XML 16 R79.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.6

Commitments and Contingencies (Details Textual) (USD $) | 1 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended |  |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
May 31, 2011 | Jun. 30, 2012 | Aug. 15, 2012 | Jun. 30, 2012 IRS [Member] | Feb. 24, 2012 IRS [Member] | Jun. 30, 2012 Cash [Member]
Income Tax Examination [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Settlement |  | $ 24,600,000 |  |  | $ 100,000 | $ 2,500,000
Payment to settle the IRS dispute and related proceedings |  |  |  | 1,900,000 |  |
Commitments and Contingencies (Textual) [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Settlement of the claims of the putative plaintiff classes |  | 27,100,000 |  |  |  |
Memorandum of Understanding |  | May 04 2011 |  |  |  |
IRS claim in the Bankruptcy Court | 807,244,000 |  |  |  |  |
Reduction in its net operating loss carryforwards and material assessment for federal income taxes |  | 807,244,000 |  |  |  |
Loss carry-forwards |  | 3,400,000,000 |  |  |  |
Payment by subsidiary associated with NOL Usage Tier C |  | 12.50% |  |  |  |
Payment by subsidiary associated with NOL Usage Tier D |  | 17.50% |  |  |  |
Total par value of repurchased surplus notes |  |  | 789,000,000 |  |  |
Principal amount of surplus notes |  | $ 188,446,000 | $ 188,000,000 |  |  |

X
- Definition Aggregate payment to repurchase surplus notes. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | abk_AggregatePaymentToRepurchaseSurplusNotes
Namespace Prefix: | abk_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount parent company has agreed to pay to settle bankruptcy claim. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | abk_BankruptcyClaimsAmountParentCompanyHasAgreedToPayToSettleClaims
Namespace Prefix: | abk_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | abk_CommitmentsAndContingenciesTextualAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | abk_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Payment by subsidiary to the Internal Revenue Service associated with Net Operating Loss Usage Tier C under the Amended Tax Sharing Agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | abk_PaymentBySubsidiaryToInternalRevenueServiceAssociatedWithNetOperatingLossUsageTierCUnderAmendedTaxSharingAgreement
Namespace Prefix: | abk_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Payment by subsidiary to the Internal Revenue Service associated with Net Operating Loss Usage Tier D under the Amended Tax Sharing Agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | abk_PaymentBySubsidiaryToInternalRevenueServiceAssociatedWithNetOperatingLossUsageTierDUnderAmendedTaxSharingAgreement
Namespace Prefix: | abk_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Potential reduction in deferred tax asset operating loss carryforwards. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | abk_PotentialReductionInNetOperatingLoss
Namespace Prefix: | abk_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Reduction in taxes in net operating losses on credit default contracts. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | abk_ReductionInTaxNetOperatingLossesOnCreditDefaultContracts
Namespace Prefix: | abk_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Fair value amount of debt instrument that was repurchased. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRepurchaseAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible operating loss carryforwards. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 20 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6969291&loc=d3e28680-109314 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32621-109319 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 109 -Paragraph 43, 289 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32632-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeTaxExaminationLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition This element represents the gross amount awarded, to be received by, or to be remitted to the entity in settlement of litigation occurring during the period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LitigationSettlementGross
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of consideration the entity has agreed to pay to settle a legal matter. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14326-108349 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14435-108349 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14557-108349 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencySettlementAgreementConsideration1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The effective date of a duly executed litigation settlement agreement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14557-108349 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14326-108349 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14435-108349 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 5 -Paragraph 9, 10, 11, 12 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencySettlementAgreementDate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration