XML 30 R16.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.20.4
Investments
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Text Block [Abstract]  
Investments
Note 8: Investments
 
Investments, excluding those elected under the fair value option, include debt and equity securities classified as AFS.
 
The following table presents the amortized cost, allowance for credit losses, corresponding gross unrealized gains and losses and fair value for AFS investments in the Company’s consolidated investment portfolio as of December 31, 2020:
    
December 31, 2020
 
In millions
  
Amortized
Cost
    
Allowance
for Credit
Losses
    
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
    
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    
Fair
Value
 
AFS Investments
                                            
Fixed-maturity investments:
                                            
U.S. Treasury and government agency
   $ 775      $      $ 75      $ (1)      $ 849  
State and municipal bonds
     162               32               194  
Foreign governments
     11               1               12  
Corporate obligations
     827               64        (1)        890  
Mortgage-backed securities:
                                            
Residential mortgage-backed agency
     305               8        (1)        312  
Residential mortgage-backed non-agency
     22               3               25  
Commercial mortgage-backed
     17               1               18  
Asset-backed securities:
                                            
Collateralized debt obligations
     120                      (2)        118  
Other asset-backed
     121                             121  
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
 
Total AFS investments
   $ 2,360      $      $ 184      $ (5)      $ 2,539  
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
 
The following table presents 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:
 
    
December 31, 2019
 
In millions
  
Amortized
Cost
    
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
    
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    
Fair
Value
    
Other-Than-
Temporary
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.
HTM investments declined due to the early redemption of assets and liabilities within structured finance VIEs that were deconsolidated during 2020.
The following table presents the distribution by contractual maturity of AFS fixed-maturity securities at amortized cost, net of allowance for credit losses, and fair value as of December 31, 2020. Contractual maturity may differ from expected maturity as borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations.
 
    
AFS Securities
 
In millions
  
Net
Amortized
Cost
    
Fair
Value
 
Due in one year or less
   $ 509      $ 511  
Due after one year through five years
     363        379  
Due after five years through ten years
     266        296  
Due after ten years
     637        759  
Mortgage-backed and asset-backed
     585        594  
    
 
 
    
 
 
 
Total fixed-maturity investments
   $ 2,360      $ 2,539  
    
 
 
    
 
 
 
Deposited and Pledged Securities
The fair value of securities on deposit with various regulatory authorities as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 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, 2020 and 2019, the fair value of securities pledged as collateral for these investment agreements approximated $282
 
million and $313
 
million, respectively. The Company’s collateral as of December 31, 2020 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 non-credit related gross unrealized losses related to AFS investments as of December 31, 2020 and 2019:
 
    
December 31, 2020
 
    
Less than 12 Months
    
12 Months or Longer
    
Total
 
In millions
  
Fair
Value
    
Unrealized
Losses
    
Fair
Value
    
Unrealized
Losses
    
Fair
Value
    
Unrealized
Losses
 
AFS Investments
                                                     
Fixed-maturity investments:
                                                     
U.S. Treasury and government agency
   $ 99      $ (1)      $      $      $ 99      $ (1)  
Foreign governments
     2                             2         
Corporate obligations
     103        (1)        7               110        (1)  
Mortgage-backed securities:
                                                     
Residential mortgage-backed agency
     53        (1)                      53        (1)  
Residential mortgage-backed non-agency
     2               1               3         
Commercial mortgage-backed
                   5               5         
Asset-backed securities:
                                                     
Collateralized debt obligations
     37               78        (2)        115        (2)  
Other asset-backed
     29                             29         
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
 
Total AFS investments
   $ 325      $ (3)      $ 91      $ (2)      $ 416      $ (5)  
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
    
December 31, 2019
 
    
Less than 12 Months
    
12 Months or Longer
    
Total
 
In millions
  
Fair
Value
    
Unrealized
Losses
    
Fair
Value
    
Unrealized
Losses
    
Fair
Value
    
Unrealized
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)  
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
 
Gross unrealized losses on AFS investments decreased as of December 31, 2020 compared with December 31, 2019 primarily due to lower interest rates, partially offset by widening 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, 2020 and 2019 was 9 and 10 years, respectively. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, there were 42 and 63 securities, respectively, that were in an unrealized loss position for a continuous twelve-month period or longer, of which, fair values of 9 and 16 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, 2020:
 
    
AFS Securities
 
Percentage of Fair
 
Value
Below Book Value
  
Number of
Securities
    
Book Value
(in millions)
    
Fair Value
(in millions)
 
> 5% to 15%
     6      $ 3      $ 3  
> 15% to 25%
     1                
> 50%
     2                
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
 
Total
     9      $ 3      $ 3  
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
 
Impaired securities that the Company intends to sell before the expected recovery of such securities’ fair values have been written down to fair value. During the second quarter of 2020, the Company impaired intent to sell securities in an unrealized loss position to fair value. These securities were subsequently sold in the third quarter of 2020. As of December 31, 2020, 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, 2020 that would require the sale of impaired securities.
Credit Losses on Investments
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 that support the payment of amounts owed by an issuer of a security. For AFS investments, this includes the credit enhancement taking into 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 a credit loss on an impaired security.
Each quarter, an internal committee, comprising staff that is independent of the Company’s evaluation process for determining credit losses of securities, reviews and approves the valuation of investments. Among other responsibilities, this committee ensures that the Company’s process for identifying and calculating allowance for credit losses, including the use of models and assumptions, is reasonable and complies with the Company’s internal policy.
Determination of Credit Losses on ABS, MBS and Corporate Obligations
AFS ABS investments are evaluated for credit loss 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 a credit loss.
AFS RMBS investments are evaluated for credit losses 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 a credit loss.
For AFS corporate obligation investments, credit losses are evaluated 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 a credit loss.
For HTM corporate obligation investments, credit losses are evaluated based on quarterly estimates of the probability-weighted amount of principal and interest cash flows expected to be collected over the estimated remaining lives of the security. Developing the Company’s probability-weighted expected future cash flows is a quantitative and qualitative process that incorporates information received from third-party sources along with certain internal assumptions regarding the future performance. The Company’s considerations include, but are not limited to, (a) changes in the financial conditions of the security’s underlying collateral, (b) whether the issuer is current on contractually obligated interest and principal payments, (c) changes in the financial condition, credit rating and near-term prospects of the issuer, (d) level of excess cash flows generated from the underlying collateral supporting the principal and interest payments of the security. Estimates of collectability require the use of significant management judgment and include the probability and timing of issuer’s default and loss severity estimates. In addition, cash flow projections may change when these factors are reviewed and updated as appropriate.
Determination of Credit Loss Guaranteed by the Company on Other Third-Party Guarantors
The Company does not recognize credit losses 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 Expense Reserves” for information about loss reserves.
The following table provides information about securities held by the Company as of December 31, 2020 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. The Company did not hold any securities in an unrealized loss position that were insured by a third-party financial guarantor as of December 31, 2020.
 
In millions
  
Fair
Value
    
Unrealized
Loss
    
Insurance Loss
Reserve
(1)
 
Mortgage-backed
   $ 3      $      $ 1  
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
 
Total
   $ 3      $      $ 1  
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
(1)—Insurance loss reserve estimates are based on the proportion of par value owned to the total amount of par value insured.
Allowance for Credit Losses Rollforward
The Company did not establish an allowance for credit losses for AFS securities as of December 31, 2020 or purchase any credit-deteriorated assets for the year ended December 31, 2020.
The following table presents the rollforward of the allowance for credit losses on HTM investments for the year ended December 31, 2020. As of December 31, 2020, the allowance for credit losses was reduced to zero as a result of the repayment of the assets, at par, during the fourth quarter of 2020.
 
           
Year Ended December 31, 2020
        
In millions
  
Balance
as of
January 1,
2020
(1)
    
Current
period provision
for expected
credit losses
    
Initial
allowance
recognized for
PCD assets
    
Write-Offs
    
Recoveries
    
Balance
as of
December 31,
2020
 
HTM Investments
                                                     
Assets of consolidated VIEs:
                                                     
Corporate obligations
   $ 37      $ (37)      $      $      $      $  
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
 
Total Allowance on HTM investments
   $ 37      $ (37)      $      $      $      $  
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
(1)—Represents
transition adjustment upon adoption of ASU
2016-13.
Credit Loss Rollforward for AFS
The portion of certain unrealized 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 non-credit related losses was recognized in AOCI, and the corresponding changes in such amounts. The additional credit loss impairments on securities previously impaired for the year ended December 31, 2018 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 impairments in earnings, as well as a reduction of
inception-to-date
recognized credit loss impairments.
 
In millions
  
Years Ended December 31,
 
Credit Losses Recognized in Earnings Related to OTTI
  
    2019    
    
    2018    
 
Beginning balance
   $ 37      $ 32  
Additions for credit loss impairments recognized in the current period on securities previously impaired
     67        5  
Reductions for credit loss impairments previously recognized on securities impaired to fair value during the period
     (104)         
    
 
 
    
 
 
 
Ending balance
   $      $ 37  
    
 
 
    
 
 
 
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, 2020, 2019 and 2018 are as follows:
 
    
Years Ended December 31,
 
In millions
  
        2020        
    
        2019        
    
        2018        
 
Proceeds from sales
   $ 1,095      $ 2,195      $ 2,117  
Gross realized gains
   $ 59      $ 103      $ 6  
Gross realized losses
   $ (15)      $ (4)      $ (19)  
Equity Investments
Unrealized gains and losses recognized on equity investments held as of the end of each period for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 are as follows:
 
    
Years Ended
December 31,
 
In millions
  
2020
    
2019
    
2018
 
Net gains and (losses) recognized during the period on equity securities
   $ 3      $ 11      $ (4)  
Less:
                          
Net gains and (losses) recognized during the period on equity securities sold during the period
     (1)        1        1  
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
 
Unrealized gains and (losses) recognized during the
period on equity securities still held at the reporting date
   $ 4      $ 10      $ (5)