XML 29 R81.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.1.9

Income Taxes - Significant Portions of Deferred Tax Liabilities and Deferred Tax Assets (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | Mar. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
--- | --- | ---
Deferred tax liabilities: |  |
Insurance intangible | $ 471,553 us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsIntangibleAssets | $ 493,822 us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsIntangibleAssets
Variable interest entities | 11,611 ambc_CurrentLiabilitiesVariableInterestEntity | 14,149 ambc_CurrentLiabilitiesVariableInterestEntity
Investments | 141,208 us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesInvestments | 138,072 us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesInvestments
Unearned premiums and credit fees | 101,647 ambc_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesUnearnedPremiumRevenue | 104,589 ambc_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesUnearnedPremiumRevenue
Other | 33,763 us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther | 33,835 us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther
Total deferred tax liabilities | 759,782 us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilities | 784,467 us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilities
Deferred tax assets: |  |
Net operating loss and capital carryforward | 1,829,084 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards | 1,890,551 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards
Loss reserves | 146,429 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsLossReserves | 185,881 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsLossReserves
Compensation | 5,469 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsEmployeeCompensation | 5,276 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsEmployeeCompensation
AMT Credits | 11,899 ambc_MaximumAlternativeMinimumTaxTollingPaymentCredit | 10,359 ambc_MaximumAlternativeMinimumTaxTollingPaymentCredit
Other | 9,539 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOther | 9,539 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOther
Sub total deferred tax assets | 2,002,420 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsGross | 2,101,606 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsGross
Valuation allowance | 1,244,543 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance | 1,319,218 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance
Total deferred tax assets | 757,877 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNet | 782,388 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNet
Net deferred tax asset (liability) | $ (1,905)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet | $ (2,079)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet

X
- Definition Current Liabilities Variable Interest Entity + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_CurrentLiabilitiesVariableInterestEntity
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Deferred Tax Liabilities Unearned Premium Revenue + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesUnearnedPremiumRevenue
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Maximum Alternative Minimum Tax Tolling Payment Credit + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_MaximumAlternativeMinimumTaxTollingPaymentCredit
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences and carryforwards. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32537-109319 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Deferred Tax Asset -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6510090 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsGross
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount after allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences and carryforwards, net of deferred tax liability attributable to taxable temporary differences. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32537-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount after allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences and carryforwards. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b),(c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32537-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNet
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

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

X
- Definition Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible operating loss carryforwards. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32621-109319 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32632-109319 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 20 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=29652012&loc=d3e28680-109314 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences not separately disclosed. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32621-109319 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 20 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=29652012&loc=d3e28680-109314 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32632-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOther
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences from employee compensation. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32621-109319 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32632-109319 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 20 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=29652012&loc=d3e28680-109314 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsEmployeeCompensation
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences from loss reserves other than estimated credit losses. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32621-109319 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32632-109319 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 20 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=29652012&loc=d3e28680-109314 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsLossReserves
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of deferred tax assets for which it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will not be realized. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32537-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of deferred tax liability attributable to taxable temporary differences net of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences and carryforwards after valuation allowances. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32537-109319 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=37586315&loc=d3e31931-109318 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilities
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of deferred tax liability attributable to taxable temporary differences from intangible assets other than goodwill. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32621-109319 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 20 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=29652012&loc=d3e28680-109314 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32632-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsIntangibleAssets
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of deferred tax liability attributable to taxable temporary differences from investments (excludes investments in subsidiaries and equity method investments). + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesInvestments
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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

X
- Definition Amount of deferred tax liability attributable to taxable temporary differences not separately disclosed. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32621-109319 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 20 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=29652012&loc=d3e28680-109314 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32632-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant