XML 82 R71.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.5.0.2

Derivative Instruments - Summary of Location and Amount of Gains and Losses of Derivative Contracts (Detail) - Successor [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Jun. 30, 2016 | Jun. 30, 2015 | Jun. 30, 2016 | Jun. 30, 2015
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Derivative instruments, gain (loss) recognized in income, net, Total | $ (18,447) | $ 111,996 | $ (235,409) | $ 146,173
Net Change in Fair Value of Credit Derivatives [Member] | Credit Derivatives [Member] | Financial Guarantee [Member] |  |  |  |
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Derivative instruments, gain (loss) recognized in income, net, Total | 3,955 | 10,293 | 16,821 | 7,794
Derivative Products [Member] | Financial Services Derivatives Products [Member] |  |  |  |
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Derivative instruments, gain (loss) recognized in income, net, Total | (36,331) | 50,999 | (119,755) | 13,225
Derivative Products [Member] | Interest Rate Swaps [Member] | Financial Services Derivatives Products [Member] |  |  |  |
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Derivative instruments, gain (loss) recognized in income, net, Total | (33,326) | 49,752 | (110,433) | 14,205
Derivative Products [Member] | Futures Contracts [Member] | Financial Services Derivatives Products [Member] |  |  |  |
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Derivative instruments, gain (loss) recognized in income, net, Total | (3,005) | 1,247 | (9,322) | (980)
Income Loss On Variable Interest Entities [Member] | Variable Interest Entity [Member] |  |  |  |
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Derivative instruments, gain (loss) recognized in income, net, Total | 13,929 | 50,704 | (132,475) | 125,154
Income Loss On Variable Interest Entities [Member] | Interest Rate Swaps [Member] | Variable Interest Entity [Member] |  |  |  |
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Derivative instruments, gain (loss) recognized in income, net, Total | (437) | 31,651 | (158,780) | 83,837
Income Loss On Variable Interest Entities [Member] | Currency Swaps [Member] | Variable Interest Entity [Member] |  |  |  |
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Derivative instruments, gain (loss) recognized in income, net, Total | $ 14,366 | $ 19,053 | $ 26,305 | $ 41,317

X
- Definition Amount of increase (decrease) in the fair value of derivatives recognized in the income statement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4A -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56946850&loc=SL5618551-113959 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4C -Subparagraph (a),(c),(d),(e) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56946850&loc=SL5624171-113959 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfTradingSecuritiesAndOtherTradingAssetsLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
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_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=ambc_NetChangeInFairValueOfCreditDerivativesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis=us-gaap_FinancialGuaranteeMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=ambc_DerivativeProductsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis=ambc_FinancialServicesDerivativesProductsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_FutureMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=ambc_IncomeLossOnVariableInterestEntitiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis=us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_CurrencySwapMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |