Pension and other postretirement plans

9 Months Ended

Jul. 31, 2011

Pension and other postretirement plans [Abstract]

Pension and other postretirement plans

14. Pension and other postretirement plans. The components of net periodic pension cost for the three and nine-month periods ended July 31, 2011 and 2010 were:

	U.S.						International
Three months ended	July 31, 2011			July 31, 2010			July 31, 2011			July 31, 2010
Service cost	$	1,509		$	1,612		$	545		$	390
Interest cost		3,017			2,860			760			662
Expected return on plan assets		(3,882	)		(2,897	)		(373	)		(333	)
Amortization of prior service cost		171			134			2			11
Amortization of net actuarial loss		1,915			1,479			219			90
Total benefit cost	$	2,730		$	3,188		$	1,153		$	820

	U.S.						International
Nine months ended	July 31, 2011			July 31, 2010			July 31, 2011			July 31, 2010
Service cost	$	4,553		$	4,933		$	1,600		$	1,210
Interest cost		8,949			8,740			2,237			2,071
Expected return on plan assets		(11,595	)		(8,692	)		(1,104	)		(1,028	)
Amortization of prior service cost		500			442			4			37
Amortization of net actuarial loss		5,584			4,518			643			280
Settlement loss		—			8,022			—			—
Total benefit cost	$	7,991		$	17,963		$	3,380		$	2,570

During the nine months ended July 31, 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 nine-month periods ended July 31, 2011 and 2010 were:

	U.S.						International
Three months ended	July 31, 2011			July 31, 2010			July 31, 2011			July 31, 2010
Service cost	$	281		$	243		$	7		$	7
Interest cost		733			667			11			11
Amortization of prior service cost		(287	)		(429	)		—			—
Amortization of net actuarial loss		401			135			(2	)		(1	)
Total benefit cost	$	1,128		$	616		$	16		$	17

	U.S.						International
Nine months ended	July 31, 2011			July 31, 2010			July 31, 2011			July 31, 2010
Service cost	$	842		$	628		$	23		$	22
Interest cost		2,199			1,878			31			33
Amortization of prior service cost		(860	)		(861	)		—			—
Amortization of net actuarial loss		1,204			878			(6	)		(4	)
Total benefit cost	$	3,385		$	2,523		$	48		$	51