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Investments
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Text Block [Abstract]  
Investments
Note 8: Investments
Investments, excluding those elected under the fair value option, include debt and equity securities classified as either AFS or HTM.
The following tables present the amortized cost, fair value, corresponding gross unrealized gains and losses and OTTI for AFS and HTM investments in the Company’s consolidated investment portfolio as of December 31, 2019 and 2018:
 
December 31, 2019
 
 
 
 
Gross
 
 
Gross
 
 
 
 
Other-Than-
 
 
Amortized
 
 
Unrealized
 
 
Unrealized
 
 
Fair
 
 
Temporary
 
In millions
 
Cost
 
 
Gains
 
 
Losses
 
 
Value
 
 
Impairments
(1)
 
AFS Investments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed-maturity investments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Treasury and government agency
 
$
838
 
 
$
46
 
 
$
(2
 
$
882
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
 
State and municipal bonds
 
 
178
 
 
 
22
 
 
 
 
 
 
200
 
 
 
 
Foreign governments
 
 
8
 
 
 
1
 
 
 
 
 
 
9
 
 
 
 
Corporate obligations
 
 
1,140
 
 
 
52
 
 
 
(1
 
 
1,191
 
 
 
 
Mortgage-backed securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential mortgage-backed agency
 
 
317
 
 
 
3
 
 
 
 
 
 
320
 
 
 
 
Residential mortgage-backed
non-agency
 
 
23
 
 
 
1
 
 
 
(5
 
 
19
 
 
 
 
Commercial mortgage-backed
 
 
20
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
20
 
 
 
 
Asset-backed securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Collateralized debt obligations
 
 
139
 
 
 
 
 
 
(2
 
 
137
 
 
 
 
Other asset-backed
 
 
321
 
 
 
1
 
 
 
(1
 
 
321
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total AFS investments
 
$
2,984
 
 
$
 126
 
 
$
 (11
 
$
 3,099
 
 
$
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
HTM Investments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets of consolidated VIEs:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate obligations
 
$
890
 
 
$
2
 
 
$
 
 
$
892
 
 
$
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total HTM investments
 
$
890
 
 
$
2
 
 
$
 
 
$
892
 
 
$
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1)—Represents unrealized gains or losses on OTTI securities recognized in AOCI, which includes the
non-credit
component of impairments, as well as all subsequent changes in fair value of such impaired securities reported in AOCI.
 
December 31, 2018
 
 
 
 
Gross
 
 
Gross
 
 
 
 
Other-Than-
 
 
Amortized
 
 
Unrealized
 
 
Unrealized
 
 
Fair
 
 
Temporary
 
In millions
 
Cost
 
 
Gains
 
 
Losses
 
 
Value
 
 
Impairments
(1)
 
AFS Investments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed-maturity investments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Treasury and government agency
 
$
1,093
 
 
$
26
 
 
$
(10
)
 
$
1,109
 
 
$
—  
 
State and municipal bonds
 
 
641
 
 
 
97
 
 
 
(11
)
 
 
727
 
 
 
42
 
Foreign governments
 
 
9
 
 
 
—  
 
 
 
—  
 
 
 
9
 
 
 
—  
 
Corporate obligations
 
 
1,473
 
 
 
6
 
 
 
(131
)
 
 
1,348
 
 
 
(68
)
Mortgage-backed securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential mortgage-backed agency
 
 
218
 
 
 
1
 
 
 
(5
)
 
 
214
 
 
 
—  
 
Residential mortgage-backed
non-agency
 
 
30
 
 
 
1
 
 
 
(4
)
 
 
27
 
 
 
—  
 
Commercial mortgage-backed
 
 
53
 
 
 
—  
 
 
 
(2
)
 
 
51
 
 
 
—  
 
Asset-backed securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Collateralized debt obligations
 
 
122
 
 
 
—  
 
 
 
(3
)
 
 
119
 
 
 
—  
 
Other asset-backed
 
 
178
 
 
 
—  
 
 
 
(1
)
 
 
177
 
 
 
—  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total AFS investments
 
$
3,817
 
 
$
131
 
 
$
(167
)
 
$
3,781
 
 
$
(26
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
HTM Investments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets of consolidated VIEs:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate obligations
 
$
890
 
 
$
35
 
 
$
—  
 
 
$
925
 
 
$
—  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total HTM investments
 
$
890
 
 
$
35
 
 
$
—  
 
 
$
925
 
 
$
—  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1)—
Represents unrealized gains or losses on OTTI securities recognized in AOCI, which includes the
non-credit
component of impairments, as well as all subsequent changes in fair value of such impaired securities reported in AOCI.
The following table presents the distribution by contractual maturity of AFS and HTM fixed-maturity securities at amortized cost and fair value as of December 31, 2019. Contractual maturity may differ from expected maturity as borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations.
 
 
AFS Securities
 
 
HTM Securities
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated VIEs
 
 
Amortized
 
 
Fair
 
 
Amortized
 
 
Fair
 
In millions
 
Cost
 
 
Value
 
 
Cost
 
 
Value
 
Due in one year or less
 
$
570
 
 
$
571
 
 
$
 
 
$
 
 
 
 
 
Due after one year through five years
 
 
472
 
 
 
480
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Due after five years through ten years
 
 
391
 
 
 
411
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Due after ten years
 
 
731
 
 
 
820
 
 
 
890
 
 
 
892
 
Mortgage-backed and asset-backed
 
 
820
 
 
 
817
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total fixed-maturity investments
 
$
2,984
 
 
$
 3,099
 
 
$
890
 
 
$
892
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deposited and Pledged Securities
The fair value of securities on deposit with various regulatory authorities as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 was $11 million. These deposits are required to comply with state insurance laws.
Pursuant to the Company’s tax sharing agreement, securities held by MBIA Inc. in the Tax Escrow Account are included as “Investments pledged as collateral, at fair value” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
Investment agreement obligations require the Company to pledge securities as collateral. Securities pledged in connection with investment agreements may not be repledged by the investment agreement counterparty. As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the fair value of securities pledged as collateral for these investment agreements approximated $313 million and $314 million, respectively. The Company’s collateral as of December 31, 2019 consisted principally of U.S. Treasury and government agency and corporate obligations, and was primarily held with major U.S. banks. 
Refer to “Note
9
: Derivative Instruments” for information about securities posted to derivative counterparties.
Impaired Investments
The following tables present the gross unrealized losses related to AFS and HTM investments as of December 31, 2019 and 2018:
 
December 31, 2019
 
 
Less than 12 Months
 
 
12 Months or Longer
 
 
Total
 
 
Fair
 
 
Unrealized
 
 
Fair
 
 
Unrealized
 
 
Fair
 
 
Unrealized
 
In millions
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
Value
 
 
Losses
 
 
Value
 
 
Losses
 
 
Value
 
 
Losses
 
AFS Investments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed-maturity investments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Treasury and government agency
 
$
148
 
 
$
(1
 
$
79
 
 
$
(1
 
$
227
 
 
$
(2
)
State and municipal bonds
 
 
11
 
 
 
 
 
 
15
 
 
 
 
 
 
26
 
 
 
 
Corporate obligations
 
 
53
 
 
 
(1
 
 
10
 
 
 
 
 
 
63
 
 
 
(1
Mortgage-backed securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential mortgage-backed agency
 
 
62
 
 
 
 
 
 
7
 
 
 
 
 
 
69
 
 
 
 
Residential mortgage-backed
non-agency
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
11
 
 
 
(5
 
 
11
 
 
 
(5
)
Commercial mortgage-backed
 
 
5
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5
 
 
 
 
Asset-backed securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Collateralized debt obligations
 
 
44
 
 
 
 
 
 
77
 
 
 
(2
 
 
121
 
 
 
(2
)
Other asset-backed
 
 
48
 
 
 
(1
 
 
7
 
 
 
 
 
 
55
 
 
 
(1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total AFS investments
 
$
371
 
   
 
$
 (3
 
$
206
 
   
 
$
 (8
 
$
577
 
   
 
$
(11
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2018
 
 
Less than 12 Months
 
 
12 Months or Longer
 
 
Total
 
 
Fair
 
 
Unrealized
 
 
Fair
 
 
Unrealized
 
 
Fair
 
 
Unrealized
 
In millions
 
Value
 
 
Losses
 
 
Value
 
 
Losses
 
 
Value
 
 
Losses
 
AFS Investments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed-maturity investments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Treasury and government agency
 
$
231
 
 
$
(1
)
 
$
278
 
 
$
(9
)
 
$
509
 
 
$
(10
)
State and municipal bonds
 
 
60
 
 
 
(1
)
 
 
135
 
 
 
(10
)
 
 
195
 
 
 
(11
)
Foreign governments
 
 
5
 
 
 
—  
 
 
 
2
 
 
 
—  
 
 
 
7
 
 
 
—  
 
Corporate obligations
 
 
900
 
 
 
(41
)
 
 
335
 
 
 
(90
)
 
 
1,235
 
 
 
(131
)
Mortgage-backed securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential mortgage-backed agency
 
 
29
 
 
 
(1
)
 
 
118
 
 
 
(4
)
 
 
147
 
 
 
(5
)
Residential mortgage-backed
non-agency
 
 
2
 
 
 
—  
 
 
 
13
 
 
 
(4
)
 
 
15
 
 
 
(4
)
Commercial mortgage-backed
 
 
24
 
 
 
—  
 
 
 
21
 
 
 
(2
)
 
 
45
 
 
 
(2
)
Asset-backed securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Collateralized debt obligations
 
 
98
 
 
 
(3
)
 
 
7
 
 
 
—  
 
 
 
105
 
 
 
(3
)
Other asset-backed
 
 
127
 
 
 
—  
 
 
 
35
 
 
 
(1
)
 
 
162
 
 
 
(1
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total AFS investments
 
$
1,476
 
 
$
(47
)
 
$
944
 
 
$
(120
)
 
$
2,420
 
 
$
(167
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross unrealized losses on AFS investments decreased as of December 31, 2019 compared with December 31, 2018 primarily due to lower interest rates and tightening credit spreads.
 
With the weighting applied on the fair value of each security relative to the total fair value, the weighted average contractual maturity of securities in an unrealized loss position as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 was 10 and 11 years, respectively. As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, there were 63 and 182 securities, respectively, that were in an unrealized loss position for a continuous twelve-month period or longer, of which, fair values of 16 and 64 securities, respectively, were below book value by more than 5%.
The following table presents the distribution of securities in an unrealized loss position for a continuous twelve-month period or longer where fair value was below book value by more than 5% as of December 31, 2019:
 
AFS Securities
 
Percentage of Fair Value
 
Number of
 
 
Book Value
 
 
Fair Value
 
Below Book Value
 
Securities
 
 
(in millions)
 
 
(in millions)
 
> 5% to 15%
 
 
11
 
 
$
 17
 
 
$
16
 
> 15% to 25%
 
 
1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
> 25% to 50%
 
 
2
 
 
 
14
 
 
 
9
 
> 50%
 
 
2
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
 
 
16
 
 
$
 31
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
 25
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Company concluded that it does not have the intent to sell securities in an unrealized loss position and it is more likely than not, that it would not have to sell these securities before recovery of their cost basis. In making this conclusion, the Company examined the cash flow projections for its investment portfolios, the potential sources and uses of cash in its businesses, and the cash resources available to its business other than sales of securities. It also considered the existence of any risk management or other plans as of December 31, 2019 that would require the sale of impaired securities. Impaired securities that the Company intends to sell before the expected recovery of such securities’ fair values have been written down to fair value.
Other-Than-Temporary Impairments
Evaluating AFS Securities for OTTI
The Company has an ongoing review process for all securities in its investment portfolio, including a quarterly assessment of OTTI. This evaluation includes both qualitative and quantitative considerations. In assessing whether a decline in value is related to a credit loss, the Company considers several factors, including but not limited to (i) the magnitude and duration of declines in fair value; (ii) the reasons for the declines in fair value, such as general credit spread movements in each asset-backed sector, transaction-specific changes in credit spreads, credit rating downgrades, modeled defaults, and principal and interest payment priorities within each investment structure; and (iii) any guarantees associated with a security such as those provided by financial guarantee insurance companies, including MBIA Corp. and National.
In calculating credit-related losses, the Company uses cash flow modeling based on the type of security. The Company’s cash flow analysis considers all sources of cash, including credit enhancement, that support the payment of amounts owed by an issuer of a security. This includes the consideration of cash expected to be provided by financial guarantors, including MBIA Corp. and National, resulting from an actual or potential insurance policy claim. In general, any change in the amount and/or timing of cash flows received or expected to be received, whether or not such cash flows are contractually defined, is reflected in the Company’s cash flow analysis for purposes of assessing an OTTI loss on an impaired security.
Each quarter, an internal committee, comprising staff that is independent of the Company’s evaluation process for determining OTTI of securities, reviews and approves the valuation of investments. Among other responsibilities, this committee ensures that the Company’s process for identifying and calculating OTTI, including the use of models and assumptions, is reasonable and complies with the Company’s internal policy.
 
Determination of Credit Loss on ABS, MBS and Corporate Obligations
ABS investments are evaluated for OTTI using historical collateral performance, deal waterfall and structural protections, credit ratings, and forward looking projections of collateral performance based on business and economic conditions specific to each collateral type and risk. The underlying collateral is evaluated to identify any specific performance concerns, and stress scenarios are considered in forecasting ultimate returns of principal. Based on this evaluation, if a principal default is projected for a security, estimated future cash flows are discounted at the security’s effective interest rate used to recognize interest income on the security. For CDO investments, the Company uses the same tools as its RMBS investments discussed below, aggregating the bond level cash flows to the CDO investment level. If the present value of cash flows is less than the Company’s amortized cost for the security, the difference is recorded as an OTTI loss.
RMBS investments are evaluated for OTTI using several quantitative tools. Loan level data is obtained and analyzed in a model that produces prepayment, default, and severity vectors. The model uses macro inputs, including housing price assumptions and interest rates. The vector outputs are used as inputs to a third-party cash flow model, which considers deal waterfall dynamics and structural features, to generate cash flows for an RMBS investment. The expected cash flows of the security are then discounted at the interest rate used to recognize interest income of the security to arrive at a present value amount. If the present value of the cash flows is less than the Company’s amortized cost for the investment, the difference is recorded as an OTTI loss.
Corporate obligation investments are evaluated for OTTI using credit analysis techniques. The Company’s analysis includes a detailed review of a number of quantitative and qualitative factors impacting the value of an individual security. These factors include the interest rate of the security (fixed or floating), the security’s current market spread, any collateral supporting the security, the security’s position in the issuer’s capital structure, and credit rating upgrades or downgrades. Additionally, these factors include an assessment of various issuer-related credit metrics including market capitalization, earnings, cash flow, capitalization, interest coverage, leverage, liquidity and management. The Company’s analysis is augmented by comparing market prices for similar securities of other issuers in the same sector, as well as any recent corporate or government actions that may impact the ultimate return of principal. If the Company determines that a principal default is projected, a recovery analysis is performed using the above data. If the Company’s estimated recovery value for the security is less than its amortized cost, the difference is recorded as an OTTI loss.
During 2017
, certain municipal bonds had liquidity concerns, recent credit downgrades and other adverse financial conditions. As a result, the Company placed these bonds on a
non-accrual
basis and recognized an OTTI loss for the difference between its amortized cost and fair value. This OTTI loss was included in “Investment losses related to other-than-temporary impairments” on the Company’s consolidated statement of
operations
.
Determination of Credit Loss Guaranteed by the Company on Other Third-Party Guarantors
The Company does not recognize OTTI on securities insured by MBIA Corp. and National since those securities, whether or not owned by the Company, are evaluated for impairments in accordance with its loss reserving policy.
 
Refer to “Note 2: Significant Accounting Policies” included herein for information about the Company’s loss reserving policy and “Note 6: Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses Reserves” for
information
about loss reserves.
The following table provides information about securities held by the Company as of December 31, 2019 that were in an unrealized loss position and insured by a financial guarantor, along with the amount of insurance loss reserves corresponding to the par amount owned by the Company:
 
Fair
 
 
Unrealized
 
 
Insurance Loss
 
In millions
 
Value
 
 
Loss
 
 
Reserve
(2)
 
Mortgage-backed:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MBIA
(1)
 
$
11
 
 
$
(5
 
$
18
 
 
(1)—Includes investments insured by MBIA Corp. and National.
(2)—Insurance loss reserve estimates are based on the proportion of par value owned to the total amount of par value insured.
Credit Loss Rollforward
The portion of certain OTTI losses on fixed-maturity securities that does not represent credit losses is recognized in AOCI. For these impairments, the net amount recognized in earnings represents the difference between the amortized cost of the security and the net present value of its projected future discounted cash flows prior to impairment. Any remaining difference between the fair value and amortized cost is recognized in AOCI. The following table presents the amount of credit loss impairments recognized in earnings on fixed-maturity securities held by MBIA as of the dates indicated, for which a portion of the OTTI losses was recognized in AOCI, and the corresponding changes in such amounts. The additional credit loss impairments on securities previously impaired for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, primarily related to a corporate obligation that incurred liquidity concerns, ongoing credit risk and other adverse financial conditions.
 
In 2019, due to the Company’s intent to sell, this security was impaired to fair value with any incremental impairment recorded as a credit loss impairment in earnings, as well as a reduction of
inception-to-date
recognized credit loss impairments. Also, during 2017
, the credit loss impairment on securities not previously impaired related to municipal bonds that were impaired to their recovery value which were further impaired to their fair value, resulting in reductions of such credit loss impairment in the same year.
In millions
 
Years Ended December 31,
 
Credit Losses Recognized in Earnings Related to OTTI
 
 
 
 
2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2017
 
 
 
 
Beginning balance
 
$
37
 
 
$
32
 
 
$
29
 
Additions for credit loss impairments recognized in the current period on securities not previously impaired
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
11  
 
Additions for credit loss impairments recognized in the current period on securities previously impaired
 
 
67
 
 
 
5  
 
 
 
5
 
Reductions for credit loss impairments previously recognized on securities sold during the period
 
 
 
 
 
—  
 
 
 
(2
)
Reductions for credit loss impairments previously recognized on securities impaired to fair value during the period
 
 
(104
 
 
 
 
 
(11  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ending balance
 
$
 
 
$
37
 
 
$
32
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sales of
Available-for-Sale
Investments
Gross realized gains and losses are recorded within “Net gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange” on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. The proceeds and the gross realized gains and losses from sales of fixed-maturity securities held as AFS for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 are as follows:
 
Years Ended December 31,
 
In millions
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proceeds from sales
 
$
 2,195
 
 
$
2,117
 
 
$
2,256
 
Gross realized gains
 
$
103
 
 
$
6
 
 
$
40
 
Gross realized losses
 
$
 (4
 
 
 
$
(19
)
 
$
(22
)
Equity Investments
Unrealized gains and losses recognized on equity investments held as of the end of each period for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 are as follows:
 
Year
s
 Ended
 
December 31,
 
In millions
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net gains and (losses) recognized during the period on equity securities
 
$
11
 
 
$
(4
)
Less:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net gains and (losses) recognized during the period on equity securities sold during the period
 
 
1
 
 
 
1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized gains and (losses) recognized during the period on equity securities still held at the reporting date
 
$
10
 
 
$
(5
)