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Special Purpose Entities, Including Variable Interest Entities - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) Transactions Entity | Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) Transactions Entity | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) Entity
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of RMBS Sold |  | 17 |
Cash Received From Delaware Trust |  | $ 146,000 |
Number of VIEs AAC Transferred Assets To |  | 2 |
Number of VIEs Liquidated | 1 | 1 |
Secured Debt | $ 137,049 | $ 137,049 |
Par Value of Securities Placed in Trust | 386,129 | 386,129 |
Fair Value of Securities Placed in Trust | 403,106 | 403,106 |
Securities Issued by Delaware Trust |  | 146,000 |
Fair value of special purpose entities | 9,322 | 9,322 | $ 12,036
Consolidated VIE assets | 14,875,442 | 14,875,442 | 15,126,110
Consolidated VIE liabilities | $ 14,830,828 | 14,830,828 | 15,085,685
variable interest entities deconsolidation gain loss |  | $ 572 |
Asset-Backed Securities and Utility Obligations [Member] |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |
Weighted average life |  | 6 years 9 months 12 days |
Average rating of assets held by sponsored special purpose entities |  | BBB |
Sponsored Variable Interest Entities [Member] |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of individual transactions with special purpose entities | Transactions | 15 | 15 |
Number of transactions outstanding with special purpose entities | Transactions | 3 | 3 |
Total principal amount of debt outstanding | $ 457,960 | $ 457,960 | $ 457,960
Consolidated Entities [Member] |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of DeConsolidated Variable Interest Entities | 1 | 2 |
Number of consolidated Variable Interest Entities | Entity | 15 | 15 | 15
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |
Interest Rate on Securities Issued by Delaware Trust |  | 2.80% |

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- Definition The total principal amount of outstanding debt issued by Ambac's sponsored medium term note special purpose entities. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Interest Rate on Securities Issued by Delaware Trust + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Number of consolidated variable interest entities. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The number of asset transfer transactions executed with Ambac's sponsored medium term note special purpose entities that are still outstanding at the reporting date. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The carrying amount of the consolidated Variable Interest Entity's assets included in the reporting entity's statement of financial position. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (bb) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=52262685&loc=d3e5710-111685 + Details
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