XML 52 R41.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.7.0.1

Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts - Additional Information (Detail) € in Thousands, £ in Thousands, $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2017 EUR (€) | Mar. 31, 2017 GBP (£) | Mar. 31, 2016 EUR (€) | Mar. 31, 2016 GBP (£) | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Insurance [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated Future Premium Payments Weighted Average Discounted Rate |  |  | 2.60% |  |  |  |  |
Weighted average period of future premiums | 9 years 3 months 18 days |  | 9 years |  |  |  |  |
Subrogation recoveries, net of reinsurance | $ (1,864,943) |  | $ (1,878,740) |  |  |  |  |
Successor [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Insurance [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule Of Insured Financial Obligations With Credit Deterioration Reductions Of Gross Claim Liability Rmbs Subrogation | 1,892,974 |  | 1,907,035 |  |  |  |  |
Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts, Premium Receivable | $ 652,677 | $ 782,078 | 661,337 |  |  |  |  | $ 831,575
Estimated Future Premium Payments Weighted Average Discounted Rate | 2.60% |  |  | 2.60% | 2.60% |  |  |
Reinsurance Payable | $ 40,201 |  | $ 42,529 |  |  |  |  |
Transactions with non-investment grade internal ratings | 22.00% |  | 25.00% |  |  |  |  |
Non-investment grade RMBS on total premiums receivable | 7.00% |  | 8.00% |  |  |  |  |
Percentage Of Premiums Receivable Related To Non Investment Grade Structured Ins Transactions | 5.00% |  | 5.00% |  |  |  |  |
Uncollectable premium receivables | $ 9,198 |  | $ 9,186 |  |  |  |  |
Past due premiums on policies insuring non-investment grade obligations amount | 500 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accelerated premium revenue for retired obligations | 16,280 | 14,976 |  |  |  |  |  |
Reinsurance recoveries of losses included in losses and loss expenses | 4,112 | 9,454 |  |  |  |  |  |
Losses and loss expense reserves ceded to reinsurers | 34,691 | 27,478 | 30,767 |  |  |  |  | $ 44,059
Intangible amortization expense | 37,525 | 50,890 |  |  |  |  |  |
Intangible Assets, Gross (Excluding Goodwill) | 1,542,845 |  | 1,534,419 |  |  |  |  |
Insurance intangible asset | 931,159 |  | 962,080 |  |  |  |  |
Accumulated amortization on insurance intangible asset | $ 611,686 |  | $ 572,339 |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of Premiums Receivable Related To Non Investment Grade Lease Securitizations | 3.00% |  | 4.00% |  |  |  |  |
Percentage Of Premiums Receivable Related To Non Investment Grade Student Loan Transactions | 3.00% |  | 3.00% |  |  |  |  |
Loss Reserves [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Insurance [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Weighted average risk-free rate used to discount loss reserves | 2.60% |  | 2.70% |  |  |  |  |
United Kingdom, Pounds |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Insurance [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts, Premium Receivable | $ 185,204 | 220,662 |  |  | £ 147,726 |  | £ 153,536 |
Euro Member Countries, Euro |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Insurance [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts, Premium Receivable | $ 34,908 | $ 47,245 |  | € 32,671 |  | € 41,487 |  |

X
- Definition Accumulated Amortization on Intangible Asset + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_AccumulatedAmortizationOnIntangibleAsset
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition This element represents the reduction to gross claim liability for subrogation on insured RMBS financial obligations with credit deterioration, net of reinsurance. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_BalanceOfRmbsSubrogationRecoveriesNetOfReinsurance
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Weighted average discounted rate of estimated future premium payments to be paid by the VIEs. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_EstimatedFuturePremiumPaymentsWeightedAverageDiscountedRate
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Insurance [Line Items] + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_InsuranceLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The known and estimated amount recoverable as of the balance sheet date from reinsurers for claims expected to be paid or incurred by the ceding insurer. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_LossReservesCededToReinsurers
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Percentage of financial guarantee premiums receivable related to RMBS insured transactions with non-investment grade internal ratings. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_PercentageOfPremiumsReceivableRelatedToNonInvestmentGradeRmbsTransactions
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Percentage Of Premiums Receivable Related To Non Investment Grade Structured Ins Transactions + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_PercentageOfPremiumsReceivableRelatedToNonInvestmentGradeStructuredInsTransactions
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Percentage of financial guarantee premiums receivable related to Student Loan insured transactions with non-investment grade internal ratings. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_PercentageOfPremiumsReceivableRelatedToNonInvestmentGradeStudentLoanTransactions
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Percentage of financial guarantee premiums receivable related to insured transactions with non-investment grade internal ratings. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_PercentagePremiumsReceivableRelatedToTransactionsWithNonInvestmentGradeInternalRatings
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Percentage of Premiums Receivable Related to Non Investment Grade Lease Securitizations + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_PercentageofPremiumsReceivableRelatedToNonInvestmentGradeLeaseSecuritizations
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Past due premiums on policies insuring internally rated non-investment grade obligations. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_PremiumsPastDueOnNonInvestmentGradeObligation
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition This element represents the reduction to gross claim liability for subrogation on insured RMBS financial obligations with credit deterioration. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_ScheduleOfInsuredFinancialObligationsWithCreditDeteriorationReductionsOfGrossClaimLiabilityRmbsSubrogation
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The aggregate expense charged against earnings to allocate the cost of intangible assets (nonphysical assets not used in production) in a systematic and rational manner to the periods expected to benefit from such assets. As a noncash expense, this element is added back to net income when calculating cash provided by or used in operations using the indirect method. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388964&loc=d3e16225-109274 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition This element represents the amount of premium revenue on financial guarantee insurance contracts recognized during the period that was accelerated for revenue recognition purposes. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 605 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933581&loc=SL5749298-161291 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialGuaranteeInsuranceContractsAcceleratedPremiumRevenueAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition This element represents the weighted average risk free rate used to discount the claim liability related to financial guarantee insurance contracts. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 40 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933314&loc=SL5749324-161292 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialGuaranteeInsuranceContractsClaimLiabilityWeightedAverageRiskFreeDiscountRate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of the premium receivable for financial guarantee insurance contracts reported in the statement of financial position. This element primarily would consist of those financial guarantee insurance contracts which premiums are to be collected over the contract period, but may, on occasion, include premiums which are to be collected in full at inception, but which straddle a financial reporting period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 310 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (c)(1),(5) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933075&loc=SL5748726-161290 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialGuaranteeInsuranceContractsPremiumReceivable
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Weighted average period over which premium receivable for financial guarantee insurance contracts is collected where premium is received over the contract period, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 310 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a)(5) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933075&loc=SL5748726-161290 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialGuaranteeInsuranceContractsPremiumReceivedOverContractPeriodPremiumReceivableWeightedAverageCollectionPeriod1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount before accumulated amortization of intangible assets, excluding goodwill. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Sum of the carrying amounts of all intangible assets, excluding goodwill, as of the balance sheet date, net of accumulated amortization and impairment charges. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388964&loc=d3e16212-109274 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph ((a)(1),(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the estimated valuation allowance to reduce gross premiums receivable to net realizable value. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49124121&loc=d3e5074-111524 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-09) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e24092-122690 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.5) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PremiumsReceivableAllowanceForDoubtfulAccounts
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of reduction of provision for policy benefits and costs incurred for policies ceded. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6480758&loc=d3e6811-158387 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ReinsuranceEffectOnClaimsAndBenefitsIncurredAmountCeded
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of the known and estimated amounts owed to insurers under reinsurance treaties or other arrangements. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.13(a)(3),(c)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ReinsurancePayable
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=ambc_LossReservesClaimLiabilityMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_CurrencyAxis=currency_GBP
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_CurrencyAxis=currency_EUR
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |