XML 49 R33.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.19.2

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 6 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Jun. 30, 2018 | Jun. 30, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |
Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding |  | 0 | 0
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest |  | $ 59,968 | $ 41,150
Operating Lease, Liability |  | $ 29,664 | $ 15,000
Preferred Stock, Shares Issued |  | 0 | 0
Retained Earnings [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2016-01 [Member] |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Adoption, Quantification | $ 2,900 |  |
Retained Earnings [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2016-01 [Member] |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Adoption, Quantification | (2,900) |  |
Deferred Income Tax Charge [Member] | Retained Earnings [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2016-01 [Member] |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Adoption, Quantification | $ 590 |  |
Ambac Assurance Corporation [Member] |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |
Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding |  | 5,501 | 4,115
Preferred Stock, Liquidation Preference, Value |  | $ 137,525 | $ 102,875
Preferred Stock, Shares Issued |  | 1,386 |

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_DerivativeLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Total of all stockholders' equity (deficit) items, net of receivables from officers, directors, owners, and affiliates of the entity which is directly or indirectly attributable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent (that is, noncontrolling interest, previously referred to as minority interest). + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(24)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=119400593&loc=d3e572229-122910 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.31) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(22)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_MinorityInterest
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Represents the quantification of the effect of adopting the new accounting standard or change in accounting principle expected by the entity to have a significant effect on the entity's financial statements. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleEffectOfAdoptionQuantification
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Present value of lessee's discounted obligation for lease payments from operating lease. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 842 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77888419&loc=SL77918627-209977 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_OperatingLeaseLiability
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Value of the difference between preference in liquidation and the par or stated values of the preferred shares. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PreferredStockLiquidationPreferenceValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Total number of nonredeemable preferred shares (or preferred stock redeemable solely at the option of the issuer) issued to shareholders (includes related preferred shares that were issued, repurchased, and remain in the treasury). May be all or portion of the number of preferred shares authorized. Excludes preferred shares that are classified as debt. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(28)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesIssued
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Aggregate share number for all nonredeemable preferred stock (or preferred stock redeemable solely at the option of the issuer) held by stockholders. Does not include preferred shares that have been repurchased. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(28)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesOutstanding
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis=us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_AdjustmentsForChangeInAccountingPrincipleAxis=us-gaap_AccountingStandardsUpdate201601Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis=us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=ambc_AmbacAssuranceCorporationMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |