XML 28 R71.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.8

Investments - Summary of Net Investment Income (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended
--- | ---
Mar. 31, 2014 | Mar. 31, 2013
Successor Ambac [Member] |  |
Investment [Line Items] |  |
Fixed income securities | $ 70,985 |
Short-term investments | 303 |
Loans | 117 |
Investment expense | (2,598) |
Securities available-for-sale and short-term | 68,807 |
Other investments | 1,994 |
Total net investment income | 70,801 |
Predecessor Ambac [Member] |  |
Investment [Line Items] |  |
Fixed income securities |  | 86,331
Short-term investments |  | 595
Loans |  | 108
Investment expense |  | (1,977)
Securities available-for-sale and short-term |  | 85,057
Other investments |  | (543)
Total net investment income |  | 84,514
Gains (losses) on securities held as of reporting date [Member] | Successor Ambac [Member] |  |
Investment [Line Items] |  |
Other investments | $ 2,449 | $ 614

X
- Definition Investment Income Insurance Entity Short Term Investments + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_InvestmentIncomeInsuranceEntityShortTermInvestments
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Investment Income Interest On Debt Securities + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_InvestmentIncomeInterestOnDebtSecurities
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Investment Income Interest On Loans Receivable + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_InvestmentIncomeInterestOnLoansReceivable
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Other Investments Income + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_OtherInvestmentsIncome
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

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

X
- Definition Amount of operating dividend and interest income, including amortization and accretion of premiums and discounts, on available-for-sale securities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Available-for-Sale Securities -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6505594 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Paragraph 2 -Article 9 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 35 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27723805&loc=d3e24721-111560 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_InterestAndDividendIncomeSecuritiesAvailableForSale
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of expenses related to the generation of investment income. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.9) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInvestmentExpense
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount, after investment expense, of income earned from investments in securities and real estate. Includes, but is not limited to, real estate investment, policy loans, dividends, and interest. Excludes realized gain (loss) on investments. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 16 -Article 12 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Paragraph 2 -Article 7 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NetInvestmentIncome
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration