrument in the market, or exit value of a financial instrument position by Ambac, may be significantly different from its recorded fair value.
Ambac’s financial instruments carried at fair value are mainly comprised of investments in fixed maturity securities, equity interests in pooled investment funds, derivative instruments and certain variable interest entity assets and liabilities. Valuation of financial instruments is performed by Ambac’s finance group
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
Ambac Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(Dollar Amounts in Millions, Except Share Amounts)
using methods approved by senior financial management with consultation from risk management and portfolio managers as appropriate. Preliminary valuation results are discussed with portfolio managers quarterly to assess consistency with market transactions and trends as applicable. Market transactions such as trades or negotiated settlements of similar positions, if any, are reviewed to validate fair value model results. However, financial instruments valued using significant unobservable inputs typically have very little or no observable market activity. Methods and significant inputs and assumptions used to determine fair values across portfolios are reviewed quarterly by senior financial management. Other valuation control procedures specific to particular portfolios are described further below.
Fixed Maturity Securities:
The fair values of fixed maturity investment securities are based primarily on market prices received from broker quotes or alternative pricing sources. Because many fixed maturity securities do not trade on a daily basis, pricing sources apply available market information through processes such as matrix pricing to calculate fair value. Such prices generally consider a variety of factors, including recent trades of the same and similar securities. In those cases, the items are classified within Level 2. For those fixed maturity investments where quotes were not available or cannot be reasonably corroborated, fair values are based on internal valuation models. Key inputs to the internal valuation models generally include maturity date, coupon and yield curves for asset-type and credit rating characteristics that closely match those characteristics of the specific investment securities being valued. Items valued using valuation models are classified according to the lowest level input or value driver that is significant to the valuation. Thus, an item may be classified in Level 3 even though there may be significant inputs that are readily observable. Longer (shorter) expected maturities or higher (lower) yields used in the valuation model will, in isolation, result in decreases (increases) in fair value. Generally, lower credit ratings or longer expected maturities will be accompanied by higher yields used to value a security. At June 30, 2024, approximately 2%, 94% and 4% of the fixed maturity investment portfolio (excluding variable interest entity investments) was valued using broker quotes, alternative pricing sources and internal valuation models, respectively. At December 31, 2023, approximately 2%, 94% and 4% of the fixed maturity investment portfolio (excluding variable interest entity investments) was valued using broker quotes, alternative pricing sources and internal valuation models, respectively.
Ambac performs various review and validation procedures to quoted and modeled prices for fixed maturity securities, including price variance analyses, missing and static price reviews, overall valuation analysis by portfolio managers and finance managers and reviews associated with our ongoing impairment analysis. Unusual prices identified through these procedures will be evaluated further against alternative third party quotes (if available), internally modeled prices and/or other relevant data, and the pricing source values will be challenged as necessary. Price challenges generally result in the use of the pricing source’s quote as originally provided or as revised by the source following their internal diligence process. A price challenge may result in a determination by either the pricing source or Ambac management
that the pricing source cannot provide a reasonable value for a security or cannot adequately support a quote, in which case Ambac would resort to using either other quotes or internal models. Results of price challenges are reviewed by portfolio managers and finance managers.
Information about the valuation inputs for fixed maturity securities classified as Level 3 is included below:
Other asset-backed securities: This security is a subordinated tranche of a securitization collateralized by Ambac-insured military housing bonds. The fair value classified as Level 3 was $77 and $68 at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. Fair value was calculated using a discounted cash flow approach with expected future cash flows discounted using a yield consistent with the security type and rating. Significant inputs for the valuation at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 include the following:
June 30, 2024:
December 31, 2023:
a. Coupon rate:
5.98%
5.97%
b. Average Life:
12.47 years
12.80 years
c. Yield:
10.00%
12.00%
Corporate obligations: This includes certain investments in convertible debt securities. The fair value classified as Level 3 was $0 and $19 at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. Fair value was calculated by discounting cash flows with weighted average maturity of 0.89 years and yield of 11.2% at December 31, 2023. Yields used are consistent with the security type and rating.
Other Investments:
Other investments primarily relate to investments in pooled investment funds. The fair value of pooled investment funds is determined using dealer quotes or alternative pricing sources when such investments have readily determinable fair values. When fair value is not readily determinable, pooled investment funds are valued using NAV as a practical expedient as permitted under the Fair Value Measurement Topic of the ASC. Refer to Note 3. Investments for additional information about such investments in pooled funds that are reported at fair value using NAV as a practical expedient.
Derivative Instruments:
Ambac’s derivative instruments primarily comprise interest rate swaps and exchange traded futures contracts (terminated during the second quarter of 2023). Fair value is determined based upon market quotes from independent sources, when available. When independent quotes are not available, fair value is determined using valuation models. These valuation models require market-driven inputs, including contractual terms, credit spreads, and yield curves. The valuation of certain derivative contracts may require the use of data inputs and assumptions that are determined by management and are not readily observable in the market. Under the Fair Value Measurement Topic of the ASC, Ambac is required to consider its own credit risk when measuring the fair value of derivative liabilities. Factors considered in estimating the amount of any Ambac credit valuation adjustment ("CVA")
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
Ambac Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(Dollar Amounts in Millions, Except Share Amounts)
on such contracts include collateral posting provisions, right of set-off with the counterparty, the period of time remaining on the derivative and the pricing of recent terminations. The aggregate Ambac CVA impact was not significant to the fair value of derivatives at June 30, 2024 or December 31, 2023.
Interest rate swaps that are not centrally cleared are valued using vendor-developed models that incorporate interest rates and yield curves that are observable and regularly quoted. These models provide the net present value of the derivatives based on contractual terms and observable market data. Generally, the need for counterparty (or Ambac) CVAs on interest rate derivatives is mitigated by the existence of collateral posting agreements under which adequate collateral has been posted. Certain of these derivative contracts entered into with financial guarantee customers are not subject to collateral posting agreements. Counterparty credit risk related to such customer derivative assets is included in our determination of their fair value.
Ambac holds warrants to purchase equity shares of development stage companies. These warrants have a fair value of $1 and $1 as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. Fair value was determined using a standard warrant valuation model with internally developed input assumptions.
Financial Guarantees:
Fair value of net financial guarantees written represents our estimate of the cost to Ambac to completely transfer its insurance obligation to another market participant of comparable credit worthiness. In theory, this amount should be the same amount that another market participant of comparable credit worthiness would hypothetically charge in the marketplace, on a present value basis, to provide the same protection as of the balance sheet date. This fair value estimate of financial guarantees is presented on a net basis and includes direct and assumed contracts written, net of ceded reinsurance contracts.
Long-term Debt:
Long-term debt includes AAC surplus notes and the Ambac UK debt issued in connection with a policy commutation. The fair values of surplus notes is based on prices received from third-party sources and are classified as Level 2. The fair value of Ambac UK debt estimated based upon internal valuation models and is classified as Level 3.
Other Financial Assets and Liabilities:
Included in Other assets are loans, the fair values of which are estimated based upon internal valuation models and are classified as Level 3.
Variable Interest Entity Assets and Liabilities:
The financial assets and liabilities of Legacy Financial Guarantee Insurance VIEs ("FG VIEs") consolidated under the Consolidation Topic of the ASC consist primarily of fixed maturity securities and loans held by the VIEs, derivative instruments and notes issued by the VIEs which are reported as long-term debt. As described in Note 8. Variable Interest Entities, these FG VIEs are securitization entities which have liabilities and/or assets guaranteed by AAC or Ambac UK.
The fair values of FG VIE long-term debt are based on price quotes received from independent market sources when available. Such quotes are considered Level 2 and generally consider a variety of factors, including recent trades of the same and similar securities. For those instruments where quotes were not available or cannot be reasonably corroborated, fair values are based on internal valuation models. Comparable to the sensitivities of investments in fixed maturity securities described above, longer (shorter) expected maturities or higher (lower) yields used in the valuation model will, in isolation, result in decreases (increases) in fair value liability measurement for FG VIE long-term debt.
FG VIE derivative asset and liability fair values are determined using vendor-developed valuation models, which incorporated observable market data related to specific derivative contractual terms including interest rates, foreign exchange rates and yield curves.
The fair value of FG VIE fixed maturity securities and loan assets are generally based on Level 2 market price quotes received from independent market sources when available. When FG VIE asset fair values are not readily available from market quotes, values are estimated internally. Internal valuations of FG VIE’s fixed maturity securities or loan assets are derived from the fair values of the notes issued by the respective VIE and the VIE’s derivatives, determined as described above, adjusted for the fair values of Ambac’s financial guarantees associated with the VIE. The fair value of financial guarantees consist of: (i) estimated future premium cash flows discounted at a rate consistent with that implicit in the fair value of the VIE’s liabilities and (ii) estimates of future claim payments discounted at a rate that includes Ambac’s own credit risk. Estimated future premium payments to be paid by the VIEs were discounted at a weighted average rate of 6.6% and 6.3% at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. At June 30, 2024, the range of these discount rates was between 5.8% and 8.2%. At December 31, 2023, the range of these discount rates were between 5.3% and 7.8%.
Additional Fair Value Information for Financial Assets and Liabilities Accounted for at Fair Value:
The following tables present the changes in the Level 3 fair value category for the periods presented in 2024 and 2023. Ambac classifies financial instruments in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy when there is reliance on at least one significant unobservable input to the valuation model. In addition to these unobservable inputs, the valuation models for Level 3 financial instruments typically also rely on a number of inputs that are readily observable either directly or indirectly. Thus, the gains and losses presented below include changes in the fair value related to both observable and unobservable inputs.
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
Ambac Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(Dollar Amounts in Millions, Except Share Amounts)
Level 3 - Financial Assets and Liabilities Accounted for at Fair Value
VIE Assets
Investments
Derivatives
Investments
Loans
Total
Three Months Ended June 30, 2024:
Balance, beginning of period
$
87
$
21
$
2,070
$
1,604
$
3,782
Total gains/(losses) realized and unrealized:
Included in earnings
7
(3)
(51)
29
(19)
Included in other comprehensive income
9
—
3
3
15
Settlements
(26)
—
(12)
(68)
(106)
Balance, end of period
$
77
$
18
$
2,010
$
1,567
$
3,672
The amount of total gains/(losses) included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to assets and liabilities still held at the reporting date
$
7
$
(3)
$
(51)
$
29
$
(19)
The amount of total gains/(losses) included in other comprehensive income attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to assets and liabilities still held at the reporting date
$
9
$
—
$
3
$
3
$
15
Three Months Ended June 30, 2023:
Balance, beginning of period
$
81
$
31
$
2,003
$
1,856
$
3,972
Total gains/(losses) realized and unrealized:
Included in earnings
—
(5)
(53)
(66)
(124)
Included in other comprehensive income
—
—
14
50
64
Settlements
—
—
(12)
(69)
(81)
Balance, end of period
$
81
$
25
$
1,952
$
1,772
$
3,831
The amount of total gains/(losses) included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to assets and liabilities still held at the reporting date
$
—
$
(5)
$
(53)
$
(66)
$
(124)
The amount of total gains/(losses) included in other comprehensive income attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to assets and liabilities still held at the reporting date
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
Ambac Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(Dollar Amounts in Millions, Except Share Amounts)
Level 3 - Financial Assets and Liabilities Accounted for at Fair Value
VIE Assets
Investments
Derivatives
Investments
Loans
Total
Six Months Ended June 30, 2024:
Balance, beginning of period
$
87
$
26
$
2,072
$
1,663
$
3,848
Additions of VIEs consolidated
—
Total gains/(losses) realized and unrealized:
Included in earnings
7
(8)
(32)
49
16
Included in other comprehensive income
9
—
(18)
(14)
(23)
Purchases
—
—
—
—
—
Settlements
(27)
—
(12)
(132)
(170)
Balance, end of period
$
77
$
18
$
2,010
$
1,567
$
3,672
The amount of total gains/(losses) included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to assets and liabilities still held at the reporting date
$
7
$
(8)
$
(32)
$
49
$
16
The amount of total gains/(losses) included in other comprehensive income attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to assets and liabilities still held at the reporting date
$
9
$
—
$
(18)
$
(14)
$
(23)
Six Months Ended June 30, 2023:
Balance, beginning of period
$
79
$
26
$
1,828
$
1,829
$
3,762
Additions of VIEs consolidated
—
—
—
—
—
Total gains/(losses) realized and unrealized:
Included in earnings
1
—
80
(7)
73
Included in other comprehensive income
3
—
57
92
152
Purchases
—
—
—
—
—
Settlements
(1)
—
(12)
(141)
(155)
Balance, end of period
$
81
$
25
$
1,952
$
1,772
$
3,831
The amount of total gains/(losses) included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to assets and liabilities still held at the reporting date
$
1
$
—
$
80
$
(7)
$
73
The amount of total gains/(losses) included in other comprehensive income attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to assets and liabilities still held at the reporting date
$
3
$
—
$
57
$
92
152
Invested assets and VIE long-term debt are transferred into Level 3 when internal valuation models that include significant unobservable inputs are used to estimate fair value. All such securities that have internally modeled fair values have been classified as Level 3. Derivative instruments are transferred into Level 3 when the use of unobservable inputs becomes significant to the overall valuation. There were no transfers of financial instruments into or out of Level 3 in the periods disclosed.
Gains and losses (realized and unrealized) relating to Level 3 assets and liabilities included in earnings for the affected periods are reported as follows:
Three Months Ended June 30, 2024
Three Months Ended June 30, 2023
Net Investment Income
Net Gains (Losses) on Derivative Contracts
Income (Loss) on Variable Interest Entities
Other Income or (Expense)
Net Investment Income
Net Gains (Losses) on Derivative Contracts
Income (Loss) on Variable Interest Entities
Other Income or (Expense)
Total gains (losses) included in earnings for the period
$
7
$
(3)
$
(22)
$
—
$
—
$
(5)
$
(119)
$
—
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to financial instruments still held at the reporting date
9
(3)
(22)
—
—
(5)
(119)
—
Six Months Ended June 30, 2024
Six Months Ended June 30, 2023
Net Investment Income
Net Gains (Losses) on Derivative Contracts
Income (Loss) on Variable Interest Entities
Other Income or (Expense)
Net Investment Income
Net Gains (Losses) on Derivative Contracts
Income (Loss) on Variable Interest Entities
Other Income or (Expense)
Total gains or losses included in earnings for the period
$
7
$
(8)
$
17
$
—
$
1
$
—
$
72
$
—
Changes in unrealized gains or losses included in earnings relating to the assets and liabilities still held at the reporting date
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
Ambac Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(Dollar Amounts in Millions, Except Share Amounts)
5. INSURANCE CONTRACTS
Amounts presented in this Note relate only to Ambac’s non-derivative insurance business for insurance policies issued to beneficiaries, excluding consolidated VIEs.
Premiums:
The effect of reinsurance on premiums written and earned was as follows:
Three Months Ended June 30,
2024
2023
Written
Earned
Written
Earned
Direct
$
93
$
79
$
55
$
52
Assumed
20
17
—
—
Ceded
79
64
100
37
Net premiums
$
34
$
33
$
(45)
$
15
Six Months Ended June 30,
2024
2023
Written
Earned
Written
Earned
Direct
$
174
$
154
$
115
$
98
Assumed
38
33
—
—
Ceded
150
121
142
69
Net premiums
$
62
$
66
$
(27)
$
29
The following table summarizes net premiums earned by location of risk:
Three Months Ended June 30,
Six Months Ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
United States
$
30
$
12
$
60
$
23
United Kingdom
3
3
5
5
Other international
—
1
1
1
Total
$
33
$
15
$
66
$
29
Premium Receivables, including credit impairments:
Premium receivables at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 were $317 and $290, respectively.
•Legacy financial guarantee premium receivables are discounted using an appropriate risk-free rate corresponding to the weighted average life of each policy and currency to discount the future premiums contractually due or expected to be collected. The weighted average risk-free rate at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, was 3.2% and 3.2%, respectively, and the weighted average period of future premiums used to estimate the premium receivable at
June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, was 7.6 years and 8.0 years, respectively.
•Specialty property and casualty premium receivables are not discounted and are typically paid upfront. Any receivables for such amounts are generally collected in the following period. Non-payment of premium by the policyholder may lead to policy cancellation. Premium receivables related to assumed reinsurance are paid on an installment basis.
Below is the gross premium receivable roll-forward, net of the allowance for credit losses, for the affected periods:
Six Months Ended June 30,
2024
2023
Beginning premiums receivable
290
269
Premiums written on new business, net of commissions
159
83
Premium receipts
(134)
(90)
Adjustments for changes in expected and contractual cash flows for contracts (1)
(2)
6
Accretion of premium receivable discount for contracts
4
4
Changes in allowance for credit losses
1
1
Other adjustments (including foreign exchange) (2)
(1)
4
Ending premium receivable (3)
317
276
(1)Adjustments for changes in expected and contractual cash flows are primarily due to inflation indexation and reductions in insured exposure as a result of early policy terminations and unscheduled principal paydowns for financial guarantee policies.
(2)Includes foreign exchange gains/(losses) of $(1) and $4 for 2024 and2023, respectively.
(3)Premium receivable includes premiums to be received in foreign denominated currencies most notably in British Pounds and Euros. At June 30, 2024 and 2023, premium receivables include British Pounds of $70 (£55) and $76 (£60), respectively, and Euros of $12 (€11) and $14 (€12), respectively.
Management evaluates premium receivables for expected credit losses ("credit impairment") in accordance with the CECL standard, which is further described in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Ambac's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. The key indicator management uses to assess the credit quality of legacy financial guarantee premium receivables is Ambac's internal risk classifications for the insured obligation determined by the Risk Management Group.
Below is the amortized cost basis of financial guarantee premium receivables by risk classification code and asset class as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
Ambac Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(Dollar Amounts in Millions, Except Share Amounts)
Surveillance Categories as of June 30, 2024
Surveillance Categories as of December 31, 2023
Type of Guaranteed Bond
I
IA
II
III
IV
Total
I
IA
II
III
IV
Total
Public Finance:
Housing revenue
$
127
$
3
$
5
$
—
$
—
$
134
$
131
$
3
$
5
$
—
$
—
$
139
Other
1
—
—
—
—
1
1
—
—
—
—
1
Total Public Finance
128
3
5
—
—
135
133
3
5
—
—
140
Structured Finance:
Mortgage-backed and home equity
—
—
—
—
10
11
—
—
—
—
11
12
Student loan
—
—
—
3
1
4
—
—
—
7
—
7
Other
3
—
—
—
—
3
4
—
—
—
—
4
Total Structured Finance
3
—
—
3
10
17
4
—
—
7
11
22
International:
Sovereign/sub-sovereign
58
5
—
—
—
63
51
13
—
—
—
64
Investor-owned and public utilities
16
—
—
—
—
16
18
—
—
—
—
18
Other
3
—
—
—
—
3
3
—
—
—
—
3
Total International
77
5
—
—
—
82
72
13
—
—
—
85
Total (1) (2)
$
209
$
8
$
5
$
3
$
10
$
235
$
210
$
16
$
5
$
7
$
11
$
248
(1) Excludes specialty property and casualty premium receivables of $85 and $46 at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.
(2) The underwriting origination dates for all policies included are greater than five years prior to the current reporting date.
Below is a rollforward of the premium receivable allowance for credit losses as of June 30, 2024 and 2023:
Three Months Ended June 30,
Six Months Ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Beginning balance
$
3
$
5
$
4
$
5
Current period provision (benefit)
—
(1)
(2)
(1)
Write-offs of the allowance
—
—
—
—
Recoveries of previously written-off amounts
—
—
—
—
Ending balance (1)
$
3
$
5
$
3
$
5
(1)At June 30, 2024 and 2023, $1 and $0 of premiums were past due.
The following table summarizes the future Legacy Financial Guarantee gross undiscounted premiums to be collected and future premiums earned, net of reinsurance at June 30, 2024:
Future Premiums to be
Collected (1)
Future Premiums to be Earned Net of Reinsurance (2)
Three months ended:
September 30, 2024
$
7
$
4
December 31, 2024
5
4
Twelve months ended:
December 31, 2025
25
15
December 31, 2026
24
15
December 31, 2027
23
15
December 31, 2028
22
14
Five years ended:
December 31, 2033
92
54
December 31, 2038
54
27
December 31, 2043
25
9
December 31, 2048
12
4
December 31, 2053
2
1
December 31, 2058
—
—
Total
$
293
$
163
(1)Future premiums to be collected are undiscounted, gross of allowance for credit losses, and are used to derive the discounted premium receivable asset recorded on Ambac's balance sheet.
(2)Future premiums to be earned, net of reinsurance relate to the unearned premiums liability and deferred ceded premium asset recorded on Ambac’s balance sheet. The use of contractual lives for many bond types which do not have homogeneous pools of underlying collateral is required in the calculation of the premium receivable, as further described in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Ambac's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. This results in a different premium receivable balance than if expected lives were considered. If installment paying policies are retired or prepay early, premiums reflected in the premium receivable asset and amounts reported in the above table for such policies may not be collected. Future premiums to be earned also considers the use of contractual lives for many bond types which do not have homogeneous pools of underlying collateral, which may result in different unearned premium than if expected lives were considered. If those bonds types are retired early, premium earnings may be negative in the period of call or refinancing.
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
Ambac Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(Dollar Amounts in Millions, Except Share Amounts)
Loss and Loss Expense Reserves:
Ambac’s loss and loss expense reserves (“loss reserves”) are based on management’s on-going review of the insured portfolio. Below are the components of the loss and loss expense reserves and the subrogation recoverable asset at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
June 30, 2024
December 31, 2023
Specialty Property and Casualty
Legacy Financial Guarantee
Specialty Property and Casualty
Legacy Financial Guarantee
Present Value of Expected Net Cash Flows
Present Value of Expected Net Cash Flows
Balance Sheet Line Item
Gross Loss and Loss Expense Reserves
Claims and Loss Expenses
Recoveries
Unearned Premium Revenue
Gross Loss and Loss Expense Reserves
Gross Loss and Loss Expense Reserves
Claims and Loss Expenses
Recoveries
Unearned Premium Revenue
Gross Loss and Loss Expense Reserves
Loss and loss expense reserves
$
286
$
669
$
(51)
$
(14)
$
890
$
197
$
779
$
(55)
$
(28)
$
893
Subrogation recoverable
—
7
(136)
—
(128)
—
1
(139)
—
(137)
Totals
$
286
$
676
$
(186)
$
(14)
$
762
$
197
$
780
$
(194)
$
(28)
$
756
Below is the loss and loss reserve expense roll-forward, net of subrogation recoverable and reinsurance, for the affected periods:
Six Months Ended June 30,
2024
2023
Beginning gross loss and loss expense reserves
$
756
$
534
Reinsurance recoverable
186
115
Beginning balance of net loss and loss expense reserves
570
419
Losses and loss expenses (benefit):
Current year
40
8
Prior years
(23)
18
Total (1)
17
25
Loss and loss expenses paid (recovered):
Current year
3
1
Prior years
63
(136)
Total
66
(135)
Foreign exchange effect
—
—
Ending net loss and loss expense reserves
520
580
Reinsurance recoverable (2)
242
144
Ending gross loss and loss expense reserves
$
762
$
724
(1)Total losses and loss expenses (benefit) includes $(98) and $(45) for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, related to ceded reinsurance.
(2)Represents reinsurance recoverable on future loss and loss expenses. Additionally, the Balance Sheet line "Reinsurance recoverable on paid and unpaid losses" includes reinsurance recoverables (payables) of $35 and $5 as of June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, related to previously presented loss and loss expenses and subrogation.
For 2024, the favorable development in prior years was largely driven by the positive impact of discount rates on the structured finance portfolio and assumption changes in the international portfolio, all in the legacy financial guarantee segment. This is partially offset by adverse development in prior years within the SPC segment, primarily related to commercial auto.
For 2023, the adverse development in prior years was largely driven by the impact of lower discount rates on the RMBS portfolio, partially offset by assumption changes in the international portfolio, both in the legacy financial guarantee segment.
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
Ambac Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(Dollar Amounts in Millions, Except Share Amounts)
Legacy Financial Guarantee Loss Reserves:
The tables below summarize information related to policies currently included in Ambac’s loss and loss expense reserves or subrogation recoverable at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, excluding consolidated VIEs. Gross par exposures include capital appreciation bonds which are reported at the par amount at the time of issuance of the insurance policy as opposed to the current accreted value of the bond. The weighted average risk-free rate used to discount loss reserves at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023,was 4.4% and 4.6%, respectively.
Surveillance Categories as of June 30, 2024
I
IA
II
III
IV
V
Total
Number of policies
24
3
10
11
91
4
143
Remaining weighted-average contract period (in years) (1)
5
18
12
11
12
8
11
Gross insured contractual payments outstanding:
Principal
$
219
$
194
$
439
$
269
$
1,439
$
21
$
2,581
Interest
18
182
253
99
573
16
1,141
Total
$
237
$
376
$
692
$
368
$
2,012
$
37
$
3,722
Gross undiscounted claim liability
$
—
$
9
$
39
$
231
$
809
$
37
$
1,126
Discount, gross claim liability
—
(2)
(7)
(77)
(359)
(8)
(452)
Gross claim liability before all subrogation and before reinsurance
—
7
32
155
450
29
674
Less:
Gross other subrogation (2)
(13)
(3)
(1)
(25)
(211)
(11)
(263)
Discount, other subrogation
2
—
—
4
67
3
77
Discounted other subrogation, before reinsurance
(10)
(3)
—
(21)
(144)
(8)
(186)
Gross claim liability, net of all subrogation and discounts, before reinsurance
(10)
4
32
134
307
21
487
Less: Unearned premium revenue
—
(2)
(4)
2
(9)
(1)
(14)
Plus: Loss expense reserves
1
1
—
—
1
—
3
Gross loss and loss expense reserves
$
(9)
$
2
$
28
$
136
$
298
$
21
$
476
Reinsurance recoverable reported on Balance Sheet (3)
$
—
$
—
$
8
$
14
$
4
$
—
$
26
(1)Remaining weighted-average contract period is weighted based on projected gross claims over the lives of the respective policies.
(2)Other subrogation represents subrogation related to excess spread and other contractual cash flows on public finance and structured finance transactions, including RMBS.
(3)Reinsurance recoverable reported on the Balance Sheet includes reinsurance recoverables of $26 related to future loss and loss expenses and $0 related to presented loss and loss expenses and subrogation.
Surveillance Categories as of December 31, 2023
I
IA
II
III
IV
V
Total
Number of policies
18
8
9
13
88
5
141
Remaining weighted-average contract period (in years) (1)
9
9
13
13
12
7
12
Gross insured contractual payments outstanding:
Principal
$
429
$
1,084
$
430
$
394
$
1,473
$
27
$
3,838
Interest
75
328
262
139
600
17
1,421
Total
$
505
$
1,412
$
692
$
534
$
2,073
$
44
$
5,259
Gross undiscounted claim liability
$
1
$
19
$
41
$
324
$
772
$
44
$
1,202
Discount, gross claim liability
—
(2)
(7)
(86)
(323)
(8)
(426)
Gross claim liability before all subrogation and before reinsurance
1
17
34
239
450
36
777
Less:
Gross other subrogation (2)
(13)
(2)
—
(27)
(208)
(11)
(263)
Discount, other subrogation
2
—
—
4
60
3
69
Discounted other subrogation, before reinsurance
(11)
(2)
—
(23)
(149)
(8)
(194)
Gross claim liability, net of all subrogation and discounts, before reinsurance
(10)
15
34
215
301
28
583
Less: Unearned premium revenue
—
(12)
(4)
—
(10)
(1)
(28)
Plus: Loss expense reserves
—
3
—
—
1
—
4
Gross loss and loss expense reserves
$
(10)
$
6
$
30
$
215
$
292
$
27
$
559
Reinsurance recoverable reported on Balance Sheet (4)
$
1
$
—
$
8
$
18
$
3
$
—
$
30
(1)Remaining weighted-average contract period is weighted based on projected gross claims over the lives of the respective policies.
(2)Other subrogation represents subrogation related to excess spread and other contractual cash flows on public finance and structured finance transactions, including RMBS.
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
Ambac Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(Dollar Amounts in Millions, Except Share Amounts)
(3)Reinsurance recoverable reported on the Balance Sheet includes reinsurance recoverables of $30 related to future loss and loss expenses and $(1) related to presented loss and loss expenses and subrogation.
Reinsurance Recoverables, Including Credit Impairments:
The Company uses ceded reinsurance to transfer certain insurance risk, along with premiums written and earned, to other insurance carriers that agree to share in such risks. The primary purpose of the reinsurance is to (i) protect the Company, at a cost, from losses in excess of amounts it is willing to accept, (ii) protect the Company's capital, and (iii) within the Specialty Property and Casualty Insurance operations, to manage the Company's net retention on individual risks and overall exposure to losses while providing the Company the ability to offer policies with sufficient limits to meet policyholder needs.
•Within its Specialty Property and Casualty Insurance segment, the Company generally enters into quota share reinsurance agreements whereby the Company cedes to capacity providers (reinsurers) a substantial amount (generally 70% or more) of its gross liability under all policies issued by and on behalf of the Company by the MGA/U.
Ambac is exposed to the credit risk of the reinsurer, or the risk that one of its reinsurers becomes insolvent or otherwise unable or unwilling to pay policyholder claims. This credit risk is generally mitigated by either selecting well capitalized, highly rated authorized capacity providers or requiring that the capacity provider post collateral to secure the reinsured risks, which in some instances, exceeds the related reinsurance recoverable.
Amounts recoverable from reinsurers are estimated in a manner consistent with the associated loss and loss adjustment expense reserves. The Company reports its reinsurance recoverables net of an allowance for amounts that are estimated to be uncollectible.
Ambac’s reinsurance assets, including deferred ceded premiums and reinsurance recoverables on losses amounted to $509 at June 30, 2024. Credit exposure existed at June 30, 2024, with respect to reinsurance recoverables to the extent that any reinsurer may not be able to reimburse Ambac under the terms of these reinsurance arrangements. At June 30, 2024, there were ceded reinsurance balances payable of $140 offsetting this credit exposure. Contractually ceded reinsurance payables can only be offset against amounts owed from the same reinsurer in the event that such reinsurer is unable to meet its obligations to reimburse Ambac.
To minimize its credit exposure to losses from reinsurer insolvencies, Ambac (i) is entitled to receive collateral from certain reinsurance counterparties in certain reinsurance contracts and (ii) has certain cancellation rights that can be exercised by Ambac in the event of rating agency downgrades of a reinsurer (among other events and circumstances). Ambac held letters of credit and collateral amounting to $66 from its reinsurers at June 30, 2024 of which $38 relates to Legacy Financial Guarantee Insurance and $28 relates to Specialty Property and Casualty Insurance. For those reinsurance counterparties that do not currently post collateral, Ambac's reinsurers are well
capitalized, highly rated, authorized capacity providers. Additionally, while legacy liabilities from the Providence Washington Insurance Company ("PWIC") and 21st Century Company acquisitions were fully ceded to certain reinsurers, Everspan also benefits from an unlimited, uncapped indemnity from Enstar Holdings (US) and 21st Century Premier Insurance Company, respectively, to mitigate any residual risk to these reinsurers.
The allowance for credit losses is based upon Ambac's ongoing review of amounts outstanding. Key indicators management uses to assess the credit quality of reinsurance recoverables are financial performance of the reinsurers, collateral posted by the reinsurers and independent rating agency credit ratings. The evaluation begins with a comparison of the fair value of collateral posted by the reinsurer to the recoverable, net of ceded premiums payable. Any shortfall of collateral posted is evaluated against our assessment of the reinsurer's financial strength to determine whether an allowance is considered necessary.
At June 30, 2024, our top three reinsurers represented 66.1% of our total reinsurance recoverables on paid and unpaid losses. These reinsurance recoverables were primarily from reinsurers with applicable ratings of A or better. The following table sets forth our three most significant reinsurers by amount of reinsurance recoverable as of June 30, 2024.
Reinsurers
Type of Insurance
Rating
(1)
Reinsurance
Recoverable
(2)
Unsecured
Recoverable
(3)
General Reinsurance Company
Specialty P&C
A++
$
123
$
104
QBE Insurance Corporation
Specialty P&C
A
37
37
Assured Guaranty Re Ltd.
Financial Guarantee
AA
22
—
All other
reinsurers
94
35
Total recoverables
$
277
$
176
(1)Represents financial strength ratings from S&P for financial guarantee reinsurers and AM Best for specialty P&C reinsurers.
(2)Represents reinsurance recoverables on paid and unpaid losses. Unsecured amounts from QBE Insurance Corporation is also supported by an unlimited, uncapped indemnity from Enstar Holdings (US).
(3)Reinsurance recoverables reduced by ceded premiums payables due to reinsurers, letters of credit, and collateral posted for the benefit of Ambac.
Ambac has uncollateralized credit exposure of $176 and $128 and has recorded an allowance for credit losses of less than a million at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023. The uncollateralized credit exposure includes legacy liabilities obtained from the acquisitions of PWIC and the 21st Century Companies of $43 and $44 at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. All legacy liabilities remain with affiliates of the sellers through reinsurance and contractual indemnities.
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
Ambac Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(Dollar Amounts in Millions, Except Share Amounts)
6. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
The following tables summarize the gross fair values of individual derivative instruments and the impact of legal rights of offset as reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
June 30, 2024
December 31, 2023
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets / Liabilities
Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet
Net Amounts of Assets/ Liabilities Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheet
Gross Amount of Collateral Received / Pledged Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet
Net Amount
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets / Liabilities
Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet
Net Amounts of Assets/ Liabilities Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheet
Gross Amount of Collateral Received / Pledged Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet
Net Amount
Other assets:
Interest rate swaps
$
18
$
—
$
18
$
—
$
18
$
25
$
—
$
25
$
—
$
25
Warrants
1
—
1
—
1
1
—
1
—
1
Total non-VIE derivative assets
$
18
$
—
$
18
$
—
$
18
$
26
$
—
$
26
$
—
$
26
Other liabilities:
Interest rate swaps
$
25
$
—
$
25
$
25
$
—
$
35
$
—
$
35
$
35
$
—
FX forward
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Total non-VIE derivative liabilities
$
26
$
—
$
26
$
25
$
—
$
35
$
—
$
35
$
35
$
—
Variable interest entities assets: Derivative and other assets:
Amounts representing the right to reclaim cash collateral or the obligation to return cash collateral are not offset against fair value amounts recognized for derivative instruments on the Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets. The amounts representing the right to reclaim cash collateral and posted margin, recorded in “Other assets” were $18 and $23 as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. Amounts representing an obligation to return cash collateral were $52 and $235 as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively and are reported in "Variable interest entity liabilities: Other liabilities".
The following tables summarize the location and amount of gains and losses of derivative contracts in the Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Total Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023:
Location of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Consolidated Statements of Total Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Consolidated Statement of Total Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Three Months Ended June 30,
Six Months Ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Non-VIE derivatives:
Interest rate swaps
Net gains (losses) on derivative contracts
1
1
2
(3)
Warrants
Net gains (losses) on derivative contracts
—
—
—
—
FX Forward
Net gains (losses) on derivative contracts
—
—
—
—
Total Non-VIE derivatives
$
—
$
—
2
(3)
Variable Interest Entities:
Currency swaps
Income (loss) on variable interest entities
$
—
$
(1)
2
(3)
Interest rate swaps
Income (loss) on variable interest entities
43
97
57
(2)
Total Variable Interest Entities
44
96
59
(5)
Total derivative contracts
$
44
$
97
$
61
$
(8)
Interest Rate Derivatives:
AFS provided interest rate derivatives to financial guarantee customers and used derivatives to provide a partial hedge against interest rate risk in AAC's insurance and investment portfolios. Additionally, AFS provided interest rate swaps to states, municipalities and their authorities, asset-backed issuers and other entities in connection with their financings. AFS's only remaining derivative positions include a limited number of legacy customer swaps and their associated hedges. As of June 30, 2024 and
December 31, 2023, the notional amounts of AFS’s derivatives are as follows:
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
Ambac Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(Dollar Amounts in Millions, Except Share Amounts)
Other Derivatives:
As of June 30, 2024 Ambac holds warrants to purchase equity shares of development stage companies and is party to a US dollar / British pound sterling foreign exchange forward contract to protect against currency fluctuations related to the purchase of Beat.
Derivatives of Consolidated Variable Interest Entities
Certain VIEs consolidated under the Consolidation Topic of the ASC entered into derivative contracts to meet specified purposes within the securitization structure. The notional amounts for VIE derivatives outstanding as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, were as follows:
Notional
Type of VIE Derivative
June 30, 2024
December 31, 2023
Interest rate swaps—receive-fixed/pay-variable
$
1,648
$
1,662
Interest rate swaps—pay-fixed/receive-variable
820
864
Currency swaps
136
149
Contingent Features in Derivatives Related to Ambac Credit Risk
Certain of Ambac's interest rate swaps remain with professional swap-dealer counterparties executed under standardized derivative documents including collateral support and master netting agreements. Under these agreements, Ambac is required to post collateral in the event net unrealized losses exceed predetermined threshold levels. Additionally, given that AAC is no longer rated by an independent rating agency, counterparties have the right to terminate the swap positions.
As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the net liability fair value of derivative instruments with contingent features linked to Ambac’s own credit risk was $25 and $35, respectively, related to which Ambac had posted cash and securities as collateral with a fair value of $44 and $50, respectively. All such ratings-based contingent features have been triggered requiring maximum collateral levels to be posted by Ambac while preserving counterparties’ rights to terminate the contracts. Assuming all such contracts terminated at fair value on June 30, 2024, settlement of collateral balances and net derivative liabilities would result in a net receipt of cash and/or securities by Ambac. If counterparties elect to exercise their right to terminate, the actual termination payment amounts will be determined in accordance with derivative contract terms, which may result in amounts that differ from market values as reported in Ambac’s financial statements.
7. GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS
The following table presents the Company's goodwill.
June 30, 2024
December 31, 2023
Beginning balance
$
70
$
61
Business acquisitions
—
9
Impairments
—
—
Ending balance
$
70
$
70
Intangible assets and accumulated amortization are included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, as shown below.
June 30, 2024
December 31, 2023
Finite-lived Intangible Assets:
Insurance intangible:
Gross carrying value
$
1,256
$
1,258
Accumulated amortization
1,030
1,013
Net insurance intangible asset
226
245
Other intangibles:
Gross carrying value
57
57
Accumulated amortization
12
10
Net other intangible assets
45
47
Total finite-lived intangible assets
271
292
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets:
Insurance licenses
14
14
Total intangible assets
$
285
$
307
8. VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES
Ambac, with its subsidiaries, has engaged in transactions with variable interest entities ("VIEs,") in various capacities.
•AAC and Ambac UK provide financial guarantees for various debt obligations issued by special purpose entities, including VIEs ("LFG VIEs); and
•AAC and Ambac UK invest in collateralized debt obligations, mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities issued by VIEs and their ownership interest is generally insignificant to the VIE and/or they do not have rights that direct the activities that are most significant to such VIE.
LFG VIEs:
AAC and Ambac UK provide financial guarantees in respect of assets held or debt obligations of VIEs. AAC and Ambac UK's primary variable interest exists through this financial guarantee insurance. The transaction structures provide certain financial protection to AAC or Ambac UK. Generally, upon deterioration in the performance of a transaction or upon an event of default as specified in the transaction legal documents, AAC or Ambac UK will obtain certain control rights that enable them to remediate losses. These rights may enable them to direct the activities of the entity that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance. Under the Stipulation and Order, AAC is required to obtain OCI approval with respect to the exercise of certain significant control rights in connection with policies that had previously been allocated to the Segregated Account.
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
Ambac Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(Dollar Amounts in Millions, Except Share Amounts)
Accordingly, AAC does not have the right to direct the most significant activities of those LFG VIEs.
LFG VIEs which are consolidated may include recourse and non-recourse liabilities. LFG VIEs' liabilities that are insured by AAC or Ambac UK are with recourse, because AAC or Ambac UK guarantees the payment of principal and interest in the event the issuer defaults. LFG VIEs' liabilities that are not insured by AAC or Ambac UK are without recourse, because AAC or Ambac UK has not issued a financial guarantee and is under no obligation for the payment of principal and interest of these instruments. AAC or Ambac UK's economic exposure to consolidated LFG VIEs is limited to the financial guarantees issued for recourse liabilities
and any additional variable interests held by them. Additionally, AAC or Ambac UK’s general creditors, other than those specific policy holders which own the VIE debt obligations, do not have rights with regard to the assets of the VIEs. Ambac evaluates the net income effects and earnings per share effects to determine attributions between AAC or Ambac UK and non-controlling interests as a result of consolidating a VIE. Ambac has determined that the net income and earnings per share effect of consolidated LFG VIEs are attributable to AAC or Ambac UK's interests through financial guarantee premium and loss payments with the VIE.
The following table summarizes the carrying values of assets and liabilities, along with other supplemental information related to FG VIEs that are consolidated because of financial guarantees of Ambac UK and AAC:
June 30, 2024
December 31, 2023
Ambac UK
Ambac Assurance
Total VIEs
Ambac UK
Ambac Assurance
Total VIEs
ASSETS:
Fixed maturity securities, at fair value:
Corporate obligations, fair value option
$
2,010
$
—
$
2,010
$
2,072
$
—
$
2,072
Municipal obligations, available-for-sale (1)
—
91
91
—
95
95
Total LFG VIE fixed maturity securities, at fair value
2,010
91
2,101
2,072
95
2,167
Restricted cash
61
1
62
245
1
246
Loans, at fair value (2)
1,567
—
1,567
1,663
—
1,663
Derivative assets
208
—
208
226
—
226
Other assets, including contract assets
93
2
95
90
2
92
Total LFG VIE assets
$
3,939
$
94
$
4,033
$
4,296
$
98
$
4,394
LIABILITIES:
Long-term debt:
Long-term debt, at fair value (3)
$
2,599
$
—
$
2,599
$
2,710
$
—
$
2,710
Long-term debt, at par less unamortized discount
97
156
253
99
159
258
Total long-term debt
2,696
156
2,853
2,808
159
2,967
Derivative liabilities
1,136
—
1,136
1,197
—
1,197
Cash collateral payable
52
—
52
235
—
235
Other liabilities
6
1
7
4
1
5
Total LFG VIE liabilities
$
3,890
$
157
$
4,048
$
4,244
$
160
$
4,404
Number of LFG VIEs consolidated
4
2
6
4
2
6
(1)Available-for-sale LFG VIE fixed maturity securities consist of municipal obligations with an amortized cost basis of $85 and $88 at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. At June 30, 2024, there were $6 aggregate gross unrealized gains and $0 aggregated gross unrealized losses. At December 31, 2023, there were $7 aggregate gross unrealized gains and $0 aggregated gross unrealized losses. All such securities had contractual maturities due after ten years as of June 30, 2024.
(2)The unpaid principal balances of loan assets carried at fair value were $1,692 as of June 30, 2024 and $1,787 as of December 31, 2023.
(3)The unpaid principal balances of long-term debt carried at fair value were $2,854 as of June 30, 2024 and $2,952 as of December 31, 2023.
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
Ambac Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(Dollar Amounts in Millions, Except Share Amounts)
The following schedule details the components of Income (loss) on variable interest entities for the affected periods:
Three Months Ended June 30,
Six Months Ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Net change in fair value of VIE assets and liabilities reported under the fair value option
$
—
$
—
$
1
$
2
Less: Credit risk changes of fair value option long-term debt reported through other comprehensive income (loss)
—
1
—
1
Net change in fair value of VIE assets and liabilities reported in earnings under the fair value option
1
—
2
3
Investment income (loss)
2
3
5
5
Contract revenue
3
—
8
—
Net realized investment gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities
—
—
—
—
Interest expense on long-term debt carried at par less unamortized cost
(4)
(3)
(6)
(8)
Other expenses
(3)
—
(7)
—
Gain (loss) from consolidating VIEs
—
—
—
—
Income (loss) on variable interest entities
$
—
$
—
$
2
$
(1)
Ambac consolidated zero and zero FG VIEs for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Ambac de-consolidated zero FG VIE for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and one FG VIE for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, as a result of the retirement of all Ambac-insured bonds in the trust. There was no gain or loss resulting from the de-consolidation.
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 derivative contracts by major underlying asset classes, as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
June 30, 2024:
December 31, 2023:
Carrying Value of Assets and Liabilities
Carrying Value of Assets and Liabilities
Maximum Exposure To Loss (1)
Insurance Assets (2)
Insurance Liabilities (3)
Net Derivative Assets (Liabilities) (4)
Maximum Exposure To Loss (1)
Insurance Assets (2)
Insurance Liabilities (3)
Net Derivative Assets (Liabilities) (4)
Global structured finance:
Mortgage-backed—residential
$
2,224
$
123
$
409
$
—
$
2,391
$
135
$
432
$
—
Other consumer asset-backed
365
3
135
—
540
5
200
—
Other
418
2
2
—
433
2
2
—
Total global structured finance
3,007
127
546
—
3,364
141
634
—
Global public finance
17,101
204
196
—
17,498
209
202
—
Total
$
20,109
$
331
$
742
$
—
$
20,861
$
351
$
836
$
—
(1)Maximum exposure to loss represents the maximum future payments of principal and interest on insured obligations and 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 included in “Premium receivables” and “Subrogation recoverable” for financial guarantee insurance contracts on Ambac’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.
(3)Insurance liabilities represent the amount included in “Loss and loss expense reserves” and “Unearned premiums” for financial guarantee insurance contracts on Ambac’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.
(4)Net derivative assets (liabilities) represent the fair value recognized on interest rate swaps on Ambac’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.
9. REVENUES FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUSTOMERS
The Insurance Distribution businesses and a consolidated VIE have contracts that are subject to the Revenue from Contracts with Customers Topic of the ASC.
Insurance Distribution revenues recognized, disaggregated by policy type, were as follows:
Three Months Ended June 30,
Six Months Ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Employer stop loss
$
2
$
2
$
7
$
7
Affinity products
5
5
10
10
Commercial auto
3
2
7
5
Marine
1
1
2
2
Professional liability
2
—
4
—
Other
—
—
—
—
Total
$
13
$
10
$
31
$
25
These revenues are reported within commission income on the Consolidated Statements of Total Comprehensive Income (Loss).
A VIE was consolidated on December 31, 2023. The consolidated VIE's revenues recognized during the three and six months ended
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
Ambac Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(Dollar Amounts in Millions, Except Share Amounts)
June 30, 2024 were $3 and $8, which are reported within Income (loss) on variable interest entities on the Consolidated Statements of Total Comprehensive Income (Loss).
During the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, the amount of revenue recognized related to performance obligations satisfied in a previous period, inclusive of changes due to estimates was approximately $9 and $5, respectively.
Contract Assets and Liabilities
The balances of contract assets and contract liabilities with customers were as follows:
June 30, 2024
December 31, 2023
Contract assets
101
95
Contract liabilities
—
1
Insurance Distribution
Contract assets of $11 and $7 as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, represent estimated future consideration related to base commissions and profit-sharing commissions that were recognized as revenue upon the placement of the policy, but are not yet due. The Company does not have the right to bill or
collect payment on i) base commissions until the related premiums from policyholders has been collected nor ii) profit-sharing commissions until after the contract year is completed. Changes in contract assets during the six months ended June 30, 2024, is primarily due to the timing of new or renewal policies, growth in the business, reclassifications to receivables (unconditional right) and collections.
Contract liabilities represent advance consideration received from customers related to employer stop loss base commissions that will be recognized over time as claims servicing is performed, which typically occurs between 17 and 20 months from contract inception. During the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company recognized revenue that was included in the contract liability balance as of the beginning of the period of less than a million dollars and $1, respectively.
Consolidated VIE
Contract assets of $90 and $87 as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, represent future consideration related to service concession payments for already completed services that were recognized as revenue but are not yet due. There are no contract liabilities in either period.
10. COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
The following tables detail the changes in the balances of each component of accumulated other comprehensive income for the affected periods:
Three Months Ended June 30, 2024:
Three Months Ended June 30, 2023:
Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Available for Sale Securities (1)
Amortization
of
Postretirement
Benefit (1)
Gain (Loss) on Foreign
Currency Translation (1)
Credit Risk Changes of Fair Value Option Liabilities
(1) (2)
Total
Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Available for Sale Securities (1)
Amortization
of
Postretirement
Benefit (1)
Gain (Loss) on Foreign
Currency Translation (1)
Credit Risk Changes of Fair Value Option Liabilities
(1) (2)
Total
Beginning Balance
$
(27)
$
5
$
(152)
$
(1)
$
(175)
$
(54)
$
6
$
(168)
$
(1)
$
(217)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications
8
—
1
—
9
(15)
—
21
—
6
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
(4)
(5)
—
—
(9)
3
—
—
—
2
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)
4
(5)
1
—
—
(13)
—
21
—
8
Ending Balance
$
(23)
$
—
$
(151)
$
(1)
$
(175)
$
(67)
$
6
$
(147)
$
(1)
$
(209)
Six Months Ended June 30, 2024
Six Months Ended June 30, 2023
Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Available for Sale Securities (1)
Amortization
of
Postretirement
Benefit (1)
Gain (Loss) on Foreign
Currency Translation (1)
Credit Risk Changes of Fair Value Option Liabilities
(1) (2)
Total
Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Available for Sale Securities (1)
Amortization
of
Postretirement
Benefit (1)
Gain (Loss) on Foreign
Currency Translation (1)
Credit Risk Changes of Fair Value Option Liabilities
(1) (2)
Total
Beginning Balance
$
(20)
$
5
$
(144)
$
(1)
$
(160)
$
(71)
$
3
$
(184)
$
(1)
$
(253)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications
1
—
(7)
—
(5)
(1)
3
37
—
39
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income
(5)
(5)
—
—
(10)
6
(1)
—
—
5
Net current period other comprehensive income
(3)
(5)
(7)
—
(15)
5
2
37
—
44
Ending Balance
$
(23)
$
—
$
(151)
$
(1)
$
(175)
$
(67)
$
6
$
(147)
$
(1)
$
(209)
(1)All amounts are net of tax and noncontrolling interest. Amounts in parentheses indicate reductions to Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.
(2)Represents the changes in fair value attributable to instrument-specific credit risk of liabilities for which the fair value option is elected.
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
Ambac Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(Dollar Amounts in Millions, Except Share Amounts)
The following table details the significant amounts reclassified from each component of accumulated other comprehensive income, shown in the above rollforward tables, for the affected periods:
Details about Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Components
Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Affected Line Item in the Consolidated Statement of Total Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Three Months Ended June 30,
Six Months Ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Available-for-Sale Securities
$
(4)
$
3
$
(4)
$
8
Net realized investment gains (losses)
—
(1)
—
(2)
Provision for income taxes
$
(4)
$
3
$
(5)
$
6
Net of tax and noncontrolling interest
Amortization of Postretirement Benefit
Prior service cost
$
—
$
—
$
—
$
—
Other income
Actuarial (losses)
—
—
—
—
Other income
Curtailment gain
(5)
—
(5)
—
Other income
(5)
—
(5)
(1)
Total before tax
—
—
—
—
Provision for income taxes
$
(5)
$
—
$
(5)
$
(1)
Net of tax and noncontrolling interest
Credit Risk Changes of Fair Value Option Liabilities
$
—
$
(1)
$
—
$
—
Credit risk changes of fair value option liabilities
—
—
—
—
Provision for income taxes
$
—
$
—
$
—
$
—
Net of tax and noncontrolling interest
Total reclassifications for the period
$
(9)
$
2
$
(9)
$
5
Net of tax and noncontrolling interest
11. NET INCOME PER SHARE
As of June 30, 2024, 45,224,972 shares of AFG's common stock (par value $0.01) were issued and outstanding. Common shares outstanding increased by 29,602 during the six months ended June 30, 2024, primarily due to settlements of employee restricted and performance stock units.
Earnings Per Share Calculation
The numerator of the basic and diluted earnings per share computation represents net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders adjusted by the retained earnings impact of the noncontrolling adjustment to redemption value under ASC 480. The redemption value adjustment is further described in the Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest section of Note 1. Business and Basis of Presentation.
The following table provides a reconciliation of net income attributable to common stockholders to the numerator in the basic and diluted earnings per share calculation, together with the resulting earnings per share amounts:
Three Months Ended June 30,
Six Months Ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders
$
(1)
$
(13)
$
19
(47)
Adjustment to redemption value (ASC 480)
—
—
—
—
Numerator of basic and diluted EPS
$
(1)
$
(13)
$
19
(47)
Per Share:
Basic
$
(0.02)
$
(0.29)
$
0.42
$
(1.02)
Diluted
$
(0.02)
$
(0.29)
$
0.41
$
(1.02)
The denominator of the basic earnings per share computation represents the weighted average common shares outstanding plus vested performance and restricted stock units (together, "Basic Weighted Average Shares Outstanding"). The denominator of diluted earnings per share adjusts the Basic Weighted Average Shares Outstanding for all potential dilutive common shares outstanding during the period. All potential dilutive common shares outstanding consider common stock deliverable pursuant to warrants, unvested restricted stock units and performance stock units granted under existing compensation plans.
The following table provides a reconciliation of the weighted average shares denominator used for basic net income per share to the denominator used for diluted net income per share:
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
Ambac Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(Dollar Amounts in Millions, Except Share Amounts)
Three Months Ended June 30,
Six Months Ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Basic weighted average shares outstanding denominator
46,209,250
45,757,234
46,019,145
45,661,288
Effect of potential dilutive shares :
Restricted stock units
—
—
158,132
—
Performance stock units (1)
—
—
391,585
—
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding denominator
46,209,250
45,757,234
46,568,862
45,661,288
Anti-dilutive shares excluded from the above reconciliation:
Warrants
—
—
—
—
Restricted stock units
471,541
556,602
44,362
555,981
Performance stock units (1)
464,272
667,365
—
667,365
(1) Performance stock units are reflected based on the performance metrics through the balance sheet date. Vesting of these units is contingent upon meeting certain performance metrics. Although a portion of these performance metrics have been achieved as of the respective period end, it is possible that awards may no longer meet the metric at the end of the performance period.
12. INCOME TAXES
AFG files a consolidated Federal income tax return with its subsidiaries. AFG and its subsidiaries also file separate or combined income tax returns in various states, local and foreign jurisdictions. The following are the major jurisdictions in which Ambac and its subsidiaries operate and the earliest tax years subject to examination:
Jurisdiction
Tax Year
United States
2010
New York State
2015
New York City
2018
United Kingdom
2020
Italy
2019
In accordance with the Income Tax Topic of the ASC, a valuation allowance is recognized if, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more-likely-than-not that some, or all, of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. As a result of the risks and uncertainties associated with future operating results, management believes it is more likely than not that the Company will not generate sufficient U.S. federal, state and/or local taxable income to recover its deferred tax operating assets and therefore maintains a full valuation allowance.
Consolidated Pretax Income (Loss)
U.S. and foreign components of pre-tax income (loss) were as follows:
Three Months Ended June 30,
Six Months Ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
U.S.
$
(11)
$
(18)
$
(1)
$
(66)
Foreign
13
7
28
26
Total
$
2
$
(11)
$
27
$
(40)
1
Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes
The components of the provision for income taxes were as follows:
Three Months Ended June 30,
Six Months Ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Current taxes
U. S. federal
$
—
$
1
$
—
$
1
U.S. state and local
—
—
—
—
Foreign
2
—
7
2
Total Current taxes
2
2
7
4
Deferred taxes
Foreign
—
—
1
2
Total Deferred taxes
—
—
1
2
Provision for income taxes
$
2
$
2
$
7
$
6
As of June 30, 2024, the Company has (i) $3,532 of NOLs, which if not utilized will begin expiring in 2030, and will fully expire in 2045, and (ii) $186 of interest expense tax deduction carryover, which has an indefinite carryforward period but is limited in any particular year based on certain provisions.
13. EMPLOYMENT BENEFIT PLANS
Postretirement Health Care Benefits
Ambac provided a discretionary postretirement health benefit for certain employees who met predefined age and service requirements. This postretirement benefit required retirees to purchase their own medical insurance policy with a portion of their premium being reimbursed by Ambac. The postretirement plan was terminated in May 2024. Ambac elected to make a final one-time payment to certain plan beneficiaries in connection with the termination and accordingly, recognized a gain on such termination of $13 in the three and six months ending June 30, 2024, representing the amount of the accrued and deferred liabilities in excess of the final payment. This gain is included within Other income on the Consolidated Statements of Total Comprehensive Income (Loss).
14. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
The following commitments and contingencies provide an update of those discussed in Note 19: Commitments and Contingencies in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included Part II, Item 8 in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and should be read in conjunction
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
Ambac Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(Dollar Amounts in Millions, Except Share Amounts)
with the complete descriptions provided in the aforementioned Form 10-K.
Litigation Against Ambac - Pending Cases
Monterey Bay Military Housing, LLC, et al. v. Ambac Assurance Corporation, et al. (United States District Court, Southern District of New York, Case No. 1:19-cv-09193-PGG, transferred on October 4, 2019 from the United States District Court, Northern District of California, San Jose Division, Case No. 17-cv-04992-BLF, filed August 28, 2017). On April 6, 2022, certain co-defendants filed a motion to sever the plaintiffs’ claims and to dismiss all claims except for claims asserted by the Monterey Bay plaintiffs. On January 26, 2024, the court granted the parties leave to file motions for summary judgment; opening briefs were due March 22, 2024, while oppositions are due May 31, 2024 and replies on July 12, 2024. On February 29, 2024, the court denied co-defendants’ motion to sever plaintiffs’ claims. On March 22, 2024, defendants served opening motions for summary judgment against plaintiffs’ claims in their entirety on multiple grounds, and plaintiffs served cross-motions for summary judgment on defendants’ unclean hands defenses. The parties’ summary judgment motions were fully briefed as of July 12, 2024 and are currently awaiting a decision from the Court.
In re National Collegiate Student Loan Trusts Litigation (Delaware Court of Chancery, Consolidated C.A. No. 12111, filed November 1, 2019). The Vice Chancellor entered a series of stays to facilitate good-faith settlement discussions, the most recent of which was entered on May 2, 2023, and stayed the matter through May 5, 2023. On April 25, 2024, the Administrator filed a status report stating that certain parties continue to negotiate a resolution to the various pending claims.
Litigation Against Ambac - General
AAC’s estimates of projected losses for RMBS transactions consider, among other things, the RMBS transactions’ payment waterfall structure, including the application of interest and principal payments and recoveries, and depend in part on our interpretations of contracts and other bases of our legal rights. From time to time, bond trustees and other transaction participants have employed different contractual interpretations and have commenced, or threatened to commence, litigation to resolve these differences. It is not possible to predict whether additional disputes will arise, nor the outcomes of any potential litigation. It is possible that there could be unfavorable outcomes in this or other disputes or proceedings and that our interpretations may prove to be incorrect, which could lead to changes to our estimate of loss reserves.
The Company periodically receives various regulatory inquiries and requests for information with respect to investigations and inquiries that such regulators are conducting. The Company has complied with all such inquiries and requests for information.
The Company is involved from time to time in various routine legal proceedings, including proceedings related to litigation with present or former employees. Although such litigation routine and incidental to the conduct of its business, such litigation can
potentially result in large monetary awards when a civil jury is allowed to determine compensatory and/or punitive damages.
Everspan may be subject to disputes with policyholders or other third parties regarding the scope and extent of coverage offered under Everspan's policies, including disputes relating to Everspan’s course of conduct in the handling of claims and settling or failing to settle claims (which can lead to bad faith and other forms of extra-contractual liability); be required to defend claimants in suits against its policyholders for covered liability claims; or enter into commercial disputes with its reinsurers, MGA/Us or third party claims administrators regarding their respective contractual obligations and rights. Under some circumstances, the results of such disputes or suits may lead to liabilities beyond those which are anticipated or reserved, including liabilities in excess of applicable policy limits.
From time to time, Ambac is subject to allegations concerning its corporate governance that may lead to litigation, including derivative litigation, and while the monetary impacts may not be material, the matters may distract management and the Board of Directors from their principal focus on Ambac's business, strategy and objectives.
It is not reasonably possible to predict whether additional suits will be filed or whether additional inquiries or requests for information will be made, and it is also not possible to predict the outcome of litigation, inquiries or requests for information. It is possible that there could be unfavorable outcomes in these or other proceedings. Legal accruals for litigation against the Company with losses that are probable and reasonably estimable are not material to the operating results or financial position of the Company. For the litigation matters the Company is defending that do not meet the “probable and reasonably estimable” accrual threshold and where no loss estimates have been provided, management is unable to make a meaningful estimate of the amount or range of loss that could result from unfavorable outcomes. Under some circumstances, adverse results in any such proceedings could be material to our business, operations, financial position, profitability or cash flows. The Company believes that it has substantial defenses to the claims above and, to the extent that these actions proceed, the Company intends to defend itself vigorously; however, the Company is not able to predict the outcomes of these actions.
Litigation Filed or Joined by Ambac
CFPB v. Nat’l Collegiate Master Student Loan Trust (United States District Court, District of Delaware, Case No. 1:17-cv-01323, filed September 18, 2017). The CFPB filed an amended complaint on April 30, 2021. On May 21, 2021, the Trusts and several intervenors, including AAC, moved to dismiss the CFPB’s amended complaint for failure to state a claim. On December 13, 2021, the court denied the Trusts' and intervenors' motions to dismiss the amended complaint. On December 23, 2021, the Trusts and several intervenors, including AAC, filed a motion seeking (i) an order certifying for interlocutory appeal the court’s December 13, 2021 order denying the motion to dismiss the amended complaint, and (ii) a stay of the action pending resolution of any appeal. On January 26, 2022, the Trusts and several intervenors, including AAC, answered the CFPB’s
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
Ambac Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(Dollar Amounts in Millions, Except Share Amounts)
amended complaint, asserting several affirmative defenses and denying that the CFPB is entitled to relief from the Trusts. On February 11, 2022, the court certified its ruling on the motion to dismiss for interlocutory appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and stayed the case pending appeal. On February 21, 2022, the Trusts and several intervenors, including AAC, filed a petition with the Third Circuit for permission to appeal the District Court’s order denying their motion to dismiss the amended complaint. On April 29, 2022, the Third Circuit granted the Trusts' and intervenors' petition. The Third Circuit heard oral argument in the matter on May 17, 2023. On March 19, 2024, the Third Circuit issued an opinion holding that (1) the Trusts are covered persons subject to the Consumer Financial Protection Act’s enforcement authority, and (2) the CFPB did not need to ratify the action. Also on March 19, 2024, the Third Circuit entered a judgment remanding the matter to the District Court for further proceedings consistent with its opinion. On March 25, 2024, the CFPB moved (1) to strike all answers filed by parties other than the Trusts, including AAC, and (2) to exclude all intervenors, including AAC, from further participation in the litigation. On May 3, 2024, the Trusts and certain Intervenors, including AAC, filed a petition for rehearing and rehearing en banc of the Third Circuit’s March 19, 2024 decision, which the Third Circuit denied on May 21, 2024.On June 20, 2024, the District Court referred the case to a magistrate judge for alternative dispute resolution.
Assured Guaranty Corp., Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp., and Ambac Assurance Corporation v. Alejandro Garcia Padilla, et al. (United States District Court, District of Puerto Rico No. 3:16-cv-01037, filed January 7, 2016). On January 7, 2016, AAC, along with co-plaintiffs Assured, filed a complaint for declaratory and injunctive relief to protect its rights against the illegal clawback of certain revenue by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.Defendants moved to dismiss on January 29, 2016. On October 4, 2016, the court denied the Defendants’ motions to dismiss. On October 14, 2016, Defendants filed a Notice of Automatic Stay, asserting that Plaintiffs’ claims have been rendered moot and further asserting that the case was automatically stayed under section 405 of the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act ("PROMESA"). On May 3, 2017, the Oversight Board filed a petition to adjust the Commonwealth’s debts under Title III of PROMESA, resulting in an automatic stay of litigation against the Commonwealth. On May 17, 2017, the court issued an order staying this case until further order of the court. The January 18, 2022 confirmation of the Commonwealth Plan resolved this litigation. On June 6, 2024, the court dismissed this case with prejudice.
Ambac Assurance Corporation v. Puerto Rico Highways and Transportation Authority (United States District Court, District of Puerto Rico, No. 16-cv-1893, filed May 10, 2016). AAC filed a complaint against the PRHTA on May 10, 2016, alleging breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract in connection with PRHTA’s extension of an existing toll road concession agreement. The complaint alleges that it was inappropriate for PRHTA to enter into the extension agreement in its current state of financial distress because PRHTA has no control over, and is unlikely to receive, the proceeds of the transaction. AAC also
filed related motions seeking the appointment of a provisional receiver for PRHTA and expedited discovery. On May 21, 2017, the Oversight Board filed a petition to adjust PRHTA’s debts under Title III of PROMESA, resulting in an automatic stay of litigation against PRHTA. On May 24, 2017, the court issued an order staying this case until further order of the court. The settlements reached between AAC and the Oversight Board resolved this litigation, and the January 20, 2022 PRIFA QM provided for dismissal of this case. On June 12, 2024, the court dismissed this case with prejudice.
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations ($ and £ in millions)
The objectives of our Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) are to provide users of our consolidated financial statements with the following:
•A narrative explanation from the perspective of management of our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, liquidity and certain other factors that may affect future results;
•Context to the unaudited consolidated financial statements; and
•Information that allows assessment of the likelihood that past performance is indicative of future performance.
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements in Part I, Item 1 and the matters described under Part II, Item 1A Risk Factors in this Quarterly Report and under Item 1A. Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. Refer to Item 1. Business and Note 1. Business and Basis of Presentation for a description of our business and our key strategies to achieve our primary goal to maximize shareholder value.
AFG has the following net assets to support its goals and strategies, including the development and growth of its Specialty Property and Casualty Insurance and Insurance Distribution businesses, acquisitions and capital management. AFG does not have any commitment or other obligation to provide capital or liquidity to AAC, whose financial guarantee business has been in run-off since 2008. As of June 30, 2024, and December 31, 2023, AFG's stand alone net assets, excluding its equity investments in subsidiaries are shown in the following table:
June 30, 2024
December 31, 2023
Cash and short-term investments
$
171
$
153
Other investments (1)
32
33
Other net (liabilities) assets
(1)
23
Total
$
202
$
209
(1)Includes strategic minority investments in insurance services businesses of $26.
The decrease in AFG net assets, excluding its equity investments in subsidiaries, during 2024 was driven by diligence and other costs associated with the purchase of Beat and sale of AAC and other operating expenses, partially offset by net realized gains on strategic investments, interest income and distributions received from subsidiaries.
AFG's subsidiaries/businesses are divided into three segments with results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, and 2023, as follows:
Three Months Ended June 30, 2024
Three Months Ended June 30, 2023
($ in millions)
Legacy Financial Guarantee Insurance
Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance
Insurance Distribution
Corporate & Other
Consoli-dated
Legacy Financial Guarantee Insurance
Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance
Insurance Distribution
Corporate & Other
Consoli-dated
Premiums placed
$
53
$
53
$
41
$
41
Gross premiums written
$
2
$
111
113
$
1
$
53
55
Net premiums written
2
32
34
(54)
9
(45)
Total revenues
53
32
13
$
6
105
39
11
10
$
2
62
Total expenses
40
33
12
17
103
47
11
9
6
73
Pretax income (loss)
13
(1)
1
(11)
2
(8)
—
1
(4)
(11)
EBITDA
36
(1)
2
(11)
27
14
—
2
(4)
12
Ambac Stockholders’ Equity (1)
939
122
105
202
1,368
823
112
92
223
1,250
Non-redeemable noncontrolling interest
51
—
51
51
2
53
Total stockholders’ equity
990
122
105
202
1,419
874
114
92
223
1,303
Redeemable noncontrolling interest
17
17
20
20
Six Months Ended June 30, 2024
Six Months Ended June 30, 2023
Legacy Financial Guarantee Insurance
Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance
Insurance Distribution
Corporate & Other
Consoli-dated
Legacy Financial Guarantee Insurance
Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance
Insurance Distribution
Corporate & Other
Consoli-dated
Premiums placed
$
144
$
144
$
118
$
118
Gross premiums written
$
4
$
208
$
211
$
10
$
105
$
115
Net premiums written
$
3
$
59
$
62
$
(45)
$
18
$
(27)
Total revenues
$
107
$
61
$
31
$
8
$
207
$
71
$
20
$
25
$
4
$
120
Total expenses
$
69
$
61
$
26
$
24
$
180
$
111
$
21
$
20
$
8
$
160
Pretax income (loss)
$
38
$
1
$
5
$
(16)
$
27
$
(40)
$
(1)
$
4
$
(3)
$
(40)
EBITDA(1)
$
89
$
1
$
7
$
(16)
$
81
$
5
$
(1)
$
6
$
(3)
$
7
(1)Represents Ambac's stockholders equity for each segment, including intercompany eliminations.
Sale of Consolidated National Insurance Company
On January 12, 2024, Everspan Insurance Company entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement with Hagerty Insurance Holdings, Inc., to sell its ownership interests in Consolidated National Insurance Company which is one of Everspan's admitted carriers. The closing of this transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including obtaining regulatory approval from the Colorado Division of Insurance (such request for approval having been filed on February 12, 2024). Subject to the satisfactory completion of closing conditions, the closing is expected to occur in the third quarter of 2024.
Sale of AAC
On June 4, 2024, AFG entered into a stock purchase agreement with American Acorn Corporation (the “Buyer”), a Delaware corporation owned by funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., pursuant to which and subject to the conditions set forth therein, AFG will sell all of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of AAC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AFG, to Buyer for aggregate consideration of $420 in cash (the "Sale"). The terms of the Sale as contemplated by the stock purchase agreement provide that, at the closing of the Sale (the “Closing”), Buyer will acquire complete common equity ownership of AAC and all of its wholly owned subsidiaries, including Ambac UK. In connection with and pursuant to the stock purchase agreement, AFG has agreed to issue to Buyer a warrant exercisable for a number of shares of common stock, par
value $0.01, of AFG representing 9.9% of the fully diluted shares of AFG’s common stock as of March 31, 2024, pro forma for the issuance of the warrant The warrant will have an exercise price per share of $18.50 with a six and a half-year term from the date of issuance and will be immediately exercisable. Payment of the exercise price may be settled, at AFG’s option, by way of a cash exercise or by net share settlement. Refer to Note 1. Business and Basis of Presentation for further details on the pending sale of AAC.
This pending transaction has had no impact on the financial statements at June 30, 2024, other than incurred transaction expenses of approximately $5 and $7 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024.
If the transaction was completed on June 30, 2024, Ambac would have reflected the below:
Fair value of consideration received (cash less estimated value of warrants issued)
$
404
Carrying value of noncontrolling interest
51
455
Less: carrying amount of AACs net assets
987
Less: estimated incremental transaction expenses
15
$
(547)
Reclassification of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income to earnings
$
(168)
Total gain (loss on disposal) recognized in net income
$
(715)
If the transaction was completed on June 30, 2024, the impact of the sale of AAC on stockholders' equity would have been a reduction of $547.
Purchase of Beat
On June 4, 2024, AFG entered into a share purchase agreement (the “Beat Purchase Agreement”), by and among AFG, Cirrata V LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of AFG (the “Purchaser”), certain sellers set forth therein (the “Sellers”) and Beat, pursuant to which the Purchaser purchased from the Sellers approximately 60% of the entire issued share capital of Beat, for total consideration, as of the closing date, of approximately $278, of which approximately $249 was paid in cash and the remainder of which was satisfied through the issuance of 2,216,023 shares of AFG common stock. The acquisition closed with an effective date of July 31, 2024. Beat’s management team and Bain Capital Credit LP (“Bain” and, together with certain members of Beat’s management team, the “Rollover Shareholders”) each retained approximately 20% of Beat’s issued share capital immediately after closing. Refer to Note 1. Business and Basis of Presentation for further details on the acquisition of Beat.
Banking Sector Crisis of 2023
The collapse of several banks in early 2023 and extending into 2024 precipitated a sudden loss of confidence in the banking system, prompting bank runs and the U.S. government to provide direct support to failed banks and, through an expansive emergency lending program, the system more broadly. In the U.S., this crisis was in part a consequence of rising interest rates, resulting in large declines in the market value of U.S. Treasury and government-backed debt held by banking institutions. The risk of additional bank financial stress and/or failures due to asset-liability mismatches or other risks, such as outsized exposure to commercial real estate, remains. Despite actions by government agencies and regulators to mitigate the consequences of these bank failures by providing liquidity and guaranteeing uninsured deposits, there is no guarantee that they will provide similar support in the event of additional bank failures. In Europe, regulators stepped in to facilitate mergers of stressed banks into more stable institutions. The ability or willingness of healthy banks to merge with stressed banks in the future is also subject to significant uncertainty.
Ambac's cash balances held at banks was $35 as of June 30, 2024 and $27 as of December 31, 2023. Substantially all of these cash balances were uninsured as of June 30, 2024 and December 31,
2023 because they either (i) exceeded the two hundred and fifty thousand FDIC insurance limit or (ii) were held in foreign banks. These cash balances were held primarily with Ambac's main operating banks which are large money center and/or global banks. Ambac actively manages its cash balances to reduce bank risk and to enhance yield by transferring most of its funds to government and prime money market funds. Included in the cash balances above are $14 and $16 as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, of cash from companies Ambac has acquired within its insurance distribution businesses that are held in regional banks. The management of these balances and the associated bank exposure is under consideration as part of Ambac's ongoing integration of these acquired businesses. In addition, cash balances held by variable interest entities ("VIEs") that are consolidated in Ambac's financial statements as a result of Ambac's financial guarantees totaled $62 and $246 as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. These amounts relate primarily to cash collateral posted against derivative assets and reserve balances maintained under the VIEs' governing documents and are not directly managed by Ambac.
Ambac also has exposure to banks through its fixed maturity investment portfolio totaling $156 and $169 as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. All of these investments are managed by third-party asset management firms which follow single and sector risk limits established by Ambac. The average rating of our fixed income investment in banks was BBB+ as of June 30, 2024.
Financial Statement Impact of Foreign Currency:
The impact of foreign currency as reported in Ambac's Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Total Comprehensive Income for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, included the following:
Six Months Ended June 30,
2024
2023
Net income (1)
$
(1)
$
(3)
Gain (losses) on foreign currency translation (net of tax)
(7)
37
Unrealized gains (losses) on non-functional currency available-for-sale securities (net of tax)
1
(4)
Impact on total comprehensive income (loss)
$
(7)
$
30
(1) A portion of Ambac UK's, and to a lesser extent AAC's, assets and liabilities are denominated in currencies other than its functional currency. Other than the foreign currency impact on unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, which is included in Other comprehensive income, foreign currency transaction gains/(losses) as a result of changes to foreign currency rates are reported through Net income in the Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Total Comprehensive Income (Loss).
Future changes to currency rates may adversely affect our financial results. Refer to Part II, Item 7A in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, for further information on the impact of future currency rate changes on Ambac's financial instruments.
SEC Final Rules on Climate Related Information
On March 6, 2024, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) adopted The Enhancement and Standardization of Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors ("Final Rule"), which
will require registrants to disclose extensive climate-related information in their Form 10-K annual reports and registration statements. The Final Rule was scheduled to become effective May 28, 2024; however, the SEC has voluntarily stayed the rule’s effective date pending judicial review of legal challenges.
The compliance dates for accelerated filers for annual reports or registration statements that include financial statements for the year ending December 31 are phased in from 2026 through 2031. Depending on when the legal challenges are resolved, the compliance dates may be retained or delayed.
Ambac is reviewing the Final Rule and is currently assessing our related compliance obligations and other effects on our operations.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
Ambac’s Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), which require the use of material estimates and assumptions. For a discussion of Ambac’s critical accounting policies and estimates, see “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” in Part II, Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in Ambac’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
FINANCIAL GUARANTEES IN FORCE
Financial guarantee products were sold in three principal markets: U.S. public finance, U.S. structured finance and international finance. Net par exposures within the U.S. public finance market include capital appreciation bonds which are reported at the par amount at the time of issuance of the insurance policy as opposed to the current accreted value of the bonds. Guaranteed net par
outstanding includes the exposures of policies insuring variable interest entities (“VIEs”) consolidated in accordance with the Consolidation Topic of the ASC. Guaranteed net par outstanding excludes the exposures of policies that insure bonds which have been refunded, pre-refunded or synthetically commuted.
The following table provides a comparison of total, adversely classified credits ("ACC") and watch list credit net par outstanding in the insured portfolio at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023.
($ in billions)
June 30, 2024
December 31, 2023
Variance
Total
$
18,668
$
19,541
$
(873)
(4)
%
ACC
$
2,708
$
3,504
$
(796)
(23)
%
Watch List
$
2,620
$
2,181
$
439
20
%
The decrease in total and ACC net par outstanding resulted from active de-risking, scheduled maturities, amortizations, refundings and calls and a strengthening of the USD versus the GBP of $93 on the total net par outstanding. Additionally, we upgraded (from ACC to Watch List) one credit that has net par outstanding of $542 at June 30, 2024.
The following table provides a breakdown of guaranteed net par outstanding by market at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023.
June 30, 2024
December 31, 2023
Public Finance (1)
$
7,197
$
7,562
Structured Finance
2,922
3,315
International Finance
8,549
8,664
Total net par outstanding
$
18,668
$
19,541
(1)Includes $3,338 and $3,371 of Military Housing net par outstanding at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.
The table below shows Ambac’s ten largest insured exposures, by repayment source, as a percentage of total financial guarantee net par outstanding at June 30, 2024:
Sector
Co.
Bond Kind
Country-Bond Type
Ambac
Ratings (1)
Ultimate Maturity Year
Net Par Outstanding
% of Total
Net Par
Outstanding
IF
AUK
Investor Owned Utility Gas - unsecured
UK-Utility
BBB+
2037
$
910
4.9
%
IF
AUK
PFI - Hospitals
UK-Infrastructure
BBB+
2046
740
4.0
%
IF
AUK
PFI - Accommodation
UK-Infrastructure
A-
2040
721
3.9
%
IF
AUK
Investor Owned Utility Other - unsecured
UK-Utility
A-
2035
702
3.8
%
IF
AUK
Other Asset Securitizations
UK-Asset Securitizations
BBB+
2033
651
3.5
%
IF
AUK
Investor Owned Utility Electric - unsecured
UK-Utility
BBB+
2036
629
3.4
%
IF
AUK
Sub-Sovereign
Italy-Sub-Sovereign
BBB-
2035
542
2.9
%
IF
AUK
PFI - Accommodation
UK-Infrastructure
A-
2038
463
2.5
%
PF
AAC
US State Lease/Appropriation
US-Lease and Tax-backed Revenue
BBB
2036
357
1.9
%
IF
AUK
PFI - Hospitals
UK-Infrastructure
BBB-
2040
308
1.6
%
Total
$
6,023
32.4
%
PF = Public Finance, SF = Structured Finance, IF = International Finance AAC = Ambac Assurance, AUK = Ambac UK
(1) Internal credit ratings are provided solely to indicate the underlying credit quality of guaranteed obligations based on the view of Ambac. In cases where Ambac has insured multiple tranches of an issue with varying internal ratings, or more than one obligation of an issuer with varying internal ratings, a weighted average rating is used. Ambac credit ratings are subject to revision at any time and do not constitute investment advice. BIG denotes credits deemed below investment grade.
Net par related to the top ten exposures decreased $68 from December 31, 2023. Exposures are impacted by changes in foreign exchange rates ($59 decrease during the six months ended June 30, 2024), certain indexation rates linked to inflation measures in the United Kingdom (RPI) and scheduled and unscheduled paydowns. As a result of recent increases in inflation, such indexation-linked exposures have increased at a faster pace than they have historically.
The concentration of net par amongst the top ten (as a percentage of net par outstanding) was 32% at June 30, 2024, and 31% at December 31, 2023. Excluding the top ten exposures, the remaining insured portfolio of financial guarantees has an average net par outstanding of $28 per single risk, with insured exposures ranging up to $292 and a median net par outstanding of $5.
Exposure Currency
The table below shows the distribution by currency of Ambac’s insured exposure as of June 30, 2024:
Currency
Net Par Amount Outstanding in Base Currency
Net Par Amount Outstanding in U.S. Dollars
U.S. Dollars
$
10,264
$
10,264
British Pounds
£
5,775
7,300
Euros
€
779
834
Australian Dollars
A$
405
270
Total
$
18,668
Ratings Distribution
The following charts provide a rating distribution of net par outstanding based upon internal Ambac credit ratings(1) and a distribution by bond type of Ambac's below investment grade ("BIG") net par exposures at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023. BIG is defined as those exposures with an Ambac internal credit rating below BBB-:
Note: AAA is less than 1% in both periods.
(1)Internal credit ratings are provided solely to indicate the underlying credit quality of guaranteed obligations based on the view of Ambac. In cases where Ambac has insured multiple tranches of an issue with varying internal ratings, or more than one obligation of an issuer with varying internal ratings, a weighted average rating is used. Ambac credit ratings are subject to revision at any time and do not constitute investment advice.
The net decline in below investment grade exposures is primarily due to de-risking activities and an upgrade of a sub-sovereign exposure.
Below investment grade exposures could increase as a relative proportion of the guarantee portfolio given that Ambac hasn't written any new financial guarantee business since 2008 and stressed borrowers generally have less ability to prepay or refinance their debt. Accordingly, due to these and other factors, it is not unreasonable to expect the proportion of below investment grade exposure in the guarantee portfolio to increase in the future.
Results of Operations
Consolidated Results
A summary of our financial results is shown below:
Three Months Ended June 30,
Six Months Ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Gross premiums written
$
113
$
55
$
211
$
115
Net premiums written
34
(45)
62
(27)
Revenues:
Net premiums earned
$
33
$
15
$
66
$
29
Commission income
13
10
31
25
Program fees
3
2
6
4
Net investment income
36
35
78
69
Net investment gains (losses), including impairments
4
(3)
4
(8)
Net gains (losses) on derivative contracts
—
—
2
(3)
Income (loss) on variable interest entities
—
—
2
(1)
Other income
16
2
18
5
Expenses:
Losses and loss adjustment expenses (benefit)
18
7
16
25
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs, net
5
1
10
3
Commission expense
8
6
18
14
General and administrative expenses
47
36
83
72
Intangible amortization
8
7
21
13
Interest expense
16
16
32
32
Provision for income taxes
2
2
7
6
Net income (loss)
(1)
(13)
20
(46)
Less: net (gain) attributable to noncontrolling interest
—
—
(1)
(1)
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders
$
(1)
$
(13)
$
19
$
(47)
The following paragraphs describe the consolidated results of operations of Ambac and its subsidiaries for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Gross Premiums Written.Gross premiums written increased $58 and $96 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to the same period in the prior year, as shown by segment below.
Three Months Ended June 30,
Six Months Ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Legacy Financial Guaranty Insurance
$
2
$
1
$
4
$
10
Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance
111
53
208
105
Total
$
113
$
55
$
211
$
115
Legacy Financial Guarantee Insurance gross written premiums relate to changes in expected and contractual premium cash flows for existing financial guarantees in force.
Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance growth in gross premiums written was driven by new programs, including assumed premium written with Everspan as a reinsurer, and growth in existing programs.
Net Premiums Written. Net premiums written increased $79 and $89 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to the same period in the prior year, as shown by segment below:
Three Months Ended June 30,
Six Months Ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Legacy Financial Guaranty Insurance
$
2
$
(54)
$
3
$
(45)
Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance
32
9
59
18
Total
$
34
$
(45)
$
62
$
(27)
Legacy Financial Guarantee Insurance net premiums written in the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 were impacted by a significant reinsurance cession as part of its de-risking activities.
Specialty P&C growth was driven by new programs, including assumed premium written by Everspan as a reinsurer, and growth in existing programs.
Net Premiums Earned.Net premiums earned increased $17 and $36 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to the same period in the prior year as shown by segment below.
Three Months Ended June 30,
Six Months Ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Legacy Financial Guaranty Insurance
$
6
$
8
$
13
$
14
Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance
27
8
53
15
Total
$
33
$
15
$
66
$
29
The increase in Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance was driven by new programs, including premiums earned via assumed reinsurance, and growth in existing programs.
Net Investment Income. Net investment income primarily consists of interest and net discount accretion on fixed maturity securities classified as available-for-sale, interest and changes in fair value of fixed maturity securities classified as trading and net gains (losses) on pooled investment funds which include changes in fair value of the funds' net assets. Fixed maturity securities include investments in Ambac-insured securities that are made opportunistically based on their risk/reward and asset-liability management characteristics. Investments in pooled investment funds and certain other investments are either classified as trading securities with changes in fair value recognized in earnings or are reported under the equity method. These funds and other investments are reported in Other investments on the Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets, which consists primarily of pooled fund investments in diversified asset classes. For further information about investment funds held, refer to Note 3. Investments to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements, included in Part I, Item 1 in this Form 10-Q. Net investment income for the periods presented were driven by the Legacy
Financial Guarantee segment; other segments' results were not significant.
Net investment income from Ambac-insured securities; available-for-sale and short-term securities, other than Ambac-insured; and Other investments is summarized in the table below:
Three Months Ended June 30,
Six Months Ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Securities available-for-sale and short-term other than Ambac-insured
Net investment income (loss) increased $1 and $9 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the prior year period.
•Net investment income from available-for-sale and short-term securities, other than Ambac-insured increased $4 and $8 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, respectively, compared to the same periods in the prior year due primarily to higher portfolio yields.
•Other investments income (loss) decreased $3 and $1 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, respectively, compared to the same periods in the prior year due primarily to a smaller increase in fair value of securities received in the Puerto Rico restructurings and classified as trading. Income from pooled fund investments for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, was also lower compared to the prior year periods, which benefited from above average equity market returns.
•Net investment income from Ambac-insured securities for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, increased less than $1 and $2 compared to prior year periods due to additional purchases of AAC-insured student loan securities during 2023. A significant majority of these student loan securities were transferred to a non-consolidated trust in March 2024 in connection with the commutation of the associated AAC financial guarantees.
Net Investment Gains (Losses), including Impairments.The following table provides a breakdown of net investment gains (losses) for the periods presented:
Three Months Ended June 30,
Six Months Ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Net gains (losses) on securities sold or called
$
6
$
(1)
$
6
$
(3)
Net foreign exchange gains (losses)
(1)
(2)
(1)
(4)
Credit impairments
(2)
—
(1)
(1)
Intent / requirement to sell impairments
—
—
—
—
Net investment gains (losses), including impairments
$
4
$
(3)
$
4
$
(8)
Net gains (losses) on securities sold or called for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 were driven by gains from the conversion and early settlement of certain convertible notes, including make-whole payments.
Credit impairments on available-for-sale fixed maturity investments are recorded as an allowance for credit losses with changes in the allowance recorded through earnings. When credit impairments are recorded, any non-credit related impairment amounts on the securities are recorded in other comprehensive income. If management either: (i) has the intent to sell its investment in a debt security or (ii) determines that the Company is more likely than not will be required to sell the debt security before its anticipated recovery, then the amortized cost of the security is written-down to fair value with a corresponding impairment charge recognized in earnings. Credit impairments for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 also included a write-down in carrying value of $1 on an investment in preferred securities that do not have a readily determinable fair value and are carried at cost less impairments.
Net Gains (Losses) on Derivative Contracts.Net gains (losses) on derivative contracts are driven primarily by results from the Company's legacy interest rate derivatives portfolio. Through the first quarter of 2023, the interest rate derivatives portfolio was positioned to benefit from rising rates as a partial economic hedge against interest rate exposure in the financial guarantee insurance and investment portfolios. This economic hedge was fully removed during the second quarter of 2023. Net gains (losses) on interest rate derivatives reflect mark-to-market gains (losses) in the portfolio caused by increases (declines) in forward interest rates during the periods, the carrying cost of the portfolio, and the impact of counterparty credit adjustments as discussed below. The removal of the economic hedge does not change the exposure of future results to counterparty credit adjustments. Results from other derivatives were not significant to the periods presented.
Net gains (losses) on interest rate derivatives for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, were $0 and $2, respectively, compared to $0 and $(3) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023. Results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 include the effect of changes to counterparty credit adjustments as described below. Additionally, the three and
six months ended June 30, 2023, included losses of $(1) and $(3), respectively related to declines in interest rates during the period.
Counterparty credit adjustments are generally applicable for uncollateralized derivative assets that may not be offset by derivative liabilities under a master netting agreement. In periods when credit spreads are stable, counterparty credit adjustments will generally have a proportionate offsetting impact to gains or losses on derivative assets, relative to fully collateralized assets. In addition to the impact of interest rates on the underlying derivative asset values, the changes in counterparty credit adjustments are driven by movement of credit spreads. Generally, narrowing (widening) of credit spreads will increase (decrease) derivative gains relative to a period of stable credit spreads. Inclusion of counterparty credit adjustments in the valuation of interest rate derivatives resulted in gains (losses) within Net gains (losses) on derivative contracts of $1 and $2 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, respectively and $1 and $0 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, respectively. The counterparty credit adjustments for both periods were driven primarily by changes to the underlying asset values.
Commission Income and Commission Expense. Commission income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, was $13 and $31 compared to $10 and $25, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023. Commissions include both base and profit sharing commissions of the Insurance Distribution segment. The increase was primarily driven by commissions earned by Riverton Insurance Agency, which was purchased in August 2023, and organic growth. Gross commission income has an accompanying expense, commission expense, which will largely track changes in gross commission. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, commission expense of $8 and $18 compared to $6 and $14 in three and six months ended June 30, 2023, driven primarily by the same factors as commission income.
Income (Loss) on Variable Interest Entities.Included within Income (loss) on variable interest entities are income statement amounts relating to LFG-VIEs, consolidated under the Consolidation Topic of the ASC as a result of Ambac's variable interest arising from financial guarantees written by Ambac's subsidiaries, including gains or losses attributable to consolidating or deconsolidating LFG-VIEs during the periods reported. Generally, the Company’s consolidated LFG-VIEs are entities for which Ambac has provided financial guarantees on all of or a portion of its assets or liabilities.
Income (loss) on variable interest entities was $0 and $2 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to $0 and $(1) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023. Results for the six months ended June 30, 2024 increased from the prior year period due lower net interest expense on Puerto Rico VIEs and inclusion of contract revenues from a LFG-VIE initially consolidated in the fourth quarter 2023, partially offset by lower fair value gains on the net assets of other LFG-VIEs.
Refer to Note 8. Variable Interest Entities to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements, included in Part I, Item 1 in this Form 10-Q for further information on the accounting for LFG- VIEs.
Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses (Benefit). Loss and loss expenses incurred increased $10 and decreased $9 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to the same period in the prior year. The below provides the breakout of loss and loss expenses by segment:
Three Months Ended June 30,
Six Months Ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Legacy financial guarantee
$
(5)
$
2
$
(26)
15
Specialty property and casualty insurance
23
6
42
10
Total
$
18
$
7
16
25
The variance within legacy financial guarantee was driven by activities in the RMBS portfolio in both years. The primary driver was largely the positive impact of discount rates in 2024 compared to the negative impact of discount rates in 2023.
The higher loss and loss adjustment expenses in Specialty P&C is primarily due to an increase business production from new and existing programs as well as adverse development on its commercial auto program and the addition of personal nonstandard auto.
General and Administrative Expenses (G&A).The following table provides a summary of G&A expenses for the periods presented:
Three Months Ended June 30,
Six Months Ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Compensation
$
17
$
18
$
34
$
34
Non-compensation
30
18
49
38
Total G&A expenses
$
47
$
36
83
72
The decrease in Compensation G&A expenses during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, was due to lower current year period expenses for severance costs and incentive compensation expense, including the impact of performance factor adjustments on stock-based compensation; offset by higher compensation costs from a net increase in staffing from the development and growth, both organic and via acquisitions, of the Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance and Insurance Distribution segments.
The increase in Non-Compensation G&A expenses during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, as compared to the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, was due to expenses associated with the strategic review of the Legacy Financial Guarantee Insurance segment and growth of the Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance and Insurance Distribution segments; offset by lower Legacy Financial Guarantee Insurance segment's legal defense costs. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, expenses attributable to the sale of AAC and the acquisition of Beat aggregated $16 and $18 compared to $0 and $1 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, respectively.
Intangible Amortization. Insurance intangible amortization for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, was $7 and $18 an increase of $1 and $7 as compared to the the three and six months ended June 30, 2023. The increase for the three and six
months ended June 30, 2024, was driven primarily by de-risking activities. Other intangible amortization for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, was $1, and $1 and $1 and $2 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, respectively.
Interest Expense. All interest expense relates to the Legacy Financial Guarantee Insurance segment and includes accrued interest on the Tier 2 Notes (fully redeemed during the first quarter of 2023), surplus notes and other debt obligations. Additionally, interest expense includes discount accretion when the debt instrument carrying value is at a discount to par. The following table provides details by type of obligation for the periods presented:
Three Months Ended June 30,
Six Months Ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Surplus notes
$
16
$
16
$
31
$
31
Tier 2 Notes
—
—
—
1
Other (principally Ambac UK)
—
—
1
1
Total interest expense
$
16
$
16
$
32
$
32
Interest expense for the six months ended June 30, 2024 decreased compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023, due to the final redemption of Tier 2 secured notes in the first quarter of 2023.
As required by the terms of surplus notes and/or otherwise, AAC will continue to seek OCI’s approval to make payments of principal and interest on its surplus notes. AAC intends to make these requests at least four times a year with respect to payment of a partial amount, as well as the full amount, of the principal and interest then due, unless otherwise directed by OCI. OCI’s approval of AAC’s requests for surplus note payments may be granted or denied in OCI’s sole discretion. Since the issuance of the surplus notes in 2010, OCI has declined to approve regular payments of interest on surplus notes, although the OCI has permitted two exceptional payments. Ambac can provide no assurance as to when or if surplus note principal and interest payments will be made. If OCI does not approve payments on or the acquisition of surplus notes over time, the ongoing accretion of interest on the notes may impair AAC's ability to extinguish the notes in full. Surplus notes are subordinated in right of payment to policyholder and other claims.
AAC's recent request to pay principal of, and interest on, surplus notes on the scheduled payment date of June 7, 2024, was denied by OCI. As a result, the scheduled payment date for interest, and the scheduled maturity date for payment of principal of the surplus notes, has been extended until OCI grants approval to make such payment. Interest will accrue, compounded on each anniversary of the original scheduled payment date or scheduled maturity date, on any unpaid principal or interest through the actual date of payment, at 5.1% per annum. Holders of surplus notes have no rights to enforce the payment of the principal of, or interest on, surplus notes in the absence of OCI approval to pay such amount. Interest on the outstanding surplus notes was accrued for and AAC is accruing interest on the interest amounts following each scheduled payment date. Total accrued and unpaid interest for surplus notes outstanding was $500 at June 30, 2024.
Provision for Income Taxes.The provision for income taxes primarily relates to international operations and was $2 and $7 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to $2 and $6 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, an increase of $1 for the quarter.
Results of Operations by Segment
Legacy Financial Guarantee Insurance
Three Months Ended June 30,
Six Months Ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Revenues:
Net premiums earned
$
6
$
8
$
13
$
14
Net investment income
32
32
70
63
Net investment gains (losses), including impairments
(1)
(3)
—
(8)
Net gains (losses) on derivative contracts
1
1
2
(3)
Other income
16
2
21
4
Total
53
39
107
71
Expenses:
Loss and loss expenses (benefit)
(5)
2
(26)
15
General and administrative expenses
22
23
44
52
Total
17
25
18
66
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (1)
36
14
89
5
Interest expense
16
16
32
32
Depreciation
—
—
—
1
Intangible amortization
7
6
18
11
Pretax income (loss)
$
13
$
(8)
$
38
$
(40)
Stockholders equity (2)
$
939
$
823
(1)Abbreviated as "EBITDA" in future references
(2)Represents the share of Ambac stockholders equity for each subsidiary within the Legacy Financial Guarantee Insurance segment, including intercompany eliminations.
The Legacy Financial Guarantee Insurance segment is in active runoff. This will generally result in declining premiums earned, investment income, G&A expenses and intangible amortization. The variability in the segment financial results is primarily driven by (i) change in loss and loss expenses resulting from, among other items, credit developments, interest rates and de-risking transactions (may also impact intangible amortization) and (ii) volatility from Other investments income (loss) resulting from changes in market conditions and other performance factors. Key variances not discussed above in the Consolidated Results section are as follows:
Net premiums earned.Net premiums earned decreased $2 and $1 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to the same period in the prior year. Net premiums earned were impacted by the organic and active runoff of the financial guarantee insured portfolio, resulting in a reduction to current and future net premiums earned.
Other Revenue Items.
Net investment income increased $0 and $7 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to the prior year period, driven by higher yields in fixed income, offset by lower fair value gains on other investments, including fixed maturity securities classified as trading.
Net investment gains (losses), including impairments improved $2 and $8 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to the prior year periods, primarily as a result of lower foreign exchange losses on US dollar denominated securities held by Ambac UK and net losses on sales in the prior year periods.
Net gains (losses) on derivatives for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 declined $1 and improved $4, respectively, compared to the prior year periods mostly driven by the impact of counterparty credit adjustments on certain derivative assets. Additionally, the six months ended June 30, 2023 included losses on positions held as partial hedges against interest rate risk elsewhere in the Legacy Financial Guarantee segment. Ambac has exited the derivative positions that led to the first half 2023 losses. See Consolidated Results above for further information about investment and derivative results.
Other income increased $13 and $17 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, respectively, primarily related to the termination of a postretirement plan. The gain represents the amount of the accrued and deferred liabilities in excess of the final payment made under the plan.
Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses (Benefit). The following provides details for losses and loss adjustment expenses (benefit) incurred for the periods presented:
Three Months Ended June 30,
Six Months Ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Structured Finance
$
(5)
$
1
$
(21)
$
21
Domestic Public Finance
4
(2)
1
1
Other, including International Finance
(4)
2
(6)
(7)
Totals
$
(5)
$
2
$
(26)
$
15
Loss and loss adjustment expenses (benefit) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, were largely driven by the positive impact of discount rates on the structured insurance portfolio, and assumption changes in the international portfolio, partially offset by adverse development in the public finance portfolio.
Loss and loss expenses (benefit) for the the six months ended June 30, 2023, were largely driven by the RMBS portfolio resulting from a first quarter 2023 decline in discount rates, partially offset by assumption changes in the international portfolio.
G&A Expenses. Segment G&A expenses decreased during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, as compared to the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, primarily due to lower legal defense costs and compensation costs than the prior year period, partially offset by the timing of the reimbursement of $4 of expenses paid to the Corporate segment (2023 was paid in in
the first quarter of 2023 and 2024 was paid in the second quarter of 2024). These relative reductions in expenses were also partially offset by expenses incurred in the first quarter of 2024 related to the strategic review of the Legacy Financial Guarantee segment.
Specialty Property and Casualty Insurance
Three Months Ended June 30,
Six Months Ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Gross premiums written
$
111
$
53
$
208
$
105
Net premiums written
32
9
59
18
Revenues:
Net premiums earned
$
27
$
8
$
53
$
15
Program fees
3
2
6
4
Investment income
1
1
3
2
Net investment gains (losses), including impairments
—
—
—
—
Total
32
11
61
20
Expenses:
Losses and loss expenses incurred
23
6
42
10
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs, net
5
1
10
3
General and administrative expenses
5
4
8
8
Total
33
11
61
21
EBITDA
(1)
$
—
1
$
(1)
Pretax income (loss)
$
(1)
$
—
$
1
$
(1)
Retention Ratio (1)
29.0%
17.1%
28.2%
17.4%
Loss and LAE Ratio (2)
85.1%
73.7%
80.5%
70.4%
Expense Ratio (3)
24.3%
39.0%
23.5%
46.7%
Combined Ratio (4)
109.4%
112.7%
104.0%
117.1%
Ambac's stockholders equity (5)
$
122
$
112
(1)Retention ratio is defined as net premiums written divided by gross premiums written
(2)Loss and LAE ratio is defined as losses and loss expenses incurred divided by net premiums earned
(3)Expense Ratio is defined as acquisition costs and general and administrative expenses, reduced by program fees divided by net premiums earned
(4)Combined ratio is defined as Loss and LAE ratio plus Expense Ratio
(5)Represents Ambac stockholders equity in the Specialty Property and Casualty Insurance segment, including intercompany eliminations.
The Specialty Property and Casualty Insurance segment has grown significantly since underwriting its first program in May 2021. Twenty-three programs were authorized to issue policies as of June 30, 2024, including Everspan participating on two programs as a reinsurer. The growth in both the number and size of these programs has contributed to the increase in gross and net premiums written, net premiums earned and net loss and loss expenses incurred.
Consistent with its strategy to generate sustainable and profitable, long-term specialty property and casualty program insurance business with a focus on diverse classes of risks, Everspan may source programs as a reinsurer. Accessing programs as a reinsurer provides Everspan the ability to diversify its risk profile, efficiently manage its exposure limits and underwrite programs in a cost efficient manner, amongst other benefits. Everspan may participate as a reinsurer on up to 30% of a program, which is in line with its strategy to generally retain up to 30% per program. Participation as a reinsurer will affect the retention ratio as Everspan's portion of assumed premiums is reflected fully in both Gross and Net Premiums Written.
Loss and loss expenses incurred increased for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, relative to the three and six months ended June 30, 2023. Everspan's loss ratio (including ULAE) was 85.1% at June 30, 2024, versus 73.7% at June 30, 2023, inclusive of prior accident years development of 6.9% and 4.2%, respectively and the impact of reserve strengthening in the current accident year of 4.2% for the three months ended June 30, 2024 primarily related to commercial auto. The shift in the loss ratio was driven by commercial auto losses, the addition of personal nonstandard auto (through assumed reinsurance), excess auto claims and other liability claims. Everspan's loss ratio may fluctuate as the still nascent inforce book of business scales and seeks to achieve benefits from diversification. The increase in the Loss and LAE ratio for the three months ended June 30, 2024, compared to June 30, 2023, was partially offset by a benefit to acquisition costs as a result of sliding scale commission arrangements with program partners. Such benefit reduced the Specialty Property and Casualty Insurance segments expense ratio by 5.6% and 4.2% for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Certain Everspan programs were structured to include sliding scale commission arrangements within a loss ratio range. These sliding scale arrangements help mitigate losses, protect underwriting results and limit earnings volatility. In June 2024, one of Everspan's commercial auto program partners agreed with Everspan to temporarily suspend underwriting new business in order for the parties and Everspan's reinsurers to review pricing and loss controls in advance of considering the program's renewal.
Loss and loss expenses incurred may be adversely impacted by economic and social inflation. The impact of inflation on ultimate loss reserves is difficult to estimate, particularly in light of recent disruptions to the judicial system, supply chains and labor markets. In addition, going forward, we may not be able to offset the impact of inflation on our loss costs with sufficient price increases. The estimation of loss reserves may also be more difficult during extreme events, such as a pandemic, or during the persistence of volatile or uncertain economic conditions, due to, amongst other reasons, unexpected changes in behavior of judicial decisions, claimants and policyholders, including fraudulent reporting of exposures and/or losses. Due to the inherent uncertainty underlying loss reserve estimates, the final resolution of the estimated liability for loss and loss adjustment expenses will likely be higher or lower than the related loss reserves at the reporting date. In addition, our estimate of losses and loss expenses may change. These additional liabilities or increases in estimates, or a range of either, could vary significantly from period to period.
General and administrative costs were flat for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, relative to the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, as increases from the ramp up in Everspan's staffing and operations was mostly offset by the timing of incentive compensation accruals.
Insurance Distribution
Three Months Ended June 30,
Six Months Ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Premiums placed
$
53
$
41
$
144
$
118
Commission income
$
13
$
10
$
31
$
25
Commission expense
8
6
18
14
Net commissions
5
4
13
11
Expenses:
General and administrative expenses (1)
3
2
6
5
EBITDA
2
2
7
6
Depreciation (1)
—
—
—
—
Intangible amortization
1
1
2
2
Pretax income (loss)
$
1
$
1
$
5
$
4
Ambac's stockholders
equity (2)
$
105
$
92
(1) The Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income presents the sum of these items as General and Administrative Expenses.
(2) Represents the share of Ambac stockholders equity for each subsidiary within the Insurance Distribution segment, including intercompany eliminations.
Ambac's Insurance Distribution businesses are compensated for their services primarily by commissions paid by insurance carriers for underwriting, structuring and/or administering polices. Commission revenues are usually based on a percentage of the premiums placed. In addition, we are eligible to receive profit sharing contingent commissions on certain programs based on the underwriting results of the policies placed with carriers, which may cause some variability in revenue and earnings.
The Insurance Distribution segment placed premiums for its carriers of approximately $53 and $144 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, up $12 and $25 or 31% and 21%, respectively, as compared to the three and six months ended June 30, 2023. Higher premiums placed were driven by the acquisition of Riverton Insurance Agency and organic growth. The increase in premiums placed and changes to the mix of business written led to the growth in commission income and commission expense of 32% and 31%, respectively.
Employer Stop Loss business underwritten by Xchange has seasonality in January and July, which results in revenue and earnings concentrations in the first and third quarters each calendar year. Other lines of business placed by our Insurance Distribution business may also experience seasonality that may cause some volatility of results from period to period.
G&A Expenses. G&A expenses for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, increased compared to the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, primarily as a result of the Riverton acquisition.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Holding Company Liquidity
AFG is organized as a legal entity separate and distinct from its operating subsidiaries. AFG is a holding company with no outstanding debt at June 30, 2024. AFG's liquidity is primarily dependent on its net assets, excluding the operating subsidiaries that it owns, totaling $202 as of June 30, 2024, and secondarily on distributions, expense sharing payments from its operating subsidiaries and third party capital (credit facilities, equity issuance, etc.).
•Effective July 31, 2024, AFG closed the acquisition of a controlling 60% interest in Beat. In connection with the acquisition, Cirrata incurred $150 of debt maturing in 364 days funded by a global bank (the "Credit Facility"). Repayment of debt under the Credit Facility is guaranteed by AFG. It is AFG's intent to repay this debt upon the closing of the sale of AAC or otherwise refinance such short-term debt with longer-term debt.
•Under an inter-company cost allocation agreement, AFG is reimbursed by AAC for a portion of certain operating costs and expenses and, if approved by OCI, entitled to an additional payment of up to $4 per year to cover expenses not otherwise reimbursed. The $4 reimbursement was approved by OCI and was paid to AFG during the second quarter of 2024. As further described in Note 1. Business and Basis of Presentation, AFG entered into a stock purchase agreement, pursuant to which and subject to the conditions set forth therein, AFG will sell all of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of AAC. The sale of AAC is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2024 or the first quarter of 2025 and, accordingly, it is unlikely for AFG to receive this reimbursement in the future.
•If AFG were to not sell AAC, its ability to receive dividends from AAC and the timing of any such potential dividends would depend on the results of the OCI Capital Model, regulatory approval and the satisfaction of certain obligations senior to AFG's equity interest (e.g. surplus notes).
•Subject to the approvals required for the sale of AAC as described in Note 1. Business and Basis of Presentation, AFG will receive $420 of proceeds at closing less applicable legal, advisory and other expenses incurred in connection with the sale.
•Everspan's ability to make future dividend payments will mostly depend on its future profitability relative to its capital needs to support growth. Everspan is not expected to pay dividends in the near term.
•Cirrata does not have any regulatory restrictions on its ability to make distributions. AFG received distributions from Cirrata of $4.7 and $3.6 during the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023.
AFG's principal uses of liquidity are: (i) the payment of G&A expenses, including costs to explore opportunities to grow and diversify Ambac, (ii) the making of strategic investments, which are generally illiquid and (iii) making capital investments to acquire, grow and/or capitalize new and/or existing businesses, including through the acquisition of noncontrolling interests as a result of the exercise of outstanding puts and/or calls. Including the acquisition of Beat, funding these puts, calls and other commitments could require payments from AFG, depending on the performance of the underlying businesses and other considerations, of approximately $350 through 2030. AFG may also provide short-term financial support, primarily in the form of loans, to its operating subsidiaries to support their operating requirements.
In the opinion of the Company’s management the net assets and expected funding sources of AFG are currently sufficient to meet AFG’s current liquidity requirements. However, events, opportunities, acquisitions, the exercise of puts and calls, the need to refinance outstanding debt, or other circumstances could require AFG to seek additional capital (e.g. through the issuance of debt, equity or hybrid securities).
The Credit Facility includes covenants that restrict our ability to manage capital resources by limiting, among other actions, the issuance of debt or capital stock; the creation of liens; the disposition of assets; engaging in transactions with affiliates; making restricted payments, including dividends and the purchase or redemption of capital stock; and making acquisitions and other investments. The Credit Facility also requires the prepayment of the borrowings thereunder with proceeds of certain debt or equity issuances and certain asset sales. These requirements will impact our financial and operational flexibility while the Credit Facility remains in place.
Operating Companies' Liquidity
Insurance
Sources of liquidity for the Company’s insurance subsidiaries are through funds generated from premiums; recoveries on claim payments; reinsurance recoveries; fees; investment income and maturities and sales of investments.
•See Note 5. Insurance Contracts to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1., in this Form 10-Q for a summary of future gross financial guarantee premiums to be collected by AAC and Ambac UK. Termination of financial guarantee policies on an accelerated basis may adversely impact AAC’s liquidity.
Cash provided from these sources is used primarily for claim payments and commutations, loss expenses and acquisition costs (Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance segment only), debt service on outstanding debt (Legacy Financial Guarantee segment only), G&A expenses, reinsurance payments and purchases of securities and other investments, some of which may not be immediately convertible into cash.
•As required by the terms of surplus notes and/or otherwise, AAC will continue to seek OCI’s approval to make payments of principal and interest on its surplus notes. AAC
intends to make these requests at least four times a year with respect to payment of a partial amount, as well as the full amount, of the principal and interest then due, unless otherwise directed by OCI. OCI’s approval of AAC’s requests for surplus note payments may be granted or denied in OCI’s sole discretion. Since the issuance of the surplus notes in 2010, OCI has declined to approve regular payments of interest on surplus notes, although the OCI has permitted two exceptional payments. Ambac can provide no assurance as to when or if surplus note principal and interest payments will be made. If OCI does not approve payments on or the acquisition of surplus notes over time, the ongoing accretion of interest on the notes may impair AAC's ability to extinguish the notes in full. Surplus notes are subordinated in right of payment to policyholder and other claims.
•As discussed more fully in "Results of Operations" above in this Management's Discussion and Analysis, AAC requested approval from OCI to pay principal of, and interest on, the surplus notes on June 7, 2024, but such request was declined. Current principal outstanding on AAC's long-term debt consisted of $519 of surplus notes. AAC's future interest obligations on long-term debt include $500 of accrued and unpaid interest all or a portion of which would be payable on surplus notes if approved by OCI on or before the next scheduled payment date of June 7, 2025.
•AFS's remaining derivatives include interest rate swaps previously provided to asset-backed issuers and other entities in connection with their financings. AAC lends AFS cash and securities as needed to fund payments under these derivative contracts, collateral posting requirements and G&A expenses. Intercompany loans are governed by an established lending agreement with defined borrowing limits that has received non-disapproval from OCI.
Insurance subsidiaries manage their liquidity risk by maintaining comprehensive analyses of projected cash flows and maintaining specified levels of cash and short-term investments at all times. It is the opinion of the Company’s management that the insurance subsidiaries’ near term liquidity needs will be adequately met from the sources described above.
Insurance Distribution:
The liquidity requirements of our Insurance Distribution subsidiaries are met primarily by funds generated from commission receipts (both base and profit commissions). Base commissions are generally received monthly, whereas profit commissions are received only if the business underwritten is profitable. Cash provided from these sources is used primarily for commissions paid to sub-producers, G&A expenses and distributions to AFG and other members.
The following table summarizes the net cash flows for the periods presented.
Six Months Ended June 30,
2024
2023
Cash provided by (used in):
Operating activities
$
32
$
101
Investing activities
(120)
489
Financing activities (1)
(89)
(343)
Foreign exchange impact on cash and cash equivalents
—
1
Net cash flow
$
(178)
$
248
(1) Because the trusts established under the Puerto Rico restructurings are consolidated VIEs, certain payments made by AAC to accelerate AAC-insured bonds that were deposited into trusts are reflected as payments of VIE liabilities within financing activities. Cash used in financing activities includes $0 and $108 from such AAC payments, for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Operating activities
Net cash provided by operating activities during the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 was $32 and $101, respectively. During the six months ended June 30, 2023, Ambac received proceeds from a R&W settlement and repaid the remaining secured debt outstanding (net operating cash inflows of $90). Operating cash flows in the six months ended June 30, 2024 were positively impacted by the growth in the Specialty P&C Insurance business and higher investment portfolio inflows, partially offset by transaction related costs for the acquisition of Beat and the sale of AAC.
Future operating flows will primarily be impacted by net premium collections and investment coupon receipts, G&A expenses, net claim and loss expense payments and interest payments on outstanding debt.
Financing Activities
Financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2024, included paydowns and maturities of VIE debt obligations of $87.
Financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2023, included payments for redemption of Tier 2 Notes of $97 and paydowns and maturities of VIE debt obligations of $235 (including payments for the accelerations of the VIE trusts created from the Puerto Rico restructuring).
Collateral
AFS hedged a portion of the interest rate risk in the Legacy Financial Guarantee Insurance segment financial guarantee and
investment portfolios, along with legacy customer interest rate swaps, with standardized derivative contracts, which contain collateral or margin requirements. Since the second quarter of 2023, AFS's only remaining derivative positions include a limited number of legacy customer swaps and their associated hedges. Under these hedge agreements, AFS is required to post collateral in excess of the derivative unrealized loss amount. All AFS derivative contracts containing ratings-based downgrade triggers that could result in collateral posting or a termination have been triggered. All collateral obligations are currently met. Collateral posted by AFS totaled a net amount of $44 (cash and securities collateral of $25 and $18, respectively), including independent amounts, under these contracts at June 30, 2024.
BALANCE SHEET
Total assets decreased by $244 from December 31, 2023, to $8,184 at June 30, 2024, primarily due to lower VIE assets partially offset by increases in premium receivables, reinsurance recoverables and deferred ceded premiums as a result of growth in the specialty P&C businesses.
Total liabilities decreased by approximately $248 from December 31, 2023, to $6,748 as of June 30, 2024, primarily due to decreases in VIE liabilities; partially offset by higher unearned premiums, deferred program fees and ceded premium payables from the specialty P&C businesses.
As of June 30, 2024, total stockholders’ equity was $1,419, compared with total stockholders’ equity of $1,415 at December 31, 2023.
Investment Portfolio
Ambac's investment portfolio is managed under established guidelines designed to meet the investment objectives of AAC, Everspan Group, Ambac UK and AFG. Refer to "Description of the Business – Investments and Investment Policy" located in Part I. Item 1 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, for further description of Ambac's investment policies and applicable regulations.
Ambac's investment policies and objectives do not apply to the assets of VIEs consolidated as a result of financial guarantees written by its insurance subsidiaries.
The following table summarizes the composition of Ambac’s investment portfolio, excluding VIE investments, at carrying value at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
June 30, 2024
December 31, 2023
Legacy Financial Guarantee Insurance
Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance
Insurance Distribution
Corporate & Other
Consolidated
Legacy Financial Guarantee Insurance
Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance
Insurance Distribution
Corporate & Other
Consolidated
Fixed maturity securities
$
1,567
$
137
$
—
$
—
$
1,703
$
1,575
$
121
$
—
$
14
$
1,710
Fixed maturity securities - trading
31
—
—
—
31
27
—
—
—
27
Short-term
105
43
5
161
314
225
41
4
156
426
Other investments
526
—
—
32
558
457
—
—
18
475
Fixed maturity securities pledged as collateral
25
—
—
—
25
27
—
—
—
27
Total investments (1)
$
2,254
$
180
$
5
$
193
$
2,632
$
2,310
$
162
$
4
$
188
$
2,664
(1) Includes investments denominated in non-US dollar currencies with a fair value of £344 ($435) and €21 ($23) as of June 30, 2024 and £342 ($436) and €25 ($27) as of December 31, 2023.
Ambac invests in various asset classes in its fixed maturity securities portfolio. Other investments primarily consist of diversified interests in pooled funds. Refer to Note 3. Investments to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1 in this Form 10-Q for information about fixed maturity securities and pooled funds by asset class.
The following charts provide the ratings(1) distribution of the fixed maturity investment portfolio based on fair value at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
(1)Ratings are based on the lower of Moody’s or S&P ratings. If ratings are unavailable from Moody's or S&P, Fitch ratings are used. If guaranteed, rating represents the higher of the underlying or guarantor’s financial strength rating.
(2)Below investment grade and not rated bonds insured by Ambac represent 17% and 21% of the June 30, 2024, and December 31, 2023, combined fixed maturity portfolio, respectively.
Ambac's premium receivables increased to $317 at June 30, 2024, from $290 at December 31, 2023. The increase is primarily due to growth in the Specialty P&C Insurance Segment, including receivables related to the programs where Everspan participates as a reinsurer. At June 30, 2024, Legacy Financial Guarantee Insurance and Specialty P&C premiums receivables were $232 and $85, respectively.
Premium receivables by payment currency were as follows:
Currency
Premium Receivable in Payment Currency
Premium Receivable in U.S. Dollars
U.S. Dollars
$
235
$
235
British Pounds
£
55
70
Euros
€
11
12
Total
$
317
Reinsurance Recoverable on Paid and Unpaid Losses
Ambac has reinsurance in place pursuant to surplus share treaty and facultative agreements. To minimize its exposure to losses from reinsurers, Ambac (i) monitors the financial condition of its reinsurers; (ii) is entitled to receive collateral from its reinsurance counterparties under certain reinsurance contracts; and (iii) has certain cancellation rights that can be exercised in the event of rating agency downgrades of a reinsurer (among other events and circumstances). Those reinsurance counterparties that do not currently post collateral are well capitalized, highly rated, authorized capacity providers. Ambac benefited from letters of credit and collateral amounting to approximately $66 from its reinsurers at June 30, 2024. Additionally, while legacy liabilities from the recent Specialty P&C acquisitions were fully ceded to certain reinsurers, Everspan also benefits from an unlimited, uncapped indemnity from the respective sellers to mitigate any residual risk to these reinsurers. As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, reinsurance recoverable on paid and unpaid losses were $277 and $195, respectively primarily due to growth in the Specialty P&C Insurance Segment.
Intangible Assets
Intangible assets primarily include (i) an insurance intangible asset that was established at AFG's emergence from bankruptcy (Legacy Financial Guarantee Insurance Segment) in 2013, representing the difference between the fair value and aggregate carrying value of the financial guarantee insurance and reinsurance assets and liabilities of $226 at June 30, 2024, (ii) intangible assets established as part of acquisitions in the Insurance Distribution business of $45 at June 30, 2024, (iii) indefinite-lived intangible assets in the Specialty P&C business as part of its acquisitions of $14 at June 30, 2024.
As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, intangible assets were $285 and $307, respectively. The decline is primarily driven by amortization during the six months ended June 30, 2024.
Loss and Loss Expense Reserves and Subrogation Recoverable
Loss and loss expense reserves are based upon estimates of the ultimate aggregate losses inherent in insurance policies issued to beneficiaries, excluding consolidated VIEs.
The evaluation process for determining the level of reserves is subject to certain estimates and judgments. Refer to the "Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates" and “Results of Operations” sections of Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, in addition to Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies and Loss Reserves sections included in Note 2. Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies and Note 8. Insurance Contracts, respectively, of the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, for further information on loss and loss expenses.
The loss and loss expense reserves, net of subrogation recoverables and before reinsurance as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, were $762 and $756, respectively.
Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves are included in the Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets as follows:
Ambac has exposure to various bond types issued in the debt capital markets. The bond types that have experienced significant claims, including through commutations, are residential mortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”), student loan securities and public finance securities. These bond types represent 91% of our ever-to-date insurance claims recorded, with RMBS comprising 60%. The table below indicates gross par outstanding and the components of gross loss and loss expense reserves related to policies in Ambac’s gross loss and loss expense reserves at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
June 30, 2024:
December 31, 2023:
Gross Par
Outstanding (1)
Present Value of Expected Net Cash Flows
Unearned Premium Revenue
Gross Loss and Loss Expense Reserves (1)(2)
Gross Par
Outstanding (1)
Present Value of Expected Net Cash Flows
Unearned Premium Revenue
Gross Loss and Loss Expense Reserves (1)(2)
Claims and Loss Expenses
Recoveries
Claims and Loss Expenses
Recoveries
Structured Finance
$
1,711
$
596
$
(166)
$
(7)
$
424
$
1,860
$
679
$
(172)
$
(10)
$
497
Domestic Public Finance
726
76
(8)
(7)
61
834
82
(8)
(8)
66
Other, including International finance
144
1
(13)
—
(12)
1,144
15
(13)
(10)
(8)
Loss expenses
—
3
—
—
3
—
4
—
—
4
Totals
$
2,581
$
676
$
(186)
$
(14)
$
476
$
3,838
$
780
$
(194)
$
(28)
$
559
(1) Ceded par outstanding on policies with loss reserves and ceded loss and loss expense reserves were $279 and $26 respectively, at June 30, 2024, and $362 and $30, respectively at December 31, 2023. Recoverable ceded loss and loss expense reserves are included in Reinsurance recoverable on paid and unpaid losses on the balance sheet.
(2) Loss reserves are included in the balance sheet as Loss and loss expense reserves or Subrogation recoverable dependent on if a policy is in a net liability or net recoverable position.
Variability of Expected Losses and Recoveries
Ambac’s management believes that the estimated future loss component of loss reserves (present value of expected net cash flows) are adequate to cover future claims presented, but there can be no assurance that the ultimate liability will not be higher than such estimates.
While our loss reserves consider our judgment regarding issuers’ financial flexibility to adapt to adverse markets, they may not adequately capture sudden, unexpected or protracted uncertainty that adversely affects market conditions. Accordingly, it is possible that our estimated loss reserves, gross of reinsurance, for financial guarantee insurance policies could be understated. We have attempted to identify possible cash flows related to losses and recoveries using more stressful assumptions than the probability-weighted outcome recorded. The possible net cash flows consider the highest stress scenario that was utilized in the development of our probability-weighted expected loss at June 30, 2024, and assumes an inability to execute any commutation transactions with issuers and/or investors. Such stress scenarios are developed based on management’s view about all possible outcomes relating to losses and recoveries. In arriving at such view, management makes considerable judgments about the possibility of various future events. Although we do not believe it is possible to have stressed outcomes in all cases, it is possible that we could have stress case outcomes in some or even many cases. See “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A as well as the descriptions of "Variability of Expected Losses and Recoveries" in Part II, Item 7 of the Company's 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K, and Part II, Item 1A "Risk Factors" of this Quarterly Report, for further discussion of the risks relating to future losses and recoveries that could result in more highly stressed outcomes.
The occurrence of these stressed outcomes individually or collectively would have a material adverse effect on our results of
operations and financial condition and may result in materially adverse consequence for Ambac, including (without limitation) impairing the ability of AAC to honor its financial obligations, particularly its outstanding surplus note and preferred stock obligations; the initiation of rehabilitation proceedings against AAC; decreased likelihood of AAC delivering value to AFG, through dividends or otherwise; and a significant drop in the value of securities issued or insured by AFG or AAC.
Structured Finance Variability
RMBS:
Changes to assumptions that could make our reserves under-estimated include an increase in interest rates, deterioration in housing prices, poor servicing, government intervention into the functioning of the mortgage market and the general effect of a weakened economy characterized by growing unemployment and wage pressures. Projected losses in our RMBS exposures and related loss reserves, may increase or decrease in the future. Possible stress case losses assume higher default rates, loss severities and lower prepayments.
Student Loans:
Changes to assumptions that could make our reserves under-estimated include, but are not limited to, increases in interest rates, default rates and loss severities on the collateral due to economic or other factors, including the economic impact from public health crises and/or natural or other catastrophic events. Such factors may also include lower recoveries on defaulted loans or additional losses on collateral or trust assets, including as a result of any enforcement actions by the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau.
Structured Finance Variability:
Using the approaches described above, the possible increase in loss reserves for structured finance credits for which we have an estimate of expected loss at June 30, 2024, could be
approximately $50 and there can be no assurance that losses may not exceed such amounts.
Domestic Public Finance Variability:
Ambac’s U.S. public finance portfolio consists of municipal bonds such as general and revenue obligations and lease and tax-backed obligations of state and local government entities; however, the portfolio also includes a wide array of non-municipal types of bonds, including transactions with public and private elements, which generally finance infrastructure, housing and other public purpose facilities and interests, the largest sector of which is U.S. military housing.
It is possible our loss reserves for public finance credits may be under-estimated if issuers are faced with prolonged exposure to adverse political, judicial, economic, fiscal or socioeconomic events or trends. Additionally, our loss reserves may be under-estimated because of the local, regional or national economic impact from public health crises and/or natural or other catastrophic events.
Our experience with the city of Detroit's bankruptcy and Commonwealth of Puerto Rico's Title III proceedings as well as other municipal bankruptcies demonstrates the preferential treatment of certain creditor classes, especially public pensions. The cost of pensions and the need to address frequently sizable unfunded or underfunded pensions is often a key driver of stress for many municipalities and their related authorities, including entities to whom we have exposure, such as Chicago's school district, the State of New Jersey and others. Less severe treatment of pension obligations in bankruptcy may lead to worse outcomes for traditional debt creditors.
Variability of outcomes applies to even what are generally considered more secure municipal financings, such as dedicated sales tax revenue bonds that capture sales tax revenues for debt service ahead of any amounts being deposited into the general fund of an issuer. In the case of the Puerto Rico COFINA sales tax bonds that were part of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico's Title III proceedings, AAC and other creditors agreed to settle at a recovery rate equal to about 93% of pre-petition amounts owed on the Ambac insured senior COFINA bonds. In the COFINA case, the senior bonds still received a reduction or "haircut" despite the existence of junior COFINA bonds, which received a recovery rate equal to about 56% of pre-petition amounts owed.
In addition, municipal entities may be more inclined to use bankruptcy to resolve their financial stresses if they believe preferred outcomes for various creditor groups can be achieved. We expect municipal bankruptcies and defaults to continue to be challenging to project given the unique political, economic, fiscal, legal, governance and public policy differences among municipalities as well as the complexity, long duration and relative infrequency of the cases themselves in forums with a scarcity of legal precedent. Moreover, issuers in Chapter 9 or similar proceedings may obtain judicial rulings and orders that impair creditors' rights or their ability to collect on amounts owed. In certain cases, judicial decisions may be contrary to AAC's expectations or understanding of the law or its rights thereunder, which may lead to worse outcomes in Chapter 9 or similar proceedings than anticipated at the outset.
Another potentially adverse development that could cause the loss reserves on our public finance credits to be underestimated is deterioration in the municipal bond market, resulting from reduced or limited access to alternative forms of credit (such as bank loans) or other exogenous factors, such as changes in tax law that could reduce certain municipal investors' appetite for tax-exempt municipal bonds or put pressure on issuers in states with high state and local taxes. These factors could deprive issuers access to funding at a level necessary to avoid defaulting on their obligations.
For the public finance credits for which we have an estimate of expected loss at June 30, 2024, the sum of all the highest stress case loss scenarios is $185 and there can be no assurance that losses may not exceed such amounts.
Other Credits, including International Finance Variability:
It is possible our loss reserves on other types of credits, including those insured by Ambac UK, may be under-estimated because of various risks that vary widely, including the risk that we may not be able to recover or mitigate losses through our remediation processes. For all other credits, including Ambac UK, for which we have an estimate of expected loss, the sum of all the highest stress case loss scenarios is approximately $45 greater than the loss reserves at June 30, 2024. There can be no assurance that losses may not exceed such amounts.
Long-term Debt
Long-term debt includes AAC surplus notes and the Ambac UK debt issued in connection with a commutation. All long-term debt relates to the Legacy Financial Guarantee segment.
The carrying value of each of these as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 is below:
June 30, 2024
December 31, 2023
Surplus notes
$
495
$
491
Ambac UK debt
17
17
Total Long-term Debt
$
512
$
508
The increase in long-term debt from December 31, 2023, resulted from accretion on the carrying value of surplus notes and Ambac UK debt.
VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES
Please refer to Note 8. Variable Interest Entities to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1 in this Form 10-Q and Note 2. Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies and Note 12. Variable Interest Entities to the Consolidated Financial Statements, included in Part II, Item 8 in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, for information regarding variable interest entities.
ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
There are no new accounting standards applicable to Ambac that have been issued but not yet adopted.
AFG's U.S. insurance subsidiaries prepare financial statements under accounting practices prescribed or permitted by its domiciliary state regulator (“SAP”) for determining and reporting the financial condition and results of operations of an insurance company. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) Accounting Practices and Procedures manual (“NAIC SAP”) is adopted as a component of prescribed practices by each domiciliary state. For further information, see "Ambac Assurance Statutory Basis Financial Results," in Part II, Item 7. "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," and Note 9. Insurance Regulatory Restrictions to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Ambac Assurance Corporation
AAC’s statutory policyholder surplus and qualified statutory capital (defined as the sum of policyholders surplus and mandatory contingency reserves) were $894 and $1,197 at June 30, 2024, respectively, as compared to $897 and $1,201 at December 31, 2023, respectively. As of June 30, 2024, statutory policyholder surplus and qualified statutory capital included $519 principal balance of surplus notes outstanding and $115 liquidation preference of preferred stock outstanding. These surplus notes (in addition to related accrued interest of $500 that is not recorded under statutory basis accounting principles); preferred stock; and all other liabilities, including insurance claims are obligations that, individually and collectively, have claims on the resources of AAC that are senior to AFG's equity and therefore impede AFG's ability to realize residual value and/or receive dividends from AAC. The drivers to the net decrease in policyholder surplus were the statutory net loss of $6 for the six months ended June 30, 2024.
AAC's statutory surplus and therefore AFG's ultimate ability to realize residual value and/or dividends from AAC is sensitive to multiple factors, including: (i) loss reserve development, (ii) approval by OCI of payments on surplus notes, (iii) ongoing interest costs associated with surplus notes, (iv) swap gains and losses at AFS, the financial position of which is supported by certain guarantees and financing arrangements from AAC, (v) first time payment defaults of insured obligations, which increase statutory loss reserves, (vi) commutations of insurance policies at amounts that differ from the amount of liabilities recorded, (vii) reinsurance contract terminations at amounts that differ from net assets recorded, (viii) changes to the fair value of pooled fund and other investments carried at fair value, (ix) realized gains and losses, including losses arising from other than temporary impairments of investment securities, (x) the ultimate residual value of Ambac UK, which may be impacted by numerous factors including foreign exchange rates, and (xi) future changes to prescribed practices by the OCI.
Everspan Indemnity Insurance Company
Everspan Indemnity Insurance Company’s statutory policyholder surplus was $106 at June 30, 2024, as compared to $108 at December 31, 2023. The drivers within the period was net loss at
Everspan Indemnity Insurance Company, including its subsidiaries, of $1 during the six months ended June 30, 2024, in addition to a reduction in policyholders surplus for changes in capital contributions, primarily related to incentive compensation awards.
AMBAC UK FINANCIAL RESULTS UNDER UK ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES
Ambac UK is required to prepare financial statements under FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland." Ambac UK’s shareholder funds under UK GAAP were £505 at June 30, 2024, as compared to £489 at December 31, 2023. At June 30, 2024, the carrying value of cash and investments was £546, a increase from £535 at December 31, 2023. The increase in shareholders’ funds and cash and investments was primarily due to the continued receipt of premiums, investment gains and foreign exchange gains, partially offset by general and administrative expenses and tax payments.
Ambac UK is also required to prepare financial information in accordance with the Solvency II Directive. The basis of preparation of this information is significantly different from both US GAAP and UK GAAP. Available and eligible capital resources under Solvency II, to meet solvency capital requirements, were £448 at June 30, 2024, the most recently published position. Eligible capital resources at June 30, 2024, were in comparison to regulatory capital requirements of £213. Therefore, Ambac UK was in a surplus position in terms of compliance with applicable regulatory capital requirements by £235 at June 30, 2024.
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES ($ in millions)
In addition to reporting the Company’s quarterly financial results in accordance with GAAP, the Company is reporting non-GAAP financial measures: EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Book Value. These amounts are derived from our consolidated financial information, but are not presented in our consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP.We present non-GAAP supplemental financial information because we believe such information is of interest to the investment community, and that it provides greater transparency and enhanced visibility into the underlying drivers and performance of our businesses on a basis that may not be otherwise apparent on a GAAP basis. We view these non-GAAP financial measures as important indicators when assessing and evaluating our performance on a segmented and consolidated basis and they are presented to improve the comparability of our results between periods by eliminating the impact of the items that may not be representative of our core operating performance. These non-GAAP financial measures are not substitutes for the Company’s GAAP reporting, should not be viewed in isolation and may differ from similar reporting provided by other companies, which may define non-GAAP measures differently. In connection with the sale of AAC and the acquisition of Beat, management is considering making changes to the current non-GAAP measures which, if any, may occur in future reporting periods.
The following paragraphs define each non-GAAP financial measure. A tabular reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure and the most comparable GAAP financial measure is also presented below.
EBITDA— We define EBITDA as net income (loss) before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization of
intangible assets. The following table reconciles net income (loss) to the non-GAAP measure, EBITDA on a consolidation and segment basis for all periods presented:
Three Months Ended June 30, 2024
Three Months Ended June 30, 2023
Legacy Financial Guarantee Insurance
Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance
Insurance Distribution
Corporate & Other
Consoli-dated
Legacy Financial Guarantee Insurance
Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance
Insurance Distribution
Corporate & Other
Consoli-dated
Net income (loss)
$
11
$
(1)
$
1
$
(11)
$
(1)
$
(9)
$
—
$
1
$
(4)
$
(13)
Adjustments:
Interest expense
16
—
—
—
16
16
—
—
—
16
Income taxes
3
—
—
—
2
2
—
—
—
2
Depreciation
—
—
—
—
1
—
—
—
—
—
Amortization of intangible assets
7
—
1
—
8
6
—
1
—
7
EBITDA (1)
$
36
$
(1)
$
2
$
(11)
$
27
$
14
$
—
$
2
$
(4)
$
12
(1) EBITDA is prior to the impact of noncontrolling interests, and relates to subsidiaries where Ambac does not own 100% in the amounts, of $0.4 and $0.3 for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. These noncontrolling interests are in the Insurance Distribution segment.
Six Months Ended June 30, 2024
Six Months Ended June 30, 2023
Legacy Financial Guarantee Insurance
Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance
Insurance Distribution
Corporate & Other
Consoli-dated
Legacy Financial Guarantee Insurance
Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance
Insurance Distribution
Corporate & Other
Consoli-dated
Net income (loss)
$
31
$
1
$
5
$
(16)
$
20
$
(45)
$
(1)
$
4
$
(4)
$
(46)
Adjustments:
Interest expense
32
—
—
—
32
32
—
—
—
32
Income taxes
7
—
—
—
7
5
—
—
—
6
Depreciation
—
—
—
1
1
1
—
—
—
1
Amortization of intangible assets
18
—
2
—
21
11
—
2
—
13
EBITDA
$
89
$
1
$
7
$
(16)
$
81
$
5
$
(1)
$
6
$
(3)
$
7
(1) EBITDA is prior to the impact of noncontrolling interests, and relates to subsidiaries where Ambac does not own 100% in the amounts, of $1.4 and $1.2 for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. These noncontrolling interests are primarily in the Insurance Distribution segment.
Adjusted Net Income (Loss) — We define Adjusted Net Income (Loss) as net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders adjusted to reflect the following items: (i) net investment (gains) losses, including impairments; (ii) amortization of intangible assets; (iii) litigation costs, including attorneys fees and other expenses to defend litigation against the Company, excluding loss adjustment expenses; (iv) foreign exchange (gains) losses; (v) workforce change costs, which primarily include severance and other costs related to employee terminations; and (vi) net (gain) loss on extinguishment of debt. Adjusted Net Income is also adjusted for the effect of the above items on both income taxes and noncontrolling interests. The income tax effects are determined by applying the statutory tax rate in each jurisdiction that generate these adjustments. The noncontrolling interest adjustments relate to subsidiaries where Ambac does not own 100%
The following table reconciles net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders to the non-GAAP measure, Adjusted net income:
Three Months Ended June 30,
2024
2023
($ in millions, except share data)
$ Amount
Per Share
$ Amount
Per Share
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders
$
(1)
$
(0.02)
$
(13)
(0.29)
Adjustments:
Net investment (gains) losses, including impairments
(4)
(0.08)
3
0.07
Intangible amortization
8
0.18
7
0.14
Litigation costs
5
0.10
8
0.17
Foreign exchange (gains) losses
—
0.01
—
—
Workforce change costs
—
—
—
—
Pretax adjusted net income (loss)
9
$
0.19
4
$
0.09
Income tax effects
—
(0.01)
(1)
(0.02)
Net (gains) attributable to noncontrolling interests
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders
$
19
$
0.41
$
(47)
$
(1.02)
Adjustments:
Net investment (gains) losses, including impairments
(4)
(0.09)
8
0.17
Intangible amortization
21
0.44
13
0.29
Litigation costs
11
0.24
16
0.36
Foreign exchange (gains) losses
1
0.02
—
(0.01)
Workforce change costs
—
—
1
0.02
Pretax adjusted net income (loss)
48
$
1.02
(9)
$
(0.19)
Income tax effects
—
(0.01)
(2)
(0.03)
Net (gains) attributable to noncontrolling interests
—
(0.01)
—
(0.01)
Adjusted Net Income (Loss)
$
47
$
1.00
$
(10)
$
(0.23)
Adjusted Book Value. Adjusted book value is defined as Total Ambac Financial Group, Inc. stockholders’ equity as reported under GAAP, adjusted for after-tax impact of the following:
•Insurance intangible asset: Elimination of the financial guarantee insurance intangible asset that arose as a result of Ambac’s emergence from bankruptcy and the implementation of Fresh Start reporting. This adjustment ensures that all financial guarantee contracts are accounted for within adjusted book value consistent with the provisions of the Financial Services—Insurance Topic of the ASC.
•Net unearned premiums and fees in excess of expected losses: Addition of the value of the unearned premium revenue ("UPR") on financial guarantee contracts, in excess of expected losses, net of reinsurance. This non-GAAP adjustment presents the economics of UPR and expected losses for financial guarantee contracts on a consistent basis. In accordance with GAAP, stockholders’ equity reflects a reduction for expected losses only to the extent they exceed UPR. However, when expected losses are less than UPR for a financial guarantee contract, neither expected losses nor UPR have an impact on stockholders’ equity. This non-GAAP adjustment adds UPR in excess of expected losses, net of reinsurance, to stockholders’ equity for financial guarantee contracts where expected losses are less than UPR. This adjustment is only made for financial guarantee contracts since such premiums are non-refundable.
•Net unrealized investment (gains) losses in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income: Elimination of the unrealized gains and losses on the Company’s investments that are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”), net of income taxes.
Ambac has a significant U.S. tax net operating loss (“NOL”) that is offset by a full valuation allowance in the GAAP consolidated financial statements. As a result of this, tax planning strategies and other considerations, we utilized a 0% effective tax rate for non-GAAP operating adjustments to Adjusted Book.
The following table reconciles Total Ambac Financial Group, Inc. stockholders’ equity to the non-GAAP measure Adjusted Book Value on a dollar amount and per share basis, for all periods presented:
June 30, 2024
December 31, 2023
($ in millions, except share data)
$ Amount
Per Share
$ Amount
Per Share
Total Ambac Financial Group, Inc. stockholders’ equity
$
1,368
$
30.25
$
1,362
$
30.13
Adjustments:
Insurance intangible asset
(226)
(5.00)
(245)
(5.43)
Net unearned premiums and fees in excess of expected losses
157
3.46
162
3.59
Net unrealized investment (gains) losses in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
23
0.52
20
0.45
Adjusted book value
1,322
$
29.23
$
1,299
$
28.74
The increase in Adjusted Book Value since December 31, 2023, was primarily attributable to Ambac's net income (excluding earned premium previously included in Adjusted Book Value).
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk
As of June 30, 2024 Ambac was party to a US dollar / British pound sterling foreign exchange forward contract to protect against currency fluctuations related to the purchase of Beat. This position was closed on July 26, 2024 resulting in a net gain to Ambac. As of June 30, 2024, there were no other material changes in the market risks that the Company is exposed to since December 31, 2023.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
In connection with the preparation of this second quarter Form 10-Q, an evaluation was carried out by Ambac’s management, with the participation of Ambac’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of Ambac’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives. Based on its evaluation, Ambac’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of June 30, 2024, Ambac’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
During the second quarter of 2024, the Company changed its investment accounting service provider and application. As part of its implementation, the Company evaluated the impact of this new application on its internal control over financial reporting and made changes to controls and procedures where necessary. There were no other changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the second quarter of 2024 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Please refer to Note 14. Commitments and Contingencies of the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements located in Part I, Item 1 in this Form 10-Q and Note 19: Commitments and Contingencies in Part II, Item 8 in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 for a discussion on legal proceedings against Ambac and its subsidiaries.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
You should carefully consider the risk factors set forth in the “Risk Factors” section, Item 1A to Part I in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, which is hereby incorporated by reference. These important factors may cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated by our forward-looking statements, including those contained in this report. Please also see the section entitled “Cautionary Statement Pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995” in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q. There have been no material changes to the risk factors we have disclosed in the “Risk Factors” section of our aforementioned Annual Report on Form 10-K, except as noted below.
The sale of the common stock of Ambac Assurance Corporation is subject to receipt of stockholder approval and other closing conditions, and may not be completed as anticipated, or at all.
We are seeking the approval of the sale of all of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock, par value $2.50 per share, of Ambac Assurance Corporation, a Wisconsin stock insurance company and wholly-owned subsidiary of AFG (“AAC”), for aggregate consideration of $420 million in cash, subject to certain adjustments (the "Sale"), by our stockholders in accordance with Section 271 of the Delaware General Corporation Law on the basis that the Sale could be considered to constitute the sale of substantially all of Ambac’s property and assets within the meaning of that statute and related case law. The closing of the Sale is conditioned on, among other things, the receipt of specified regulatory approvals and AFG obtaining the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of AFG entitled to vote thereon at the special meeting called for such purpose, voting together as a single class in person or by proxy (the "Required Stockholder Approval").
In addition, the purchase agreement relating to the Sale (the "Purchase Agreement") provides for certain termination rights. Buyer and AFG may terminate the Purchase Agreement by mutual written agreement at any time prior to the closing date. In addition, either Buyer or AFG may terminate the Purchase Agreement at any time prior to the closing by giving written notice to the other party if
•the closing has not been consummated on or before April 4, 2025 (the "End Date"); provided, however, that if the closing has not occurred solely due to the failure to obtain applicable governmental and regulatory approvals from the authorities including, but not limited to, the OCI, the
End Date will be automatically extended for an additional ninety (90) days and the parties agree to continue to use their respective reasonable best efforts to satisfy such conditions to closing; provided, further, that the right to terminate the Purchase Agreement for the foregoing is not available to any party whose breach of any provision of the Purchase Agreement results in the failure of the closing to be consummated
•(i) applicable law makes the consummation of the closing illegal or otherwise prohibited or (ii) any judgment, injunction, order or decree of any governmental authority enjoins Buyer and AFG from consummating the closing; or
•AFG fails to obtain the Required Stockholder Approval at the special meeting.
The Purchase Agreement may be terminated by Buyer by written notice to AFG if a breach of any representation or warranty or failure to perform any covenant or agreement shall have occurred that would cause certain conditions not to be satisfied, and such breach is not cured within sixty (60) days of written notice to AFG or is incapable of being cured by the End Date. Additionally, the Purchase Agreement may be terminated by Buyer if at any time the AFG Board of Directors effects an Ambac Board Recommendation Change (as defined in the Purchase Agreement).
The Purchase Agreement may be terminated by AFG by written notice if a breach of any representation or warranty or failure to perform any covenant or agreement shall have occurred that would cause certain conditions not to be satisfied, and such breach is not cured within sixty (60) days of written notice to Buyer or is incapable of being cured by the End Date.
The total proceeds realized from the Sale are contingent upon receiving the Required Stockholder Approval and other closing conditions. There can be no assurances that we will receive the vote and satisfy the conditions. Any delay in receiving the required stockholder vote and satisfying the other closing conditions may increase the risk that the Sale will be terminated, or reduce the benefits we expect to achieve.
The Sale and the other transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, whether or not completed, may adversely affect the retained business.
Transactions such as the Sale are often subject to lawsuits by stockholders. It is possible that our common stockholders or other stakeholders will commence or seek to commence litigation against Ambac or the Ambac Board. Such litigation could result in substantial costs and divert management’s attention from other business concerns, which could adversely affect Ambac's specialty property and casualty insurance business and its insurance distribution businesses that Ambac will continue to operate following the completion of the Sale (the "Retained Business").
In addition, our ability to execute on our business strategies for the Retained Business depends on the retention and recruitment of qualified executives and other professionals. We rely upon the services of our current executive and senior management teams.
In addition to these officers, we rely on key staff with insurance, underwriting, business development, risk management, investment, accounting, finance, legal, technology and other technical and specialized skills. The market for qualified executives, senior managers and other employees has become very competitive. As a result of the Sale, we may experience higher employee turnover and finding qualified replacements may be more difficult. The loss of the services of members of our executive and/or senior management teams or our inability to hire and retain other talented personnel could delay or prevent us from succeeding in executing our strategies, which could negatively impact the Retained Business. Further, while the completion of the Sale is pending, we may be unable to attract and retain key personnel and our management’s focus and attention and employee resources may be diverted from operational matters.
If we fail to complete the Sale and the other transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, our business and financial performance may be adversely affected, including in the event Ambac is required to pay the Termination Fee.
The completion of the Sale and the other transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of various conditions, including the approval of the Sale by our stockholders, which may not be satisfied in a timely manner or at all.
If the Sale is not completed, we will not recoup the costs incurred in connection with negotiating the Sale and the other transactions. Our directors, executive officers and other employees will have expended extensive time and effort and will have experienced significant distractions from their work during the pendency of the Sale, and we will have incurred significant third-party transaction costs, in each case, without any commensurate benefit, which may have a material and adverse effect on our stock price and results of operations.
Furthermore, if the Sale and the other transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement are not completed, the announcement of the termination of the Purchase Agreement may adversely affect our relationships with our customers, business partners and employees, which could have a material adverse impact on our ability to effectively operate our business, and we may be required to pay the Termination Fee of $22 million under certain circumstances, each of which could have further adverse effects on our business, results of operations and the trading price of AFG's common stock.
Additionally, we intend to use the proceeds of the Sale to repay all or a portion of the debt used to fund the Beat Transaction. If we do not consummate the Sale then we will need to repay or refinance such debt with other sources of funds, which may not be available on favorable terms or at all. An inability to repay the debt used to fund the Beat Transaction from proceeds of the Sale or other sources, or an inability to refinance such debt on favorable terms or at all, may materially negatively affect our business and results of operations.
The Purchase Agreement contains provisions that limit our ability to pursue alternatives to the Sale.
The Purchase Agreement contains provisions that make it more difficult for us to sell AAC to any party other than Buyer. These provisions include the prohibition on our ability to solicit competing proposals and the requirement that we pay Buyer the Termination Fee of $22 million if we terminate the Purchase Agreement prior to the closing of the Sale as a result of our determining to accept a Company Acquisition Proposal (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) that we determine in good faith to be a Superior Proposal (as defined in the Purchase Agreement).
These provisions make it less advantageous for a third party that might have an interest in acquiring Ambac, or all or a significant part of AAC, to consider or propose an alternative transaction, even if that party were prepared to pay consideration with a higher value than the consideration to be paid by Buyer.
If the Purchase Agreement is not approved or if we fail to complete the Sale, there may not be any other offer from a potential acquiror that the AFG Board determines to be attractive.
If we fail to complete the Sale, the Board of Directors of AFG, in discharging its fiduciary obligations to our stockholders, may evaluate other strategic alternatives including, but not limited to, continuing to operate AAC and the Legacy Financial Guarantee Insurance business for the foreseeable future or an alternative transaction relating to AAC or Ambac. An alternative transaction, if available, may yield lower consideration or value than the proposed Sale, be on less favorable terms and conditions than those contained in the Purchase Agreement and involve significant delay. Any future sale of substantially all of Ambac’s property and assets within the meaning of Section 271 of the Delaware General Corporation Law and related case law or other similar transaction may be subject to further stockholder approval, and there is no guarantee that Ambac would be able to obtain such stockholder approval in favor of any such sale or other transaction. If the Legacy Financial Guarantee Insurance business is not sold, there can be no assurance that we will realize value at least equivalent to the proceeds of the Sale from the operation of the Legacy Financial Guarantee Insurance business over time, or any value; nor can we predict the timeline for realizing value, if any, from the Legacy Financial Guarantee Insurance business in the absence of the Sale.
We are planning to further develop and expand our Specialty Property and Casualty Insurance and Insurance Distribution businesses; however, such plans may not be realized, or if realized, may not create value and may negatively impact our financial results.
Ambac is planning to further develop and expand its Specialty Property and Casualty Insurance and Insurance Distribution businesses, including through the Beat Transaction. Such plans may involve additional acquisitions of assets or existing businesses and the development of businesses through new or existing subsidiaries. Currently, it is not possible to fully predict the future prospects or other characteristics of such businesses. While we expect to conduct business, financial, and legal due
diligence in connection with the evaluation of any future business or acquisition opportunities, there can be no assurance that our due diligence will identify every matter that could have a material adverse effect on us. Efforts to pursue certain business opportunities may be unsuccessful or require significant financial or other resources, which could have a negative impact on our operating results and financial condition. To implement our growth strategy, we must be able to meet our capital needs, expand our systems and our internal controls effectively, allocate our human resources optimally, identify and hire qualified employees, and effectively integrate any acquisitions we make in our effort to achieve growth. No assurance can be given that we will successfully execute our plans for new business, generate any earnings or value from new businesses or be able to successfully integrate any such business into our current operating structure.
.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
(a) Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities — No matters require disclosure.
(b) Purchases of Equity Securities By the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers
When restricted stock unit awards issued by Ambac vest or settle, they become taxable compensation to employees. Shares may be
withheld to cover the employee's portion of withholding taxes. In the second quarter of 2024, no employee equity settlements occurred and Ambac did not purchase shares from employees to meet employee tax withholdings.
On March 29, 2022, our Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program authorizing up to $20 million in share repurchases, and on May 5, 2022, the Board of Directors authorized an additional $15 million share repurchase. This program expired on March 31, 2024. The following table shows shares repurchased by year.
($ in millions, except per share)
2023
2022
Total
Shares repurchased
325,068
1,605,316
1,930,384
Total cost
$
4.5
$
14.2
$
18.7
Average purchase price per share
$
13.88
$
8.86
$
9.70
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities — No matters require disclosure.
Item 5. Other Information — In the last fiscal quarter, none of our directors or executive officers adopted, terminated,, or modified any Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement, or any non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement. No other matters require disclosure.
XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.
Cover Page Interactive Data File - The cover page interactive data file does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags or embedded within the Inline XBRL document
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
AMBAC FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
Dated:
August 5, 2024
By:
/s/ DAVID TRICK
Name:
David Trick
Title:
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (Duly Authorized Officer and Principal Financial Officer)
