XML 151 R107.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.1.9

Derivative Instruments - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 6 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Jun. 30, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 Contract | Dec. 31, 2014 Contract
Schedule Of Loans And Allowance For Loan By Class Individually And Collectively Evaluated For Impairment [Line Items] |  |  |
Value of right to reclaim cash collateral and posted margin, recorded in "Other assets" |  | $ 3,040 us-gaap_DerivativeCollateralRightToReclaimCash | $ 158,240 us-gaap_DerivativeCollateralRightToReclaimCash
Value of obligation to return cash collateral, recorded in "Other liabilities" |  | 690 us-gaap_DerivativeCollateralObligationToReturnCash | 0 us-gaap_DerivativeCollateralObligationToReturnCash
Net liability fair value of all derivative instruments linked to Ambac's own credit risk |  | 42,555 us-gaap_DerivativeNetLiabilityPositionAggregateFairValue | 92,869 us-gaap_DerivativeNetLiabilityPositionAggregateFairValue
Fair value of posted assets as collateral |  | 126,223 us-gaap_CollateralAlreadyPostedAggregateFairValue | 118,844 us-gaap_CollateralAlreadyPostedAggregateFairValue
Credit Derivatives [Member] |  |  |
Schedule Of Loans And Allowance For Loan By Class Individually And Collectively Evaluated For Impairment [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of outstanding credit derivative transactions include ratings based collateral-posting triggers | None of our outstanding credit derivative transactions | None of our outstanding credit derivative transactions |
Number of credit derivative contracts |  | 4 ambc_NumberOfCreditDerivativeContractsOnAdverselyClassifiedCreditListing / us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis = ambc_CreditDerivativesMember | 4 ambc_NumberOfCreditDerivativeContractsOnAdverselyClassifiedCreditListing / us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis = ambc_CreditDerivativesMember
Net liability fair value of credit derivative contracts |  | 62,296 ambc_DerivativeLiabilityFairValueForCreditDerivativeContractsOnAdverselyClassifiedCreditListing / us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis = ambc_CreditDerivativesMember | 60,729 ambc_DerivativeLiabilityFairValueForCreditDerivativeContractsOnAdverselyClassifiedCreditListing / us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis = ambc_CreditDerivativesMember
Notional value of credit derivative contracts |  | $ 277,881 ambc_NotionalPrincipalOutstandingOfCreditDerivativeContractsOnAdverselyClassifiedCreditListing / us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis = ambc_CreditDerivativesMember | $ 270,747 ambc_NotionalPrincipalOutstandingOfCreditDerivativeContractsOnAdverselyClassifiedCreditListing / us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis = ambc_CreditDerivativesMember

X
- Definition Derivative Liability Fair Value For Credit Derivative Contracts On Adversely Classified Credit Listing + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_DerivativeLiabilityFairValueForCreditDerivativeContractsOnAdverselyClassifiedCreditListing
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Notional principal outstanding of Credit Derivative Contracts on adversely classified credit listing. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_NotionalPrincipalOutstandingOfCreditDerivativeContractsOnAdverselyClassifiedCreditListing
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Number of Credit Derivative Contracts on adversely classified credit listing. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_NumberOfCreditDerivativeContractsOnAdverselyClassifiedCreditListing
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

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

X
- Definition The aggregate fair value of assets that are already posted, at the end of the reporting period, as collateral for derivative instruments with credit-risk-related contingent features. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4H -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35706170&loc=SL5624258-113959 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CollateralAlreadyPostedAggregateFairValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of obligation to return cash collateral under master netting arrangements that have not been offset against derivative assets. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 20 -Section 55 -Paragraph 13 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36459792&loc=SL20226016-175313 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (d)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34720828&loc=SL20225862-175312 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35706170&loc=d3e41678-113959 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeCollateralObligationToReturnCash
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of right to receive cash collateral under master netting arrangements that have not been offset against derivative liabilities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 20 -Section 55 -Paragraph 13 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36459792&loc=SL20226016-175313 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (d)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34720828&loc=SL20225862-175312 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35706170&loc=d3e41678-113959 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeCollateralRightToReclaimCash
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Description of the circumstances in which credit-risk-related contingent features could be triggered in derivative instruments that are in a net liability position at the end of the reporting period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4H -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35706170&loc=SL5624258-113959 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeCreditRiskRelatedContingentFeaturesTriggeringCircumstances
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The aggregate fair value amounts of derivative instruments that contain credit-risk-related contingent features that are in a net liability position at the end of the reporting period. For nonderivative instruments that are designated and qualify as hedging instruments, the fair value amounts are the carrying value of the nonderivative hedging instrument, including the adjustment for the foreign currency transaction gain (loss) on that instrument. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4H -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35706170&loc=SL5624258-113959 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeNetLiabilityPositionAggregateFairValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=ambc_CreditDerivativesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |