Item 1. Business.
GENERAL
Ambac Financial Group, Inc., headquartered in New York City, is a holding company whose subsidiaries provide financial guarantee products and other financial services to clients in both the public and private sectors around the world. Ambac Financial Group was incorporated on April 29, 1991. Ambac Financial Group provides financial guarantees for public finance and structured finance obligations through its principal operating subsidiary, Ambac Assurance Corporation. Through its financial services subsidiaries, Ambac Financial Group provides financial and investment products including investment agreements, interest rate and total return swaps and funding conduits, principally to its clients of the financial guarantee business, which include municipalities and other public entities, health care organizations and asset-backed and structured finance issuers. Information about Ambac Financial Group is available through our website at http://www.ambac.com. In addition, our press releases and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) are available free of charge on the investor relations portion of our website.
Ambac Assurance and its subsidiary Ambac Assurance UK Limited, which serve the global capital markets, are primarily engaged in guaranteeing public finance and structured finance obligations. Ambac Assurance is the successor to the founding financial guarantee insurance company, which wrote the first bond insurance policy in 1971. Financial guarantee insurance policies written by Ambac Assurance generally guarantee payment when due of the principal of and interest on the guaranteed obligation. Ambac Assurance seeks to minimize the risk inherent in its financial guarantee portfolio by maintaining a diverse portfolio which spreads its risk across a number of criteria, including issue size, type of obligation, geographic area and obligor.
Ambac Assurance has earned triple-A ratings, the highest ratings available from Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (“S&P”), Fitch, Inc. (“Fitch”) and Rating and Investment Information, Inc. (“R&I”). These ratings are an essential part of Ambac Assurance’s ability to provide credit enhancement. See “Rating Agencies” section.
Ambac Credit Products LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ambac Assurance, primarily provides credit protection in the global markets in the form of structured credit derivatives. These structured credit derivatives, which are privately negotiated contracts, provide the counterparty with credit protection against the occurrence of a specific event such as a payment default or bankruptcy relating to an underlying obligation. Upon a credit event, Ambac Credit Products is required to either (i) purchase the underlying obligation at its par value and a loss is realized for the difference between the par and market value of the underlying obligation or (ii), make a payment equivalent to the difference between the par value and market value of the underlying obligation. Substantially all of Ambac’s structured credit derivative contracts relate to senior tranches of structured finance transactions are partially hedged with various financial institutions or structured with first loss protection. Structured credit derivatives issued by Ambac Credit Products are insured by Ambac Assurance. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis - Risk Management” in Ambac Financial Group’s 2004 Annual Report to Stockholders for more detail about structured credit derivatives.
In addition to the guarantees on fixed income obligations described above, Ambac, from time to time, enters into transactions that expose the company to risks which may not be
correlated to credit risk, for example weather-related or other disasters, mortality or other property and casualty type risk characteristics. Ambac underwrites such risks so that first loss must occur before Ambac would become liable in respect of such risks. Additionally, Ambac underwrites such business primarily in relation to broad indices and reference pools which embody diverse risk characteristics.
Ambac Financial Group’s investment agreement business, conducted through its subsidiary, Ambac Capital Funding, Inc., provides investment agreements primarily to municipalities and other public entities, issuers of structured finance obligations and international issuers. Investment agreements issued by Ambac Capital Funding are insured by Ambac Assurance. Investment agreements are primarily used by issuers to invest bond proceeds until the proceeds can be used for their intended purpose. The investment agreement provides for the guaranteed return of principal invested, and for the payment of interest thereon at a guaranteed rate. See “Investment Agreements” section.
Ambac Financial Group provides interest rate and currency swaps through its subsidiary Ambac Financial Services, LLC, primarily to states, municipalities and their authorities, issuers of asset-backed securities and other entities in connection with their financings. Ambac Financial Group also enters into total return swaps with professional counterparties through its subsidiary Ambac Capital Services LLC. Total return swaps are generally used for fixed income obligations, which meet Ambac Assurance’s credit underwriting criteria. See “Derivative Products” section.
As a holding company, Ambac Financial Group, Inc. is largely dependent on dividends from Ambac Assurance to pay dividends on its capital stock, to pay principal and interest on its indebtedness, to pay its operating expenses, to purchase its common stock in the open market and to make capital investments in its subsidiaries. Dividends from Ambac Assurance are subject to certain insurance regulatory restrictions. See “Insurance Regulatory Matters - Wisconsin Dividend Restrictions” section and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis - Liquidity and Capital Resources” in Ambac Financial Group’s 2004 Annual Report to Stockholders.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Materials in this annual report may contain information that includes or is based upon forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts but instead represent Ambac’s belief regarding future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside our control. You can identify these statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and relate to future plan or objectives and results.
Any or all of Ambac’s forward-looking statements here or in other publications may turn out to be wrong and are based on current expectations and the current economic environment. Ambac’s actual results may vary materially, and there are no guarantees about the performance of Ambac’s securities. Among factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are: (1) changes in the economic, credit or interest rate environment in the United States and abroad; (2) the level of activity within the national and worldwide debt markets; (3) competitive conditions and pricing levels; (4) legislative and regulatory developments; (5) changes in tax laws; (6) the policies and actions of the United States and other governments and (7) other risks and uncertainties that have not been identified at this time. Ambac is not obligated to publicly correct or update any forward-looking statement if we later become aware that it is not likely to be achieved, except as required by law. You are advised, however, to
consult any further disclosures we make on related subjects in Ambac’s reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
BUSINESS SEGMENTS
The following paragraphs describe the business operations of Ambac Financial Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries for its two reportable segments: Financial Guarantee and Financial Services.
Financial Guarantee
Generally, financial guarantee insurance written by Ambac Assurance guarantees to the holder of the underlying obligation timely payment of principal and interest on such obligation in accordance with its original payment schedule.
Financial guarantee insurance is a form of credit enhancement that benefits both the issuer and the investor. Issuers benefit because their insured securities are sold with the highest available credit rating, resulting in interest cost savings and greater marketability. In addition, for complex financings and obligations of issuers that are not well known by investors, credit enhanced obligations receive greater market acceptance than obligations without credit enhancement. Investors benefit from greater marketability, secondary market price stability, active credit surveillance and protection from loss associated with issuer default.
Ambac Financial Group derives financial guarantee revenues from: (i) premiums earned from insurance contracts; (ii) net investment income; (iii) revenue from credit derivative transactions; (iv) net realized gains and losses from sales of investment securities; and (v) certain structuring and other fees. Financial guarantee revenues were $1,168.7 million, $1,033.6 million, and $816.2 million in 2004, 2003, and 2002, respectively. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and Note 18 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Ambac Financial Group’s 2004 Annual Report to Stockholders.
Financial guarantee products are sold in three principal markets: the U.S. public finance market, the U.S. structured finance and asset-backed market, and the international finance market. Total gross par guaranteed for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 were $118.1 billion, $115.3 billion, and $116.4 billion, respectively.
U. S. Public Finance Market
The U.S. public finance market includes taxable and tax-exempt bonds, notes and other evidences of indebtedness issued primarily by states, political subdivisions (e.g., cities, counties and towns), water, sewer, electric and other utility districts, airports, higher educational institutions, hospitals, transportation and housing authorities. Public finance obligations are generally supported by either the taxing authority of the issuer or the issuer’s or underlying obligor’s ability to collect fees or assessments for certain projects or public services. More recently, the public finance market has expanded to include structured, project finance and asset-backed bond issues for infrastructure projects, sports stadiums, and other municipal purposes. This portion of the market is growing and has become a focus for Ambac Assurance in recent years. The following table sets forth the volume of new issues of long-term (longer
than 12 months) public finance bonds and the volume of new issues of insured long-term public finance bonds over the past ten years in the United States.
U.S. Public Finance Long-Term Market
Source: Amounts, except for 2004, are estimated data reported by The Bond Buyer’s 2003 Yearbook. The 2004 amounts are Ambac Assurance estimates, compiled from industry sources including Securities Data Company, Inc. and The Bond Buyer. Amounts represent gross par amounts issued or insured, respectively, during such year.
The foregoing table illustrates the changes in the total volume and insured volume of new issues of public finance bonds over the past ten years. Changes in volume of public finance bond issuance during this period are primarily attributable to changes in refunding activity related to the then-current interest rate environment, along with the issuers new money requirements. Total volume in 2002 and 2003 were record issuances as a result of the low interest rate environment and considerable infrastructure finance needs. Total volume in 2004 was down 6% from the record set the previous year. Insured volume, as a percentage of total volume (“insured penetration”), which had grown consistently from 1995 through 1998, declined during 1999 and 2000. The decline during 2000 is generally considered to have resulted from the combination of the relatively high credit quality of issues that came to market during the period and the firmness in premium pricing in the industry. During 2001 through 2004, the insured penetration has increased, largely the result of budget deficits experienced by municipalities and the corresponding flight to quality by investors.
Ambac Assurance guaranteed gross par of $44.6 billion, $43.0 billion and $42.3 billion in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively, in the U.S. public finance market.
In the U.S. public finance market, an issuer typically pays an up-front premium to Ambac Assurance at the time the policy is issued. Premiums are usually quoted as a percentage of the total amount of principal and interest that is scheduled to become due during the life of the insured bonds.
Proposed new public finance bond issues are submitted to Ambac Assurance by issuers (or their investment bankers or financial advisors) to determine their suitability for financial insurance. Public finance bond issues are sold on either a competitive or a negotiated basis. With respect to competitive issues, an issuer will publish a notice of sale soliciting bids for the purchase of a proposed issue of bonds. Potential bidders on the bonds then form syndicates. These syndicates then solicit a determination from some or all of the financial guarantors whether an issue is suitable for financial guarantee and at what premium rate and on what terms. The syndicate then determines whether to bid on the issue with a financial guarantee (and if so, with which financial guarantor) or without a financial guarantee. The issuer then generally selects the syndicate with the lowest bid. In a negotiated offering, the issuer has
already selected an investment bank and that investment bank solicits premium quotes and terms from the financial guarantors.
Ambac Assurance also provides financial guarantees on public finance bonds outstanding in the secondary market that are typically purchased by an institution to facilitate the sale of bonds in its portfolio or inventory. The financial guarantee generally increases the sale price of bonds (typically by an amount greater than the cost of the policy) and affords a wider secondary market and therefore greater marketability to a given issue of previously issued bonds. As is the case with new issues, the premium is generally payable in full at the time of policy issuance. Ambac Assurance employs the same underwriting standards on secondary market issues that it does on new public finance issues.
As of December 31, 2004 and 2003, net outstanding par exposure related to public finance bond transactions was $239.7 billion and $215.3 billion, respectively. See “Financial Guarantees in Force-Types of Bonds” section, for a breakout of net outstanding par exposure by bond type.
U.S. Structured Finance and Asset-backed Market
Financial guarantees of securities in the U.S. structured finance and asset-backed market are typically issued in connection with transactions in which the securities being issued are secured by or payable from a specific pool of financial or tangible assets. This pool of assets has an identifiable cash flow or market value and is generally held by a special purpose entity. Structured finance and asset-backed obligations insured by Ambac Assurance generally have the benefit of over-collateralization and/or other forms of credit enhancement to mitigate credit risks associated with the related assets. These forms of credit enhancement are designed to absorb the expected losses in these transactions.
Structured finance obligations include the securitization of a variety of asset types such as mortgages, home equity loans, auto loans, student loans, credit card debt, leases, commercial asset-backed securities and pooled debt obligations originated in the United States (“Structured Finance”). Currently, the largest component of Ambac’s Structured Finance business relates to the securitization of mortgages and home equity loans. Another target area in Structured Finance is the credit enhancement of pooled debt obligations, including structured credit derivatives. These transactions involve the securitization of a diverse portfolio of corporate bonds and loan obligations and asset-backed securities (the “Securitized Assets”). The transaction structure provides certain financial protection to Ambac. This financial protection can take several forms, however, the most common are over-collateralization, first loss retention and excess spread. In the case of over-collateralization (i.e., the principal amount of the Securitized Assets exceeds the principal amount of the structured finance obligations guaranteed by Ambac Assurance), the structure allows the transaction to experience defaults among the Securitized Assets before a default is experienced on the structured finance obligations that have been guaranteed by Ambac. In the case of first loss retention, the financial guarantee insurance policy only covers a senior layer of losses. A subordinated layer of losses is either retained by the seller or sold off in the form of equity and mezzanine debt to other investors. In the case of excess spread, the financial assets generate cash flow in the form of interest that is in excess of the interest payments on the related debt. All or a portion of this excess spread is applied to redeem structured finance obligations, thus creating over-collateralization.
Structured finance also encompasses credit enhancement for asset-backed commercial paper conduits (“conduits”). Conduits are used by issuers to efficiently fund assets in the
short-term commercial paper market. Typically sponsored by financial institutions, the conduits usually purchase financial assets and asset-backed securities, and issue commercial paper to fund the purchase of the assets. The typical conduit structure provides Ambac with significant credit protection prior to a claim on Ambac’s insurance policy. A conduit requires program-wide credit enhancement as one of several elements needed to support the conduit’s credit rating for the structure, of which Ambac provides a senior portion.
Unlike the public finance market in which a substantial portion of the deals is bid competitively by the financial guarantors, the structured and asset-backed market is essentially a negotiated one. The financial guarantor will work directly with the investment bank or client to create an acceptable structure once having been awarded the business.
The U.S. structured finance and asset-backed market in which Ambac Assurance provides financial guarantees is broad and varied, comprising public issues and private placements. The increasing array of classes of assets securitized or guaranteed, and the recent rapid changes to the market, makes estimating the size of the markets that we participate in difficult.
Premiums for structured finance and asset-backed policies are typically based on a percentage of principal insured. The timing of the collection of structured finance and asset-backed premiums can be collected in a single payment at policy inception date or collected periodically (e.g., monthly, quarterly or annually) from the cash flow generated by the underlying assets.
As of December 31, 2004 and 2003, net outstanding par exposure related to U.S. structured finance and asset-backed transactions was $132.5 billion and $124.1 billion, respectively. See “Financial Guarantees in Force-Types of Bonds” section, for a breakout of net outstanding par exposure by bond type.
International Finance Market
Outside of the United States, structured and asset-backed issuers, utilities, sovereign and sub-sovereign issuers, and other issuers are increasingly using financial guarantee products, particularly in markets throughout Western Europe. A number of important trends in international finance markets have contributed to this expansion. In the United Kingdom, ongoing privatization efforts have shifted certain risks associated with the development or operation of infrastructure projects from the government to market participants, thus prompting investors in such projects to seek the security of financial guarantee products. These privatization efforts are currently being initiated in other European countries, including Spain, Portugal and Italy. In Western Europe and the emerging markets, there also is growing interest in asset-backed securitization.
While the principles of securitization have been increasingly applied in overseas markets, development in particular countries has varied as a result of the relative sophistication of the local capital markets and the impact of legal and financial regulatory requirements. It is anticipated that securitization will continue to expand internationally, albeit at varying rates in each country. Ambac Assurance, and through its United Kingdom subsidiary Ambac Assurance UK Limited, insures a wide array of obligations in the international finance markets including infrastructure finance, asset-backed and structured finance transactions, utilities, whole company securitizations (i.e. securitizations of substantially all of the operating assets of corporate credits typically engaged in the provision of utility services or infrastructure) and other obligations in selected international finance markets.
Ambac Assurance’s strategy in the international finance markets is to strengthen its franchise in developed markets by focusing on high quality infrastructure, structured finance, securitization, and utility finance transactions, and in emerging markets by focusing on top tier future flow transactions (structured transactions secured by U.S. Dollar cash flows generated from exports or payment remittances) and pooled debt obligations.
Ambac UK, which is authorized and regulated in the United Kingdom to provide certain classes of general financial guarantees (and is also authorized to conduct business throughout much of the European Union), has been Ambac Assurance’s primary vehicle for directly issuing financial guarantee policies in the United Kingdom and European Union. In February 2005, Ambac UK has established a branch office in Milan, Italy. Ambac UK has entered into net worth maintenance and reinsurance agreements with Ambac Assurance, which support its triple-A ratings.
Ambac Assurance is party to an alliance in Japan with Sompo Japan Insurance Inc. (“Sompo Japan”). Although the development of the Japanese securitization market has been slow, we believe that this alliance is competitively positioned for future growth.
While there is evidence that the volume of international structured finance transactions has increased significantly in the recent past, unlike the public finance and domestic asset-backed markets, there are few statistics that effectively track volume in the global markets. There are several reasons for this, including the varied nature of the deals coming to market, the early stages of development of certain asset classes and the fact that many international deals are privately placed.
Premiums for international finance policies are based on a percentage of either principal or principal and interest insured. The timing of the collection of international finance premiums varies among individual transactions; some being collected in a single payment at policy inception date, and others being collected periodically (i.e., monthly, quarterly or annually).
As of December 31, 2004 and 2003, net outstanding par exposure related to international finance transactions was $87.3 billion and $86.4 billion, respectively. See “Financial Guarantees in Force - Types of Bonds” section, for a breakout of net outstanding par exposure by bond type.
Risk Management
Ambac Financial Group has a Portfolio Risk Management Committee (“PRMC”) which has established various procedures and controls to monitor and manage credit risk. The PRMC consists of senior risk management professionals and senior management of Ambac Financial Group. Its purview is enterprise-wide and its focus is on risk limits and measurement, concentration and correlation of risk, and the attribution of economic and regulatory capital in a portfolio context.
Underwriting guidelines, policies and procedures have been developed by Ambac Assurance’s management with the intent that Ambac Assurance guarantees only those obligations which, in the opinion of Ambac Assurance underwriting officers, are of investment grade quality with a remote risk of loss. However, losses may occur from time to time and it is Ambac Assurance’s policy to provide for loss reserves on non-derivative insurance policies that are adequate to cover probable and estimable losses. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and Note 2 and Note 6 of Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements in Ambac Financial Group’s 2004 Annual Report to Stockholders.
The underwriting process involves review of structural, legal, political and credit issues, including compliance with current Ambac Assurance underwriting standards. These standards are reviewed periodically by management. Additionally, the underwriting process often entails on-site due diligence covering the parties to the transaction, such as the issuer, originator, servicer or manager.
The decision to guarantee an issue is based upon such credit factors as the issuer’s ability to repay the bonds, the bond’s security features and the bond’s structure, rather than upon an actuarial prediction of the likelihood that the issuer will default on the underlying debt obligation.
Members of Ambac Assurance’s underwriting staff review all requests for guarantees. The underwriting process is designed to screen issues and begins with a credit analysis by the primary analyst assigned to the issue. The credit is then reviewed within the primary analyst’s underwriting group. At a minimum, the primary analyst’s recommendation to qualify or reject an issue must be approved by a concurring analyst and a credit officer. The number of additional approvals required for a particular credit depends in part on Ambac Assurance’s aggregate exposure to the credit. In some cases, the complexity of the credit or whether it is a new asset type are determining factors in the approval/review process. Ambac Assurance has three established credit committees comprised of senior credit officers, credit and market risk managers and attorneys. All Structured and International Finance credits and large, complex or new types of Public Finance credits, recommended by the underwriting group, must be formally presented to the credit committee for approval. For certain Public Finance issues, the primary analyst’s recommendation must be approved by a concurring analyst and credit officer and need not be formally presented to the credit committee for approval.
Ambac Assurance assigns internal ratings to individual exposures as part of the underwriting process and at surveillance reviews. These internal ratings, which represent Ambac Assurance’s independent judgments, are based upon underlying credit parameters similar to those used by rating agencies.
Public Finance Underwriting:
In addition to general underwriting standards, each asset class, and bond type within each asset class, has more specific underwriting criteria. For example, the critical risk factors for public finance credits will include the credit quality of the issuer, type of issue, the repayment source, the type of security pledged, the presence of restrictive covenants, and the bond’s maturity. Each bond issue is evaluated in accordance with, and the final premium rate is a function of, the particular factors as they relate to such issue.
Underwriting criteria that are applied for each bond type reflect the differences in, for example, economic and social factors, debt management, project essentiality, financial management, legal and administrative factors, revenue sources and security features.
Structured Finance Underwriting:
Structured finance and asset-backed obligations generally entail three forms of risks: asset risk, which relates to the amount and quality of the underlying assets; structural risk, which relates to the extent to which the transaction’s legal structure provides protection from loss; and execution risk, which is the risk that poor performance at the servicer or manager level contributes to a decline in cash flow available to the transaction. Ambac Assurance addresses these risks through its credit underwriting guidelines, standards and procedures.
In general, the amount and quality of asset coverage required is determined by the historical performance of the underlying asset type or the transaction’s specific underlying assets. The future performance or value of the underlying pool of assets will generally determine whether the amount of over-collateralization or other credit enhancement ultimately is sufficient to protect investors, and therefore the guarantor, against adverse asset performance. The ability of the servicer or manager to properly service and/or manage the underlying assets often is a factor in determining future asset performance.
Structured and asset-backed securities are usually designed to protect the investors, and therefore the guarantor, from the bankruptcy or insolvency of the entity that originated the underlying assets as well as from the bankruptcy or insolvency of the servicer of those assets. The servicer of the assets is typically responsible for collecting cash payments on the underlying assets and forwarding such payments, net of servicing fees, to the special purpose entity. Other issues include whether the sale of the assets by the originator to the issuer would be respected in the event of the bankruptcy or insolvency of the originator and whether the servicer of the assets may be permitted or required to delay the remittance to investors of any cash collections held by it or received by it after the time it becomes subject to bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings.
Within the mortgage-backed and home equity loan market, Ambac Assurance seeks to work with higher quality, well-capitalized issuers. The issuers typically originate or purchase residential mortgages, home equity loans or home equity lines of credit, which are in turn sold by the issuers in the form of asset-backed securities. In considering whether to guarantee these securities, Ambac Assurance analyzes the quality of the underlying assets, the structure of the securitization, the experience and financial strength of the servicer of the underlying assets and the credit quality of the issuer.
The following table presents the top five servicers by net par outstanding, for the consumer asset-backed exposures, are as follows:
International Finance Underwriting:
In the international markets, Ambac Assurance seeks to guarantee transactions of the same high credit standards it applies in its U.S. business. However, an understanding of the unique risks related to the particular country and region that could impact the credit of the issuer is necessary. These risks include legal and political environments, capital market dynamics, foreign exchange issues, and the degree of governmental support. Ambac Assurance monitors these risks carefully and addresses them through its credit underwriting guidelines, (which include country limits), underwriting procedures and transaction documentation.
Geographically, the markets receiving Ambac Assurance’s primary international focus have been the United Kingdom, Australia, Italy, Germany and certain parts of Latin America. In addition, Ambac Assurance has guaranteed transactions in which the geographic risk is spread over multiple countries. The types of international obligations guaranteed have primarily been pooled debt obligations, asset-backed securities, special revenue and infrastructure obligations.
Management believes that risk associated with its international book of business is similar in risk type to its domestic structured finance book of business and, in fact, international transactions may include components of domestic exposure.
Pricing:
Ambac Assurance determines premium rates on the basis of the type of transaction and its assessment of the risk it is assuming. Factors considered in pricing include term to maturity, structure of the issue, and credit and market factors including security features and other credit enhancement features. Additionally, the interest rate spread between insured and uninsured obligations with characteristics similar to those of the proposed bond issue is considered in the pricing process as well as the cost and the projected return to Ambac Assurance. The premium rate for a new issue also takes into account the benefits to be obtained by the issuer.
Overall, the business environment has become more competitive. This increased competition has had a moderately adverse impact on pricing. Credit spreads and pricing continue to provide adequate returns in most markets.
Surveillance and Remediation:
The Surveillance Group is responsible for monitoring outstanding financial guarantee exposures. Active surveillance enables Ambac’s Surveillance Group to track single credit migration or industry credit trends. Surveillance analysts review, on a regular and ad hoc basis, credits in the book of business. Risk-adjusted surveillance strategies have been developed for each transaction type. Review periods and scope of review vary by bond type based upon the risk inherent in the nature of the credits. The focus of the surveillance review is to determine credit trends and recommend appropriate classifications, ratings and review periods. Surveillance analysts and other credit professionals review the financial guarantee portfolio for concentration of risk by (i) specific bond types; (ii) geographic location; and (iii) size of issue. The separate underwriting groups are also responsible for portfolio analysis which entails a broader examination of trends in specific asset classes and bond types.
Surveillance of the credit quality of underlying reference obligations in the structured credit derivatives portfolio is performed on a regular basis. Credit spreads, which act as a measure of the market’s perception of an issuer’s credit quality, are monitored to identify potential problems. In addition, published credit ratings and current news reports are monitored regularly.
Those issues that are either in default or have developed problems that eventually may lead to a claim or loss are tracked closely by the appropriate surveillance team and reporting to management and Ambac’s Board of Directors by preparation of an adversely classified credit listing. Relevant information, along with the schedule of corrective actions, is reviewed in the regular remedial credit meetings. Internal and/or external counsel generally reviews the documents underlying any problem credit and if applicable, an analysis is prepared outlining Ambac Assurance’s rights and potential remedies, the duties of all parties involved and recommendations for corrective actions. Ambac Assurance also meets with relevant parties to the transaction as necessary. In many instances, Ambac Assurance, under the terms of the documents governing the underlying obligation, has the ability, among other things, to direct that audits be performed with respect to servicer and trustee contractual responsibilities.
The rating agencies also review the credits underlying Ambac Assurance’s financial guarantees and, in most cases, advise Ambac Assurance of the credit rating each transaction would receive if it were not insured.
Financial Guarantees in Force
Ambac Assurance underwrites and prices financial guarantees on the assumption that the guarantee will remain in force until maturity of the underlying bonds. Ambac Assurance estimates that the average life of its guarantees on par in force at December 31, 2004 was 11 years. The 11 year average life is determined by applying a weighted average calculation, using the remaining years to expected maturity of each guaranteed bond, and weighting them on the basis of the remaining par guaranteed. No assumptions are made for future refundings of guaranteed issues.
Ambac Assurance seeks to maintain a diversified financial guarantee portfolio designed to spread its risk based on a variety of criteria, including issue size, type of bond, geographic area and issuer.
As of December 31, 2004, the total net par amount of guaranteed bonds outstanding was $459.4 billion.
Types of Bonds
The table below shows the distribution by bond type of Ambac Assurance’s guaranteed portfolio as of December 31, 2004.
Guaranteed Portfolio by Bond Type
as of December 31, 2004 (1)
(1) Included in the above exposures is $43,478 of structured credit derivatives at December 31, 2004.
(2) International Finance transactions includes components of domestic exposure.
The table below shows the percentage, by bond type, of new business guaranteed by Ambac Assurance during each of the last three years.
New Business Guaranteed by Bond Type (1)
(1) Stated as a percentage of total gross par amounts guaranteed during such year.
Issue Size
Ambac Assurance seeks a broad coverage of the market by guaranteeing small and large issues alike. Ambac Assurance’s financial guarantee exposure in the U.S. public finance market as of December 31, 2004 reflects the historical emphasis on issues guaranteed with an original par amount of less than $25 million. However, U.S. structured finance and international finance transactions have an emphasis on larger deals. The following table sets forth the distribution of Ambac Assurance’s guaranteed portfolio as of December 31, 2004, with respect to the original size of each guaranteed issue:
Par Amount Per Issue
as of December 31, 2004
Geographic Area
Ambac Assurance is licensed to write business in the U.S. and abroad. The following table sets forth the geographic distribution of Ambac Assurance’s insured exposure as of December 31, 2004.
Guaranteed Portfolio by Geographic Area as of December 31, 2004
Mortgage and asset-backed obligations include guarantees with multiple locations of risk within the United States. Internationally diversified includes pooled debt obligations which includes components of domestic exposure.
The table below shows the distribution by currency of Ambac Assurance’s guaranteed portfolio as of December 31, 2004:
Single Risk
Ambac Assurance has adopted underwriting and exposure management policies designed to limit the net guarantees in force for any one credit. In addition, Ambac Assurance uses reinsurance to limit net exposure to any one credit. The highest single insured risk represented less than 1.0% of aggregate net par amount insured. Ambac Assurance is also subject to certain regulatory limits and rating agency guidelines on exposure to a single credit. See “Insurance Regulatory Matters” and “Rating Agencies,” sections.
Competition
The financial guarantee business is highly competitive. Ambac Assurance’s principal competitors in the market for financial guarantees are three other triple-A rated monoline insurance companies, Financial Guaranty Insurance Company (“FGIC”), Financial Security Assurance Inc. (“FSA Guarantee”) and MBIA Insurance Corporation (“MBIA”). XL Capital Assurance, Inc. (“XL”) is also a triple-A rated insurance company, and while generally not a strong competitor in the broad market, it has been strong in certain sectors of the market. In addition, banks, smaller and lower rated financial guarantee insurance companies, multiline insurers and reinsurers represent additional participants in the market.
The principal competitive factors are: (i) premium rates; (ii) conditions precedent to the issuance of a policy related to the structure and security features of a proposed bond issue; (iii) the financial strength of the guarantor; and (iv) the quality of service provided to issuers, investors and other clients of the issuer. With respect to each of these competitive factors, Ambac Assurance believes it is on at least equal footing with each of its principal competitors. Financial guarantee insurance competes with other forms of credit enhancement, including senior-subordinate structures and letters of credit issued by other financial institutions. Financial guarantee insurance also competes, in nearly all instances, with the issuer’s alternative of foregoing credit enhancement and paying a higher interest rate. If the interest savings from insurance are not greater than the cost of insurance, the issuer will generally choose to issue bonds without credit enhancement. Credit spreads are a significant factor in the issuer’s determination of whether or not to seek credit enhancement. Credit spreads represent the difference in interest cost for issuers, under different credit rating scenarios. As credit spreads tighten, the likelihood that issuers will choose to issue bonds without credit enhancement increases.
The current environment is very competitive. Senior subordinated structures in the mortgage-backed sector reduced the number of transactions eligible for insurance. As a result of the tight credit spreads noted above, the pooled debt obligation market has decreased significantly, adversely impacting Ambac’s growth in the market. Competitive and credit trends such as the ones we are currently experiencing in mortgage-backed securities and international pooled debt obligations are a normal part of Ambac’s business.
In order to enter the financial guarantee market certain requirements must be met, most restrictive of which is that a significant minimum amount of capital is required of a financial guarantor in order to obtain triple-A financial strength ratings by the rating agencies. These capital requirements may deter other companies from entering the market. However, there can be no assurance that these capital requirements will deter potential competitors from entering the business. Additionally, the market may increasingly accept guarantees by double-A or lower rated insurers, who have less stringent capital requirements. Under the New York law, a monoline financial guaranty insurer must have at least $75 million of paid-in capital and surplus and maintain thereafter at least $65 million of policyholders’ surplus. A similar law in California imposes a $100 million minimum capital and surplus requirement, with a maintenance requirement thereafter of $75 million.
Reinsurance
State insurance laws and regulations (as well as the rating agencies) impose minimum capital requirements and single risk limits on financial guarantee insurance companies, limiting the aggregate amount of insurance which may be written and the maximum size of any single risk exposure which may be underwritten. Ambac uses reinsurance to diversify risk, increase underwriting capacity, manage capital needs, stabilize shareholder returns and strengthen financial ratios. See “Insurance Regulatory Matters,” section.
Ambac Assurance has facultative and treaty reinsurance agreements with reinsurers that allow Ambac Assurance to reduce its large risks, to manage its portfolio of insurance by bond type and geographic distribution, and to provide additional capacity for frequent bond issuers. Ambac Assurance’s current reinsurance program includes a surplus share treaty that allows Ambac Assurance to secure reinsurance on large domestic and international transactions. Additionally, Ambac Assurance utilizes facultative reinsurance when needed. A ceding commission is withheld by Ambac Assurance to defray its underwriting and operating expenses. The largest reinsurer accounts for 2% of gross par outstanding at December 31, 2004. See Note 15 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Ambac Financial Group’s 2004 Annual Report to Stockholders.
The following table shows the distribution by bond type of Ambac Assurance’s ceded guaranteed portfolio at December 31, 2004:
Ceded Guaranteed Portfolio by Bond Type
as of December 31, 2004
As a primary financial guarantor, Ambac Assurance is required to honor its obligations to its policyholders whether or not its reinsurers perform their obligations under the various reinsurance agreements with Ambac Assurance. To minimize its exposure to significant losses from reinsurer insolvencies, Ambac Assurance (i) monitors the financial condition of its reinsurers, (ii) has collateral provisions in certain reinsurance contracts, and (iii) has certain cancellation rights that can be exercised by Ambac Assurance in the event of a rating downgrade of a reinsurer. Ambac Assurance’s current primary reinsurers are Ace Guaranty Corporation, Assured Guarantee Reinsurance International, Ltd., Financial Guarantee Insurance Co., MBIA, Radian Reinsurance Inc., Ram Reinsurance Company, Ltd. and Sompo Japan. See financial strength ratings of reinsurers located under the Ceded Premiums Written section of the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Ambac Financial Group’s 2004 Annual Report to Stockholders.
Rating Agencies
Moody’s, S&P, Fitch and R&I periodically review the business and financial condition of Ambac Assurance and other companies providing financial guarantees. These rating agencies’ reviews focus on the guarantor’s underwriting policies and procedures and the quality of the
obligations guaranteed. The rating agencies have access to all insured obligations and frequently perform assessments of the credits guaranteed by Ambac Assurance to confirm that Ambac Assurance continues to meet the capital allocation criteria considered necessary by the particular rating agency to maintain Ambac Assurance’s triple-A ratings. Ambac Assurance’s ratings have been periodically affirmed by each of the rating agencies and have never been revised downward or put on review for a possible downgrade. Moody’s, S&P, Fitch and R&I’s ratings were last reaffirmed in 2004. A rating by Moody’s, S&P, Fitch or R&I, however, is not a “market rating” or a recommendation to buy, hold or sell any security. Ambac Assurance’s ability to attract new business or to compete with other triple-A rated financial guarantors, and its results of operations and financial condition, would be adversely affected in a material way by any reduction in its ratings.
Insurance Regulatory Matters
General Law
Ambac Assurance is licensed to transact financial guarantee and surety business as an insurance company in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territory of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Ambac Assurance is subject to the insurance laws and regulations of the State of Wisconsin (the “Wisconsin Insurance Laws”), its state of incorporation, and the insurance laws and regulations of other states in which it is licensed to transact business. These laws and regulations, as well as the level of supervisory authority that may be exercised by the various state insurance departments, vary by jurisdiction. They generally require financial guarantors to maintain minimum standards of business conduct and solvency, meet certain financial tests, file certain reports with regulatory authorities, including information concerning their capital structure, ownership and financial condition. They generally require prior approval of certain changes in control of domestic financial guarantors and their direct and indirect parents and the payment of certain dividends and distributions. In addition, these laws and regulations require approval of certain inter-corporate transfers of assets and certain transactions between financial guarantors and their direct and indirect parents and affiliates. They generally require that all such transactions have terms no less favorable than terms that would result from transactions between parties negotiating at arm’s length. Ambac Assurance is required to file quarterly and annual statutory financial statements with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”), and if required, each jurisdiction in which it is licensed. It is subject to single and aggregate risk limits and other statutory restrictions concerning the types and quality of investments and the filing and use of policy forms and premium rates. Additionally, Ambac Assurance’s accounts and operations are subject to periodic examination by the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance of the State of Wisconsin (the “Wisconsin Commissioner”) and other state insurance regulatory authorities. See Note 17 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Ambac Financial Group’s 2004 Annual Report to Stockholders.
Ambac UK, an Ambac Assurance wholly owned subsidiary, is licensed to transact credit, suretyship and financial guarantee insurance in the United Kingdom and to offer insurance services into thirteen other European Union countries. Ambac Credit Products Limited, also an Ambac Assurance wholly-owned subsidiary, is licensed in the United Kingdom to transact credit default derivatives, as well as act as agent for Ambac Credit Products LLP and Ambac Capital Funding. Ambac Credit Products Limited is currently able to offer services in two other European Union countries.
Ambac UK and Ambac Credit products Limited are each subject to regulation by the Financial Services Authority (“FSA”) of the United Kingdom in the conduct of their business.
Under FSA regulations, each company is subject to certain requirements and limits, including risk assessments and the maintenance of a minimum margin of solvency. The FSA monitors each regulated company through site visits and required financial filings. The FSA requires approval of related party transactions and requires that all such transactions have terms no less favorable than terms that would result from transactions between parties negotiating at arm’s length.
Ambac Financial Group believes that Ambac Assurance and Ambac UK are in material compliance with all applicable insurance laws and regulations.
Insurance Holding Company Laws
Under the Wisconsin insurance holding company laws, any acquisition of control of Ambac Financial Group and thereby indirect control of Ambac Assurance requires the prior approval of the Wisconsin Commissioner. “Control” is 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 Wisconsin Commissioner, upon application, determines otherwise. For purposes of this test, Ambac Financial Group believes that a holder of common stock having the right to cast 10% of the votes which may be cast by the holders of all shares of common stock of Ambac Financial Group would be deemed to have control of Ambac Assurance within the meaning of the Wisconsin Insurance Laws.
Pursuant to these laws, FMR Corporation and JP Morgan Chase obtained approval from the Wisconsin Commissioner to acquire greater than 10% of Ambac Financial Group’s common stock. As of December 31, 2004, their percentage of ownership was approximately 10.14% and 10.10%, respectively. In their request for approval from the Wisconsin Commissioner, both FMR Corporation and JP Morgan Chase disclaimed any present intent to exercise control over Ambac Financial Group or Ambac Assurance or to control or attempt to control the management of operations of Ambac Financial Group or Ambac Assurance.
The Wisconsin insurance holding company laws also require prior approval by the Wisconsin Commissioner of certain transactions between Ambac Assurance and companies affiliated with Ambac Assurance.
Wisconsin Dividend Restrictions
Pursuant to the Wisconsin Insurance Laws, Ambac Assurance may declare dividends, subject to any restriction in its articles of incorporation, provided that, after giving effect to the distribution, it would not violate certain statutory equity, solvency, income and asset tests. Distributions to the shareholder (other than stock dividends) must be reported to the Wisconsin Commissioner. Extraordinary dividends must be reported prior to payment and are subject to disapproval by the Wisconsin Commissioner. An extraordinary dividend is defined as a dividend or distribution, the fair market value of which, together with all dividends from the preceding 12 months, exceeds the lesser of: (a) 10% of policyholders’ surplus as of the preceding December 31 or (b) the greater of: (i) statutory net income for the calendar year preceding the date of the dividend or distribution, minus realized capital gains for that calendar year; or (ii) the aggregate of statutory net income for the three calendar years preceding the date of the dividend or distribution, minus realized capital gains for those calendar years and minus dividends paid or credited and distributions made within the first two of the preceding three calendar years.
During 2004, 2003 and 2002, Ambac Assurance paid to Ambac Financial Group, Inc. cash dividends on its common stock totaling $103.0 million, $89.6 million and $78.0 million, respectively. See Note 17 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Ambac Financial Group’s 2004 Annual Report to Stockholders.
Statutory Contingency Reserve
Ambac Assurance is required to establish a mandatory contingency reserve in accordance with the NAIC Accounting Practices and Procedures manual (“NAIC SAP”) and the Wisconsin Administrative Code. Under NAIC SAP, financial guarantors are required to establish a contingency reserve equal to the greater of 50% of premiums written or a stated percentage of the principal guaranteed depending on the category of obligation insured. However, under the Wisconsin Administrative Code, a municipal bond insurer is required to establish a contingency reserve consisting of 50% of earned premiums on policies of municipal bond insurance. The only exemption is when another jurisdiction in which the insurer is licensed requires a larger contingency reserve than required by the Wisconsin Administrative Code. Ambac Assurance calculates contributions using both methodologies and records the higher contribution amount. Contributions are required to be made in equal quarterly installments over a period of 20 years for municipal bonds and 15 years for all other obligations. Under NAIC SAP, contributions may be discontinued if the total reserve established for all categories exceeds the sum of the stated percentages contained therein multiplied by the unpaid principal balance. This reserve must be maintained for the periods specified above, except that the guarantor may be permitted to release reserves under specified circumstances in the event that actual loss experience exceeds certain thresholds or if the reserve accumulated is deemed excessive in relation to the guarantor’s outstanding guaranteed obligations, with notice to or approval by the insurance commissioner.
New York Financial Guarantee Insurance Law
New York’s comprehensive financial guarantee insurance law governs the conduct of business of all financial guarantors licensed to do business in New York, including Ambac Assurance. Financial guarantors are also required to maintain case basis credit loss and loss expense reserves and unearned premium reserves on a basis established by the statute.
The New York financial guarantee insurance law establishes single risk limits with respect to obligations insured by financial guaranty insurers. Such limits are specific to the type of insured obligation (for example, municipal or asset-backed). The limits generally compare the insured principal amount outstanding and/or average annual debt service on the insured obligations, net of reinsurance and collateral, for a single risk to the insurer’s qualified statutory capital, which is defined as the sum of the insurer’s policyholders’ surplus and contingency reserves. As of December 31, 2004 and 2003, Ambac Assurance and its subsidiaries were in compliance with these regulatory requirements.
Aggregate risk limits are also established on the basis of aggregate net liability and policyholders’ surplus requirements. “Aggregate net liability” is defined as the aggregate of the outstanding insured principal, interest and other payments of guaranteed obligations, net of reinsurance and collateral. Under these limits, policyholders’ surplus and contingency reserves must at least equal a percentage of aggregate net liability that is equal to the sum of various percentages of aggregate net liability for various categories of specified obligations. The percentage varies from 0.33% for municipal bonds to 4.00% for certain non-investment grade obligations. As of December 31, 2004 and 2003, Ambac Assurance and its subsidiaries were in compliance with these regulatory requirements.
Financial Guarantee Insurance Regulation in Other States
The Wisconsin insurance laws and regulations governing municipal bond guarantors are similar to those in New York. The Wisconsin regulations also include certain single and aggregate risk limitations. The average annual debt service for any single issue of municipal bonds may not exceed 10% of Ambac Assurance’s policyholders’ surplus. In addition, Ambac Assurance’s cumulative net liability, defined as one-third of one percent of the guaranteed unpaid principal and interest covered by current municipal bond insurance policies, may not exceed its qualified statutory capital, which is defined as the sum of its capital and surplus and contingency reserve. As of December 31, 2004 and 2003, Ambac Assurance and its subsidiaries were in compliance with these regulatory requirements.
California has financial guarantee insurance laws similar in structure to those of New York. None of the risk limits established in California’s legislation with respect to business transacted by Ambac Assurance are more stringent in any material respect than the corresponding provisions in the New York financial guarantee insurance statute.
In addition to the laws and regulations of New York, Wisconsin and California, Ambac Assurance is subject to laws and regulations of other states concerning the transaction of financial guarantees, none of which is more stringent in any material respect than the New York financial guarantee insurance statute.
Financial Services
Ambac Financial Group’s Financial Services segment provides financial and investment products including investment agreements, interest rate and total return swaps and funding conduits principally to clients of the financial guarantee business, which includes municipalities and other public entities, health care organizations, asset-backed and structured finance issuers.
Financial services revenues are primarily derived from: (i) gross investment income; (ii) net swap revenues; and (iii) net realized gains and losses on sales of securities. Total revenues were $236.3 million, $231.4 million and $137.4 million in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.
The principal competitive factors among providers of financial service products that Ambac Financial Group offers are: (1) pricing of contracts; (2) investment returns; (3) the financial strength of the financial guarantee provider; (4) the ability to provide services tailored to customers’ needs; and (5) the quality of service provided to customers. With respect to each of these competitive factors, Ambac Financial Group believes that it is on equal footing with its principal competitors.
Investment Agreements
The principal purpose of Ambac Capital Funding is to provide investment agreements, including repurchase agreements, primarily to municipalities and their authorities, states, and asset-backed and structured finance issuers. Investment agreements are used by municipal bond issuers to invest bond proceeds until such proceeds can be used for their intended purpose, such as financing construction. Investment agreements used in structured financings provide a guaranteed investment return customized to meet expected cash flow requirements.
The investment agreement provides for the guaranteed return of principal invested, as well as the payment of interest thereon at a guaranteed rate and is rated triple-A by virtue of Ambac Assurance’s financial guarantee policy, which guarantees its payment obligations.
Ambac Capital Funding manages its balance sheet to protect against a number of risks inherent in its business including liquidity, market (principally interest rate), credit, operational and legal risk. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis - Risk Management” in Ambac Financial Group’s 2004 Annual Report to Stockholders. Ambac Capital Funding is managed with the goal of matching the payment schedule of the invested assets, including hedges, to the payment schedule of the investment agreement liabilities in order to minimize market and liquidity risk.
A source of liquidity risk is the ability of some counterparties to withdraw moneys on dates other than those specified in the draw down schedule. Liquidity risk is somewhat mitigated by provisions in certain of the investment agreements that limit a counterparty’s ability to draw on the funds and by risk management procedures that require the regular re-evaluation and re-projection of draw down schedules. Investments are restricted to fixed income securities with a credit quality such that the overall minimum average portfolio credit quality is maintained at Aa/AA. Based upon management’s projections, Ambac Capital Funding maintains funds invested in cash and cash equivalents to meet short-term liquidity needs.
The following table sets forth the net payments due under Ambac Capital Funding’s settled investment agreements in each of the next five years ending December 31 and the period thereafter, based on expected call dates:
Investment Agreements Obligations
(1) As of December 31, 2004, the interest rates on these agreements ranged from 1.10% to 8.08%.
Ambac Capital Funding may use interest rate swap contracts in the normal course of business for hedging purposes as part of its overall cash flow risk management. Interest rate swap contracts are agreements where Ambac Capital Funding agrees with other parties to exchange, at specified intervals, the difference between fixed-rate and floating-rate interest amounts or the difference between different interest rate indices calculated by reference to an agreed upon notional amount.
Ambac Securities principal business is to serve as the placement agent and dealer for securities issued by Ambac Capital Funding in private placement transactions. Ambac Securities is registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC and with certain states that require such registration, and it is a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. As a registered broker-dealer, Ambac Securities is subject to the net capital requirements of Rule 15c3-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which is designed to measure the general financial condition and liquidity of a broker-dealer. In accordance with this rule, the ratio of aggregate indebtedness to net capital (“net capital ratio”) shall not exceed 15 to 1. At December 31, 2004, Ambac Securities had net capital, as adjusted, of approximately
$0.6 million, which was $0.5 million in excess of its required net capital of $100 thousand. The net capital ratio was 0.08 to 1.0.
Derivative Products
Ambac Financial Services provides interest rate swaps and other derivative products primarily to states, municipalities and their authorities, issuers of asset-backed securities and other entities in connection with their financings. Ambac Financial Services generally hedges its transactions to mitigate sensitivity to overall interest rates. On interest rate swaps for municipalities, Ambac Financial Services is subject to the risk of changes in the relationship between tax-exempt and taxable interest rates, referred to as “basis risk.” If actual or projected tax-exempt interest rates change in relation to taxable rates, Ambac Financial Services may experience a mark-to-market gain or loss. A portion of these municipal interest rate swaps transacted by Ambac Financial Services contain provisions that are designed to protect Ambac Financial Group against certain forms of tax reform, thus mitigating its basis risk. The interest rate swaps provided by Ambac Financial Services are guaranteed by Ambac Assurance through policies that guarantee the obligations of Ambac Financial Services and its counterparties. Total return swaps, which are entered into by Ambac Capital Services, are only used for fixed income obligations, which meet Ambac Assurance’s credit underwriting criteria.
Ambac Financial Services and Ambac Capital Services are both wholly-owned subsidiaries of Ambac Assurance.
Ambac Financial Services and Ambac Capital Services manage a variety of risks inherent in their 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 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis - Risk Management” in Ambac Financial Group’s 2004 Annual Report to Stockholders.
Investments and Investment Policy
As of December 31, 2004, the consolidated investments of Ambac Financial Group had an aggregate fair value of approximately $14.8 billion and an aggregate amortized cost of approximately $14.3 billion. These investments are managed internally by officers of Ambac Financial Group, who are experienced investment managers. All investments are effected in accordance with the general objectives and guidelines for investments established by Ambac’s Board of Directors. These guidelines encompass credit quality, risk concentration and holding period, and are periodically reviewed and revised as appropriate.
Pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 115, “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities,” Ambac Financial Group has designated all investments as “available-for-sale” and reports them at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses considered temporary are excluded from earnings and reported as a component of “Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income”, in stockholders’ equity, net of tax. Unrealized losses that are considered other than temporary are recorded as a write down of the asset and are included in net income.
As of December 31, 2004, the Financial Guarantee investment portfolio had an aggregate fair value of approximately $8.7 billion and an aggregate amortized cost of approximately $8.3 billion. Ambac Assurance’s investment policy is designed to achieve diversification of its portfolio and only permits investment in fixed income securities, consistent
with its goal to achieve the highest after-tax, long-term return. This policy takes into consideration Ambac Assurance’s desire for both current income and long-term capital growth. Ambac Assurance is subject to limits on types and quality of investments imposed by the insurance laws and regulations of the States of Wisconsin and New York. In compliance with these laws, Ambac Assurance’s Board of Directors approves each specific investment transaction of Ambac Assurance. See “Insurance Regulatory Matters - General Law,” section.
As of December 31, 2004, the Financial Services investment portfolio had an aggregate fair value of approximately $6.1 billion and an aggregate amortized cost of approximately $5.9 billion. Ambac Capital Funding’s investment policy is designed to achieve the highest after-tax return on equity, subject to minimum average quality ratings. For further discussion, see “Investment Agreements,” section.
The following tables provide certain information concerning the investments of Ambac Financial Group:
Investments by Rating as of December 31, 2004 (1)
(1) Ratings represent S&P classifications. If unavailable, Moody’s rating is used.
Summary of Investments
As of December 31,
(1) Yields are stated on a pre-tax basis, based on average amortized cost.
(2) Includes taxable and tax-exempt investments.
Investments by Security Type
As of December 31,
(1) Yields are stated on a pre-tax basis, based on average amortized cost.
(2) Includes taxable and tax-exempt investments.
(3) The actual maturity dates of mortgage- and asset-backed securities are uncertain because the underlying collateral may be paid prior to the stated maturity of such securities. This possibility of prepayment creates the risk that Ambac Financial Group will be unable to replace such investments with securities of comparable yield.
Distribution of Investments by Maturity
as of December 31, 2004
(1) Includes securities with a fair value of $75.5 million, which are classified as long-term investments in the tables above but which mature within one year.
(2) The actual maturity dates of mortgage and asset-backed securities are uncertain because the underlying collateral may be paid prior to the stated maturity of such securities. This possibility of prepayment creates the risk that Ambac Financial Group will be unable to replace such investments with securities of comparable yield.
For further discussion, see Note 2 and 3 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Ambac Financial Group’s 2004 Annual Report to Stockholders.
Employees
As of December 31, 2004, Ambac Financial Group and its subsidiaries had 360 employees. None of the employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements. Ambac Financial Group considers its employee relations to be satisfactory.
Corporate Governance
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires Chief Executive Officers and Chief Financial Officers to make certain certifications with respect to this report and to the company’s disclosure control and procedures and internal control over financial reporting.
During the third quarter of 2002, Ambac Financial Group created a Disclosure Committee that has the responsibility for ensuring that there is an adequate and effective process for establishing, maintaining and evaluating disclosure controls and procedures for Ambac Financial Group in connection with its external disclosures. Ambac Financial Group has a Code of Business Conduct that expresses the values that drive employee behavior and maintains Ambac Financial Group’s commitment to the highest standards of conduct. This code can be found on Ambac Financial Group’s website at www.ambac.com by clicking on the “Investor Relations” page followed by “Corporate Governance”. Ambac Financial Group’s corporate governance guideline and the charters for the audit committee, governance committee and compensation committee are also available on our website under the “Corporate Governance” page.
Item 2.
Item 2.
Properties.
The principal executive offices of Ambac Financial Group are located at One State Street Plaza, New York, New York 10004. The telephone number is (212) 668-0340.
Ambac Assurance, Ambac Capital Funding, Ambac Financial Services, Ambac Capital Products and Ambac Capital Services maintain their principal executive offices at One State Street Plaza, New York, New York 10004, which consists of approximately 145,000 square feet of office space, under an agreement that expires on September 30, 2019. Ambac Assurance maintains other locations at Otemachi Financial Center 17th Floor, 5-4, Otemachi 1-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0004, Japan and at ABN AMRO Tower, L31, 88 Phillip Street, Sydney 2000 NSW, Australia. Both locations consist of approximately 1,000 square feet of office space.
Ambac UK and Ambac Capital Products Limited maintain its principal offices at Hasilwood House, 60 Bishopsgate, London EC2N4BE, England, which consists of 7,100 square feet of office space, under an agreement that expires in December 2006. Ambac UK has acquired rights to additional space of approximately 12,600 square feet at 6 Broadgate, London EC2 under an agreement that expires in September 2013 and also maintains a representative office at Regus Business Center S.r.l., Via Montedi Pieta N.21, 20121 Milano, Italy.
Ambac Financial Group owns an office building at 905 Marconi Avenue, Ronkonkoma, New York 11779. It currently rents the office space to PFM Asset Management, LLC under an agreement that expires in 2006. The office building consists of approximately 15,000 square feet of office space and storage.
Item 3.
Item 3.
Legal Proceedings.
There are no material lawsuits pending, or to the knowledge of Ambac Financial Group threatened, to which Ambac Financial Group or any of its majority-owned subsidiaries is a party.
Item 4.
Item 4.
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security-Holders.
There were no matters submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of 2004.
Part II
Item 5.
Item 5.
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters.
Information relating to the principal market on which Ambac Financial Group’s Common Stock is tradable, the high and low sales prices per share for each full quarterly period within the two most recent fiscal years, and the frequency and amount of any cash dividends declared for the two most recent fiscal years is set forth on the inside back cover of Ambac Financial Group’s 2004 Annual Report to Stockholders and such information is incorporated herein by reference. Information concerning restrictions on the payment of dividends is set forth in Item 1 above under the caption “Insurance Regulatory Matters - Wisconsin Dividend Restrictions.” As of March 7, 2005, there were 75 stockholders of record of Ambac Financial Group’s Common Stock, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Item 6.
Item 6.
Selected Financial Data.
Selected financial data for Ambac Financial Group and its subsidiaries for each of the last ten fiscal years is set forth under the captions “10-Year Performance” and “Financial Highlights” on page 7 and pages 8 and 9 respectively, of Ambac Financial Group’s 2004 Annual Report to Stockholders. Such information is incorporated herein by reference and should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes thereto contained on pages 42 through 69 of such Annual Report.
Item 7.
Item 7.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is set forth under the same caption on pages 18 through 38 of Ambac Financial Group’s 2004 Annual Report to Stockholders. Such information is incorporated herein by reference and should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes thereto contained on pages 42 through 69 of such Annual Report.
Item 7A.
Item 7A.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk is set forth under the caption Risk Management on pages 36 to 38 of Ambac Financial Group’s 2004 Annual Report to Stockholders. Such information is incorporated herein by reference and should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes thereto contained on pages 42 to 69 of such Annual Report.
Item 8.
Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
The 2004 Consolidated Financial Statements, together with the Notes thereto and the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Reports thereon, are set forth on pages 40 through 69 of Ambac Financial Group’s 2004 Annual Report to Stockholders. Such information is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.
Item 9.
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
None.
Item 9A.
Item 9A.
Controls and Procedures
(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. Ambac Financial Group’s management, with the participation of Ambac Financial Group’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of Ambac Financial Group’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on this evaluation, Ambac Financial Group’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the end of such period, Ambac Financial Group’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in recording, processing, summarizing and reporting, on a timely basis, information required to be disclosed by Ambac Financial Group (including its consolidated subsidiaries) in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act.
(b) Changes in Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting. There have not been any changes in Ambac Financial Group’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during Ambac Financial Group’s fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2004 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, Ambac Financial Group’s internal control over financial reporting.
The report called for by Item 308(a) of Regulation S-K is incorporated herein by reference to Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial reporting, included in Part II, Item 8 of this report.
The attestation report called for by Item 308 (b) of Regulation S-K is incorporated herein by reference to Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, included in Part II, Item 8 of this report.
Item 9B.
Item 9B.
Other Information
None.
Part III
Item 10.
Item 10.
Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant.
This item is omitted because a definitive proxy statement which involves the election of directors will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission not later than 120 days after the close of the fiscal year pursuant to Regulation 14A.
Item 11.
Item 11.
Executive Compensation.
This item is omitted because a definitive proxy statement which involves the election of directors will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission not later than 120 days after the close of the fiscal year pursuant to Regulation 14A.
Item 12.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.
This item is omitted because a definitive proxy statement which involves the election of directors will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission not later than 120 days after the close of the fiscal year pursuant to Regulation 14A.
Item 13.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.
None.
Item 14.
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
This item is omitted because a definitive proxy statement which involves the election of directors will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission not later than 120 days after the close of the fiscal year pursuant to Regulation 14A.
Part IV
Item 15.
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K.
(a) Documents filed as a part of this report:
1. Financial Statements
The following consolidated financial statements included in the 2004 Annual Report to Stockholders are incorporated herein by reference under Part II, Item 8:
2. Financial Statement Schedules
The financial statement schedules filed herein, which are the only schedules required to be filed, are as follows:
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
(Page S-1)
Schedule I
-
Summary of Investments Other Than Investments in Related Parties
(Page S-2)
Schedule II
-
Condensed Financial Information of Registrant (Parent Company Only)
(Pages S-3 to S-7)
Schedule IV
-
Reinsurance
(Page S-8)
3. Exhibits
The following items are annexed as exhibits:
+ Filed herewith.
+ Filed herewith.
* Management contract or compensatory plan, contract or arrangement required to be filed as an exhibit pursuant to Item 15(c) of Form 10-K.
+ Filed herewith.
* Management contract or compensatory plan, contract or arrangement required to be filed as an exhibit pursuant to Item 15(c) of Form 10-K.
* Management contract or compensatory plan, contract or arrangement required to be filed as an exhibit pursuant to Item 15(c) of Form 10-K.
+ Filed herewith.
++ Furnished herewith.
+ Filed herewith.
++ Furnished herewith.
(b) Reports on Form 8-K:
On January 26, 2005, Ambac Financial Group, Inc. filed a Current Report on Form 8-K with its January 26, 2005 press release containing unaudited financial information and accompanying discussion for the three months ended December 31, 2004 and the year ended December 31, 2004. On February 17, 2005, Ambac Financial Group, Inc. filed a Current Report on Form 8-K to describe ordinary course executive officer compensation actions taken by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Ambac Financial Group, Inc. On February 22, 2005, Ambac Financial Group, Inc. filed a Current Report on Form 8-K to disclose a retirement agreement, dated February 15, 2005, between Ambac Financial Group, Inc. and David L. Boyle.
SIGNATURES
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.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
* Thomas J. Gandolfo, by signing his name hereto, does hereby sign this Annual Report on Form 10-K on behalf of each of the directors and officers of the Registrant after whose typed names asterisks appear pursuant to powers of attorney duly executed by such directors and officers and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibits to this report.
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Board of Directors
Ambac Financial Group, Inc.:
The audits referred to in our report dated March 2, 2005, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Ambac Financial Group, Inc., included the related financial statement schedules as of December 31, 2004, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2004, included in this Form 10-K. These financial statement schedules are the responsibility of Ambac Financial Group Inc.’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statement schedules based on our audits. In our opinion, such financial statement schedules, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein. As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, in 2003 Ambac Financial Group, Inc. changed its methods of accounting for variable interest entities and stock-based compensation.
/s/ KPMG LLP
New York, New York
March 2, 2005
AMBAC FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
SCHEDULE I - SUMMARY OF INVESTMENTS
Other Than Investments in Related Parties
December 31, 2004
(Dollar Amounts in Thousands)
S-2
AMBAC FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
SCHEDULE II - CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
OF REGISTRANT (PARENT COMPANY ONLY)
Condensed Balance Sheets
December 31, 2004 and 2003
(Dollar Amounts in Thousands Except Share Data)
S-3
AMBAC FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
SCHEDULE II - CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
OF REGISTRANT (PARENT COMPANY ONLY)
Condensed Statements of Operations
Three Years Ended December 31,
(Dollar Amounts in Thousands)
S-4
AMBAC FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
SCHEDULE II - CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
OF REGISTRANT (PARENT COMPANY ONLY)
Condensed Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
Three Years Ended December 31,
(Dollar Amounts in Thousands)
(1) Disclosure of reclassification amount:
S-5
AMBAC FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
SCHEDULE II - CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
OF REGISTRANT (PARENT COMPANY ONLY)
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
Three Years Ended December 31,
(Dollar Amounts in Thousands)
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash financing activities:
Ambac Financial Group, Inc. contributed fixed income securities to Ambac Assurance Corporation amounting to $107,160 in December 2003.
S-6
AMBAC FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
SCHEDULE II - CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
OF REGISTRANT (PARENT COMPANY ONLY)
Note to Condensed Financial Information
The condensed financial information of Ambac Financial Group, Inc. for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements of Ambac Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries and the notes thereto. Investments in subsidiaries are accounted for using the equity method of accounting.
S-7
AMBAC FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
SCHEDULE IV - REINSURANCE
(Dollar Amounts in Thousands)
S-8
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
* Management contract or compensatory plan, contract or arrangement required to be filed as an exhibit pursuant to item 15(c) of Form 10-K.
++ Furnished herewith.