Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Effective income tax rate	19.20%	425.80%	88.10%	(77.20%)
Statutory rate			35.00%
Increase Decrease In Fair Value Of Equity Conversion Feature Of Preferred Stock	$ 3.5	$ 39.6	$ 50.7	$ (29.3)
Unrecognized tax benefits	11.7		11.7		13.8
Unrecognized Tax Benefits that Would Impact Effective Tax Rate	8.0		8.0		10.1
Current Foreign Tax Expense (Benefit)			2.0
Uncertain tax positions [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Accrued interest and penalties related to the uncertain tax positions	3.9		3.9		3.7
FGL [Member] | U S Federal [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Increase In Valuation Allowance Due To Acquisition			(35.0)
Spectrum Brands [Member] | U S Federal [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Increase In Valuation Allowance Due To Acquisition				(49.3)
Repatriation of foreign earnings [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Other Adjustments, Amount			$ 178.7