Item 1. Business
Item 1. Business
INTRODUCTION
Ambac Financial Group, Inc. ("AFG"), headquartered in New York City, is a financial services 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 operates three principal businesses:
• Legacy Financial Guarantee ("LFG") Insurance — Ambac's 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 are financial guarantee insurance companies that have been in run-off, having not underwritten any new business since 2008. AFS uses interest rate derivatives to hedge interest rate risk in AAC's insurance and investment portfolios.
• Specialty Property and Casualty Insurance — Ambac's Specialty Property and Casualty Insurance program business. Currently includes five admitted carriers and an excess and surplus lines (“E&S” or “nonadmitted”) insurer, Everspan Indemnity Insurance Company (all carriers collectively, “Everspan”). Three of the five admitted carriers were acquired in 2022. Everspan carriers have an AM Best rating of 'A-' (Excellent).
• Insurance Distribution — Ambac's specialty property and casualty ("P&C") insurance distribution business, which could include Managing General Agents and Underwriters (collectively "MGAs" or "MGA/Us"), insurance wholesalers, brokers and other distribution businesses, currently includes Xchange Benefits, LLC (“Xchange”) a P&C MGA specializing in accident and health products, All Trans Risk Solutions, LLC ("All Trans"), an MGA/U specializing in commercial automobile insurance for specific "for-hire" auto clauses, and Capacity Marine Corporation ("Capacity Marine"), a wholesale and retail brokerage and reinsurance intermediary specializing in marine and international risk. Refer to Note 4. Business Combination in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, for further information relating to these acquisitions.
Beginning in the first quarter of 2022, the Company began reporting these three business operations as segments; see Note 3. Segment Information for further information.
AFG, on a standalone basis, had $223 million in net assets (excluding its investment in subsidiaries) and net operating loss carry-forwards of $ 3,454 million ($ 1,824 million of which is allocated to AAC) at December 31, 2022. See Schedule II for more information on the holding company.
Strategies to Enhance Shareholder Value
The Company's primary goal is to maximize long-term shareholder value through the execution of key strategies for its (i) Specialty Property and Casualty Insurance and Insurance Distribution businesses and (ii) Legacy Financial Guarantee Insurance.
Specialty Property and Casualty Insurance and Insurance Distribution strategic priorities include:
• Growing a Specialty Property and Casualty Insurance business which generates underwriting profits and an attractive return on capital from a diversified portfolio of commercial and personal liability risks accessed through program administrators.
• Building an Insurance Distribution business based on deep domain knowledge in specialty and niche classes of risk which generate attractive margins at scale. This will be achieved through acquisitions, new business “de-novo” formation and incubation, and product expansion supported by a centralized technology led shared services offering.
• Making opportunistic investments that are strategic to both the Specialty Property and Casualty Insurance and Insurance Distribution businesses.
Legacy Financial Guarantee Insurance strategic priorities include:
• Actively managing, de-risking and mitigating insured portfolio risk, and pursuing recovery of previously paid losses.
• Improving operating efficiency and optimizing our asset and liability profile.
• Exploring strategic options to further maximize value for AFG.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS
Legacy Financial Guarantee Insurance:
Financial guarantee insurance policies provide an unconditional and irrevocable guarantee which protects the holder of a debt obligation against non-payment when due of the principal and interest on the obligations guaranteed. Pursuant to such guarantees, AAC and Ambac UK make payments if the obligor responsible for making payments fails to do so when due. AAC and Ambac UK wrote the last insurance policy in 2008 and have been in run-off ever since.
Ambac's Financial Guarantee business strategy is to increase the residual value of AAC and Ambac UK with the ultimate goal of monetizing such value through (i) dividends and capital distributions while managing their active run-off; (ii) one or more reinsurance transactions or other de-risking transactions that will accelerate or enhance the ability of AAC and/or Ambac UK to pay dividends and make capital distributions; (iii) the sale of all or portions of AAC and/or Ambac UK, or (iv) other strategic transactions to accelerate and/or enhance the above-stated corporate strategy. AAC and Ambac UK have been reducing risk within their insured portfolios and focusing on exposures to financially stressed municipal entities and asset-
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backed securities as well as large and concentrated exposures. Opportunities for remediating losses on poorly performing insured transactions depend on a number of factors including market conditions, the structure of the underlying risk and associated policy, as well as counterparty specific factors. AAC's ability to remediate risk and commute policies may be limited by available liquidity. Additionally, AAC and Ambac UK are actively managing their regulatory frameworks and seeking to optimize capital allocation in a complex insured portfolio that includes long duration obligations.
The execution of Ambac’s strategy to increase and monetize the residual value of AAC is subject to significant risk as well as the restrictions set forth in the Settlement Agreement, dated as of June 7, 2010 (the "Settlement Agreement"), by and among AAC, Ambac Credit Products LLC ("ACP"), AFG and certain counterparties to credit default swaps with ACP that were guaranteed by AAC, as well as the Stipulation and Order among the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance for the State of Wisconsin (“OCI”), AFG and AAC that became effective on February 12, 2018, as amended (the “Stipulation and Order”), each of which requires OCI and, under certain circumstances, holders of the debt instruments benefiting from such restrictions, to approve certain actions taken by or in respect of AAC. In exercising its approval rights, OCI will act for the benefit of policyholders, and will not take into account the interests of AFG. See Note 1. Background and Business Description to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further information.
Financial guarantee revenues consist mostly of premiums earned from run-off insurance contracts, net of reinsurance, and income on investments held in AAC's and Ambac UK's investment portfolios. Financial guarantee expenses consist of: (i) loss and commutation payments; (ii) loss adjustment expenses; (iii) interest expense on debt, (iv) operating expenses and (v) insurance intangible amortization.
AAC has a significant amount of debt outstanding in the form of principal and accrued but unpaid interest on surplus notes. Surplus notes are treated as capital for regulatory purposes as the obligation to pay principal and interest on them is subordinated to the obligation to pay policyholder claims and such payments cannot be made without the explicit authorization of the OCI. OCI is developing a new capital framework ("OCI's Runoff Capital Framework") to assist OCI with making decisions related to AAC's capital and liquidity management. OCI's Runoff Capital Framework is not yet complete and therefore we are not able to predict the results of such and what it may mean for our Legacy Financial Guarantee strategy, particularly as it relates to deleveraging AAC and distributing capital to AFG.
AAC’s ability to pay dividends to AFG has also been significantly restricted by the deterioration of AAC’s financial condition and by regulatory, legal and contractual restrictions. Substantial uncertainty remains as to AAC's ability to pay dividends to AFG and the timing of any such dividends, which constrains AFG's liquidity. Refer to "Dividend Restrictions, Including Contractual Restrictions" below and to Note 9. Insurance Regulatory Restrictions to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, for more information on dividend payment restrictions.
Interest rate derivative transactions are executed through AFS, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AAC. Interest rate derivatives are used to partially hedge interest rate risk in the financial guarantee insurance and investment portfolios. Accordingly, interest rate derivatives are positioned to benefit from rising rates. AFS is required to post collateral in excess of the market value of interest rate derivatives when they are in a mark-to-market loss position. Early termination of AFS’s derivatives could result in losses. AFS has borrowed cash and securities from AAC to help support its collateral and margin posting requirements, termination payments and other cash needs. Given the reduction in the size of the financial guarantee insured portfolio, recent interest rate increases and other considerations, the size of the interest rate derivatives portfolio was materially reduced in the fourth quarter of 2022 and may be further reduced or eliminated in the future. AFS also maintains a few interest rate derivatives with legacy financial guarantee customers, the exposure to which is fully hedged.
Ambac manages a variety of risks inherent in its businesses, including credit, market, liquidity, operational and legal. These risks are identified, measured, and monitored through a variety of control mechanisms, which are in place at different levels throughout the organization. See “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” included in Part II, Item 7A in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further information.
Risk Management
Ambac’s financial guarantee insurance policies expose the Company to the direct credit risk of the assets and/or obligor supporting the guaranteed obligation. In addition, insured transactions expose Ambac to indirect risks that may increase our overall risk, such as credit risk separate from, but correlated with, our direct credit risk; market; model; economic, including the risk of economic recession; natural disaster; pandemic and mortality or other non-credit type risks. Please refer to Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Financial Guarantees in Force” section below for details on the financial guarantee insured portfolio.
The Risk Management Group ("RMG") is primarily responsible for the development, implementation and oversight of loss mitigation strategies, surveillance and remediation of the insured financial guarantee portfolio (including through the pursuit of recoveries in respect of paid claims and commutations of policies). Our ability to execute certain risk management activities may be limited by the restrictions set forth in the Settlement Agreement and the Stipulation and Order and other constraints, potentially including OCI's Runoff Capital Framework. See Note 1. Background and Business Description to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further information.
Ambac’s RMG has an organizational structure designed around four primary areas of focus: Surveillance, Risk Remediation, Credit Risk Management and Loss Reserving and Analytics.
Surveillance
Surveillance is focused on the early identification of potential stress and/or credit deterioration and the related analysis of credit exposures in the insured portfolio. Additionally,
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Surveillance evaluates the impact of changes in the economic, regulatory or political environment on the insured portfolio.
Analysts perform periodic credit reviews of insured exposures according to a schedule based on the risk profile of the guaranteed obligations or as necessitated by specific credit events or other macro-economic variables. Risk-adjusted surveillance strategies have been developed for each bond type with review periods and scope of review based upon each bond type’s risk profile. The risk profile is assessed regularly in response to our own experience and judgments or external factors such as the economic environment and industry trends. The focus of a credit review is to assess performance, identify credit trends and recommend credit classifications, ratings and changes to a transaction or bond type’s review period and surveillance requirements. Please refer to Note 2. Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further discussion of the various credit classifications utilized by Ambac. If a problem is detected, the Surveillance group will then work with the Risk Remediation group on a loss mitigation plan, as necessary.
The insured portfolio contains exposures that are correlated and/or concentrated. RMG's surveillance activities include identifying these types of exposures and identifying the risks that would or could trigger credit deterioration across these related exposures. This is the case with student loans and residential mortgage-backed securities ("RMBS"), for example, which have several correlations including those associated with consumer lending, unemployment and home prices. In the future, Ambac’s portfolio may be subject to similar credit deterioration arising from concentrated and/or correlated risks. Examples of other such risks that could impact our portfolio, and that our surveillance is designed to monitor include the impact of potential municipal bankruptcy contagion, the impact of tax reform on state and municipal bond issuers, the impact of large scale domestic military cutbacks on our privatized military housing portfolio and event risk such as pandemics (e.g., COVID-19), natural disasters or other regional stresses. Most such risks cannot be predicted and may materialize unexpectedly or develop rapidly. Although our surveillance allows us to connect the event and stress to the related exposures and assign an adverse credit classification and estimate losses across the affected credits, when necessary, we may not have adequate resources or contractual rights and remedies to mitigate loss arising from such risks.
Risk Remediation
Risk Remediation activities are centered on exposure reduction and loss mitigation related to the insured portfolio. In particular, the focus is on reducing exposure to credits that have negative developing trends, the potential for future adverse development or are already adversely classified by, among other things, exercising rights and remedies, which may help to mitigate losses in the event of further deterioration or events of default, or, as available, working with an issuer to refinance, defease or otherwise retire debt.
Loss mitigation focuses on the execution of commutation and related claims reduction or workout strategies for policies with potential future claims. For certain adversely classified, survey
list and watch list credits (as described in Note 2. Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K), risk remediation or loss mitigation plans are developed and implemented that may include actions such as working with the issuer, trustee, bond counsel, servicer and other interested parties in an attempt to remediate the problem and minimize AAC’s exposure to potential loss. Other actions could include working with bond holders and other economic stakeholders to negotiate, structure and execute solutions, such as commutations. In addition, reinsurance is used as a remediation tool to reduce exposure to certain targeted policies and large concentrations.
Adversely classified, survey list and watch list credits are tracked closely as part of the risk remediation process and are discussed at regularly scheduled Credit Risk Management meetings (see discussion following in “Credit Risk Management”). In some cases, the RMG will engage restructuring or workout experts, attorneys and/or other consultants with appropriate expertise in the targeted loss mitigation area to assist in examining the underlying contracts or collateral, providing industry specific advice and/or executing strategies.
Credit Risk Management ("CRM")
The CRM function manages the decision process for all material matters that affect credit exposures within the insured portfolio. CRM provides a forum for credit assessment discussions and approvals and drives consistency and timeliness. The scope of credit matters under the purview of CRM includes material amendments, consents and waivers, credit review scheduling, credit classifications, rating designations, review of watch list or adversely classified credits, sector reviews and overall portfolio reviews and risk mitigation updates. Formal plans or transactions that relate to risk remediation, loss mitigation or restructuring may also require AAC Risk Committee approval, as described below in the section entitled, "Enterprise Risk Management."
Control Rights
In certain domestic and international structured finance transactions, structured public finance transactions, public-private partnerships and other transactions, AAC and Ambac UK may be the control party as a result of insuring a transaction’s senior class or tranche of debt obligations. The control party may direct specified parties, usually the trustee, to take or not take certain actions following contractual defaults or trigger events. Control rights and the scope of direction and remedies vary considerably among our insured transactions. Because AAC and Ambac UK are party to and/or have certain rights in documents supporting transactions in the insured portfolio, they may receive requests for amendments, consents and waivers (“ACW”). Decisions to approve or reject ACWs are made by AAC’s and Ambac UK’s risk management groups based upon certain credit factors, such as the issuer’s ability to repay the bonds and the bond’s security features and structure.
Watch List and Adversely Classified Credits
Watch list and adversely classified credits are tracked closely by the RMG teams and discussed as part of the CRM process. The review schedule for adversely classified credits is tailored to the
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remediation plan to track and prompt timely action and proper internal and external resourcing. A summary of developments regarding adversely classified credits and credit trends is also provided to AFG’s, AAC’s and Ambac UK's Boards of Directors no less than quarterly.
Ambac assigns internal credit ratings to individual exposures as part of the surveillance process. These internal credit ratings, which represent Ambac’s independent judgments, are based upon underlying credit parameters consistent with the exposure type.
Loss Reserving and Analytics ("LRA")
The LRA function manages the quarterly loss reserving process for insured portfolio credits with projected policy claims. It also supports the development, operation and/or maintenance of various analytical models used in the loss reserving process as well as in other risk management functions.
P&C Industry Overview
We operate within the $800 billion U.S. P&C insurance market with a particular focus on the commercial MGA/U program market both on an Admitted and Excess & Surplus Lines ("E&S") basis.
Admitted and E&S Insurance
Insurance carriers sell commercial P&C products in the United States through one of two markets: the Admitted market and the E&S market.
The Admitted insurance market, which has highly regulated rates and policy forms, is more consistent in price and coverage. In the E&S market there is increased flexibility in pricing, terms, and conditions in response to evolving market dynamics, and E&S carriers can tailor insurance products to facilitate coverage that would not otherwise be attainable. This unique flexibility lends itself to providing specialist solutions for unique risks, which has driven meaningful growth within the E&S market over the last decade, which has exceeded the growth rate of the Admitted market.
According to data from AM Best, the E&S market generated approximately $83 billion of direct written premium in 2021 or 10% of the industry direct premium volume. The E&S market is more heavily focused in commercial lines and accounted for over 20% of total commercial direct written premium for the first time in 2021. For the period of 2011 through 2021 the E&S sector had a compound annual growth rate of 10% compared to 5% for the overall U.S. P&C sector.
Everspan presently has five admitted carriers, which are wholly-owned except as indicated below: Everspan Insurance Company; Greenwood Insurance Company; Consolidated National Insurance Company; 21st Century Auto Insurance Company of New Jersey; and Providence Washington Insurance Company, of which it owns 90.1%. Everspan Indemnity Insurance Company ("Everspan Indemnity"), an E&S carrier, which is eligible to write business in all U.S. states and territories, is also part of Everspan.
MGA/U Program Market
It is estimated that U.S. MGA/Us generate between $70 to $100 billion of direct premiums. We believe there are significant advantages to the MGA/U business model when it comes to capturing the opportunity in the E&S market and propelling profitable growth. MGA/Us are specialized types of insurance agents or brokers that are vested with underwriting authority from an insurer, administering programs and negotiating contracts on their behalf. This is a particularly useful vehicle for P&C insurers as MGA/Us tend to participate in the E&S market where specialized expertise is needed to underwrite policies. Additionally, MGA/Us are cost effective means for an insurer or reinsurer to access or grow a particular class of business they find attractive given the MGA/U already possesses product expertise and distribution capabilities.
The MGA/U sector is one of fastest growing segments of the U.S. P&C insurance market, doubling in size between 2011 and 2020, with loss ratios consistently lower than the P&C sector overall. In 2021, the U.S. market was estimated by a leading broker to have over 1,000 MGA/Us with 700 identified in statutory filings and another 350 estimated to fall below the filing threshold. We believe the growth in the MGA/U and program space is likely to continue as the industry continues its move towards increased specialization.
Specialty Property and Casualty Insurance
Everspan’s strategy as a hybrid insurer is to generate sustainable and profitable, long-term specialty property and casualty program insurance business with a focus on diverse classes of commercial and personal liability risks across an expanding roster of MGA/U partners. As a hybrid insurer Everspan may retain a percentage of the business it underwrites. Everspan's management team has significant years of experience in the program insurance business and has long-standing and broad relationships with MGA/Us, reinsurers, brokers, producers and third-party claims administrators ("TPAs"). Everspan sources business through program administrators and managing general agents, reinsurers, brokers, producers and others. Everspan is developing long-term relationships with its distribution partners. Subject to Everspan's operational oversight, Everspan engages these third parties to market and administer policies and handle claims within defined authorities on Everspan's behalf.
Everspan is focused on generating strong underwriting results and program fee income from its participatory fronting business model. For the year ended December 31, 2022, Everspan issued insurance policies generating $146 million of gross written premium, of which Everspan retained approximately 20% with the balance ceded to quota share reinsurers.
The following table sets forth our largest lines of business for the year ended December 31, 2022:
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($ in millions)
Year Ended December 31, 2022 2021
Gross written premiums by line of business:
Commercial auto liability $ 117.2 $ 12.6
Commercial auto physical damage 12.6 —
General liability 6.0 —
Excess liability 4.8 0.5
Surety 4.4 —
Other 1.3 —
Gross written premiums $ 146.4 $ 13.0
Everspan may retain up to 30% of risk on each program and will reinsure the remainder to reinsurers and other providers of risk capital. These reinsurers may be domestic and foreign (re)insurers and institutional risk investors (capacity providers) that want access to specific lines of U.S. property and casualty insurance business that they may not have the required licenses and filings to otherwise insure.
Everspan purchases reinsurance to manage its net retention on individual risks and overall exposure to losses, while providing it with the ability to offer policies with sufficient limits to meet producer and policyholder needs. Generally, reinsurance contracts are specific to a program, are purchased on an annual basis, and are subject to renegotiation at renewal. The key contractual provisions include, but are not limited to, those relating to ceding commissions, fronting fees, required reports to reinsurers, responsibility for taxes, arbitration in the event of a dispute and Everspan's termination rights when, among other triggers, a reinsurer defaults (such as by failing to collateralize its obligations when required) or its financial strength falls below an agreed level. Everspan’s ceded reinsurance contracts do not legally discharge Everspan from its primary liability for the full amount of the policies, and Everspan will be required to pay the loss and bear collection risk if a reinsurer fails to meet its obligations under the reinsurance agreement.
Everspan mitigates this credit risk by selecting well capitalized, highly rated, authorized capacity providers, or requiring that the capacity provider post collateral, typically in the form of letters of credit issued by NAIC-qualified financial institutions, to secure the reinsured risks.
The following graph shows our reinsurance carriers' AM Best rating based on share of ceded premium for the year ending December 31, 2022:
(1) NR represents reinsurance carriers not rated by AM Best. Generally, under the terms of reinsurance contracts with such carriers the reinsurer is required to post collateral to Everspan.
See Note 8. Insurance Contracts to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further information on reinsurance recoverables, including the evaluation for credit impairments.
Competitive Strengths:
Specialty Property and Casualty Insurance is a competitive industry. Everspan believes that it can successfully operate in this industry in part based upon the following competitive strengths.
• Experience — Everspan has an experienced leadership team across underwriting, pricing, claims, and business development with an average tenure of over 30 years in the insurance industry.
• Underwriting Focused Strategy — Everspan is driven by underwriting performance, which is achieved via comprehensive diligence and monitoring of MGA/U partners from our in-house pricing actuaries, claims executive, and program managers. This underwriting focus also aides in achieving and maintaining support from the reinsurance partners.
• Risk Appetite — Everspan may retain up to 30% of the risk it underwrites. This meaningful participation serves to align interests with our reinsurers.
• Commitment to Program Distribution — Everspan does not have any direct distribution capability as it is committed to the program market distributed through MGA/Us. As a result, Everspan does not have channel conflicts which would compete with programs partners in underwriting business.
• Nimble Platform — A simplified organizational structure which allows Everspan to be efficient and quick in responding to the needs of program partners as well as finding customized solutions. We believe this provides a competitive advantage to the more traditional competitors in the market.
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• Aligned Ownership — Everspan has a stable ownership structure which is equally focused on long-term value creation based on strong underwriting performance. This alignment of interest and strategic vision allows Everspan to leverage resources across the Company and access capital for future initiatives.
Competition:
Everspan faces competition from program business market participants such as Accelerant Specialty, Accredited America, Benchmark Insurance Company, Clear Blue Insurance Group, Core Specialty, Falls Lake Insurance, Fortegra Insurance Group, Obsidian, Spinnaker, State National, Transverse Insurance Group, and Trisura. Most of these entities have both admitted and E&S carriers. Competition may take the form of lower ceding fees, broader coverages, greater product flexibility, higher coverage limits, greater customer service or higher financial strength ratings by independent rating agencies. Few barriers exist to prevent existing insurers from entering target markets within the property and casualty industry. Market conditions and capital capacity influence the degree of competition at any point in time. During periods of excess underwriting capacity, as defined by the availability of capital, competition can result in lower pricing and less favorable policy terms and conditions for insurers. During periods of reduced underwriting capacity, pricing and policy terms and conditions are generally more favorable for insurers. Historically, the performance of the property and casualty insurance industry has tended to fluctuate in cyclical periods of price competition and excess underwriting capacity, followed by periods of high premium rates and shortages of underwriting capacity. At any given time, Everspan's portfolio of insurance products could experience varying combinations of these characteristics. This cyclical market pattern can be more pronounced in the specialty insurance and reinsurance markets in which Everspan competes than in the standard insurance market. For the last several years the property and casualty industry has been in a period of high premium rates with a shortage of underwriting capacity. While not anticipated to end in the short-term, this cyclical period will eventually end, perhaps unexpectedly. The end of this favorable cycle could have negative consequences for Everspan's growth and profitability prospects.
Business Acquisition and Program Partner Selection:
With our focus on generating long-term underwriting profitability, we are selective in adding new program partners. We look for program partners that share our vision of underwriting performance and return expectations and consequently are selective about with whom we partner. In 2022 we reviewed over 180 submissions and agreed to contract with nine MGA/Us.
As noted above, most of Everspan’s programs are sourced either from MGA/Us or through other third parties, such as reinsurance brokers, that are seeking to provide customized insurance solutions that require a carrier with a high rating from AM Best. Everspan works with MGA/Us that leverage both data and technology to streamline or improve the underwriting process.
For each new opportunity that Everspan chooses to evaluate, an initial evaluation of the MGA/U is conducted, including an assessment of its underwriting approach, philosophy, size, quality of management, past performance, future performance targets and, above all, compatibility with Everspan’s operating model, risk appetite, and existing book of business. Everspan conducts substantial due diligence on all program partners led by the Underwriting Risk Committee which is chaired by Everspan’s Chief Underwriting Officer. As part of the diligence process, Everspan works closely with potential MGA/Us to design program underwriting guidelines, ongoing reporting and auditing requirements. Everspan also typically requires the producing partner to retain underwriting risk or otherwise align incentives with program underwriting performance.
Additionally, as part of the diligence process for each program, Everspan will perform a review of the claims management function, typically performed by a TPA, which in some cases are managed by the MGA/U or producing partner. Diligence focuses on claims handling and litigation management, compliance, finance, governance, staff and vendor management, data and IT.
After due diligence is completed and acceptable reinsurers are identified, each program is presented to the Underwriting Risk Committee for final approval. The Underwriting Risk Committee will consider recommendations made by the credit subcommittee regarding the financial strength of the MGA/Us and/or reinsurers.
Ongoing monitoring:
For active programs, Everspan authorizes MGA/Us to underwrite and bind coverages in accordance with approved underwriting guidelines and delegates authority to the TPA for claims adjustment and payment. Everspan closely monitors each MGA/U and TPA’s adherence to the agreed upon underwriting and claims guidelines. Everspan will conduct periodic reviews of loss experience, rate levels, reserves and the overall financial health of the MGA/U and TPA and hold monthly underwriting meetings with both the MGA/U and TPA. Underwriting and claims data is provided by the MGA/Us and TPAs monthly. Additionally, Everspan conducts underwriting, claims and accounting audits, generally on-site, at least once a year for MGA/U and TPA partners which administer a material amount of Everspan's business. Everspan maintains the right to terminate relationships with its MGA/Us and TPAs. Reasons to terminate a relationship include an inability to produce targeted underwriting results, writing exposures outside of agreed upon risk tolerances, delinquency in meeting reporting requirements, a change of strategic direction, or failure to meet collateral or other commitments to Everspan.
Ratings:
Everspan carriers have an AM Best FSR of 'A-' (Excellent) and Financial Strength Category of Class VIII. Risk is shared among the Everspan carriers via a reinsurance agreement and an intercompany pooling agreement (the "Everspan Pool"). We view this rating and financial size category as a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Ratings are an important factor in assessing Everspan’s competitive position, operation capabilities and risk management in the insurance industry.
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Insurance Distribution
Ambac’s Insurance Distribution business, Cirrata Group ("Cirrata"), has a strategy to build a diversified portfolio of MGA/Us covering various P&C products. Ambac plans to grow the Insurance Distribution business using several strategies, including (i) organic growth, (ii) additional acquisitions and/or partnerships, and (iii) hiring experienced underwriting teams to incubate start-up MGA/Us. Key criteria include a track record of profitability and a seasoned management team. Insurance underwritten through Ambac's MGA/Us may utilize Everspan as an insurance carrier, but will not be required to do so, depending on strategic and operational considerations. The Insurance Distribution business derives its revenues from commissions, fees, and other non-risk bearing means of compensation. For the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, Insurance Distribution generated gross commission revenue of $31 million and $26 million, respectively.
The following table sets forth our Premiums Placed by line of business:
($ in millions)
Year ended December 31, 2022 2021
Premiums placed by line of business:
Employee stop loss $ 72 $ 71
Limited and Short-term medical 48 45
Commercial auto 11 —
Other 4 2
Premiums placed $ 135 $ 117
Cirrata's portfolio at December 31, 2022 includes the following entities:
Xchange — On December 31, 2020, Ambac acquired a controlling interest in Xchange. Xchange operates through specialty producers in accident and health ("A&H") sectors across the U.S. which are typically not targeted by large direct writers and to whom Xchange can provide customized offerings. Xchange conducts business through approximately ten insurance carriers and dozens of agents and other distributors.
Xchange's main products for which it is delegated underwriting authority by insurance carriers include:
Employer Stop Loss ("ESL") — provides protection for self-insured employers by serving as a reimbursement mechanism for catastrophic claims, both specific and in aggregate exceeding pre-determined levels.
Limited Medical ("LM") — designed for those not covered by traditional Affordable Care Act medical programs and sold primarily through affinity groups, providing a variety of medically related benefits such as inpatient hospital stays, diagnostic services or physician visits.
Short-term Medical ("STM") — sold primarily through affinity groups, providing non Affordable Care Act comprehensive medical coverage for short durations (i.e. less than one year).
Xchange Re ("MGA/U") / Distribution Re ("Captive") — in January 2023, Xchange launched two new growth initiatives; Xchange Re an A&H reinsurance MGA/U and Distribution Re
a protected cell captive insurance company domiciled in Tennessee which will mainly insure high deductible medical stop loss plans. Xchange does not intend to accept or retain any risk from Distribution Re.
All Trans — Effective November 1, 2022, Ambac acquired a controlling interest in All Trans. All Trans is a full service managing general underwriter with delegated underwriting authority in commercial automobile insurance for specific "for-hire" auto classes, specifically focused on the private school bus, motor coach, and livery operators. All Trans' track record of performance has allowed the company to maintain a consist panel of insurance carriers with several of the relationships going back over 25 years.
Capacity Marine — Effective November 1, 2022, Ambac acquired a controlling interest in Capacity Marine. Capacity Marine is a wholesale and retail brokerage and reinsurance intermediary specializing in more sophisticated marine and international risk in expsoures such as ports, terminals, and stevedores.
In addition to existing MGA/Us and acquisitions, de novo MGA/U formations will be a core element of the Insurance Distribution segment's growth strategy. In 2022, Cirrata hired two business leaders with plans to launch MGA/Us in 2023.
Cirrata's businesses are compensated for their services primarily by commissions paid by insurance carriers for underwriting, structuring and/or administering polices and, in some cases for managing claims under agency agreements. Commission revenues are usually based on a percentage of the premiums paid by the insured. The businesses are also eligible to receive profit sharing contingent commissions on certain programs based on the underwriting results of the policies they write, which may cause some variability in revenue and earnings recognition.
Gross Commission revenues in 2022 were predominantly from Xchange, whose programs are generally underwritten in January and July resulting in revenue and earnings concentrations in the first and third quarters each calendar year. Given the recent acquisitions and de novo launches, this seasonality is likely to become more muted over time.
Core expenses at Cirrata include commissions the businesses pay to their independent agents / producers and compensation for their management and staff. Commission expenses are a variable cost as we pay a percentage of premiums written to the agents / producers.
Commission revenue and expense growth will be driven by the businesses' continued expansion and diversification of its products across regions, products, and carriers.
Competitive Strengths:
• Deep specialty domain knowledge — Our Insurance Distribution businesses are anchored by a deep specialty domain knowledge in their respective classes of business. This knowledge is key to generating the underwriting results necessary to maintain long-standing carrier relationships.
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• Long standing carrier relationships — Our MGA/Us strive towards long and durable carrier relationships supported by a focus on underwriting profitability. P&C insurance is a cyclical industry with opportunistic players entering and exiting the business. We believe that growing multi-year carrier relationships are evidence of the value created by our MGA/U, a value which we believe should sustain through routine market cycles.
• Strong distribution relationships — Distribution relationships provide value in several ways. First, carrier partners are looking for both underwriting expertise and distribution access when working with MGA/Us. In addition the quality of distribution relationships helps in allowing our MGA/Us access to higher quality risks from the wholesale and retail agents which we believe over time will help produce better underwriting results..
Competition:
The MGA/U insurance sector is highly competitive, and firms actively compete with Cirrata's businesses for customers and insurance carrier capacity.
• The ESL market is increasing in size as large companies continue to transition from fully insured to self-funded. As the market size increases, capital is flowing into the market, but prices and margins remain stable. Blue Cross, UnitedHealth, CIGNA and Aetna are the largest writers. Competition also comes from large direct writers such as Tokio Marine, HCC and Sun Life as well as smaller carriers such as Gerber Life writing through other MGA/U firms.
• For LM and STM, overall market conditions remain stable. The overall market is large as entrepreneurs and the unemployed seek options for individual insurance. Competition for Xchange's business comes from both direct carriers and other intermediaries and, depending on the product, may include Blue Cross, UnitedHealth, CIGNA, Aetna, Tokio Marine, Houston Casualty Company, Sun Life, United Health, Axis, Chubb, and National General.
• In the commercial auto "for-hire" classes All Trans competes with a variety of carriers both national and regional. Overall, carriers have been cutting back on their participation and or capacity in commercial auto due to poor underwriting performance, which has benefited All Trans which is focused on narrower niche classes of risk within the larger commercial auto sector. This competitive environment has allowed All Trans to price properly and provide strong underwriting results. All Trans competes with Lancer insurance, National Interstate, Utica, RLI and various other MGA/U companies.
ENTERPRISE RISK MANAGEMENT
The Company's policies and procedures relating to risk assessment and risk management are overseen by its Board of Directors. The Board of Directors takes an enterprise-wide approach to risk management oversight that is designed to support the Company's business plans at a level of risk considered by the Board to be reasonable. A fundamental part of risk assessment and risk management is not only understanding the risks the Company faces and what steps management is
taking to manage those risks, but also understanding what level of risk is appropriate for the Company. The Board of Directors periodically reviews the Company's business plan, factoring risk management into account. It also approves the Company's risk appetite statements, which articulate the Company's tolerance for certain risks and describes the general types of risk that the Company accepts, within certain parameters, or attempts to avoid.
While the Board of Directors has the ultimate oversight responsibility for the risk management process, various committees of the Board also have responsibilities related to risk assessment and risk management, and management has responsibility for managing the risks to which the Company is exposed and reporting on such matters to the Board of Directors and applicable Board committees.
• The Audit Committee oversees the management of risks associated with the integrity of Ambac’s financial statements and its compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. In addition, the Audit Committee discusses policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management, including major financial risk exposures and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures. The Audit Committee reviews with management, internal auditors and independent auditors Ambac's critical accounting policies, Ambac's system of internal controls over financial reporting and the quality and appropriateness of disclosure and content in the financial statements and other external financial communications.
• The Compensation Committee oversees the management of risk primarily associated with our ability to attract, motivate and retain quality talent (particularly executive talent) and with setting financial incentives that do not motivate undue risk-taking.
• The Governance and Nominating Committee oversees the management of risk primarily associated with Ambac’s ability to attract and retain quality directors, Ambac’s corporate governance programs and practices and our compliance therewith, including integration of ESG and sustainability policies, practices and goals into the Company's business strategy and decision making. Additionally, the Governance and Nominating Committee oversees the processes for evaluation of the performance of the Board of Directors and its committees each year and considers risk management effectiveness as part of its evaluation. This committee also reviews succession plans for Ambac's executive officers, including the Chief Executive Officer. The Governance and Nominating Committee also performs oversight of the business ethics and compliance program, and reviews compliance with Ambac’s Code of Business Conduct.
• The Strategy Committee oversees the management of risk and risk appetite primarily with respect to strategic plans and initiatives.
The Board of Directors receives quarterly updates from Board committees and the Board provides guidance to individual committee activities, as appropriate.
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In order to assist the Board of Directors in overseeing Ambac’s risk management, Ambac uses enterprise risk management, a company-wide process that involves the Board of Directors, management and other personnel in an integrated effort to identify, assess and manage a broad range of risks (e.g., credit, financial, legal, liquidity, market, model, operational, regulatory, reputational and strategic), that may affect the Company’s ability to execute on its corporate strategy and fulfill its business objectives. The Enterprise Risk Committee (“ERC”), which is a management committee, is comprised of executive and senior level management responsible for assisting in the management of the Company’s risks on an individual and aggregate basis. The ERC produces the relevant risk management information for executive and senior management and the Board of Directors.
Ambac management has established other management committees to assist in managing the risks throughout the enterprise. These committees will meet monthly or as needed on an ad hoc basis.
• The AAC Risk Committee's objective is to provide oversight of the key risk remediation issues impacting AAC. The purview of the committee is to review and approve risk remediation activities for the financial guarantee insured portfolio. Additionally, the Risk Committee will provide oversight and review new risk remediation structures or approaches in connection with risk remediation plans or anticipated transactions. Members of the Risk Committee include the CEO, Head of Risk Management, CFO and senior managers from throughout risk, corporate services, operations, legal and finance.
• The Disclosure Committee's objective is to assist the CEO and CFO in their responsibilities to design, establish, maintain and evaluate the effectiveness of disclosure controls and procedures. Members of the Disclosure Committee include the CEO, CFO, Chief Accounting Officer, General Counsel, Chief Operating Officer, Head of Risk Management and senior managers from finance and legal.
• The AAC Reserve Committee's objective is to provide oversight and review of the reserving process at AAC and AUK. The committee reviews and discusses, on at least a quarterly basis, reserve-related developments and key metrics and assumptions, including, but not limited to, credit, economic, interest rates, legal and regulatory. The committee gives approval to proceed with the development of loss estimates and related projections utilized in developing the consolidated quarterly reserves of the legacy financial guarantee business. Members of the Reserve Committee include the CEO, Head of Risk Management, CFO, General Counsel and senior managers throughout risk, legal and finance.
• Everspan established an Underwriting Risk Committee in 2021 to provide oversight of the active underwriting operations of Everspan, develop underwriting parameters, and assist the Boards of the Everspan companies in overseeing the integrity and effectiveness of Everspan’s underwriting risk management framework. Members of the committee include the CEO, key members of Everspan management and other senior managers or advisors of
Ambac. Additionally, a Reinsurance and Program Administrator Credit Risk sub-committee was established at the direction of the Underwriting Risk Committee to assist with the management of credit risk emanating from ceded reinsurance and program administrators.
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
Our Internet address is www.ambac.com. We make available through the investor relations section of our web site, annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments to those reports, filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as well as proxy statements, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Our Investor Relations Department can be contacted at Ambac Financial Group, Inc., One World Trade Center, 41st Floor, New York, New York 10007, Attn: Investor Relations, telephone: 212-208-3222 email: ir@ambac.com. The reference to our website address does not constitute inclusion or incorporation by reference of the information contained on our website in this Annual Report on Form 10-K or other filings with the SEC and the information contained on our website is not part of this document.
INSURANCE REGULATORY MATTERS AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS
Regulatory Matters
United States
AAC is domiciled in the state of Wisconsin and is therefore subject to the insurance laws and regulations of the State of Wisconsin and regulated by the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (“OCI”) as a domestic insurer. Everspan Indemnity and its wholly owned subsidiary, Everspan Insurance Company ("Everspan Insurance") are domiciled in the state of Arizona and are therefore subject to the insurance laws and regulations of the State of Arizona and regulated by the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions as domestic insurers. The subsidiaries of Everspan Insurance are domiciled in various States and are therefore subject to the insurance laws and regulations of their respective domiciliary States and regulated by the insurance departments of those States as domestic insurers. AAC, Everspan Insurance and its subsidiaries are also subject to the insurance laws and regulations of the other jurisdictions in which they are licensed and operate as foreign insurers in such jurisdictions. See Note 9. Insurance Regulatory Restrictions to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further information on regulatory restrictions.
Pursuant to the terms of the Settlement Agreement and the Stipulation and Order, AAC must seek prior approval by OCI of certain corporate actions. The Settlement Agreement and Stipulation and Order include covenants which restrict the operations of AAC. The Settlement Agreement will remain in force until the surplus notes issued thereunder have been redeemed, repurchased or repaid in full. The Stipulation and Order will remain in force for so long as OCI determines it to be necessary. Certain of the restrictions in the Settlement
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Agreement may be waived with the approval of the OCI and/or the requisite percentage of holders of AAC's surplus notes. OCI's Runoff Capital Framework is not yet complete and therefore we are not able to predict the results of such and what it may mean for our Legacy Financial Guarantee Strategy, particularly as it relates to deleveraging AAC and distributing capital to AFG.
The Insurance Distribution businesses, branded as Cirrata, like other MGA/Us, program administrators and brokers, may be subject to licensing requirements and regulation by insurance regulators in various states in which they conduct business.
Cybersecurity and Privacy Regulation
Ambac and its subsidiaries are subject to various U.S. Federal and state laws and regulations with respect to privacy, data protection and cybersecurity that require financial institutions, including insurance companies and agencies, to safeguard personal and other sensitive information, and may provide for notice of their practices relating to the collection, disclosure and processing of personal information, disclosure of cybersecurity risk management practices, reporting of cybersecurity incidents, and implementation of governance practices. For example, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) adopted the NAIC Insurance Data Security Model Law (#668) (“NAIC Model Law”) that creates rules for insurers and other covered entities addressing data security and the investigation and notification of cybersecurity events involving unauthorized access to, or the misuse of, certain nonpublic information. This includes maintaining an information security program based on ongoing risk assessment, overseeing third-party service providers, investigating data breaches and notifying regulators of a cybersecurity event. Legislation based on the NAIC Model Law has been enacted in several states and may be enacted in other states. Certain of our subsidiaries, as insurance companies and agencies licensed in the State of New York, are also required to comply with the New York Department of Financial Services (“NYDFS”) cybersecurity regulation, which establishes requirements for covered financial services institutions to implement a cybersecurity program designed to protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information systems of regulated entities, and information stored on those systems. The regulation imposes a governance framework for cybersecurity program, risk based minimum standards for technology systems for data protection, monitoring and testing, third-party service provider reviews, security incident response and reporting to NYDFS of certain security incidents, annual certifications of regulatory compliance to NYDFS, and other requirements. Amendments proposed to the NYDFS cybersecurity regulation will impose additional security requirements and new governance obligations.
The California Consumer Privacy Act, went into effect in January 2020, and provides additional privacy rights for California residents, and in November 2020, California further expanded privacy rights for California residents by enacting the California Privacy Rights Act, which became effective January 1, 2023. Colorado, Connecticut, Utah and Virginia have enacted similar privacy laws. We anticipate federal and state regulators to continue to enact legislation related to privacy and cybersecurity, which may require additional compliance investments and changes to policies, procedures and operations.
The federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and its implementing regulations (“HIPAA”) impose minimum standards on covered entities, such as health insurers, for the privacy and security of protected health information (“PHI”). The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, enacted in 2009 (“HITECH”) provides for the extension of certain privacy and security provisions of HIPAA to business associates of covered entities that handle electronic PHI. Xchange specializes in accident and health insurance and is a business associate of the health insurers carriers it partners with, making it subject to compliance with the provisions of HITECH and HIPAA applicable to business associates.
United Kingdom
The Prudential Regulatory Authority ("PRA") and Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA") (and their predecessor regulator the Financial Services Authority (“FSA”)) exercise significant oversight over Ambac UK. In 2009, the FSA limited Ambac UK’s license to undertaking only run-off related activity. As such, Ambac UK is authorized to run-off its insurance portfolio in the United Kingdom. See Note 9. Insurance Regulatory Restrictions to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further information on regulatory restrictions.
Regulation of Change in Control
Under applicable insurance law, any acquisition of control of AFG, or any other direct or indirect acquisition of control of AAC or one or more members of the Everspan, requires the prior approval (or non-disapproval) of the domiciliary regulator of the acquired company (or, in the case of AFG, the domiciliary regulators of AAC and each member of Everspan). “Control” is generally defined as the direct or indirect power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person. Any purchaser of 10% or more of the outstanding voting stock of a corporation is presumed to have acquired control of that corporation and its subsidiaries unless the applicable insurance regulator, upon application, determines otherwise. For purposes of this test, AFG believes that a holder of common stock having the right to cast 10% or more of the votes which may be cast by the holders of all shares of common stock of AFG would be presumably deemed to have control of AAC, Everspan Indemnity, Everspan Insurance and its subsidiaries within the meaning of applicable insurance laws and regulations, although insurance regulators may in their discretion deem control not to exist where, for example, control is disclaimed by a passive investor. The United Kingdom has similar requirements applicable in respect of AFG, as the ultimate holding company of Ambac UK.
Dividend Restrictions, Including Contractual Restrictions
Due to contractual and regulatory restrictions, AAC has been unable to pay ordinary dividends to AFG since 2008 and will be unable to pay ordinary dividends in 2023. AAC’s ability to pay dividends is restricted by the Settlement Agreement, the Stipulation and Order and the terms of its Auction Market Preferred Shares ("AMPS"), and may be affected by OCI's Runoff Capital Framework when implemented. See Note 9. Insurance Regulatory Restrictions to the Consolidated Financial
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Statements included in Part II, Item 8 in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further information on dividends. As a result of these restrictions, substantial uncertainty remains as to AAC's ability to pay dividends to AFG and the timing of any such dividends.
Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, AAC may not make any “Restricted Payment” (which includes dividends from AAC to AFG) in excess of $5 million in the aggregate per annum, other than Restricted Payments from AAC to AFG in an amount up to $7.5 million per annum solely to pay operating expenses of AFG. Concurrent with making any such Restricted Payment, a pro rata amount of AAC's surplus notes would also need to be redeemed at par.
The Stipulation and Order requires OCI approval for the payment of any dividend or distribution on the common stock of AAC.
Under the terms of AAC’s AMPS, dividends may not be paid on the common stock of AAC unless all accrued and unpaid dividends on the AMPS for the then current dividend period have been paid, provided that dividends on the common stock may be made at all times for the purpose of, and only in such amounts as are necessary for, enabling AFG (i) to service its indebtedness for borrowed money as such payments become due or (ii) to pay its operating expenses. If dividends are paid on the common stock as provided in the prior sentence, dividends on the AMPS become cumulative until the date that all accumulated and unpaid dividends have been paid on the AMPS.
While the UK insurance regulatory laws impose no statutory restrictions on an insurer’s ability to declare a dividend, the PRA’s and FCA’s rules governing capital extraction by insurance firms in run off require Ambac UK to consider its future capital requirements over a 3 to 5 year period in both base case and downside stress scenarios before declaring a dividend. This typically means that insurers are required to hold a buffer above regulatory capital requirements before dividends can be considered. Further, the FSA amended Ambac UK’s license in 2010 such that the PRA must specifically approve any transfer of value and/or assets from Ambac UK to AAC or any other Ambac group company, other than in respect of certain disclosed contracts between the two parties (such as in respect of a management services agreement between AAC and Ambac UK). As a result, Ambac UK is not expected to pay any dividends to AAC in the near future.
Everspan Indemnity, Everspan Insurance and its subsidiaries are also subject to regulatory restrictions on their ability to pay dividends. Everspan Indemnity and Everspan Insurance do not have sufficient earned surplus at this time to pay ordinary dividends under the insurance laws and regulations of Arizona. Furthermore, certain subsidiaries of Everspan Insurance are restricted from paying dividends to Everspan Insurance until 2025 or later, unless otherwise approved by the domestic regulator of the relevant subsidiary, pursuant to the regulatory orders approving the acquisition of those subsidiaries.
Ambac's MGA/U subsidiaries are not restricted from paying dividends to their owners, including Cirrata Group, LLC ("Cirrata"), which is 100% owned by AFG. Xchange Benefits
has regularly made quarterly distributions to Cirrata. It is expected that All Trans and Capacity Marine will also make regular distributions to their owners, including Cirrata. Cirrata's newly formed MGA/Us are not expected to make regular distributions to their owners until they become profitable.
INVESTMENTS AND INVESTMENT POLICY
As of December 31, 2022, the consolidated non-VIE investments of Ambac had an aggregate fair value of approximately $2,593 million. Investments are primarily managed by third party investment management firms overseen by internal investment professionals. All investments are made in accordance with the general objectives, policies, and guidelines for investments approved by the Board of Directors of the applicable subsidiary. These policies and guidelines include liquidity, credit quality, diversification and duration objectives and are periodically reviewed and revised as appropriate. Additionally, senior credit personnel monitor the portfolio on a continuous basis.
As of December 31, 2022, the AAC and Everspan non-VIE investment portfolios had an aggregate fair value of approximately $1,816 million. The investment objective is to achieve the highest risk-adjusted after-tax return on a diversified investment portfolio consistent with the respective company's risk tolerance while employing active asset/liability management practices to satisfy all operating and strategic liquidity needs. In addition to internal investment policies and guidelines, the investment portfolio of each company is subject to limits on the types and quality of investments imposed by applicable insurance laws and regulations of the jurisdictions in which it is licensed. The Board of Directors of each respective subsidiary approves any changes to the respective investment policies. Within its guidelines, AAC opportunistically purchases and sells AAC and Ambac UK insured securities given their relative risk/reward characteristics. In certain instances, AAC may exceed its established credit rating or concentration limits with appropriate regulatory approval. Changes to AAC’s investment policies are subject to approval by OCI pursuant to covenants made by AAC in the Settlement Agreement and the Stipulation and Order, and may be affected by OCI's Runoff Capital Framework as discussed above in Insurance Regulatory Matters and Other Restrictions . See Note 1. Background and Business Description to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information. Such requirements could adversely impact the performance of the investment portfolio.
As of December 31, 2022, the non-VIE Ambac UK investment portfolio had an aggregate fair value of approximately $574 million. Ambac UK’s investment policy is designed with the primary objectives of ensuring a reasonable risk-adjusted return over the remaining runoff of the insured portfolio and that Ambac UK is able to meet its financial obligations as they fall due, in particular with respect to policy holder claims. Ambac UK’s investment portfolio is primarily diversified fixed maturity securities and pooled investment funds. The portfolio is subject to internal investment guidelines and may be subject to limits on types and quality of investments imposed by its regulator. The Board of Directors of Ambac UK approves any changes or exceptions to Ambac UK’s investment policy.
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As of December 31, 2022, the non-VIE AFG (parent company only, excluding investments in subsidiaries) investment portfolio had an aggregate fair value of approximately $203 million. The primary investment objective is to preserve capital for strategic uses while maximizing income. The investment portfolio is subject to internal investment guidelines. Such guidelines set forth minimum credit rating requirements and credit risk concentration limits.
The following table provide certain information concerning the consolidated investments of Ambac:
2022 2021
Investment Category
($ in millions)
December 31, Carrying
Value (2)
Weighted
Average
Yield (1)
Carrying
Value (2)
Weighted
Average
Yield 1)
Municipal obligations $ 43 4.6 % $ 340 5.3 %
Corporate securities 598 2.6 % 613 2.2 %
Foreign obligations 76 1.5 % 87 0.5 %
U.S. government obligations 65 1.9 % 60 1.0 %
Residential mortgage-backed securities 238 8.3 % 252 7.3 %
Commercial mortgage-backed securities 15 5.5 % — — %
Asset-backed securities 361 7.0 % 393 5.0 %
Short-term investments 572 4.0 % 519 — %
Total fixed maturity-available-for-sale 1,966 4.4 % 2,265 2.9 %
Fixed maturity securities - trading (3)
59 — % — — %
Other investments (4)
568 — % 690 — %
Total $ 2,593 4.4 % $ 2,955 2.9 %
(1) Yields are stated on a pre-tax basis, based on average amortized cost for both long and short term fixed-maturity investments.
(2) Includes investments guaranteed by AAC and Ambac UK ("Ambac insured"). Refer to Note 5. Investments of the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further discussion of Ambac insured securities held in the investment portfolio.
(3) Fixed maturity securities held for trading are Puerto Rico municipal obligations received by AAC in connection with the PROMESA restructuring process as described further in Note 8. Insurance Contracts of the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
(4) Other investments consist primarily of interests in pooled investment funds that are either classified as trading securities or are reported under the equity method. Refer to Note 5. Investments of the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further information about Other investments.
EMPLOYEES
As of December 31, 2022, Ambac had 145 employees in the United States and 10 employees in the United Kingdom. Our 2022 voluntary turnover rate was approximately 7.1%. Ambac considers its employee relations to be satisfactory.
Ambac’s focus has been on identifying and retaining key talent through individual development programs following skills assessments. Ambac’s succession planning has identified internal candidates that could fill executive management and
senior management positions as the need arises. The Company has established a senior advisory team to work with, and advise, executive management on key initiatives, and has invested in both personal and professional growth programs to identify and prepare individuals for promotion within the Company. The Company continues to rely on compensation components (such as salary, long-term incentive plan awards, deferred cash awards and short-term incentive plan awards) to support employee retention and discourage excessive risk taking. The Company incorporates performance metrics as part of the annual short-term incentive bonus offering with increased bonus potential for exceptional results. We utilize third-party benchmark data to establish market-based compensation levels. We believe that our current compensation and incentive levels reflect high performance expectations as part of our merit pay philosophy. The targeted use of long-term equity incentive plan awards for key talent is an important element of Ambac’s long-term retention strategy.