Pension and other postretirement plans

6 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2011

Pension and other postretirement plans [Abstract]

Pension and other postretirement plans

13. Pension and other postretirement plans. The components of net periodic pension cost for the three and six- month periods ended April 30, 2011 and 2010 were:

	U.S.						International
Three months ended	April 30, 2011			April 30, 2010			April 30, 2011			April 30, 2010
Service cost	$	1,376		$	1,651		$	535		$	400
Interest cost		2,924			2,851			752			680
Expected return on plan assets		(3,855	)		(2,897	)		(372	)		(335	)
Amortization of prior service cost		165			163			1			13
Amortization of net actuarial loss		1,868			1,494			216			92
Total benefit cost	$	2,478		$	3,262		$	1,132		$	850

	U.S.						International
Six months ended	April 30, 2011			April 30, 2010			April 30, 2011			April 30, 2010
Service cost	$	3,044		$	3,321		$	1,055		$	820
Interest cost		5,932			5,880			1,477			1,409
Expected return on plan assets		(7,713	)		(5,795	)		(731	)		(695	)
Amortization of prior service cost		329			308			2			26
Amortization of net actuarial loss		3,669			3,039			424			190
Settlement loss		—			8,022			—			—
Total benefit cost	$	5,261		$	14,775		$	2,227		$	1,750

During the six months ended April 30, 2010, net periodic pension cost included settlement losses of $8,022 due to lump sum retirement payments.

The components of other postretirement benefit cost for the three and six-month periods ended April 30, 2011 and 2010 were:

	U.S.						International
Three months ended	April 30, 2011			April 30, 2010			April 30, 2011			April 30, 2010
Service cost	$	315		$	183		$	8		$	8
Interest cost		752			574			10			11
Amortization of prior service cost		(286	)		(205	)		—			—
Amortization of net actuarial loss		428			352			(2	)		(2	)
Total benefit cost	$	1,209		$	904		$	16		$	17

	U.S.						International
Six months ended	April 30, 2011			April 30, 2010			April 30, 2011			April 30, 2010
Service cost	$	561		$	385		$	16		$	15
Interest cost		1,466			1,211			20			22
Amortization of prior service cost		(573	)		(432	)		—			—
Amortization of net actuarial loss		803			743			(4	)		(3	)
Total benefit cost	$	2,257		$	1,907		$	32		$	34