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Basis of Presentation
 9 Months Ended
May. 31, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Basis of Presentation
Basis of Presentation
General
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Actuant Corporation (“Actuant,” or the “Company”) have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial reporting and with the instructions of Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. The condensed consolidated balance sheet data as of August 31, 2014 was derived from the Company’s audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by the United States generally accepted accounting principles. For additional information, including the Company’s significant accounting policies, refer to the consolidated financial statements and related footnotes in the Company’s fiscal 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair statement of financial results have been made. Such adjustments consist of only those of a normal recurring nature. The condensed consolidated statement of cash flows for the nine months ended May 31, 2015 includes an adjustment to properly state the foreign currency impact on cash during the first half of the fiscal year.  The impact of this adjustment is a $10.4 million increase in cash provided by operating activities and in the effect of exchange rate changes on cash.  This adjustment had no impact on the results of operations, financial position or cash balances. Operating results for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire fiscal year ending August 31, 2015.
New Accounting Pronouncements
In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standard Update (ASU) 2014-08, Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity, which includes amendments that change the requirements for reporting discontinued operations and requires additional disclosures about discontinued operations. Under the new guidance, only disposals representing a strategic shift in operations should be presented as discontinued operations. The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2014. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the financial statements of the Company.
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Under ASU 2014-09, an entity will recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects what it expects in exchange for the goods or services. It also requires more detailed disclosures to enable users of financial statements to understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. This guidance is currently effective for annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2016, subject to an additional one year deferral as recently proposed by the FASB. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this standard.
In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, Interest-Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs, which includes amendments that require that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. Under the new guidance, the recognition and measurement of debt issuance costs is not affected. This guidance is effective for annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2015. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this standard.
Significant Accounting Policies (Goodwill and Intangible Assets)
Intangible assets with definite lives, consisting primarily of purchased customer relationships, patents, trademarks and non-compete agreements, are amortized over periods from two to twenty-five years. Goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives are not subject to amortization, but are subject to annual impairment testing. 
The Company’s goodwill is tested for impairment annually, in the fourth quarter, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that goodwill might be impaired. The Company performs impairment reviews for its reporting units using the fair value method based on management’s judgments and assumptions. In estimating the fair value, the Company generally utilizes a discounted cash flow model, which is dependent on a number of assumptions including estimated future revenues and expenses, weighted average cost of capital, capital expenditures and other variables. The estimated fair value of the reporting unit is compared to the carrying amount of the reporting unit, including goodwill. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the goodwill is potentially impaired and the Company then determines the implied fair value of goodwill, which is compared to the carrying value to determine if an impairment charge is required.  Indefinite lived intangible assets (tradenames) are also subject to impairment testing. On an annual basis, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that indefinite lived intangible assets might not be recoverable, the fair value of the indefinite lived intangible assets (using the relief of royalty valuation approach) are compared to the carrying value to determine if an impairment charge is required.
A considerable amount of management judgment and assumptions are required in performing the impairment tests, principally in determining the fair value of each reporting unit and the indefinite lived intangible assets. While management believes the judgments and assumptions are reasonable; different assumptions or adverse market developments could change the estimated fair values and ultimately result in future impairment charges.
As discussed in Note 4, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets," the Company recognized an $84.4 million non-cash pre-tax impairment charge in the second quarter of fiscal 2015.
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy
New Accounting Pronouncements
In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standard Update (ASU) 2014-08, Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity, which includes amendments that change the requirements for reporting discontinued operations and requires additional disclosures about discontinued operations. Under the new guidance, only disposals representing a strategic shift in operations should be presented as discontinued operations. The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2014. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the financial statements of the Company.
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Under ASU 2014-09, an entity will recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects what it expects in exchange for the goods or services. It also requires more detailed disclosures to enable users of financial statements to understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. This guidance is currently effective for annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2016, subject to an additional one year deferral as recently proposed by the FASB. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this standard.
In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, Interest-Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs, which includes amendments that require that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. Under the new guidance, the recognition and measurement of debt issuance costs is not affected. This guidance is effective for annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2015. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this standard.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Intangible Assets, Indefinite-Lived, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Significant Accounting Policies (Goodwill and Intangible Assets)
Intangible assets with definite lives, consisting primarily of purchased customer relationships, patents, trademarks and non-compete agreements, are amortized over periods from two to twenty-five years. Goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives are not subject to amortization, but are subject to annual impairment testing. 
The Company’s goodwill is tested for impairment annually, in the fourth quarter, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that goodwill might be impaired. The Company performs impairment reviews for its reporting units using the fair value method based on management’s judgments and assumptions. In estimating the fair value, the Company generally utilizes a discounted cash flow model, which is dependent on a number of assumptions including estimated future revenues and expenses, weighted average cost of capital, capital expenditures and other variables. The estimated fair value of the reporting unit is compared to the carrying amount of the reporting unit, including goodwill. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the goodwill is potentially impaired and the Company then determines the implied fair value of goodwill, which is compared to the carrying value to determine if an impairment charge is required.  Indefinite lived intangible assets (tradenames) are also subject to impairment testing. On an annual basis, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that indefinite lived intangible assets might not be recoverable, the fair value of the indefinite lived intangible assets (using the relief of royalty valuation approach) are compared to the carrying value to determine if an impairment charge is required.
A considerable amount of management judgment and assumptions are required in performing the impairment tests, principally in determining the fair value of each reporting unit and the indefinite lived intangible assets. While management believes the judgments and assumptions are reasonable; different assumptions or adverse market developments could change the estimated fair values and ultimately result in future impairment charges.
As discussed in Note 4, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets," the Company recognized an $84.4 million non-cash pre-tax impairment charge in the second quarter of fiscal 2015.