Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
Jul. 03, 2011
Income Taxes [Abstract]
Income Taxes	(13) Income Taxes For the three months ended July 3, 2011, the Company’s effective tax rate was only 2% principally due to (i) the recognition of a bargain purchase gain from the FGL Acquisition, for which a deferred tax liability has not been recorded as the Company believes it has the ability to not incur tax on this gain; and (ii) the release of valuation allowances on tax benefits from net operating and capital loss carryforwards that the Company determined are more-likely-than-not realizable. In addition to the factors noted above, the Company’s effective tax rate for the nine months ended July 3, 2011 of 41% differs from the U.S. Federal statutory rate of 35% principally due to: (i) deferred income taxes provided on the change in book versus tax basis of indefinite lived intangibles, which are amortized for tax purposes but not for book purposes; and (ii) income in foreign jurisdictions subject to tax at rates different from the U.S. statutory rate. For the three and nine months ended July 4, 2010, the Company reported a provision for income taxes, despite a pre-tax loss from continuing operations, in each of those periods principally due to: (i) deferred income taxes provided on the change in book versus tax basis of indefinite lived intangibles, which are amortized for tax purposes but not for book purposes; (ii) losses in the United States and some foreign jurisdictions for which no tax benefit can be recognized due to full valuation allowances; and (iii) income subject to tax in certain other foreign jurisdictions. HGI’s effective tax rate was computed using a discrete period approach as a result of its recent acquisition of FGL. FGL is unable to project its expected income for the year ending September 30, 2011 and, as a result, must use a discrete period approach. FGL is unable to project its expected income for the year ending September 30, 2011 because of its inability to reliably project the realization of built-in gains on investments due to unknown variables related to future market conditions, coupled with the potential impact that such would have on its effective tax rate. As FGL does not have significant permanent differences, it is anticipated that were they to compute an annual effective tax rate, it would not appreciably differ from the U.S. Federal statutory rate of 35%. The Company files income tax returns in the United States Federal jurisdiction and various state and local, and foreign jurisdictions, and is subject to ongoing examination by various taxing authorities. The Company’s major taxing jurisdictions are the United States, United Kingdom and Germany. The Company believes its tax reserves for uncertain tax positions are adequate, consistent with the principles of ASC 740, Income Taxes. The Company regularly assesses the likelihood of additional tax assessments in those jurisdictions and, if necessary, adjusts its tax reserves based on new information or developments. HGI is effectively settled with respect to United States income tax audits for years prior to 2007. With limited exception, HGI is no longer subject to state and local income tax audits for years prior to 2007. Spectrum Brands and Russell Hobbs are effectively settled with respect to U.S. Federal income tax audits for years prior to 2006 and 2008, respectively. However, Federal net operating loss carryforwards from their fiscal years ended September 30, 2006 and June 30, 2008, respectively, continue to be subject to Internal Revenue Service examination until the statute of limitations expires for the years in which these net operating loss carryforwards are ultimately utilized. FGL is effectively settled with respect to U.S. Federal income tax audits for years prior to 2007. FGL is no longer subject to state and local income tax audits for years prior to 2007. However, Federal net operating loss carryforwards from tax years ended June 30, 2006 and December 31, 2006, respectively, continue to be subject to Internal Revenue Service examination until the statute of limitations expires for the year in which these net operating loss carryforwards are ultimately utilized. The Company recognizes in its consolidated financial statements the impact of a tax position if it concludes that the position is more likely than not sustainable upon audit, based on the technical merits of the position. At July 3, 2011 and September 30, 2010, the Company had $9,366 and $13,174, respectively, of unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions. The Company also had approximately $6,000 of accrued interest and penalties related to the uncertain tax positions at those dates. Interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions are reported in the financial statements as part of income tax expense.

(13) Income Taxes

For the three months ended July 3, 2011, the Company’s effective tax rate was only 2% principally due to (i) the recognition of a bargain purchase gain from the FGL Acquisition, for which a deferred tax liability has not been recorded as the Company believes it has the ability to not incur tax on this gain; and (ii) the release of valuation allowances on tax benefits from net operating and capital loss carryforwards that the Company determined are more-likely-than-not realizable. In addition to the factors noted above, the Company’s effective tax rate for the nine months ended July 3, 2011 of 41% differs from the U.S. Federal statutory rate of 35% principally due to: (i) deferred income taxes provided on the change in book versus tax basis of indefinite lived intangibles, which are amortized for tax purposes but not for book purposes; and (ii) income in foreign jurisdictions subject to tax at rates different from the U.S. statutory rate.

For the three and nine months ended July 4, 2010, the Company reported a provision for income taxes, despite a pre-tax loss from continuing operations, in each of those periods principally due to: (i) deferred income taxes provided on the change in book versus tax basis of indefinite lived intangibles, which are amortized for tax purposes but not for book purposes; (ii) losses in the United States and some foreign jurisdictions for which no tax benefit can be recognized due to full valuation allowances; and (iii) income subject to tax in certain other foreign jurisdictions.

HGI’s effective tax rate was computed using a discrete period approach as a result of its recent acquisition of FGL. FGL is unable to project its expected income for the year ending September 30, 2011 and, as a result, must use a discrete period approach. FGL is unable to project its expected income for the year ending September 30, 2011 because of its inability to reliably project the realization of built-in gains on investments due to unknown variables related to future market conditions, coupled with the potential impact that such would have on its effective tax rate. As FGL does not have significant permanent differences, it is anticipated that were they to compute an annual effective tax rate, it would not appreciably differ from the U.S. Federal statutory rate of 35%.

The Company files income tax returns in the United States Federal jurisdiction and various state and local, and foreign jurisdictions, and is subject to ongoing examination by various taxing authorities. The Company’s major taxing jurisdictions are the United States, United Kingdom and Germany. The Company believes its tax reserves for uncertain tax positions are adequate, consistent with the principles of ASC 740, Income Taxes. The Company regularly assesses the likelihood of additional tax assessments in those jurisdictions and, if necessary, adjusts its tax reserves based on new information or developments.

HGI is effectively settled with respect to United States income tax audits for years prior to 2007. With limited exception, HGI is no longer subject to state and local income tax audits for years prior to 2007. Spectrum Brands and Russell Hobbs are effectively settled with respect to U.S. Federal income tax audits for years prior to 2006 and 2008, respectively. However, Federal net operating loss carryforwards from their fiscal years ended September 30, 2006 and June 30, 2008, respectively, continue to be subject to Internal Revenue Service examination until the statute of limitations expires for the years in which these net operating loss carryforwards are ultimately utilized. FGL is effectively settled with respect to U.S. Federal income tax audits for years prior to 2007. FGL is no longer subject to state and local income tax audits for years prior to 2007. However, Federal net operating loss carryforwards from tax years ended June 30, 2006 and December 31, 2006, respectively, continue to be subject to Internal Revenue Service examination until the statute of limitations expires for the year in which these net operating loss carryforwards are ultimately utilized.

The Company recognizes in its consolidated financial statements the impact of a tax position if it concludes that the position is more likely than not sustainable upon audit, based on the technical merits of the position. At July 3, 2011 and September 30, 2010, the Company had $9,366 and $13,174, respectively, of unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions. The Company also had approximately $6,000 of accrued interest and penalties related to the uncertain tax positions at those dates. Interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions are reported in the financial statements as part of income tax expense.