Segment Data - Segment Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013		Apr. 01, 2012		Mar. 31, 2013	Apr. 01, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012
Revenues:
Consolidated revenues	$ 1,411.9		$ 1,105.7		$ 2,634.2	$ 2,271.7
Operating income (loss):
Consolidated operating income	134.0		95.9		349.4	207.7
Interest expense	(75.7)		(84.1)		(218.8)	(140.0)
(Loss) gain from the change in the fair value of the equity conversion feature of preferred stock	(39.6)		(26.4)		29.3	1.5
Gain on contingent purchase price reduction			41.0			41.0
Other expense, net	(3.2)		(9.7)		(11.9)	(8.5)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	15.5		16.7		148.0	101.7
Total assets:
Consolidated total assets	27,716.7				27,716.7			25,200.4
Total cash provided from operating activities:
Cash used in corporate operating activities					(79.2)	150.6
Consolidated cash provided from operating activities					(87.4)	106.3
Consumer Products [Member]
Revenues:
Consolidated revenues	987.8		746.3		1,858.0	1,595.1
Operating income (loss):
Consolidated operating income	52.3		55.2		120.4	138.9
Interest expense					(130.2)
(Loss) gain from the change in the fair value of the equity conversion feature of preferred stock
Gain on contingent purchase price reduction
Other expense, net					(5.3)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes					(15.1)	28.5
Total assets:
Consolidated total assets	5,520.7				5,520.7			3,751.6
Total cash provided from operating activities:
Total cash provided from segment operating activities					(197.8)	(148.9)
Insurance [Member]
Revenues:
Consolidated revenues	402.7		359.1		746.3	676.3
Operating income (loss):
Consolidated operating income	109.4		55.8		273.0	91.0
Interest expense
(Loss) gain from the change in the fair value of the equity conversion feature of preferred stock
Gain on contingent purchase price reduction						41.0
Other expense, net					0.3
Income from continuing operations before income taxes					274.4	130.7
Total assets:
Consolidated total assets	21,295.5				21,295.5			20,990.3
Total cash provided from operating activities:
Total cash provided from segment operating activities					188.3	104.4
Energy Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Consolidated revenues	16.7				16.7
Operating income (loss):
Consolidated operating income	0.5				0.5
Interest expense					(0.9)
(Loss) gain from the change in the fair value of the equity conversion feature of preferred stock
Gain on contingent purchase price reduction
Other expense, net					(8.9)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes					(10.4)
Total assets:
Consolidated total assets	680.1				680.1
Total cash provided from operating activities:
Total cash provided from segment operating activities					2.7	0
Other Financial Services [Member]
Revenues:
Consolidated revenues	8.7		0.4		19.3	0.4
Operating income (loss):
Consolidated operating income	5.2		(0.8)		12.5	(1.0)
Interest expense
(Loss) gain from the change in the fair value of the equity conversion feature of preferred stock
Gain on contingent purchase price reduction
Other expense, net					(0.1)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes					6.9	(1.1)
Total assets:
Consolidated total assets	295.7				295.7			195.1
Total cash provided from operating activities:
Total cash provided from segment operating activities					(1.4)	0.2
Total segments [Member]
Operating income (loss):
Consolidated operating income	163.5		110.1		400.3	228.8
Total assets:
Consolidated total assets	27,475.2				27,475.2			24,754.9
Total cash provided from operating activities:
Total cash provided from segment operating activities					(8.2)	(44.3)
Intersegment elimination [Member]
Revenues:
Consolidated revenues	(4.0)		(0.1)		(6.1)	(0.1)
Operating income (loss):
Consolidated operating income	(3.9)		(0.1)		(6.1)	(0.1)
Interest expense						(108.0)
(Loss) gain from the change in the fair value of the equity conversion feature of preferred stock
Gain on contingent purchase price reduction
Other expense, net
Income from continuing operations before income taxes					(148.6)	(108.0)
Total assets:
Consolidated total assets	(316.8)				(316.8)			(182.1)
Corporate expenses [Member]
Revenues:
Consolidated revenues
Operating income (loss):
Consolidated operating income	(29.5)	[1]	(14.2)	[1]	(50.9)	(21.1)	[1]
Interest expense					(87.7)	108.0
(Loss) gain from the change in the fair value of the equity conversion feature of preferred stock					29.3	1.5
Gain on contingent purchase price reduction
Other expense, net					2.1	(8.5)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes					40.8	51.6
Total assets:
Consolidated total assets	2,463.8				2,463.8			2,303.7
Total cash provided from operating activities:
Start-up costs	0		0.9		0.9	1.7
Acquisition related cost	4.7		0.6		11.1	2.1
Corporate assets [Member]
Total assets:
Consolidated total assets	$ 241.5				$ 241.5			$ 445.5

[1] Included in corporate expenses for the three and six months ended March 31, 2013 and April 1, 2012, are $0.0 and $0.9, and $0.9 and $1.7, respectively, for start-up costs relating to Front Street and Salus, and $4.7 and $11.1, and $0.6 and $2.1, respectively, relating to acquisitions and other projects.