Retirement, pension and other postretirement plans (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2011

Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]

Reconciliation of the benefit obligations, plan assets, accrued benefit cost and the amount recognized in financial statements for pension plans

	United States						International
	2011			2010			2011			2010
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	237,370		$	224,966		$	71,936		$	61,631
Service cost		6,058			5,997			2,097			1,632
Interest cost		12,008			11,883			2,973			2,791
Participant contributions		—			—			124			128
Plan amendments		5			643			(1,210	)		—
Addition of plan from business combination		—			—			—			1,241
Foreign currency exchange rate change		—			—			345			(448	)
Actuarial (gain) loss		21,289			18,336			(2,567	)		7,966
Benefits paid		(7,781	)		(24,455	)		(2,337	)		(3,005	)
Benefit obligation at end of year	$	268,949		$	237,370		$	71,361		$	71,936
Change in plan assets:
Beginning fair value of plan assets	$	175,864		$	113,356		$	29,799		$	28,833
Actual return on plan assets		15,946			17,266			672			994
Company contributions		672			69,697			3,788			3,446
Participant contributions		—			—			124			128
Foreign currency exchange rate change		—			—			121			(597	)
Benefits paid		(7,781	)		(24,455	)		(2,337	)		(3,005	)
Ending fair value of plan assets	$	184,701		$	175,864		$	32,167		$	29,799
Funded status at end of year	$	(84,248	)	$	(61,506	)	$	(39,194	)	$	(42,137	)
Amounts recognized in financial statements:
Noncurrent asset	$	—		$	—		$	191		$	497
Accrued benefit liability		(571	)		(467	)		(4	)		(346	)
Long-term pension and retirement obligations		(83,677	)		(61,039	)		(39,381	)		(42,288	)
Total amount recognized in financial statements	$	(84,248	)	$	(61,506	)	$	(39,194	)	$	(42,137	)

	United States				International
	2011		2010		2011			2010
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive (gain) loss:
Net actuarial (gain) loss	$	136,927	$	123,449	$	14,937		$	17,486
Prior service cost (credit)		2,035		2,695		(1,201	)		14
Accumulated other comprehensive (gain) loss	$	138,962	$	126,144	$	13,736		$	17,500
Amounts expected to be recognized during next fiscal year:
Amortization of net actuarial (gain) loss	$	11,356	$	7,226	$	579		$	857
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)		667		666		(98	)		5
Total	$	12,023	$	7,892	$	481		$	862

	United States						International
	2011			2010			2011			2010
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	55,599		$	52,858		$	659		$	605
Service cost		1,122			837			31			29
Interest cost		2,932			2,504			41			45
Participant contributions		1,307			1,143			—			—
Plan amendment		—			(1,171	)		—			—
Foreign currency exchange rate change		—			—			13			37
Actuarial (gain) loss		14,409			1,326			(62	)		(53	)
Benefits paid		(1,977	)		(1,898	)		(4	)		(4	)
Benefit obligation at end of year	$	73,392		$	55,599		$	678		$	659
Change in plan assets:
Beginning fair value of plan assets	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—
Company contributions		670			755			4			4
Participant contributions		1,307			1,143			—			—
Benefits paid		(1,977	)		(1,898	)		(4	)		(4	)
Ending fair value of plan assets	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—
Funded status at end of year	$	(73,392	)	$	(55,599	)	$	(678	)	$	(659	)
Amounts recognized in financial statements:
Accrued benefit liability	$	(2,123	)	$	(2,339	)	$	(4	)	$	(4	)
Long-term postretirement obligations		(71,269	)		(53,260	)		(674	)		(655	)
Total amount recognized in financial statements	$	(73,392	)	$	(55,599	)	$	(678	)	$	(659	)

The 2010 Amendment noted in the preceding table relates to changes in deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums and changes in limits for certain benefits.

	United States						International
	2011			2010			2011			2010
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive (gain) loss:
Net actuarial (gain) loss	$	37,690		$	24,887		$	(260	)	$	(203	)
Prior service cost (credit)		(2,316	)		(3,464	)		—			—
Accumulated other comprehensive (gain) loss	$	35,374		$	21,423		$	(260	)	$	(203	)
Amounts expected to be recognized during next fiscal year:
Amortization of net actuarial (gain) loss	$	2,681		$	1,498		$	(14	)	$	(5	)
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)		(584	)		(1,147	)		—			—
Total	$	2,097		$	351		$	(14	)	$	(5	)

Summary of changes in accumulated other comprehensive (gain) loss

	United States						International
	2011			2010			2011			2010
Balance at beginning of year	$	126,144		$	124,496		$	17,500		$	9,569
Net (gain) loss arising during the year		20,917			15,787			(1,773	)		8,319
Prior service cost (credit) arising during the year		5			643			(1,210	)		—
Net gain (loss) recognized during the year		(7,438	)		(6,181	)		(858	)		(369	)
Settlement loss		—			(8,022	)		—			(190	)
Prior service (cost) credit recognized during the year		(666	)		(579	)		(5	)		(49	)
Exchange rate effect during the year		—			—			82			220
Balance at end of year	$	138,962		$	126,144		$	13,736		$	17,500

	United States						International
	2011			2010			2011			2010
Balance at beginning of year	$	21,423		$	21,291		$	(203	)	$	(146	)
Net (gain) loss arising during the year		14,410			1,326			(62	)		(53	)
Prior service cost (credit) arising during the year		—			(1,171	)		—			—
Net gain (loss) recognized during the year		(1,606	)		(1,170	)		8			5
Prior service credit (cost) recognized during the year		1,147			1,147			—			—
Exchange rate effect during the year		—			—			(3	)		(9	)
Balance at end of year	$	35,374		$	21,423		$	(260	)	$	(203	)

Weighted average assumptions representing the rates used to develop the actuarial present value of projected benefit obligation and the net periodic benefit costs

	United States									International
	2011			2010			2009			2011			2010			2009
Assumptions used to determine benefit obligations at October 31:
Discount rate		4.46	%		5.21	%		5.50	%		4.43	%		4.17	%		4.78	%
Rate of compensation increase		3.20			3.30			3.30			3.16			3.21			2.86
Assumptions used to determine net benefit costs for the years ended October 31:
Discount rate		5.21			5.50			8.00			4.17			4.78			5.87
Expected return on plan assets		8.25			8.51			8.48			4.84			4.85			5.04
Rate of compensation increase		3.30			3.30			3.30			3.21			2.86			3.45

	United States									International
	2011			2010			2009			2011			2010			2009
Assumptions used to determine benefit obligations at October 31:
Discount rate		4.50	%		5.25	%		5.50	%		5.85	%		5.75	%		6.75	%
Health care cost trend rate		9.36			9.00			8.25			7.00			6.80			7.50
Rate to which health care cost trend rate is assumed to decline (ultimate trend rate)		5.00			5.00			4.50			3.50			4.80			4.80
Year the rate reaches the ultimate trend rate		2016			2020			2015			2031			2013			2013
Assumption used to determine net benefit costs for the years ended October 31:
Discount rate		5.25	%		5.50	%		8.00	%		5.75	%		6.75	%		7.70	%

Effect of a one percent change in the discount rate, expected return on assets and compensation increase

	United States						International
	1% Point Increase			1% Point Decrease			1% Point Increase			1% Point Decrease
Discount rate:
Effect on total service and interest cost components in 2011	$	(3,107	)	$	3,696		$	(324	)	$	405
Effect on pension obligation as of October 31, 2011	$	(34,776	)	$	43,229		$	(11,917	)	$	13,847
Expected return on assets:
Effect on total service and interest cost components in 2011	$	(1,889	)	$	1,888		$	(302	)	$	301
Effect on pension obligation as of October 31, 2011	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—
Compensation increase:
Effect on total service and interest cost components in 2011	$	2,816		$	(2,291	)	$	462		$	(420	)
Effect on pension obligation as of October 31, 2011	$	14,649		$	(12,040	)	$	8,575		$	(7,062	)

Summary of changes in fair value of the pension plan investments

	2011		2010
Balance at beginning of year	$	17,699	$	17,600
Net unrealized gains		55		692
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements, net		679		(231	)
Transfers in (out)		—		—
Foreign currency translation		68		(362	)
Balance at end of year	$	18,501	$	17,699

Retiree pension benefit payments

Year	United States		International
2012	$	12,762	$	1,942
2013		11,443		1,989
2014		12,669		2,399
2015		13,982		2,840
2016		14,243		2,288
2017-2021		92,072		17,271

	United States				International
Year	With Medicare Part D Subsidy		Without Medicare Part D Subsidy
2012	$	2,123	$	1,872	$	4
2013		2,316		2,013		4
2014		2,693		2,345		8
2015		2,955		2,556		16
2016		3,238		2,787		17
2017-2021		18,483		15,279		115

Defined benefit plan effect of one percentage point change in assumed health care cost trend rates and discount rate

	United States						International
	1% Point Increase			1% Point Decrease			1% Point Increase			1% Point Decrease
Discount rate:
Effect on total service and interest cost components in 2011	$	(628	)	$	753		$	(9	)	$	11
Effect on postretirement obligation as of October 31, 2011	$	(10,119	)	$	12,871		$	(135	)	$	181
Health care trend rate:
Effect on total service and interest cost components in 2011	$	871		$	(688	)	$	19		$	(14	)
Effect on postretirement obligation as of October 31, 2011	$	11,804		$	(9,476	)	$	174		$	(132	)

Accumulated benefit obligation

	United States				International
	2011		2010		2011		2010
For all plans:
Accumulated benefit obligation	$	261,767	$	223,966	$	56,529	$	55,865
For plans with benefit obligations in excess of plan assets:
Projected benefit obligation		268,949		237,370		64,945		60,050
Accumulated benefit obligation		261,767		223,966		54,749		49,631
Fair value of plan assets		184,701		175,864		30,185		23,047

Net pension benefit costs

	United States									International
	2011			2010			2009			2011			2010			2009
Service cost	$	6,058		$	5,997		$	4,177		$	2,097		$	1,632		$	1,315
Interest cost		12,008			11,883			11,897			2,973			2,791			2,625
Expected return on plan assets		(15,575	)		(14,716	)		(11,982	)		(1,466	)		(1,348	)		(1,210	)
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)		666			579			603			5			49			49
Amortization of net actuarial (gain) loss		7,438			6,181			854			858			369			(19	)
Settlement loss		—			8,022			1,629			—			190			287
Total benefit cost	$	10,595		$	17,946		$	7,178		$	4,467		$	3,683		$	3,047

	United States									International
	2011			2010			2009			2011			2010			2009
Service cost	$	1,122		$	837		$	589		$	31		$	29		$	23
Interest cost		2,932			2,504			2,926			41			44			35
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)		(1,147	)		(1,147	)		(1,009	)		—			—			—
Amortization of net actuarial (gain) loss		1,606			1,170			765			(8	)		(5	)		(11	)
Total benefit cost	$	4,513		$	3,364		$	3,271		$	64		$	68		$	47

Allocation of pension plan assets

	United States				International
	2011		2010		2011		2010
Asset Category
Equity securities		22%		83%		—%		—%
Debt securities		33		16		—		—
Insurance contracts		—		—		58		59
Pooled investment funds		44		—		41		40
Other		1		1		1		1
Total		100%		100%		100%		100%

Fair values of Pension Plan Assets

	United States								International
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Cash	$	618	$	618	$	—	$	—	$	322	$	322	$	—	$	—
Money market funds		1,845		1,845		—		—		—		—		—		—
Equity securities:
Basic materials		5,081		5,081		—		—		—		—		—		—
Consumer goods		5,942		5,942		—		—		—		—		—		—
Financial		6,989		6,989		—		—		—		—		—		—
Healthcare		4,062		4,062		—		—		—		—		—		—
Industrial goods		3,993		3,993		—		—		—		—		—		—
Technology		4,767		4,767		—		—		—		—		—		—
Utilities		1,578		1,578		—		—		—		—		—		—
Mutual funds		7,353		7,353		—		—		—		—		—		—
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Government		24,224		2,445		21,779		—		—		—		—		—
Corporate		35,514		—		35,514		—		—		—		—		—
Other		826		—		826		—		—		—		—		—
Other types of investments:
Insurance contracts		—		—		—		—		18,501		—		—		18,501
Pooled investment funds		81,062		—		81,062		—		13,344		—		13,344		—
Other		847		847		—		—		—		—		—		—
	$	184,701	$	45,520	$	139,181	$	—	$	32,167	$	322	$	13,344	$	18,501

	United States								International
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Cash	$	580	$	580	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—
Money market funds		19,224		19,224		—		—		309		309		—		—
Equity securities:
Basic materials		6,776		6,776		—		—		—		—		—		—
Consumer goods		7,789		7,789		—		—		—		—		—		—
Financial		9,768		9,768		—		—		—		—		—		—
Healthcare		4,483		4,483		—		—		—		—		—		—
Industrial goods		4,623		4,623		—		—		—		—		—		—
Technology		4,339		4,339		—		—		—		—		—		—
Utilities		1,839		1,839		—		—		—		—		—		—
Mutual funds		87,339		87,339		—		—		—		—		—		—
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Government		14,329		4,068		10,261		—		—		—		—		—
Corporate		14,489		—		14,489		—		—		—		—		—
Other		57		—		57		—		—		—		—		—
Other types of investments:
Insurance contracts		—		—		—		—		17,699		—		—		17,699
Pooled investment funds		—		—		—		—		11,791		—		11,791		—
Other		229		229		—		—		—		—		—		—
	$	175,864	$	151,057	$	24,807	$	—	$	29,799	$	309	$	11,791	$	17,699