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Background and Business Description - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) | 8 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |  |  | 12 Months Ended |  | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2013 Segment | Apr. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2013 5.1% Junior Surplus Notes, Segregated Account, Due 2020 [Member] | Apr. 30, 2013 General Unsecured Claims [Member] | Dec. 31, 2013 Ambac Assurance [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Ambac Assurance [Member] | Dec. 31, 2013 Ambac Assurance [Member] 2017 [Member]
Background And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Date of incorporation |  | Apr. 29, 1991 |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of reportable segments |  | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |
Reimbursement of operating expenses |  |  |  |  |  | $ 5,000,000 |  | $ 4,000,000
Capital stock, shares authorized |  |  | 150,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Common stock, shares authorized |  |  | 130,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Common stock, par value | $ 0.01 | $ 0.01 | $ 0.01 |  |  |  |  |
Preferred stock, shares authorized |  |  | 20,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Preferred stock, par value |  |  | $ 0.01 |  |  |  |  |
Common stock, shares issued | 45,000,000 | 45,000,000 | 45,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Warrants issued |  |  |  |  | 5,047,138 |  |  |
Warrants issued exercise price | 16.67 | 16.67 |  |  | 16.67 |  |  |
Expiry date of warrants |  | Apr. 30, 2023 |  |  |  |  |  |
Warrant exercised | 6,312 | 6,312 |  |  |  |  |  |
Common stock, shares new issues |  | 2,524 |  |  |  |  |  |
Amount transferred to escrow account | 30,000,000 | 30,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Segregated Account issue of Junior Surplus Note |  |  |  | 350,000,000 |  |  |  |
Payment of interest |  | 0 |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of voting rights, common stock |  | 10.00% |  |  |  |  |  |
Holder's ownership |  | 5.00% |  |  |  |  |  |
Change in holder's ownership | 5.00% | 5.00% |  |  |  |  |  |
Net par exposure for policies allocated to the Segregated Account |  |  |  |  |  | 22,243,599,000 |  |
Term Of Agreement Termination Notice |  | Either party may terminate the Management Services Agreement for cause upon 120 days written notice (or such shorter period as the Rehabilitator may determine) and the Segregated Account may terminate without cause at any time upon at least 30 days prior notice. |  |  |  |  |  |
Transaction limit under cooperation agreement |  | 5,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Issuance of secured note to Segregated Account |  |  |  |  |  | 2,000,000,000 |  |
Secured note maturity year |  |  |  |  |  | 2050 |  |
Interest on the Secured Note accrues |  |  |  |  |  | 4.50% |  |
Available secured notes including capitalized interest |  |  |  |  |  | 105,989,000 |  |
Minimum Surplus Amount |  |  |  |  |  | 100,000,000 |  |
Policyholders surplus |  |  |  |  |  | $ 840,262,000 | $ 100,000,000 |
Percentage of permitted policy claim |  | 25.00% |  |  |  |  |  |
Accrued rate of interest on outstanding policy obligations | 5.10% | 5.10% |  |  |  |  |  |

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