Commitments and Contingencies

3 Months Ended

Jan. 30, 2015

Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

Note 9 – Commitments and Contingencies

As of January 30, 2015, and October 31, 2014, the Company had a $1.8 million and $1.5 million liability, respectively, related to environmental remediation at a previously sold business for which the Company provided indemnification.

During the first fiscal quarter of 2015, the Company recognized a $15.7 million gain and a $2.4 million reduction in interest expense upon the lapse of a statutory period related to a liability for a non-income tax position of an acquired company.

On March 5, 2014, the Company entered into a Consent Agreement with the U.S. Department of State’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls Office of Defense Trade Controls Compliance (DTCC) to resolve alleged International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) civil violations.  The Consent Agreement settled the pending ITAR compliance matter with the DTCC previously reported by the Company that resulted from voluntary reports the Company filed with DTCC that disclosed possible technical and administrative violations of the ITAR.  The Consent Agreement has a three-year term and provides for:  (i) a payment of $20 million, $10 million of which is suspended and eligible for offset credit based on verified expenditures for past and future remedial compliance measures; (ii) the appointment of an external Special Compliance Official to oversee compliance with the Consent Agreement and the ITAR; (iii) two external audits of the Company’s ITAR compliance program; and (iv) continued implementation of ongoing remedial compliance measures and additional remedial compliance measures related to automated systems and ITAR compliance policies, procedures, and training.

The settlement amount in the Consent Agreement was consistent with the amount proposed by DTCC in August 2013, for which the Company estimated and recorded a $10 million charge in the third fiscal quarter ended July 26, 2013.  The $10 million portion of the settlement that is not subject to suspension will be paid in installments, with $4 million paid in March 2014, and $2 million to be paid in each of March 2015, 2016, and 2017.  The Company expects some part of recent investments made in its ITAR compliance program will be eligible for credit against the suspended portion of the settlement amount, which include:  additional staffing, ongoing implementation of a new software system, employee training, and establishment of a regular compliance audit program and corrective action process.  The Company expects recent and future investments in remedial compliance measures will be sufficient to cover the $10 million suspended payment.