Ambac Reports Third Quarter 2021 Results
Ambac Financial Group, Inc. (AMBC) reported a net income of $17 million, or $0.35 per diluted share, for Q3 2021, reversing a net loss of $29 million in Q2 2021. Adjusted income rose to $25 million, or $0.53 per diluted share. Despite these gains, book value per share decreased to $22.91. The growth in net income was attributed to improved loss expenses and interest rate derivative gains, partially offset by lower net investment income. Ambac's net premiums earned remained unchanged at $11 million. The Q3 earnings call is scheduled for November 9, 2021.
- Net income increased to $17 million from a loss of $29 million in Q2 2021.
- Adjusted earnings improved to $25 million, up from a loss of $13 million.
- Net realized investment gains were $3 million, compared to losses of $2 million in Q2 2021.
- Losses and loss expenses showed a benefit of $55 million, increased from $26 million.
- Interest expense decreased to $44 million, down from $50 million.
- Book value per share decreased from $23.01 to $22.91.
- Net investment income fell to $21 million, a 49% decrease from $42 million in Q2 2021.
- Financial guarantee insured net par outstanding declined by 5.6% to $28.5 billion.
- Total stockholders' equity decreased slightly from $1.063 billion to $1.061 billion.
Results for the third quarter, as compared to the second quarter of 2021, were primarily driven by an increased benefit from loss and loss expenses, interest rate derivative gains compared to a loss in the second quarter of 2021, and a lower provision for income taxes partially offset by lower net investment income.
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
Better (Worse) |
|||||||||
($ in millions, except per share data) |
|
3Q2021 |
|
2Q2021 |
|
Amount |
|
Percent |
|||||||
Net premiums earned |
|
$ |
11 |
|
|
$ |
11 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
— |
% |
Net investment income |
|
21 |
|
|
42 |
|
|
(20) |
|
|
(49) |
% |
|||
Net realized investment gains (losses) |
|
3 |
|
|
(2) |
|
|
5 |
|
|
316 |
% |
|||
Net gains (losses) on derivative contracts |
|
5 |
|
|
(11) |
|
|
16 |
|
|
143 |
% |
|||
Losses and loss expenses (benefit) |
|
(55) |
|
|
(26) |
|
|
30 |
|
|
115 |
% |
|||
Operating expenses |
|
32 |
|
|
28 |
|
|
(4) |
|
|
(13) |
% |
|||
Interest expense |
|
44 |
|
|
50 |
|
|
6 |
|
|
13 |
% |
|||
Intangible amortization |
|
11 |
|
|
14 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
19 |
% |
|||
Provision for income taxes |
|
2 |
|
|
11 |
|
|
8 |
|
|
78 |
% |
|||
Net income (loss) attributable to Common Stockholders |
|
17 |
|
|
(29) |
|
|
45 |
|
|
159 |
% |
|||
Net income (loss) per diluted share1 |
|
$ |
0.35 |
|
|
$ |
(0.63) |
|
|
$ |
0.98 |
|
|
156 |
% |
Adjusted earnings (loss) 2 |
|
25 |
|
|
(13) |
|
|
39 |
|
|
291 |
% |
|||
Adjusted earnings (loss) per diluted share 2 |
|
$ |
0.53 |
|
|
$ |
(0.30) |
|
|
$ |
0.83 |
|
|
277 |
% |
|
|
1,061 |
|
|
1,063 |
|
|
(3) |
|
|
— |
% |
|||
|
|
$ |
22.91 |
|
|
$ |
23.01 |
|
|
$ |
(0.10) |
|
|
— |
% |
Adjusted book value 2 |
|
882 |
|
|
889 |
|
|
(8) |
|
|
(1) |
% |
|||
Adjusted book value per share 2 |
|
$ |
19.05 |
|
|
$ |
19.25 |
|
|
$ |
(0.20) |
|
|
(1) |
% |
Weighted-average diluted shares outstanding (in millions) |
|
47 |
|
|
47 |
|
|
— |
|
|
(1) |
% |
(1) Per Diluted share includes the impact of adjusting the Xchange related noncontrolling interest to current redemption value
(2) See Non-GAAP Financial Data section of this press release for further information.
(3) Some financial data in this press release may not add up due to rounding
Net Premiums Earned
During the third quarter of 2021, net premiums earned of
Net Investment Income and Net Realized Investment Gains
Net investment income for the third quarter of 2021 was
Net investment income on available-for-sale securities in the third quarter of 2021 declined to
Gains on pooled investment funds were
Net realized investment gains were
Losses and Loss Expenses (Benefit) and Loss Reserves
Losses and loss expenses ("Insured Losses") for the third quarter of 2021 were a benefit of
The following table provides Insured Losses (Benefit) by category for the three-month periods ended
|
|
Three Months Ended |
||||||
($ in millions) |
|
|
|
|
||||
Structured finance |
|
$ |
(21) |
|
|
$ |
(16) |
|
Domestic public finance |
|
(30) |
|
|
(11) |
|
||
Other |
|
(4) |
|
|
1 |
|
||
Total losses and loss expenses (benefit) |
|
$ |
(55) |
|
|
$ |
(26) |
|
The third quarter structured finance benefit of
The third quarter domestic public finance benefit of
Loss and loss expense reserves (gross of reinsurance) were
The following table provides loss and loss expense reserves (gross of reinsurance) by category at
($ in millions) |
|
|
|
|
||||
Structured finance |
|
$ |
(1,217) |
|
|
$ |
(1,211) |
|
Domestic public finance |
|
606 |
|
|
682 |
|
||
Other |
|
16 |
|
|
21 |
|
||
Loss expenses |
|
46 |
|
|
52 |
|
||
Total loss and loss expense reserves |
|
$ |
(549) |
|
|
$ |
(456) |
|
Net gains on derivative contracts of
Other Income
Other income, which includes gross commission revenues earned by Xchange, was
Expenses
Operating expenses for the third quarter of 2021 were
Interest expense of
Taxes
The provision for income taxes decreased to
Stockholders’ equity at
Financial Guarantee Insured Portfolio
Financial guarantee insured net par outstanding declined
Adversely Classified and Watch List Credits decreased in the third quarter of 2021 by
Details of financial guarantee insurance portfolio are highlighted in the below table.
Net Par Outstanding |
|
|
|
|
||
By Sector: |
|
|
|
|
||
Domestic public finance |
|
45 |
% |
|
44 |
% |
Structured Finance |
|
18 |
% |
|
19 |
% |
International |
|
37 |
% |
|
37 |
% |
By Financial Guarantor: |
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
64 |
% |
|
66 |
% |
Ambac |
|
36 |
% |
|
34 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
Non-GAAP Financial Data
In addition to reporting Ambac’s quarterly financial results in accordance with GAAP, the Company currently reports two non-GAAP financial measures: adjusted earnings and adjusted book value. The most directly comparable GAAP measures are net income attributable to common stockholders for adjusted earnings and
The following paragraphs define each non-GAAP financial measure and describe why it is useful. A reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure and the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is also presented below.
Adjusted Earnings (Loss). Adjusted earnings (loss) is defined as net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders, as reported under GAAP, adjusted on an after-tax basis for the following:
- Non-credit impairment fair value (gain) loss on credit derivatives: Elimination of the non-credit impairment fair value gains (losses) on credit derivatives, which is the amount in excess of the present value of the expected estimated credit losses. Such fair value adjustments are affected by, and in part fluctuate with changes in market factors such as interest rates and credit spreads, including the market’s perception of Ambac’s credit risk (“Ambac CVA”), and are not expected to result in an economic gain or loss. These adjustments allow for all financial guarantee contracts to be accounted for consistent with the Financial Services – Insurance Topic of ASC, whether or not they are subject to derivative accounting rules.
- Insurance intangible amortization:Elimination of the amortization of the financial guarantee insurance intangible asset that arose as a result of Ambac’s emergence from bankruptcy and the implementation of Fresh Start reporting. This adjustment ensures that all financial guarantee contracts are accounted for consistent with the provisions of the Financial Services – Insurance Topic of the ASC.
-
Foreign exchange (gains) losses:Elimination of the foreign exchange gains (losses) on the re-measurement of assets, liabilities and transactions in non-functional currencies. This adjustment eliminates the foreign exchange gains (losses) on all assets, liabilities and transactions in non-functional currencies, which enables users of our financial statements to better view the results without the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and facilitates period-to-period comparisons of
Ambac's operating performance.
Adjusted earnings were
The following table reconciles net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders to the non-GAAP measure, adjusted earnings (loss), for the three-month periods ended
|
|
Three Months Ended |
||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
($ in millions, other than per share data) |
|
$ Amount |
|
Per Diluted Share (1) |
|
$ Amount |
|
Per Diluted
|
||||||||
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders |
|
$ |
17 |
|
|
$ |
0.35 |
|
|
$ |
(29) |
|
|
$ |
(0.63) |
|
Adjustments: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Insurance intangible amortization |
|
10 |
|
|
0.22 |
|
|
13 |
|
|
0.28 |
|
||||
Foreign exchange (gains) losses |
|
(2) |
|
|
(0.04) |
|
|
2 |
|
|
0.05 |
|
||||
Adjusted Earnings (loss) |
|
$ |
25 |
|
|
$ |
0.53 |
|
|
$ |
(13) |
|
|
$ |
(0.30) |
|
Weighted-average diluted shares outstanding (in millions) |
|
|
|
47.0 |
|
|
|
|
46.6 |
|
1 Per Diluted share includes the impact of adjusting the Xchange related noncontrolling interest to current redemption value
Adjusted Book Value. Adjusted book value is defined as
- Non-credit impairment fair value losses on credit derivatives: Elimination of the non-credit impairment fair value loss on credit derivatives, which is the amount in excess of the present value of the expected estimated economic credit loss. GAAP fair values are affected by, and in part fluctuate with, changes in market factors such as interest rates, credit spreads, including Ambac’s CVA that are not expected to result in an economic gain or loss. These adjustments allow for all financial guarantee contracts to be accounted for within adjusted book value consistent with the provisions of the Financial Services—Insurance Topic of the ASC, whether or not they are subject to derivative accounting rules.
- Insurance intangible asset: Elimination of the financial guarantee insurance intangible asset that arose as a result of Ambac’s emergence from bankruptcy and the implementation of Fresh Start reporting. This adjustment ensures that all financial guarantee contracts are accounted for within adjusted book value consistent with the provisions of the Financial Services—Insurance Topic of the ASC.
- Net unearned premiums and fees in excess of expected losses: Addition of the value of the unearned premium revenue ("UPR") on financial guarantee contracts, in excess of expected losses, net of reinsurance. This non-GAAP adjustment presents the economics of UPR and expected losses for financial guarantee contracts on a consistent basis. In accordance with GAAP, stockholders’ equity reflects a reduction for expected losses only to the extent they exceed UPR. However, when expected losses are less than UPR for a financial guarantee contract, neither expected losses nor UPR have an impact on stockholders’ equity. This non-GAAP adjustment adds UPR in excess of expected losses, net of reinsurance, to stockholders’ equity for financial guarantee contracts where expected losses are less than UPR. This adjustment is only made for financial guarantee contracts since such premiums are non-refundable.
- Net unrealized investment (gains) losses in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income: Elimination of the unrealized gains and losses on the Company’s investments that are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”). The AOCI component of the fair value adjustment on the investment portfolio may differ from realized gains and losses ultimately recognized by the Company based on the Company’s investment strategy. This adjustment only allows for such gains and losses in adjusted book value when realized.
Adjusted book value was
The following table reconciles
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|
|
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|
||||||||||||
($ in millions, other than per share data) |
|
$ Amount |
|
Per Share |
|
$ Amount |
|
Per Share |
||||||||
Total AFG Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) |
|
$ |
1,061 |
|
|
$ |
22.91 |
|
|
$ |
1,063 |
|
|
$ |
23.01 |
|
Adjustments: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Non-credit impairment fair value losses on credit derivatives |
|
— |
|
|
0.01 |
|
|
— |
|
|
0.01 |
|
||||
Insurance intangible asset |
|
(330) |
|
|
(7.14) |
|
|
(343) |
|
|
(7.42) |
|
||||
Net unearned premiums and fees in excess of expected losses |
|
315 |
|
|
6.81 |
|
|
337 |
|
|
7.29 |
|
||||
Net unrealized investment (gains) losses in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income |
|
(164) |
|
|
(3.54) |
|
|
(168) |
|
|
(3.64) |
|
||||
Adjusted book value |
|
$ |
882 |
|
|
$ |
19.05 |
|
|
$ |
889 |
|
|
$ |
19.25 |
|
Shares outstanding (in millions) |
|
|
|
46.3 |
|
|
|
|
46.2 |
|
Earnings Call and Webcast
On
The webcast will be archived on
Additional information is included in an operating supplement and presentations at
About
Forward-Looking Statements
In this press release, statements that may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “estimate,” “project,” “plan,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “planned,” “potential” and similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “should,” “would,” “could,” and “may,” or the negative of those expressions or verbs, identify forward-looking statements. We caution readers that these statements are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts but instead represent only our beliefs regarding future events, which may by their nature be inherently uncertain and some of which may be outside our control. These statements may relate to plans and objectives with respect to the future, among other things which may change. We are alerting you to the possibility that our actual results may differ, possibly materially, from the expected objectives or anticipated results that may be suggested, expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our results to differ, possibly materially, from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, those discussed under “Risk Factors” in our most recent
Any or all of management’s forward-looking statements here or in other publications may turn out to be incorrect and are based on management’s current belief or opinions. AFG’s and its subsidiaries’ (“Ambac”) actual results may vary materially, and there are no guarantees about the performance of Ambac’s securities. Among events, risks, uncertainties or factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are: (1) the highly speculative nature of AFG’s common stock and volatility in the price of AFG’s common stock; (2)
Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) (Unaudited) |
||||||||
|
|
Three Months Ended |
||||||
($ in millions, except share data) |
|
|
|
|
||||
Revenues: |
|
|
|
|
||||
Net premiums earned |
|
$ |
11 |
|
|
$ |
11 |
|
Net investment income: |
|
|
|
|
||||
Securities available-for-sale and short-term |
|
15 |
|
|
22 |
|
||
Other investments |
|
6 |
|
|
20 |
|
||
Total net investment income |
|
21 |
|
|
42 |
|
||
Net realized investment gains (losses) |
|
3 |
|
|
(2) |
|
||
Net gains (losses) on derivative contracts |
|
5 |
|
|
(11) |
|
||
Other income |
|
8 |
|
|
7 |
|
||
Income on variable interest entities |
|
3 |
|
|
2 |
|
||
Total revenues |
|
51 |
|
|
49 |
|
||
Expenses: |
|
|
|
|
||||
Losses and loss expense (benefit) |
|
(55) |
|
|
(26) |
|
||
Intangible amortization |
|
11 |
|
|
14 |
|
||
Operating expenses |
|
32 |
|
|
28 |
|
||
Interest expense |
|
44 |
|
|
50 |
|
||
Total expenses |
|
32 |
|
|
66 |
|
||
Pre-tax income (loss) |
|
19 |
|
|
(18) |
|
||
Provision for income taxes |
|
2 |
|
|
11 |
|
||
Net income (loss) |
|
$ |
17 |
|
|
$ |
(28) |
|
Less: net (loss) gain attributable to noncontrolling interest |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
||
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders |
|
$ |
17 |
|
|
$ |
(29) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Net income (loss) per basic share |
|
$ |
0.35 |
|
|
$ |
(0.63) |
|
Net income (loss) per diluted share |
|
$ |
0.35 |
|
|
$ |
(0.63) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding: |
|
|
|
|
||||
Basic |
|
46,615,552 |
|
|
46,576,673 |
|
||
Diluted |
|
47,044,132 |
|
|
46,576,673 |
|
Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) (Unaudited) |
||||||||
|
|
Nine Months Ended |
||||||
($ in millions, except share data) |
|
2021 |
|
2020 |
||||
Revenues: |
|
|
|
|
||||
Net premiums earned |
|
$ |
36 |
|
|
$ |
36 |
|
Net investment income: |
|
|
|
|
||||
Securities available-for-sale and short-term |
|
59 |
|
|
80 |
|
||
Other investments |
|
53 |
|
|
(11) |
|
||
Total net investment income |
|
112 |
|
|
69 |
|
||
Net realized investment gains |
|
4 |
|
|
20 |
|
||
Net gains (losses) on derivative contracts |
|
19 |
|
|
(61) |
|
||
Net realized gains on extinguishment of debt |
|
33 |
|
|
— |
|
||
Other income |
|
19 |
|
|
2 |
|
||
Income on variable interest entities |
|
5 |
|
|
3 |
|
||
Total revenues |
|
229 |
|
|
68 |
|
||
Expenses: |
|
|
|
|
||||
Losses and loss expense (benefit) |
|
(73) |
|
|
216 |
|
||
Intangible amortization |
|
44 |
|
|
41 |
|
||
Operating expenses |
|
94 |
|
|
67 |
|
||
Interest expense |
|
144 |
|
|
172 |
|
||
Total expenses |
|
208 |
|
|
495 |
|
||
Pre-tax income (loss) |
|
21 |
|
|
(427) |
|
||
Provision (benefit) for income taxes |
|
15 |
|
|
(5) |
|
||
Net income (loss) |
|
$ |
6 |
|
|
$ |
(423) |
|
Less: net (loss) gain attributable to noncontrolling interest |
|
(1) |
|
|
— |
|
||
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders |
|
$ |
5 |
|
|
$ |
(423) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Net income (loss) per basic share |
|
$ |
(0.19) |
|
|
$ |
(9.16) |
|
Net income (loss) per diluted share |
|
$ |
(0.19) |
|
|
$ |
(9.16) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding: |
|
|
|
|
||||
Basic |
|
46,503,196 |
|
|
46,135,399 |
|
||
Diluted |
|
46,503,196 |
|
|
46,135,399 |
|
Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) |
||||||||
($ in millions, except share data) |
|
|
|
|
||||
Assets: |
|
|
|
|
||||
Investments: |
|
|
|
|
||||
Fixed maturity securities, at fair value (amortized cost: |
|
$ |
1,797 |
|
|
$ |
2,253 |
|
Fixed maturity securities pledged as collateral, at fair value (amortized cost: |
|
15 |
|
|
$ |
15 |
|
|
Short-term investments pledged as collateral, at fair value (amortized cost: |
|
368 |
|
|
416 |
|
||
Short-term investments, at fair value (amortized cost: |
|
105 |
|
|
105 |
|
||
Other investments (includes |
|
663 |
|
|
657 |
|
||
Total investments (net of allowance for credit losses of |
|
2,948 |
|
|
3,447 |
|
||
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
14 |
|
|
13 |
|
||
Restricted cash |
|
6 |
|
|
17 |
|
||
Premiums receivable (net of allowance for credit losses of |
|
327 |
|
|
345 |
|
||
Reinsurance recoverable on paid and unpaid losses (net of allowance for credit losses of |
|
30 |
|
|
30 |
|
||
Deferred ceded premium |
|
90 |
|
|
80 |
|
||
Subrogation recoverable |
|
2,113 |
|
|
2,097 |
|
||
Derivative assets |
|
78 |
|
|
82 |
|
||
Intangible assets |
|
364 |
|
|
377 |
|
||
Other assets |
|
114 |
|
|
121 |
|
||
Variable interest entity assets: |
|
|
|
|
||||
Fixed maturity securities, at fair value |
|
3,317 |
|
|
3,315 |
|
||
Restricted cash |
|
2 |
|
|
2 |
|
||
Loans, at fair value |
|
2,784 |
|
|
2,943 |
|
||
Derivative assets |
|
40 |
|
|
37 |
|
||
Other assets |
|
1 |
|
|
2 |
|
||
Total assets |
|
$ |
12,228 |
|
|
$ |
12,907 |
|
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity: |
|
|
|
|
||||
Liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
||||
Unearned premiums |
|
$ |
402 |
|
|
$ |
421 |
|
Loss and loss expense reserves |
|
1,565 |
|
|
1,641 |
|
||
Ceded premiums payable |
|
33 |
|
|
33 |
|
||
Deferred taxes |
|
28 |
|
|
29 |
|
||
Current taxes |
|
2 |
|
|
3 |
|
||
Long-term debt |
|
2,215 |
|
|
2,671 |
|
||
Accrued interest payable |
|
555 |
|
|
532 |
|
||
Derivative liabilities |
|
94 |
|
|
98 |
|
||
Other liabilities |
|
108 |
|
|
102 |
|
||
Variable interest entity liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
||||
Long-term debt (includes |
|
4,255 |
|
|
4,434 |
|
||
Derivative liabilities |
|
1,830 |
|
|
1,800 |
|
||
Total liabilities |
|
11,088 |
|
|
11,764 |
|
||
Redeemable noncontrolling interest |
|
20 |
|
|
20 |
|
||
Stockholders’ equity: |
|
|
|
|
||||
Preferred stock, par value |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
||
Common stock, par value |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
||
Additional paid-in capital |
|
253 |
|
|
249 |
|
||
Accumulated other comprehensive income |
|
64 |
|
|
87 |
|
||
Retained earnings |
|
746 |
|
|
732 |
|
||
|
|
(3) |
|
|
(5) |
|
||
|
|
1,061 |
|
|
1,063 |
|
||
Nonredeemable noncontrolling interest |
|
60 |
|
|
60 |
|
||
Total stockholders’ equity |
|
1,121 |
|
|
1,123 |
|
||
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest and stockholders’ equity |
|
$ |
12,228 |
|
|
$ |
12,907 |
|
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211108006054/en/
Managing Director, Investor Relations
(212) 208-3177
lkampf@ambac.com
Source:
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