XML 135 R120.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.4.0.3

Income Taxes Income Taxes - Effect of Income Taxes on Net Income and Stockholders' Equity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 4 Months Ended | 8 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | ---
Apr. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
Successor [Member] |  |  |  |
Income Tax Expense (Benefit) [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Income tax expense (benefit) |  | $ 7,514 | $ 17,364 | $ 9,557
Net Unrealized Losses On Securities Tax Effect |  | (14,669) | (55,906) | 88,411
Valuation Allowances And Reserves Charged To Equity |  | 4,081 | 71,774 | (73,018)
Unrealized Loss on FX Tax Effect |  | 14,953 | (15,628) | (15,108)
Change in Retirement Benefits Tax Effect |  | $ 3,797 | $ (240) | $ (285)
Predecessor [Member] |  |  |  |
Income Tax Expense (Benefit) [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Income tax expense (benefit) | $ 755 |  |  |
Net Unrealized Losses On Securities Tax Effect | (227,945) |  |  |
Valuation Allowances And Reserves Charged To Equity | (219,341) |  |  |
Unrealized Loss on FX Tax Effect | 7,010 |  |  |
Change in Retirement Benefits Tax Effect | $ 1,594 |  |  |

X
- Definition Change in Retirement Benefits Tax Effect + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_ChangeinRetirementBenefitsTaxEffect
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Income Tax Expense (Benefit) [Roll Forward] + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefitRollForward
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Net Unrealized Losses On Securities Tax Effect + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_NetUnrealizedLossesOnSecuritiesTaxEffect
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Unrealized Loss on FX Tax Effect + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_UnrealizedLossonFXTaxEffect
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Valuation Allowances And Reserves Charged To Equity + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToEquity
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of current income tax expense (benefit) and deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to continuing operations. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (a),(b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32639-109319 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Income Tax Expense (or Benefit) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6515339 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis=us-gaap_SuccessorMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis=us-gaap_PredecessorMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |