Equity Activity (Notes)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Equity [Abstract]

Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block]

EQUITY ACTIVITY

The authorized capital stock of Nortek consists of 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock with a $0.01 per share par value, none of which were issued or outstanding at December 31, 2012 and 2011, and 90,000,000 shares of common stock with a $0.01 per share par value, of which 15,298,465 shares and 15,129,239 shares were outstanding at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Other Stock Transactions

In connection with the emergence from bankruptcy in 2009, Nortek issued warrants that may be exercised for a period of five years to purchase 789,474 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $52.80 per share. During 2012, approximately 96,444 warrants were exercised for shares of Nortek's common stock primarily through net share settlements as permitted under the warrant agreement. There were no warrants exercised during 2011 or 2010.

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Comprehensive income (loss) includes net earnings (loss), unrealized gains and losses from foreign currency translation, and pension liability adjustments, net of tax attributes. The components of the Company’s comprehensive income (loss) and the effect on earnings for the periods presented are detailed in the accompanying consolidated statements of stockholders’ investment and statements of comprehensive income (loss).

The balances of each classification, net of tax attributes, within accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) as of the periods presented are as follows:

	Foreign Currency Translation			Post-Retirement Liability Adjustment, net			Total Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income
	(Dollar amounts in millions)
Balance, December 31, 2009	$	0.7		$	0.8		$	1.5
Change during the period	1.6			(2.3		)	(0.7		)
Balance, December 31, 2010	2.3			(1.5		)	0.8
Change during the period	(1.6		)	(20.0		)	(21.6		)
Balance, December 31, 2011	0.7			(21.5		)	(20.8		)
Change during the period	1.4			(2.9		)	(1.5		)
Balance, December 31, 2012	$	2.1		$	(24.4	)	$	(22.3	)