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Fresh Start Financial Statement Reporting - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 9 Months Ended |  | 9 Months Ended | 4 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2013 | Apr. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2013 Reorganization Items [Member] | Sep. 30, 2013 5.1% Notes Due 2045 [Member] | Sep. 30, 2013 Maximum [Member] | Sep. 30, 2013 Minimum [Member] | Apr. 30, 2013 Ambac Financial Group, Inc Parent Company Only [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Ambac Financial Group, Inc Parent Company Only [Member]
Fresh-Start Adjustment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of voting shares received from emerging entity |  |  |  |  | 50.00% |  |  |
Enterprise value | $ 185,000 | $ 185,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Reorganization value, methodology and assumptions | The enterprise value was based on a discounted cash flow analysis using estimates of after-tax free cash flows through 2045. The terminal date of 2045 was used as the expected run-off of Ambac Assurance’s insurance operations will be substantially completed by 2045. The valuation uses a range of discount rates between 12% and 17%, which considered the cost of capital associated with a set of comparable insurance holding companies, indicative ranges suggested by third parties during Ambac’s 2008 capital raise process and discussions with financial professionals knowledgeable about the insurance industry. |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Discount rate |  |  |  |  | 17.00% | 12.00% |  |
Reimbursement of operating expenses |  |  | 5,000 |  |  |  |  |
Upfront cash | 30,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other operating payments | 15,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Junior surplus notes |  |  |  | 350,000 |  |  |  |
Interest on junior surplus notes |  |  |  | 5.10% |  |  |  |
Following May 2017, additional operating expenses | 4,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Capital investment |  |  |  |  | 190,000 | 135,000 |  |
Rate of return on investment |  |  |  |  | 8.00% | 6.00% |  |
Discount rate of investment |  |  |  |  | 35.00% | 25.00% |  |
Expiry year of securities | 2030 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Life of securities | 20 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Discontinued Liabilities subject to compromise |  |  |  |  |  |  | 239,468 |
Liabilities subject to compromise contractual interest on debt |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 27,572 | $ 85,371

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- Definition Junior Surplus Notes expected to be issued by the Segregated Account of Ambac Assurance to Ambac Financial Group upon Ambac Financial Group's emergence from bankruptcy. These Junior Surplus notes will be includable in surplus for statutory accounting purposes as prescribed or permitted by state laws and regulations. + References No definition available. + Details
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