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Significant Accounting Policies and Practices
 12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Significant Accounting Policies and Practices [Abstract]  
Significant Accounting Policies and Practices
 
   
(2)   Significant Accounting Policies and Practices
 
Consolidation and Fiscal Year End
 
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of HGI and all other entities in which HGI has a controlling financial interest (none of which are variable interest entities); including Spectrum Brands (and SBI as its accounting predecessor prior to the SB/RH Merger), FGL, HGI Funding LLC (“HGI Funding”), Zap.Com Corporation (“Zap.Com”), and certain wholly-owned non-operating subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The non-controlling interest component of total equity represents the 46.9% share of Spectrum Brands and the 2.1% share of Zap.Com not owned by HGI. The Company’s fiscal year ends September 30 and its interim fiscal quarters end every thirteenth Sunday, except for its first fiscal quarter which may end on the fourteenth Sunday following September 30. References herein to Fiscal 2011, 2010 and 2009 refer to the fiscal years ended September 30, 2011, 2010 and 2009.
 
Segment Reporting
 
The Company follows the accounting guidance which establishes standards for reporting information about operating segments in annual financial statements and related disclosures about products and services, geographic areas and major customers. The Company’s reportable business segments are organized in a manner that reflects how HGI’s management views those business activities subsequent to the Spectrum Brands Acquisition and the FGL Acquisition. Accordingly, for purposes of the consolidated financial statement information of HGI presented herein, the Company operated in two segments, consumer products and, commencing April 6, 2011, insurance.
 
Revenue Recognition
 
Net Sales
 
The Company recognizes revenue from product sales generally upon delivery to the customer or the shipping point in situations where the customer picks up the product or where delivery terms so stipulate. This represents the point at which title and all risks and rewards of ownership of the product are passed, provided that: there are no uncertainties regarding customer acceptance; there is persuasive evidence that an arrangement exists; the price to the buyer is fixed or determinable; and collectability is deemed reasonably assured. The Company generally is not obligated to allow for, and it’s general policy is not to accept, product returns for battery sales. The Company does accept returns in specific instances related to its batteries, shaving, grooming, personal care, home and garden, small appliances and pet products. The provision for customer returns is based on historical sales and returns and other relevant information. The Company estimates and accrues the cost of returns, which are treated as a reduction of “Net sales.”
 
The Company enters into various promotional arrangements, primarily with retail customers, including arrangements entitling such retailers to cash rebates from the Company based on the level of their purchases, which require the Company to estimate and accrue the estimated costs of the promotional programs. These costs are treated as a reduction of “Net sales.”
 
The Company also enters into promotional arrangements that target the ultimate consumer. The costs associated with such arrangements are treated as either a reduction of “Net sales” or an increase of “Cost of goods sold”, based on the type of promotional program. The income statement presentation of the Company’s promotional arrangements complies with ASC Topic 605, “Revenue Recognition.” For all types of promotional arrangements and programs, the Company monitors its commitments and uses various measures, including past experience, to determine amounts to be recorded for the estimate of the earned, but unpaid, promotional costs. The terms of the Company’s customer-related promotional arrangements and programs are tailored to each customer and are documented through written contracts, correspondence or other communications with the individual customers.
 
The Company also enters into various arrangements, primarily with retail customers, which require the Company to make upfront cash, or “slotting” payments, in order to secure the right to distribute through such customers. The Company capitalizes slotting payments; provided the payments are supported by a time or volume based arrangement with the retailer, and amortizes the associated payment over the appropriate time or volume based term of the arrangement. The amortization of slotting payments is treated as a reduction in “Net sales” and a corresponding asset is reported in “Deferred charges and other assets” in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.
 
Insurance Premiums
 
FGL’s insurance premiums for traditional life insurance products are recognized as revenue when due from the contractholder. FGL’s traditional life insurance products include those products with fixed and guaranteed premiums and benefits and consist primarily of term life insurance and certain annuities with life contingencies.
 
Premium collections for fixed index and fixed rate annuities and immediate annuities without life contingency are reported as deposit liabilities (i.e., contractholder funds) instead of as revenues. Similarly, cash payments to policyholders are reported as decreases in the liability for contractholder funds and not as expenses. Sources of revenues for products accounted for as deposit liabilities are net investment income, surrender and other charges deducted from contractholder funds, and net realized gains (losses) on investments.
 
Net Investment Income
 
Dividends and interest income of FGL, recorded in “Net investment income,” are recognized when earned. Amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts on investments in fixed maturity securities are reflected in “Net investment income” over the contractual terms of the investments in a manner that produces a constant effective yield.
 
For mortgage-backed securities, included in the fixed maturity available-for-sale securities portfolios, FGL recognizes income using a constant effective yield based on anticipated prepayments and the estimated economic life of the securities. When actual prepayments differ significantly from originally anticipated prepayments, the effective yield is recalculated prospectively to reflect actual payments to date plus anticipated future payments. Any adjustments resulting from changes in effective yield are reflected in “Net investment income.”
 
Net Investment Losses
 
Net investment losses include realized gains and losses of FGL from the sale of investments, write-downs for other-than-temporary impairments of available-for-sale investments, and gains and losses on derivative investments. For the insurance segment, realized gains and losses on the sale of investments are determined using the specific identification method.
 
Product Fees
 
Product fee revenue from universal life insurance (“UL”) products and deferred annuities is comprised of policy and contract fees charged for the cost of insurance, policy administration and is assessed on a monthly basis and recognized as revenue when assessed and earned. Product fee revenue also includes surrender charges which are recognized and collected when the policy is surrendered.
 
Cash Equivalents
 
The Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments purchased with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.
 
Investments
 
Consumer Products and Other
 
HGI’s short-term investments consist of (1) marketable equity and debt securities classified as trading and carried at fair value with unrealized gains and losses recognized in earnings, including certain securities for which the Company has elected the fair value option under ASC Topic 825, Financial Instruments, which would otherwise have been classified as available-for-sale, and (2) U.S. Treasury securities and a certificate of deposit classified as held to maturity and carried at amortized cost, which approximates fair value.
 
Insurance
 
FGL’s investments in debt and equity securities have been designated as available-for-sale and are carried at fair value with unrealized gains and losses included in “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)” (“AOCI”), net of associated intangibles “shadow adjustments” (discussed in Note 10) and deferred income taxes.
 
Available-for-sale Securities — Evaluation for Recovery of Amortized Cost
 
FGL regularly reviews its available-for-sale securities for declines in fair value that FGL determines to be other-than-temporary. For an equity security, if FGL does not have the ability and intent to hold the security for a sufficient period of time to allow for a recovery in value, FGL concludes that an other-than-temporary impairment has occurred and the cost of the equity security is written down to the current fair value, with a corresponding charge to investment losses on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. When assessing FGL’s ability and intent to hold an equity security to recovery, FGL considers, among other things, the severity and duration of the decline in fair value of the equity security as well as the cause of the decline, a fundamental analysis of the liquidity, business prospects and the overall financial condition of the issuer.
 
For FGL’s fixed maturity available-for-sale securities, FGL generally considers the following in determining whether FGL’s unrealized losses are other than temporarily impaired:
 
   
•  The estimated range and period until recovery;
 
•  Current delinquencies and nonperforming assets of underlying collateral;
 
•  Expected future default rates;
 
•  Collateral value by vintage, geographic region, industry concentration or property type;
 
•  Subordination levels or other credit enhancements as of the balance sheet date as compared to origination; and
 
•  Contractual and regulatory cash obligations.
 
FGL recognizes other-than-temporary impairment’s on debt securities in an unrealized loss position when one of the following circumstances exists:
 
   
•  FGL does not expect full recovery of its amortized cost based on the estimate of cash flows expected to be collected;
 
•  FGL intends to sell a security; or
 
•  It is more likely than not that FGL will be required to sell a security prior to recovery.
 
If FGL intends to sell a debt security or it is more likely than not FGL will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis and the fair value of the security is below amortized cost, FGL will conclude that an other-than-temporary impairment has occurred and the amortized cost is written down to current fair value, with a corresponding charge to “Net investment losses” in the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Operations. If FGL does not intend to sell a debt security or it is more likely than not FGL will not be required to sell a debt security before recovery of its amortized cost basis and the present value of the cash flows expected to be collected is less than the amortized cost of the security (referred to as the credit loss), an other-than-temporary impairment has occurred and the amortized cost is written down to the estimated recovery value with a corresponding charge to “Net investment losses” in the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Operations, as this amount is deemed the credit loss portion of the other-than-temporary impairment. The remainder of the decline to fair value is recorded in AOCI as unrealized other-than-temporary impairment on available-for-sale securities, as this amount is considered a non-credit (i.e., recoverable) impairment.
 
When assessing FGL’s intent to sell a debt security or if it is more likely than not FGL will be required to sell a debt security before recovery of its cost basis, FGL evaluates facts and circumstances such as, but not limited to, decisions to reposition FGL’s security portfolio, sale of securities to meet cash flow needs and sales of securities to capitalize on favorable pricing. In order to determine the amount of the credit loss for a security, FGL calculates the recovery value by performing a discounted cash flow analysis based on the current cash flows and future cash flows FGL expects to recover. The discount rate is the effective interest rate implicit in the underlying security. The effective interest rate is the original purchased yield or the yield at the date the debt security was previously impaired.
 
When evaluating mortgage-backed securities and asset-backed securities, FGL considers a number of pool-specific factors as well as market level factors when determining whether or not the impairment on the security is temporary or other-than-temporary. The most important factor is the performance of the underlying collateral in the security and the trends of that performance. FGL uses this information about the collateral to forecast the timing and rate of mortgage loan defaults, including making projections for loans that are already delinquent and for those loans that are currently performing but may become delinquent in the future. Other factors used in this analysis include type of underlying collateral (e.g., prime, Alternative A-paper (“Alt-A”), or subprime), geographic distribution of underlying loans and timing of liquidations by state. Once default rates and timing assumptions are determined, FGL then makes assumptions regarding the severity of a default if it were to occur. Factors that impact the severity assumption include expectations for future home price appreciation or depreciation, loan size, first lien versus second lien, existence of loan level private mortgage insurance, type of occupancy and geographic distribution of loans. Once default and severity assumptions are determined for the security in question, cash flows for the underlying collateral are projected including expected defaults and prepayments. These cash flows on the collateral are then translated to cash flows on FGL’s tranche based on the cash flow waterfall of the entire capital security structure. If this analysis indicates the entire principal on a particular security will not be returned, the security is reviewed for other-than-temporary impairment by comparing the present value of expected cash flows to amortized cost. To the extent that the security has already been impaired or was purchased at a discount, such that the amortized cost of the security is less than or equal to the present value of cash flows expected to be collected, no impairment is required. FGL also considers the ability of monoline insurers to meet their contractual guarantees on wrapped mortgage-backed securities. Otherwise, if the amortized cost of the security is greater than the present value of the cash flows expected to be collected, then an impairment is recognized.
 
Derivative Financial Instruments
 
Consumer Products and Other
 
Derivative financial instruments are used by the Company’s consumer products segment principally in the management of its interest rate, foreign currency and raw material price exposures. When hedge accounting is elected at inception, the Company formally designates the financial instrument as a hedge of a specific underlying exposure if such criteria are met, and documents both the risk management objectives and strategies for undertaking the hedge. The Company formally assesses, both at the inception and at least quarterly thereafter, whether the financial instruments that are used in hedging transactions are effective at offsetting changes in the forecasted cash flows of the related underlying exposure. Because of the high degree of effectiveness between the hedging instrument and the underlying exposure being hedged, fluctuations in the value of the derivative instruments are generally offset by changes in the forecasted cash flows of the underlying exposures being hedged. Any ineffective portion of a financial instrument’s change in fair value is immediately recognized in earnings. For derivatives that are not designated as cash flow hedges, or do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment, the change in the fair value is also immediately recognized in earnings.
 
As of September 30, 2011, the Company had outstanding Preferred Stock that contained a conversion feature (see Note 13). If the Company were to issue certain equity securities at a price lower than the conversion price of the respective Preferred Stock, the conversion price would be adjusted downward to reflect the dilutive effect of the newly issued securities (a “down round” provision). Therefore, in accordance with the guidance in ASC  Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging,” the conversion feature is considered to be an embedded derivative that must be separately accounted for as a liability at fair value with any changes in fair value reported in current earnings. The embedded derivative has been bifurcated from the host contract, marked to fair value and included in “Equity conversion feature of preferred stock” in the “Consumer Products and Other” sections of the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2011 with the change in fair value included as a component of “Other (expense) income, net” in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. The Company valued the conversion feature using the Monte Carlo simulation approach, which utilizes various inputs including the Company’s stock price, volatility, risk free rate and discount yield.
 
Insurance
 
The Company’s insurance segment hedges certain portions of its exposure to product related equity market risk by entering into derivative transactions. All of such derivative instruments are recognized as either assets or liabilities in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet at fair value. The change in fair value is recognized within “Net investment losses” in the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Operations.
 
FGL purchases and issues financial instruments and products that may contain embedded derivative instruments. If it is determined that the embedded derivative possesses economic characteristics that are not clearly and closely related to the economic characteristics of the host contract, and a separate instrument with the same terms would qualify as a derivative instrument, the embedded derivative is bifurcated from the host contract for measurement purposes. The embedded derivative is carried at fair value with changes in fair value reported in the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Operations.
 
Displays and Fixtures
 
Temporary displays are generally disposable cardboard displays shipped to customers to facilitate display of the Company’s products. Temporary displays are generally disposed of after a single use by the customer.
 
Permanent fixtures are more permanent in nature, are generally made from wire or other longer-lived materials, and are shipped to customers for use in displaying the Company’s products. These permanent fixtures are restocked with the Company’s product multiple times over the fixture’s useful life.
 
The costs of both temporary and permanent displays are capitalized as a prepaid asset and are included in “Prepaid expenses and other current assets” in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. The costs of temporary displays are expensed in the period in which they are shipped to customers and the costs of permanent fixtures are amortized over an estimated useful life of one to two years from the date they are shipped to customers and are reflected in “Deferred charges and other assets” in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.
 
Inventories
 
The Company’s inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market. Cost of inventories is determined using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method.
 
Properties
 
Properties are recorded at cost or at fair value if acquired in a purchase business combination. Depreciation on plant and equipment is calculated on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Building and improvements depreciable lives are 20-40 years and machinery, equipment and other depreciable lives are 2-15 years.
 
Properties held under capitalized leases are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the lease term or estimated useful life of the asset.
 
The Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. The Company evaluates recoverability of assets to be held and used by comparing the carrying amount of an asset to future net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell.
 
Goodwill and Intangibles
 
Consumer Products
 
Intangible assets are recorded at cost or at fair value if acquired in a purchase business combination. In connection with fresh-start reporting, intangible assets were recorded at their estimated fair value on August 30, 2009. Customer lists, proprietary technology and certain trade name intangibles are amortized, using the straight-line method, over their estimated useful lives of approximately 4 to 20 years. Excess of cost over fair value of net assets acquired (goodwill) and indefinite-lived intangible assets (certain trade name intangibles) are not amortized. Goodwill is tested for impairment at least annually, at the reporting unit level. If impairment is indicated, a write-down to fair value (normally measured by discounting estimated future cash flows) is recorded. Indefinite-lived trade name intangibles are tested for impairment at least annually by comparing the fair value, determined using a relief from royalty methodology, with the carrying value. Any excess of carrying value over fair value is recognized as an impairment loss in income from operations. ASC Topic 350, “Intangibles-Goodwill and Other,” (“ASC 350”) requires that goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets be tested for impairment annually, or more often if an event or circumstance indicates that an impairment loss may have been incurred. Spectrum Brands’ management uses its judgment in assessing whether assets may have become impaired between annual impairment tests. Indicators such as unexpected adverse business conditions, economic factors, unanticipated technological change or competitive activities, loss of key personnel, and acts by governments and courts may signal that an assets has become impaired. During Fiscal 2011, Fiscal 2010 and the period from October 1, 2008 through August 30, 2009, Spectrum Brands’ goodwill and trade name intangibles were tested for impairment as of the August financial period end, the annual testing date for Spectrum Brands, as well as in certain interim periods where an event or circumstance occurred that indicated an impairment loss may have been incurred (see Note 10).
 
Intangibles with Indefinite Lives
 
In accordance with ASC Topic 360, “Property, Plant and Equipment” (“ASC 360”) and ASC 350, in addition to its annual impairment testing Spectrum Brands conducts goodwill and trade name intangible asset impairment testing if an event or circumstance (“triggering event”) occurs that indicates an impairment loss may have been incurred. Spectrum Brands’ management uses its judgment in assessing whether assets may have become impaired between annual impairment tests. Indicators such as unexpected adverse business conditions, economic factors, unanticipated technological change or competitive activities, loss of key personnel, and acts by governments and courts may signal that an asset has become impaired.
 
Intangibles with Definite or Estimable Useful Lives
 
Spectrum Brands assesses the recoverability of intangible assets with definite or estimable useful lives whenever an event or circumstance occurs that indicates an impairment loss may have been incurred. Spectrum Brands assesses the recoverability of these intangible assets by determining whether their carrying value can be recovered through projected undiscounted future cash flows. If projected undiscounted future cash flows indicate that the carrying value of the assets will not be recovered, an adjustment would be made to reduce the carrying value to an amount equal to estimated fair value determined based on projected future cash flows discounted at Spectrum Brands’ incremental borrowing rate. The cash flow projections used in estimating fair value are based on historical performance and management’s estimate of future performance, giving consideration to existing and anticipated competitive and economic conditions.
 
Impairment reviews are conducted at the judgment of management when it believes that a change in circumstances in the business or external factors warrants a review. Circumstances such as the discontinuation of a product or product line, a sudden or consistent decline in the sales forecast for a product, changes in technology or in the way an asset is being used, a history of operating or cash flow losses, or an adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate, among others, may trigger an impairment review.
 
Insurance
 
Intangible assets of the Company’s insurance segment include value of business acquired (“VOBA”) and deferred acquisition costs (“DAC”).
 
VOBA represents the estimated fair value of the right to receive future net cash flows from in-force contracts in a life insurance company acquisition at the acquisition date. DAC represents costs that are related directly to new or renewal insurance contracts, which may be deferred to the extent recoverable. These costs include incremental direct costs of contract acquisition, primarily commissions, as well as certain costs related directly to underwriting, policy issuance and processing. Up front bonus credits to policyholder account values, which are considered to be deferred sales inducements (“DSI”), are accounted for similarly to DAC.
 
The methodology for determining the amortization of VOBA and DAC varies by product type. For all insurance contracts, amortization is based on assumptions consistent with those used in the development of the underlying contract adjusted for emerging experience and expected trends. US GAAP requires that assumptions for these types of products not be modified unless recoverability testing deems them to be inadequate. VOBA and DAC amortization are reported within “Amortization of intangibles” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
 
VOBA and DAC for UL and investment-type products are generally amortized over the lives of the policies in relation to the incidence of estimated gross profits (“EGPs”) from investment income, surrender charges and other product fees, policy benefits, maintenance expenses, mortality net of reinsurance ceded and expense margins, and actual realized gains (losses) on investments.
 
Changes in assumptions can have a significant impact on VOBA and DAC balances and amortization rates. Due to the relative size and sensitivity to minor changes in underlying assumptions of VOBA and DAC balances, FGL performs quarterly and annual analyses of VOBA and DAC for the annuity and life businesses, respectively. The VOBA and DAC balances are also periodically evaluated for recoverability to ensure that the unamortized portion does not exceed the expected recoverable amounts. At each evaluation date, actual historical gross profits are reflected, and estimated future gross profits and related assumptions are evaluated for continued reasonableness. Any adjustment in estimated future gross profits requires that the amortization rate be revised (“unlocking”) retroactively to the date of the policy or contract issuance. The cumulative unlocking adjustment is recognized as a component of current period amortization. In general, sustained increases in investment, mortality, and expense margins, and thus estimated future profits, lower the rate of amortization. However, sustained decreases in investment, mortality, and expense margins, and thus estimated future gross profits, increase the rate of amortization.
 
The carrying amounts of VOBA and DAC are adjusted for the effects of realized and unrealized gains and losses on debt securities classified as available-for-sale and certain derivatives and embedded derivatives. Amortization expense of VOBA and DAC reflects an assumption for an expected level of credit-related investment losses. When actual credit-related investment losses are realized, FGL performs a retrospective unlocking of VOBA and DAC amortization as actual margins vary from expected margins. This unlocking is reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
 
For annuity, UL, and investment-type products, the VOBA and DAC assets are adjusted for the impact of unrealized gains (losses) on investments as if these gains (losses) had been realized, with corresponding credits or charges included in accumulated other comprehensive income.
 
Reinsurance
 
FGL’s insurance subsidiaries enter into reinsurance agreements with other companies in the normal course of business. The assets, liabilities, premiums and benefits of certain reinsurance contracts are presented on a net basis in the Consolidated Balance Sheet and Consolidated Statement of Operations, respectively, when there is a right of offset explicit in the reinsurance agreements. All other reinsurance agreements are reported on a gross basis in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet as an asset for amounts recoverable from reinsurers or as a component of other liabilities for amounts, such as premiums, owed to the reinsurers, with the exception of amounts for which the right of offset also exists. Premiums, benefits and DAC are reported net of insurance ceded.
 
Debt Issuance Costs
 
Debt issuance costs, which are capitalized within “Deferred charges and other assets,” and original issue discount, net of any premiums, on debt are amortized to interest expense using the effective interest method over the lives of the related debt agreements.
 
Accounts Payable
 
Included in accounts payable are book overdrafts, net of deposits on hand, on disbursement accounts that are replenished when checks are presented for payment.
 
Income Taxes
 
Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. The Company has the ability and intent to recover in a tax-free manner assets (or liabilities) with book/tax basis differences for which no deferred taxes have been provided, in accordance with ASC Topic 740, “Income Taxes.” Accordingly, the Company did not provide deferred income taxes on the bargain purchase gain of $151,077 on the FGL Acquisition.
 
The Company applies the accounting guidance for uncertain tax positions which prescribes a minimum recognition threshold a tax position is required to meet before being recognized in the financial statements. The guidance also provides information on derecognition, measurement, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. The Company recognizes the effect of income tax positions only if those positions are more likely than not of being sustained. Recognized income tax positions are measured at the largest amount that is greater than 50% likely of being realized. Changes in recognition or measurement are reflected in the period in which the change in judgment occurs. Accrued interest expense and penalties related to uncertain tax positions are recorded in “Income tax expense” on the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations.
 
Contractholder Funds and Future Policy Benefits
 
The liabilities for contractholder funds and future policy benefits for investment contracts and UL policies consist of contract account balances that accrue to the benefit of the contractholders, excluding surrender charges. Investment contracts include FIAs, deferred annuities and immediate annuities without life contingencies. The liabilities for future insurance contract benefits and claim reserves for traditional life policies and pay-out annuity policies are computed using assumptions for investment yields, mortality and withdrawals based principally on generally accepted actuarial methods and assumptions at the time of contract issue. Assumptions for contracts in-force as of the FGL Acquisition Date were updated as of that date.
 
Liabilities for the secondary guarantees on UL-type products are calculated by multiplying the benefit ratio by the cumulative assessments recorded from contract inception through the balance sheet date less the cumulative secondary guarantee benefit payments plus interest. If experience or assumption changes result in a new benefit ratio, the reserves are adjusted to reflect the changes in a manner similar to the unlocking of VOBA and DAC. The accounting for secondary guarantee benefits impacts, and is impacted by, EGPs used to calculate amortization of VOBA and DAC.
 
FIA contracts are equal to the total of the policyholder account values before surrender charges, and additional reserves established on certain features offered that link interest credited to an equity index. These features create an embedded derivative that is not clearly and closely related to the host insurance contract. The embedded derivative is carried at fair value with changes in fair value reported in the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Operations.
 
Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta Agreements
 
Contractholder funds include funds related to funding agreements that have been issued to the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta (“FHLB”) as a funding medium for single premium funding agreements issued by FGL to the FHLB.
 
Funding agreements were issued to the FHLB in 2003, 2004 and 2005. The funding agreements (i.e., immediate annuity contracts without life contingencies) provide a guaranteed stream of payments. Single premiums were received at the initiation of the funding agreements and were in the form of advances from the FHLB. Payments under the funding agreements extend through 2022. The reserves for the funding agreement totaled $169,580 at September 30, 2011 and are included in “Contractholder funds” in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet.
 
In accordance with the agreements, the investments supporting the funding agreement liabilities are pledged as collateral to secure the FHLB funding agreement liabilities. The collateral investments had a fair value of $191,331 at September 30, 2011.
 
Foreign Currency Translation
 
Local currencies are considered the functional currencies for most of the Company’s operations outside the United States. Assets and liabilities of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries are translated at the rate of exchange existing at year-end, with revenues, expenses, and cash flows translated at the average of the monthly exchange rates. Adjustments resulting from translation of the financial statements are recorded as a component of AOCI. Also included in AOCI are the effects of exchange rate changes on intercompany balances of a long-term nature.
 
As of September 30, 2011 and September 30, 2010, accumulated gains related to foreign currency translation adjustments of $4,448 and $10,346 (net of taxes and non-controlling interest), respectively, were reflected in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets in AOCI.
 
Foreign currency transaction gains and losses related to assets and liabilities that are denominated in a currency other than the functional currency are reported in the Consolidated Statement of Operations in the period they occur. The Company’s exchange losses (gains) on foreign currency transactions aggregating $3,370, $13,336 and $(726) for Fiscal 2011, Fiscal 2010 and the period from August 31, 2009 through September 30, 2009, respectively, and $4,440 for the Predecessor period from October 1, 2008 through August 30, 2009, are included in “Other (expense) income, net,” in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations.
 
Shipping and Handling Costs
 
Shipping and handling costs, which are included in “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations, include costs incurred with third-party carriers to transport products to customers and salaries and overhead costs related to activities to prepare the Company’s products for shipment at the Company’s distribution facilities.
 
The Company incurred shipping and handling costs of $201,480, $161,148 and $12,866 during Fiscal 2011, Fiscal 2010 and the period from August 31, 2009 through September 30, 2009, respectively. The Predecessor incurred shipping and handling costs of $135,511 during the period from October 1, 2008 through August 30, 2009.
 
Advertising Costs
 
Advertising costs, which are included in “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations, include agency fees and other costs to create advertisements, as well as costs paid to third parties to print or broadcast the Company’s advertisements.
 
The Company incurred advertising costs of $30,673, $37,520 and $3,166 during Fiscal 2011, Fiscal 2010 and the period from August 31, 2009 through September 30, 2009, respectively. The Predecessor incurred expenses for advertising of $25,813 during the period from October 1, 2008 through August 30, 2009.
 
Research and Development Costs
 
Research and development costs are charged to “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in the period they are incurred. The Company incurred research and development costs of $32,901, $31,013 and $3,027 during Fiscal 2011, Fiscal 2010 and for the period from August 31, 2008 through September 30, 2009, respectively. The Predecessor incurred research and development costs of $21,391 during the period from October 1, 2008 through August 30, 2009.
 
Environmental Expenditures
 
Environmental expenditures that relate to current ongoing operations or to conditions caused by past operations are expensed or capitalized as appropriate. The Company determines its liability for environmental matters on a site-by-site basis and records a liability at the time when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and such liability can be reasonably estimated. The estimated liability is not reduced for possible recoveries from insurance carriers. Estimated environmental remediation expenditures are included in the determination of the net realizable value recorded for assets held for sale.
 
Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 
Comprehensive income (loss) includes foreign currency translation gains and losses on assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries, effects of exchange rate changes on intercompany balances of a long-term nature and transactions designated as a hedge of a net investment in a foreign subsidiary, deferred gains and losses on derivative financial instruments designated as cash flow hedges, actuarial adjustments to pension plans, and unrealized gains (losses) and non-credit related other-than-temporary impairments on investment securities of the insurance segment classified as available-for-sale. Except for gains and losses resulting from exchange rate changes on intercompany balances of a long-term nature, the Company does not provide income taxes on currency translation adjustments, as earnings from international subsidiaries are considered to be permanently reinvested. Net unrealized gains and losses on investment securities classified as available-for-sale by FGL are reduced by deferred income taxes and adjustments to intangible assets, including VOBA and DAC, that would have resulted had such gains and losses been realized.
 
Restructuring and Related Charges
 
Restructuring charges are recognized and measured according to the provisions of ASC Topic 420, “Exit or Disposal Cost Obligations,” (“ASC 420”). Under ASC 420, restructuring charges include, but are not limited to, termination and related costs consisting primarily of one-time termination benefits such as severance costs and retention bonuses, and contract termination costs consisting primarily of lease termination costs. Related charges, as defined by the Company, include, but are not limited to, other costs directly associated with exit and integration activities, including impairment of properties and other assets, departmental costs of full-time incremental integration employees, and any other items related to the exit or integration activities. Costs for such activities are estimated by management after evaluating detailed analyses of the cost to be incurred. Restructuring and related charges are reflected in “Cost of goods sold” and “Selling, general and administrative expenses” as applicable (see Note 23).
 
Benefits and Other Changes in Policy Reserves
 
Benefit expenses for deferred annuity, FIA and UL policies include benefit claims incurred during the period in excess of contract account balances. Other changes in policy reserves also include the change in reserves for life insurance products with secondary guarantee benefits. For traditional life, policy benefit claims are charged to expense in the period that the claims are incurred.
 
Reclassifications
 
Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified or combined to conform to the current year presentation. These reclassifications and combinations had no effect on previously reported results of operations or accumulated deficit.
 
Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted
 
Fair Value Measurement
 
In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued amended accounting guidance to achieve a consistent definition of and common requirements for measurement of and disclosure concerning fair value between US GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. This amended guidance is effective for the Company beginning in the second quarter of its fiscal year ending September 30, 2012. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this new accounting guidance on its consolidated financial statements.
 
Presentation of Comprehensive Income
 
In June 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2011-05, “Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income,” which amends current comprehensive income guidance. This accounting update eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of shareholders’ equity. Instead, comprehensive income must be reported in either a single continuous statement of comprehensive income which contains two sections, net income and other comprehensive income, or in two separate but consecutive statements. This guidance will be effective for the Company beginning in fiscal year 2013. The Company does not expect the guidance to impact the Company’s financial statements, as it only requires a change in the format of presentation.
 
Testing for Goodwill Impairment
 
In September 2011, the FASB issued new accounting guidance intended to simplify how an entity tests goodwill for impairment. The guidance will allow an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the two-step quantitative goodwill impairment test. An entity no longer will be required to calculate the fair value of a reporting unit unless the entity determines, based on a qualitative assessment, that it is more likely than not that its fair value is less than its carrying amount. This accounting guidance is effective for the Company for the annual and any interim goodwill impairment tests performed beginning in fiscal year 2013. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements.