XML 97 R47.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.8

Special Purpose Entities, Including Variable Interest Entities - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended | 5 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |  |  | 3 Months Ended | 5 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 4 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 5 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 4 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |  |  |  | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Apr. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 Successor Ambac [Member] | Sep. 30, 2013 Successor Ambac [Member] | Sep. 30, 2012 Predecessor Ambac [Member] | Apr. 30, 2013 Predecessor Ambac [Member] | Sep. 30, 2012 Predecessor Ambac [Member] | Sep. 30, 2013 Asset-Backed Securities and Utility Obligations [Member] | Sep. 30, 2013 Financial Guarantee [Member] Successor Ambac [Member] | Sep. 30, 2013 Financial Guarantee [Member] Successor Ambac [Member] | Sep. 30, 2012 Financial Guarantee [Member] Predecessor Ambac [Member] | Apr. 30, 2013 Financial Guarantee [Member] Predecessor Ambac [Member] | Sep. 30, 2012 Financial Guarantee [Member] Predecessor Ambac [Member] | Sep. 30, 2013 Sponsored Variable Interest Entities [Member] Transactions | Dec. 31, 2012 Sponsored Variable Interest Entities [Member] | Sep. 30, 2013 Variable Interest Entities [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Variable Interest Entities [Member] | Sep. 30, 2013 Consolidated Entities [Member] Entity | Dec. 31, 2012 Consolidated Entities [Member] Entity
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt outstanding to third parties under secured borrowing transaction |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,503 | $ 14,588 |  |
Securities fair value | 230,049 | 230,049 | 230,049 |  | 201,329 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 230,049 | 201,329 |  |
Fair value of special purpose entities | 13,671 | 13,671 | 13,671 |  | 14,557 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of individual transactions with special purpose entities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 15 |  |  |  |  |
Number of transactions outstanding with special purpose entities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 |  |  |  |  |
Total principal amount of debt outstanding |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 464,495 | 466,938 |  |  |  |
Weighted average life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8 years 8 months 12 days |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Average rating of assets held by sponsored special purpose entities |  |  | BBB+ |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Earned premiums for issuing the financial guarantee policies on the assets, MTNs and derivative contracts |  |  |  |  |  | 30 | 50 | 87 | 40 | 342 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets sold to special purpose entities |  |  |  |  |  | 2,747 | 2,747 | 4,846 | 1,455 | 14,691 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Claims on insurance policies issued to these entities |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Earned fees for providing other services under its financial guarantee policies |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 | 4 | 10 | 3 | 32 |  |  |  |  |  |
Amount received under derivative contracts |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,134 |  |  | 3,387 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amount paid under derivative contracts |  |  |  |  |  | 88 |  | 360 | 93 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of consolidated Variable Interest Entities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 19 | 18
Consolidated VIE assets | 17,386,418 | 17,386,418 | 17,386,418 |  | 17,841,863 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Consolidated VIE liabilities | 17,324,261 | 17,324,261 | 17,324,261 |  | 17,661,700 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Intangible assets recorded at fair value |  |  |  | 164,520 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Weighted-average amortization period |  |  | 16 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amortization expense for intangible assets | $ 2,507 | $ 5,015 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

X
- Definition The expense charged against earnings to allocate the fair value of consolidated VIE intangible assets to the periods expected to benefit from such assets. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_AmortizationOfVariableInterestEntityIntangibleAssets
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount paid under derivative contracts entered into with Ambac's sponsored medium term note special purpose entities. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_AmountPaidUnderDerivativesWithSponsoredSpecialPurposeEntities
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount received under derivative contracts entered into with Ambac's sponsored medium term note special purpose entities. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_AmountReceivedUnderDerivativesWithSponsoredSpecialPurposeEntities
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amounts recovered in respect of previously paid claims on insurance policies issued to Ambac's sponsored special purpose entities. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_AmountsRecoveredOnPreviouslyPaidClaimsRelatedToSponsoredSpecialPurposeEntities
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Assets Transferred To Special Purpose Entities + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_AssetsTransferredToSpecialPurposeEntities
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The total principal amount of outstanding debt issued by Ambac's sponsored medium term note special purpose entities. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_FaceAmountOfDebtOutstandingIssuedBySponsoredSpecialPurposeEntities
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of intangible assets at fair value recorded upon the initial consolidation of a variable interest entity when consolidation occurred during the period(s) reported. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_FairValueIntangibleAssetsInitiallyRecordedUponConsolidationOfVariableInterestEntity
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of insurance premiums earned related to financial guarantee policies on the assets, debt and derivative contracts of Ambac's sponsored medium term note special purpose entities. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_InsurancePremiumEarnedRelatedToSponsoredSpecialPurposeEntities
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of consolidated variable interest entities. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_NumberOfConsolidatedVariableInterestEntities
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The number of asset transfer transactions executed with Ambac's sponsored medium term note special purpose entities that are still outstanding at the reporting date. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_NumberOfTransactionsOutstandingWithSponsoredSpecialPurposeEntities
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The number of asset transfer transactions executed with Ambac's sponsored medium term note special purpose entities since the inception of those entities. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_NumberOfTransactionsWithSponsoredSpecialPurposeEntitiesInceptionToDate
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Fair Value of securities held to collateralize and fund repayment of debt issued through a resecuritization transaction. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_SecuritiesHeldToCollateralizeAndFundRepaymentOfDebtIssuedThroughResecuritizationTransactionFairValue
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The weighted average remaining life of assets held by Ambac's sponsored medium term note special purpose entities at the reporting date. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_WeightedAverageLifeOfAssetsHeldBySponsoredSpecialPurposeEntities
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The weighted average credit rating of assets held by Ambac's sponsored medium term note special purpose entities at the reporting date. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_WeightedAverageRatingOfAssetsHeldBySponsoredSpecialPurposeEntities
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Weighted average amortization period of finite-lived intangible assets acquired either individually or as part of a group of assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16265-109275 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AcquiredFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsWeightedAverageUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Fair value portion of investments accounted under the equity method. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6903542&loc=d3e32014-111567 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Fees and other service revenues recognized in the period that are not otherwise specified in the taxonomy. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1(d)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_RevenueOtherFinancialServices
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Carrying value as of the balance sheet date, including the current and noncurrent portions, of collateralized debt obligations (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle, if longer). Such obligations include mortgage loans, chattel loans, and any other borrowings secured by assets of the borrower. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 16 -Article 9 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19, 20, 22 -Article 5 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_SecuredDebt
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The carrying amount of the consolidated Variable Interest Entity's assets included in the reporting entity's statement of financial position. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (bb) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28200181&loc=d3e5710-111685 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityConsolidatedCarryingAmountAssets
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The carrying amount of the consolidated Variable Interest Entity's liabilities included in the reporting entity's statement of financial position. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (bb) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28200181&loc=d3e5710-111685 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityConsolidatedCarryingAmountLiabilities
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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